Following on from the first adventure with Cassidy Blake in City of Ghosts, this book takes the firm foundation that Victoria Scwab has built and creates an even more thrilling tale. The premise is the same; Cassidy’s parents are filming a TV show about haunted cities, and she’s travelling with them around to some of the world’s most haunted places. Having started in Edinburgh, they’ve now moved south into Paris…
Synopsis
Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual.
She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass’s parents are filming their TV show about the world’s most haunted cities. Sure, it’s fun eating croissants and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but there’s true ghostly danger lurking beneath Paris, in the creepy underground Catacombs.
When Cass accidentally awakens a frighteningly strong spirit, she must rely on her still-growing skills as a ghosthunter — and turn to friends both old and new to help her unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger.
And if Cass fails, the force she’s unleashed could haunt the city forever.
Review
The base from book one really came into play here. Cassidy stays in touch with fellow in-betweener Lara, who helps her to the best of her ability, which both comforts and annoys Cassidy in that way that only real friends can. It was great to see their relationship continue to grow; maybe it was the parent in me, but I really liked that Cassidy had a friend other than a ghost who totally understood her.
That said, Jacob was his usual comforting and amusing self, and seeing Cassidy drawn into nightmares regarding his growing strength and what she would be forced to do if he became out of control was really compelling as a storyline.
The ghost situation they are forced to confront in Paris is completely different to what they faced in Scotland, and this was written very cleverly; I was a bit concerned the books might become formulaic, but book two proved to be just as unique as book one, which just left me more curious for what would happen in book three. A series that already has you looking ahead to the following book before you’ve even finished the one in your hands is always a good sign.
While these books might be written for somewhere between Middle Grade and Young Adult, they still contain enough suspense, thrills and emotion to be engaging as an adult. Well written, well structured, and well rounded, this is a series for anyone who likes a paranormal thrill.
And On She Reads 