Pages: 366
Published: 5th September 2023
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Romance
Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn’t uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.
Not literally, of course. She doesn’t believe in ghosts. Going to her dad’s school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.
But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe—probably—definitely—a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.
When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library’s secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.
Except following her father’s footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren’t just myth. And if she isn’t careful, she’ll be next.
This book may spend a lot of its time zeroing in on characters who are long dead, but in every other sense it is bursting with life. Written inventively and with no shortage of personality, it tells an intriguing tale containing an atmosphere that perfectly captures the mood and while some parts of the plot are difficult to grasp, it rarely ceases to be enjoyable.
The premise for this story involves everything a lover of young adult fiction could possibly want, from the cute romance between a girl and a ghost to being set in a library within a boarding school. On the surface it sounds a little unoriginal, though with all credit to the author it turns out to be extremely nuanced with many layers, including some particularly strong underlying character development.
It makes a very good impression right from the start, with some engaging scenes that do not always have the outcome you might expect. An early example of this is when Este allows the Book of Fades to be stolen from the library after her first encounter with Mateo. That and the ultimatum she receives from hawkish librarian Ives afterwards tells you that things are not going to be entirely predictable.
Even the romance does not always go along with the established script, but the chemistry between Este and Mateo is unmistakeable. This aspect was handled really well and there was a lot of angst scattered throughout Este’s third person perspective that spoke to her many complexities, but equally their relationship was just one part of fully rounded plot.
Indeed, most of the story is full of suspense and laced with a genuine sense of threat. Este finds herself in mortal danger more than once and you are not absolutely sure if she is going to survive, a feeling that only intensifies courtesy of plot twists and the ongoing presence of the Fades. It is exciting, although some of the background about the Fades and the role of Este’s father was a bit confusing and could have done with being explained with more clarity.
That leaves a couple of unanswered questions at the end, but it is only a minor complaint. The story around Mateo and his fellow ghosts is clever and well realised, and it was fun how each one of these characters had different traits to reflect the time periods they lived in. Posy and her band of paranormal investigators were also a great addition.
Este is an interesting protagonist as she is not the easiest to connect with at first, mainly because of how insular she is and the way she shuns Posy’s enthusiastic attempts to make friends. However, the reasons for that become clear soon enough and even if you are still desperate for her to let other people in, you can understand much of the hurt she feels and why Mateo’s appearance makes her even more evasive.
Regardless of the fact he is a ghost, there is more of a vibrancy about Mateo. He definitely has a bit of a swagger about him and he is not what you would describe as modest, but there is a vulnerable and compassionate side there too which makes him reasonably likeable. The author also uses his elusiveness to create an effective aura of mystery, making him something of a curiosity to both Este and you as the reader. If only he did not keep calling Este ‘dear’.
Ives is enigmatic in a different way and there is more to her than what first meets the eye, but the most memorable of the supporting characters is Posy. She is a bundle of energy and a paranormal fanatic, and her perpetual optimism meant that it was quite sad to see her become disheartened at Este continually shutting her out. It is Este’s loss, as she is exactly the kind of person you would love to have as a friend.
The setting is exactly what it says on the tin, and that is only a good thing. A haunted library in the dark with towering shelves and several secret passageways, as characters are pursued by deadly creatures – it has all the eerie atmosphere and then some. You can just visualise the cavernous interiors and feel the danger just around the corner, such is the strength of the vibes. It is perhaps a shame that other parts of the school were not explored more, but what we do get is powerfully imagined.
One of the most noteworthy parts of this book is its writing style. It is unique and rather quirky, with some colourful turns of phrase and an absolute heap of popular culture references, which are mostly fun rather than being annoying. There is also a plentiful supply of metaphors, and although some do not quite hit the spot, some of them represent stunning bits of writing. It is the kind of read in which something frivolous can be followed in the next sentence by something deeply meaningful and thought-provoking.
Overall, we have a story that provides a lot of contrast, with the lighter touches such as a cute romance and some smart humour pitted against a menacing backdrop and themes of grief. Yet this unlikely combination works even with a slightly convoluted plot, delivering something that is above all fun and bewitching. The author clearly had a great time writing it, and that joy rubs off on the reader.
A lover of romcoms, Rachel Moore is a content marketer and writer from Nashville, Tennessee. She received a degree in creative writing from the University of Evansville, and judging by her work, she has an exuberance that is hugely endearing.
The Library Of Shadows is her first book, and after really enjoying her writing style I would love to read more.
Some minor plot issues aside, this was an extremely fun read with a great concept, a cute romance and a setting that provided all the haunted, dark academia vibes.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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