Nightspell wins first prize for originality! This story swept me away
into a kingdom where ghosts linger amongst the living. Together they reside in
a castle that parties all night and sleeps by day. That, of course, is when the
inhabitants – both living and dead – aren’t intriguing against each other. That
skulduggery often leads to murder – the reason there are so many ghosts in
Ghostland Kingdom. The dead are supposed to return just long enough to kill
their killers, but, unfortunately, most of them enjoy their half-life too much,
seeing it as an opportunity to terrorise the living and party to their hearts’
content!
Darrie’s sister Carrie was trapped here as
a child. Now Darrie has a chance to save Carrie if she agrees to a betrothal
with the prince of the dead. From the moment Darrie arrives in Ghostland she
discovers that nothing is as it seems. Even her little sister has changed in
ways she could not have believe possible.
This book was such fun, keeping me riveted
from the beginning to the end. I loved the characters – especially Cassie.
Darrie was a tough-as-nails warrior too. But most of all I fancied Prince
Kestin. Even though he’s dead, he still managed to command the page, leaving me
with a lasting impression of his latent ‘hotness’ and intelligence. Too bad
he’s a ghost. (Yes, I know. I’m very shallow)
But the thing that really grabbed me about Nightspell was the world building. Leah
Cypress’s writing is beautifully evocative. The flagstones were hard and cold
under my feet as I followed the characters and their convoluted adventure
around the castle. I was so sad to leave and really hope she writes a sequel. I
just cannot believe there’s no hope for that tortured prince! In fact, that was
my only complain about this book. The ending was inconclusive, leaving me to
think that she is planning a sequel.
This is definitely a book I wish I had
written. How much more praise can I possibly give it? If it hadn’t been for the
ending I would have given it five stars, but I will settle for four
star-studded ghosts.
Cheers
Gwynneth
