What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghost Town #1
Gap Year in Ghost Town
Let's get this straight - ghosts are everywhere. I can see them. You can't. And, see them or not, they're dangerous. This is why my family has hunted ghosts for hundreds of years to protect people like you.
The Marin family are outcasts of the ghost hunting world. They run a two-man operation in inner city Melbourne. Anton has the Ghost-sight, but his father does not.
Rani Cross is supremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat, with enhanced speed and strength thanks to her magical initiation into the Company of the Righteous.
When it comes to ghost-hunting methodology, Anton and Rani don't see eye to eye - Anton likes to 'ease their passage' to the next world, while Rani's all about the slashing.
But Melbourne is under threat; with a massive spike in violent ghost manifestations, Anton and Rani must find a way to work together to keep supernatural forces at bay.
And what with all the blindingly terrifying brushes with death, Anton must decide if he really wants in on the whole ghost hunting biz anyway.
The Marin family are outcasts of the ghost hunting world. They run a two-man operation in inner city Melbourne. Anton has the Ghost-sight, but his father does not.
Rani Cross is supremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat, with enhanced speed and strength thanks to her magical initiation into the Company of the Righteous.
When it comes to ghost-hunting methodology, Anton and Rani don't see eye to eye - Anton likes to 'ease their passage' to the next world, while Rani's all about the slashing.
But Melbourne is under threat; with a massive spike in violent ghost manifestations, Anton and Rani must find a way to work together to keep supernatural forces at bay.
And what with all the blindingly terrifying brushes with death, Anton must decide if he really wants in on the whole ghost hunting biz anyway.
325 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2017
10 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Michael Pryor
130 books190 followers Michael Pryor's bio
Check out my Fantasy podcast, 'The World Below the War in the Heavens' wherever you get your podcasts!
I was born in Swan Hill, Victoria. I spent my childhood in country Victoria and Melbourne before moving to Geelong at the age of 10. I lived in Geelong until I went to university in Melbourne after secondary school.
I currently live in Melbourne. I’ve worked as a drainer’s labourer, a truck driver, a bathroom accessories salesperson, an Internet consultant, a Multimedia Developer, a Publisher, in a scrap metal yard and as a secondary school teacher. Whew.
I’ve taught English, Literature, Drama, Legal Studies and Computer Studies.
I've published over thirty-five novels and more than sixty of my short stories have appeared in Australia and overseas in publications such as Overland and the New South Wales School Magazine. My writing moves from literary fiction to genre Science Fiction to slapstick humour, depending on my mood.
I’ve been shortlisted eleven times for the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction, and have also been nominated for a Ditmar award. My short stories have twice been featured in Gardner Dozois’ ‘Highly Recommended’ lists in The Year’s Best Science Fiction and The Year’s Best Fantasy. Nine of my books have been CBC Notable Books, I’ve been longlisted for a Golden Inky and I’ve been shortlisted for the WAYBRA Award. I’ve also twice won the Best and Fairest Award at West Brunswick Amateur Football Club.
My reviews tend toward the three word style of the trenchant critic, N. Molesworth.
Check out my Fantasy podcast, 'The World Below the War in the Heavens' wherever you get your podcasts!
I was born in Swan Hill, Victoria. I spent my childhood in country Victoria and Melbourne before moving to Geelong at the age of 10. I lived in Geelong until I went to university in Melbourne after secondary school.
I currently live in Melbourne. I’ve worked as a drainer’s labourer, a truck driver, a bathroom accessories salesperson, an Internet consultant, a Multimedia Developer, a Publisher, in a scrap metal yard and as a secondary school teacher. Whew.
I’ve taught English, Literature, Drama, Legal Studies and Computer Studies.
I've published over thirty-five novels and more than sixty of my short stories have appeared in Australia and overseas in publications such as Overland and the New South Wales School Magazine. My writing moves from literary fiction to genre Science Fiction to slapstick humour, depending on my mood.
I’ve been shortlisted eleven times for the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction, and have also been nominated for a Ditmar award. My short stories have twice been featured in Gardner Dozois’ ‘Highly Recommended’ lists in The Year’s Best Science Fiction and The Year’s Best Fantasy. Nine of my books have been CBC Notable Books, I’ve been longlisted for a Golden Inky and I’ve been shortlisted for the WAYBRA Award. I’ve also twice won the Best and Fairest Award at West Brunswick Amateur Football Club.
My reviews tend toward the three word style of the trenchant critic, N. Molesworth.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 1, 2019
The strong australian energy in this! book characters talking about barracking for Melbourne in the AFL? Iconic
review to come
review to come
May 10, 2019
Trigger warnings: violence, death of a friend, death of a child, parental abandonment, car accident (in the past).
10/5/2019
I stand by everything I said last time around. This is a blast from start to finish and I laughed out loud multiple times.
7/8/2017
4.5 stars.
I've been excited about this book since I first heard about it in November/December of last year. Like...a book about ghost hunting that's set in Melbourne?? OBVIOUSLY I was on board. And I was not disappointed.
This was SO MUCH FUN. Basically, Anton finished high school six months ago, not quite sure what he wanted to do at university. His father talked him into taking a gap year in which he works in the family business - ghost hunting. His family split from the ghost hunting community when they migrated to Australia in the mid-20th century because they believe in easing a ghost's pain and helping them cross over where the rest of the ghost hunting community is all "NO, CHOP THEM TO PIECES UNTIL THEY GO POOF."
And it's all going smoothly until Anton comes into contact with Rani, a member of the Company of the Righteous in England. The two butt heads over the best way to hunt ghosts, but ultimately team up when they find increasing numbers of ghosts around Melbourne and realise that someone has worked out how to control ghosts.
Basically? It was a ton of fun. I laughed out loud multiple times thanks to pop culture references and Melbourne jokes and just incredibly funny one liners. The characters are delightful - I should mention that Rani is Asian and Anton's best friend, Bec, has a prosthetic eye - and the story captures Melbourne perfectly.
10/5/2019
I stand by everything I said last time around. This is a blast from start to finish and I laughed out loud multiple times.
7/8/2017
4.5 stars.
I've been excited about this book since I first heard about it in November/December of last year. Like...a book about ghost hunting that's set in Melbourne?? OBVIOUSLY I was on board. And I was not disappointed.
This was SO MUCH FUN. Basically, Anton finished high school six months ago, not quite sure what he wanted to do at university. His father talked him into taking a gap year in which he works in the family business - ghost hunting. His family split from the ghost hunting community when they migrated to Australia in the mid-20th century because they believe in easing a ghost's pain and helping them cross over where the rest of the ghost hunting community is all "NO, CHOP THEM TO PIECES UNTIL THEY GO POOF."
And it's all going smoothly until Anton comes into contact with Rani, a member of the Company of the Righteous in England. The two butt heads over the best way to hunt ghosts, but ultimately team up when they find increasing numbers of ghosts around Melbourne and realise that someone has worked out how to control ghosts.
Basically? It was a ton of fun. I laughed out loud multiple times thanks to pop culture references and Melbourne jokes and just incredibly funny one liners. The characters are delightful - I should mention that Rani is Asian and Anton's best friend, Bec, has a prosthetic eye - and the story captures Melbourne perfectly.
April 3, 2020
DNF @ Page 229 (70%)
This is just not for me. Not even a little bit. I had so many issues it actually became painful to read. Even skimming wasn't helping. So onto my meagre DNF pile it goes.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure I'm not the target audience for this. Younger kids are gonna love it. It's just not crossing the barrier into 'aimed at young kids but loved by all' like a few other series I've enjoyed.
Let me start with the good stuff: It's set in my hometown, Melbourne, so I loved all the location references. It's also about ghosts, which are cool.
That's all the pros for me.
Now, the kid at the centre of the story, Anton, is going to make or break this story for you. I found him completely obnoxious and the attempts at humour in this book were so incredibly painful to me. He's not funny. He's not cute. He's not sassy. He's just annoying. But if you dig the humour this book will be a solid win because that crap is NON STOP.
Rani - don't care. Bec - I like her but she's not in it nearly enough. Leon - ehhhhh.
The ghosts were actually the biggest let down, because it really did feel more Ghostbusters - comical and cartoonish rather than treated with any kind of respect. It bugged the hell out of me. I get that there was a story there about the passing of the ghosts etc but they're basically soulless monsters that either cry or ghost around terrifying people. But they're just nothings? I mean, you take away someone's personality and they're just ... ehhhh. I don't even have a word to describe the nothingness these ghosts were.
Also, there is so much time wasted with world-building/scene-setting that it's actually kind of slow and boring. There's some awkward flirting and 'research' and the occasional ghostly interaction but it's mostly pages and pages and pages of the questionable nature of ghosts, of ghost hunting, of researching ghosts, of ghost hunter families, of the history of everything ... just get to some action PLEASE.
Honestly, this was just not my jam at all.
As mentioned, though, if you enjoy the humour, you'll enjoy the ride.
Far too much on the young side for me but I'm hoping my 10 year old nephew will get a kick out of it.
This is just not for me. Not even a little bit. I had so many issues it actually became painful to read. Even skimming wasn't helping. So onto my meagre DNF pile it goes.
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure I'm not the target audience for this. Younger kids are gonna love it. It's just not crossing the barrier into 'aimed at young kids but loved by all' like a few other series I've enjoyed.
Let me start with the good stuff: It's set in my hometown, Melbourne, so I loved all the location references. It's also about ghosts, which are cool.
That's all the pros for me.
Now, the kid at the centre of the story, Anton, is going to make or break this story for you. I found him completely obnoxious and the attempts at humour in this book were so incredibly painful to me. He's not funny. He's not cute. He's not sassy. He's just annoying. But if you dig the humour this book will be a solid win because that crap is NON STOP.
Rani - don't care. Bec - I like her but she's not in it nearly enough. Leon - ehhhhh.
The ghosts were actually the biggest let down, because it really did feel more Ghostbusters - comical and cartoonish rather than treated with any kind of respect. It bugged the hell out of me. I get that there was a story there about the passing of the ghosts etc but they're basically soulless monsters that either cry or ghost around terrifying people. But they're just nothings? I mean, you take away someone's personality and they're just ... ehhhh. I don't even have a word to describe the nothingness these ghosts were.
Also, there is so much time wasted with world-building/scene-setting that it's actually kind of slow and boring. There's some awkward flirting and 'research' and the occasional ghostly interaction but it's mostly pages and pages and pages of the questionable nature of ghosts, of ghost hunting, of researching ghosts, of ghost hunter families, of the history of everything ... just get to some action PLEASE.
Honestly, this was just not my jam at all.
As mentioned, though, if you enjoy the humour, you'll enjoy the ride.
Far too much on the young side for me but I'm hoping my 10 year old nephew will get a kick out of it.
August 9, 2017
Gap Year in Ghost Town was an unexpected awesome read for me!
Gap year is set in Melbourne (home town represent xD) Anton our main character is hilarious so straight off the bat this book hooked me. I mean it has Ghosts, A+ Melbourne references, amazing aussie slang AND smartassary could I ask for more?
I didn’t exactly love the authors short story in the Anthology and I’ve never read any of his other books so I went into this with rather low expectations and I’m kinda glad I did because it impressed me just that much more.
Anton has a quick mouth and is fast to deflect with something witty but he’s also incredible adorable, kind-hearted, and wants to put on a brave face (he also wears some great jackets but that doesn’t really further the plot.)
Basically Anton has just finished school and is taking a Gap year of the supernatural kind, his family has run a ghost hunting business for 200+ years and this year is his turn to test it out, see if this is what he wants to do for his life or if he wants to leave ghost hunting and pursue a different career choice, while doing that he stumbles upon a weird crop of ghosts and a new ghost hunter in town, together they set out to find out what exactly is happening with all the Melbournian ghosts.
Okay lists of what I loved:
Rani and her sword
Rani
A CHARACTERS DAD WHO IS ACTUALLY REALLY INVOLVED WITH HIS SON AND THE STORY
All the ghosts
Anton sass
Rani and her ass kickary
The plot was fast paced and really interesting
Possession
Bec and the best friend level, Becs didn’t feature much but I really enjoy her and Antons friendship
Murders
Ghosts
Aussie Slang
4/5 Stars
The reason why this wasn’t a 5/5 stars is it just didn’t hook me as much as other books had. It was missing a certain spark for me that makes me want to shove it in everyone’s faces and make them read it right there and then. Also some of the sentences were a bit stunted BUT I did have an arc so this might have been fixed up in the finished copies.
Overall I really loved the plot, the ghosts, the setting, and all the characters. This works as a standalone but I hope we get some more installments of Anton’s adventures.
Bring on more Melbourne Ghosts!
September 17, 2017
Throughout the quiet, darkened streets of Melbourne, eighteen year old Anton Marin searches for ghosts, delicately releasing their spirits from Earth by easing their passage. Anton is a delightfully charming young man who is reluctantly pursuing paranormal investigation to appease his father. The Marin spectre legacy now falls upon Anton, the Sight ability escaping his father who documents each encounter, maintaining the Marin archives from a hidden retreat in the family owned bookstore.
Rani Cross is a graduating member of the Company of The Righteous, a prosperous organisation abundant in tradition, emigrating from London with her foster parents, Company of The Righteous employees. The Company of The Righteous believes in the disposing of spirits through violent methods, disciplined soldiers instructed in weaponed combat and Rani is conflicted by Anton's gentle approach.
Gap Year In Ghost Town is magnificent. Melbourne provides an affluent Victorian landscape of ghostly apparitions, Weepers, Moaners, Lingerers and ghosts who manifest as Ragers. Anton and Rani begin to investigate the increase in spectre apparitions when they discover a slain body and a grieving widow summoning Rogue spirits.
Readers will appreciate Anton and Rani's tentative and platonic friendship, Anton and friend Rebecca and in addendum, Rebecca and Rani. Facile and charming. Anton's relationship with his father was lovely, a wonderful presence who challenged Anton. Anton's father is a fascinating character who continues to mourn his the death of his youngest child, his marriage and his sister's disappearance.
From the city to the suburbs of Melbourne was enchanting and atmospheric. As Anton accompanied Rani throughout the city and her suburbs, I was fascinated by the history of Melbourne folklore. Readers will appreciate the diverse Australian characters and Rani, who although from Britain is of Assamese, Chinese and Malaysian heritage.
Theatrical and charismatic, Gap Year In Ghost Town is wonderfully written with humour and finesse. Simply brilliant.
Rani Cross is a graduating member of the Company of The Righteous, a prosperous organisation abundant in tradition, emigrating from London with her foster parents, Company of The Righteous employees. The Company of The Righteous believes in the disposing of spirits through violent methods, disciplined soldiers instructed in weaponed combat and Rani is conflicted by Anton's gentle approach.
Gap Year In Ghost Town is magnificent. Melbourne provides an affluent Victorian landscape of ghostly apparitions, Weepers, Moaners, Lingerers and ghosts who manifest as Ragers. Anton and Rani begin to investigate the increase in spectre apparitions when they discover a slain body and a grieving widow summoning Rogue spirits.
Readers will appreciate Anton and Rani's tentative and platonic friendship, Anton and friend Rebecca and in addendum, Rebecca and Rani. Facile and charming. Anton's relationship with his father was lovely, a wonderful presence who challenged Anton. Anton's father is a fascinating character who continues to mourn his the death of his youngest child, his marriage and his sister's disappearance.
From the city to the suburbs of Melbourne was enchanting and atmospheric. As Anton accompanied Rani throughout the city and her suburbs, I was fascinated by the history of Melbourne folklore. Readers will appreciate the diverse Australian characters and Rani, who although from Britain is of Assamese, Chinese and Malaysian heritage.
Theatrical and charismatic, Gap Year In Ghost Town is wonderfully written with humour and finesse. Simply brilliant.
November 11, 2017
This review first appeared on Readers in Wonderland
INITIAL REACTION
5 THINGS ABOUT GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN
A different kind of Halloween read
This is a book about ghosts, but it’s not a scary haunting thriller type ghost story. It’s much lighter and more enjoyable. Which I’m grateful for because ghost stories creep me out.
Percy Jackson x Supernatural
I know we hate book comparisons, but this just fits so well! Anton reminds me a lot of Percy in terms of humour and voice. He’s sassy and has such a quick wit, it was so entertaining. And how could you not draw the Supernatural comparison when hunting ghosts is the family business? It’s most like early seasons supernatural before all the angels and Rapture stuff.
LoveOzYA
Not only is this written by an Australian author, it’s set in Melbourne! I’ve never really been to Melbourne city so I didn’t have the appreciation of familiar settings. But still, I knew the names of places mentioned and was super excited when they mentioned towns/ suburbs where my family lives.
So many pop culture references!
There were so many pop culture references scattered in this book it was amazing. I got most of them (my jaw hit the floor when the Fairy Tail reference popped up) but still there was a lot I didn’t get (I fail as a nerd).
I’d love to know more
This ghost hunting world is so interesting, I don’t want to leave. I want to know more about the Marin family history and the Company of the Righteous. Then there’s the evil groups floating around the edges. Also I ship Rani and Anton a lot and almost need a slow burn development over a few books (there’s no romance in this one). There is so much potential for a series, I’m actually sad it’s only a standalone (for now at least).
In Summary
GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN such a fun, entertaining read. The plot was alright, but it was the humour and characters that really made the story enjoyable. It’s definitely made me want to check out more of Michael Pryor’s stuff in the future.
INITIAL REACTION
5 THINGS ABOUT GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN
A different kind of Halloween read
This is a book about ghosts, but it’s not a scary haunting thriller type ghost story. It’s much lighter and more enjoyable. Which I’m grateful for because ghost stories creep me out.
Percy Jackson x Supernatural
I know we hate book comparisons, but this just fits so well! Anton reminds me a lot of Percy in terms of humour and voice. He’s sassy and has such a quick wit, it was so entertaining. And how could you not draw the Supernatural comparison when hunting ghosts is the family business? It’s most like early seasons supernatural before all the angels and Rapture stuff.
LoveOzYA
Not only is this written by an Australian author, it’s set in Melbourne! I’ve never really been to Melbourne city so I didn’t have the appreciation of familiar settings. But still, I knew the names of places mentioned and was super excited when they mentioned towns/ suburbs where my family lives.
So many pop culture references!
There were so many pop culture references scattered in this book it was amazing. I got most of them (my jaw hit the floor when the Fairy Tail reference popped up) but still there was a lot I didn’t get (I fail as a nerd).
I’d love to know more
This ghost hunting world is so interesting, I don’t want to leave. I want to know more about the Marin family history and the Company of the Righteous. Then there’s the evil groups floating around the edges. Also I ship Rani and Anton a lot and almost need a slow burn development over a few books (there’s no romance in this one). There is so much potential for a series, I’m actually sad it’s only a standalone (for now at least).
In Summary
GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN such a fun, entertaining read. The plot was alright, but it was the humour and characters that really made the story enjoyable. It’s definitely made me want to check out more of Michael Pryor’s stuff in the future.
December 2, 2017
Action packed and cleverly plotted. The supernatural dangers really come alive ;-)
I love the cover art (by Craig Phillips) and design (by Ruth Grüner).
I love the cover art (by Craig Phillips) and design (by Ruth Grüner).
October 2, 2021
This book was okay, I guess. Ghost-hunting teens got my hopes up because Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. is absolutely brilliant and one of my favourite series ever. This one... wasn't that. Not by a long shot. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it well enough and some parts of it were quite entertaining, but let's just say that Anton Marin is no Anthony Lockwood and Rani Cross is no Lucy Carlyle and leave it at that.
I was mildly interested in the story, but that's about it. Bec and Anton's dad were nice characters - Anton and Rani were a bit meh. And there were many, many, many, SO many occasions I wanted to just toss Anton out the window because his smartassery was getting on my last nerve. There is such a thing as too much snark, especially when it's not even all that funny.
Overall, this was a 3-star read for me. Okay, but nothing spectacular.
I was mildly interested in the story, but that's about it. Bec and Anton's dad were nice characters - Anton and Rani were a bit meh. And there were many, many, many, SO many occasions I wanted to just toss Anton out the window because his smartassery was getting on my last nerve. There is such a thing as too much snark, especially when it's not even all that funny.
Overall, this was a 3-star read for me. Okay, but nothing spectacular.
October 11, 2019
this was pretty fun ! i think 90% of my enjoyment came from the book being set in my city so i spent the entire thing going 'haha i knOw WhEre thAt iS'
November 6, 2017
This book made me laugh, and that's saying a lot. Years of reading in awkward public places has left me emotionally unable to show my feelings when reading most books (always odd when you laugh like a maniac on the bus, or have to start mopping your tears up with napkins at a cafe) But I was home today, and zooming through my to-read pile led me to finally starting and finishing this. It's just so damn AUSTRALIAN! From Tim Tams to possums it just shrieked loud and proud of Australia and I loved that :3 A few years ago I was hard pressed to find Aussie YA in local stores and now we have #LoveOzYA on the back of Aussie books. Love it!
Then there is Anton, just so perfect for this book and this story Anton. His snark, his humour, his personality, everything was a fit and a win for me. If there is no sequel and I never get to read about Anton again, I'll be most unhappy. Oh and Bec of course (again, so Australian, to go with Bec as a best friend haha) she was beyond awesome and I wish I was friends with her too.
Aussie YA lovers, and YA lovers in general, try your hardest to get a copy of this and read it. I've seen a few comments and questions about the availability outside Australia, and this is one of those fun YAs that should be available everywhere! Loved it, Loved it, Loved it! Five stars!
Then there is Anton, just so perfect for this book and this story Anton. His snark, his humour, his personality, everything was a fit and a win for me. If there is no sequel and I never get to read about Anton again, I'll be most unhappy. Oh and Bec of course (again, so Australian, to go with Bec as a best friend haha) she was beyond awesome and I wish I was friends with her too.
Aussie YA lovers, and YA lovers in general, try your hardest to get a copy of this and read it. I've seen a few comments and questions about the availability outside Australia, and this is one of those fun YAs that should be available everywhere! Loved it, Loved it, Loved it! Five stars!
November 5, 2017
I actually really enjoyed this one. It was a light read and got me fully invested the whole way through 🙈 AND did I mention that one of the main female characters is Assamese/Chinese Malaysian? It is SO NICE to see an adopted character as a lead!
And this book is set in Melbourne. If you want to get a feel for what an Australian city is like, then I definitely recommend this one. The humour was spot on 👌
And this book is set in Melbourne. If you want to get a feel for what an Australian city is like, then I definitely recommend this one. The humour was spot on 👌
August 9, 2017
I will be honest. When I saw the cover I did not think I would be interested. It looked like a book aimed at a 12-year-old boy. Well I have not been 12 for quite some time now and I have never been a boy, so I was very wrong because I loved it. I will not say it is perfect because nothing ever is, but it does deserve all 5 of those stars I am giving it.
Our main character is male, which is somewhat rare in the books I tend to read but it worked so well in this book that I want to read more male MC books. So Anton Marin, our MC here if that was not clear, has the ability to see ghosts and ease their transition from earth to where ever it is the dead go next. Anton does not really want to be a ghost hunter but has agreed to try it for a year to please his father, Leon, which basically explains the title of the book.
Family history includes:
- The Marin family moving to Australia after parting with the Company of the Righteous, a ghost hunting organisation in London.
- A tragic event occurring in Anton's childhood that tore his family apart.
- A mysteriously missing Aunt Tanja.
I would like to congratulate Michael Pryor on including these in a way that felt natural and only because it made sense to the plot. However, there is one thing that doesn't make as much sense and that is Anton's best friend Bec, or Rebecca as Leon calls her, having only one eye. Sure, this is kind of a cool detail but it doesn't really have a place in the story except for when cosplay is mentioned.
Our other significant character is Rani Cross, a member of the Company of Righteous, a total badass and has a tragic backstory of her own. She has her flaws, just as Anton does, but together the two ghost hunters make an efficient team and an interesting duo to read about.
Now, I mentioned before about the Marin family moving to Australia and this probably influences part of my love for this book. It is set in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs so I was able to picture some of the locations in my head. Being in Australia means we are also gifted with some very Aussie sayings, my favourites being 'huh', 'thingos', 'whatsits' and 'yeah, nah' - all part of my daily vocabulary. We may sound uneducated but we Aussies generally know what we mean with little words.
All of the above would count for little if the book had a terrible storyline or had been written horribly, but I am happy to say I believe neither is the case. I found the storyline interesting and captivating. I did not want to put the book down until I had read every page. The writing style was somewhat different to many of the books I read in that it didn't feel polished, which is actually a good thing. It felt natural as if Anton was telling me the story of all the crazy ghost things that had been happening around Melbourne.
I am not sure if everyone would agree with me as we all have different opinion and tastes in books, but I really did love this book and I am even adding it to my favourites shelf because I am just that serious about it.
Our main character is male, which is somewhat rare in the books I tend to read but it worked so well in this book that I want to read more male MC books. So Anton Marin, our MC here if that was not clear, has the ability to see ghosts and ease their transition from earth to where ever it is the dead go next. Anton does not really want to be a ghost hunter but has agreed to try it for a year to please his father, Leon, which basically explains the title of the book.
Family history includes:
- The Marin family moving to Australia after parting with the Company of the Righteous, a ghost hunting organisation in London.
- A tragic event occurring in Anton's childhood that tore his family apart.
- A mysteriously missing Aunt Tanja.
I would like to congratulate Michael Pryor on including these in a way that felt natural and only because it made sense to the plot. However, there is one thing that doesn't make as much sense and that is Anton's best friend Bec, or Rebecca as Leon calls her, having only one eye. Sure, this is kind of a cool detail but it doesn't really have a place in the story except for when cosplay is mentioned.
Our other significant character is Rani Cross, a member of the Company of Righteous, a total badass and has a tragic backstory of her own. She has her flaws, just as Anton does, but together the two ghost hunters make an efficient team and an interesting duo to read about.
Now, I mentioned before about the Marin family moving to Australia and this probably influences part of my love for this book. It is set in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs so I was able to picture some of the locations in my head. Being in Australia means we are also gifted with some very Aussie sayings, my favourites being 'huh', 'thingos', 'whatsits' and 'yeah, nah' - all part of my daily vocabulary. We may sound uneducated but we Aussies generally know what we mean with little words.
All of the above would count for little if the book had a terrible storyline or had been written horribly, but I am happy to say I believe neither is the case. I found the storyline interesting and captivating. I did not want to put the book down until I had read every page. The writing style was somewhat different to many of the books I read in that it didn't feel polished, which is actually a good thing. It felt natural as if Anton was telling me the story of all the crazy ghost things that had been happening around Melbourne.
I am not sure if everyone would agree with me as we all have different opinion and tastes in books, but I really did love this book and I am even adding it to my favourites shelf because I am just that serious about it.
dnf
August 31, 2017I borrowed this book from the library last week because I'd been hearing some great things about it, and the cover's so cool. Besides, I'm a total sucker for ghost stories. I love ghost stories so much I've even written a series about a ghost hunter set in Sydney.
So of course this one caught my attention...
But when I picked it up yesterday, there was something about it that just didn't work for me. I pushed on, but by Chapter Four I decided to put it aside. All the things that would usually make me love a story like this--an abundance of ghosts, humour, action, friendship, more ghosts--just annoyed me. I especially couldn't connect with Anton the way I thought I would, and he's the narrator. :/
So sadly, I'm calling this a DNF.
So of course this one caught my attention...
But when I picked it up yesterday, there was something about it that just didn't work for me. I pushed on, but by Chapter Four I decided to put it aside. All the things that would usually make me love a story like this--an abundance of ghosts, humour, action, friendship, more ghosts--just annoyed me. I especially couldn't connect with Anton the way I thought I would, and he's the narrator. :/
So sadly, I'm calling this a DNF.
May 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this and found it a quirky and fun read on a rainy Melbourne day. Added bonus was recognizing some of the locations, particularly those near my old stomping grounds of Thornbury and Fairfield. I can see how some people would be annoyed by Anton's constant quipping - it didn't bother me, probably because he has the same "speak before you think" disease that I have myself.
August 26, 2017
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Gap Year in Ghost Town by Australian author Michael Pryor is a ghostly tale of adventure and danger set amongst a Melbourne backdrop.
Anton Marin is a member of a long line of descendants capable of seeing ghosts and who have spent their lives hunting them down and helping them move on. Living with his father and running a used book-shop in the heart of Melbourne, Anton spends his nights searching for ghosts and is used to taking the gentle approach with exorcising them. Until he meets sword welding, British expat Rani Cross on assignment from London. Rani's approach to ghost hunting is more slash first, ask questions never. The Marin family are anomalies in the ghost hunting world and the organization Rani works for is sure their way is right, but with a massive spike in ghosts threatening society, Anton and Rani must work together to stop the ghosts from hurting innocent people, even if it means acknowledging that not everything is black and white.
I have to be honest; I really wanted to adore this novel, I did. I went into it looking for something fresh and with an open mind, and although there were parts of Gap Year in Ghost Town I appreciated, it was a struggle for me to read this novel all the way through. While Michael Pryor is clearly a talented writer and has a decent writing style, I feel like Gap Year in Ghost Town could have been condensed with the majority of the dialogue removed and you wouldn't loose anything within the story.
Anton's personality is all sarcasm and sass, but what began as endearing in the beginning of the novel quickly became grating to me. I could totally see what Pryor was going for and it may work for some people, but for me so much of the conversations seemed unnecessary and overly witty that it all fell on deaf ears. It grew tiresome quickly and I just wanted to skip over a lot of the dialogue to get to important parts of the story which seemed far and few in between as it was.
That being said, I enjoyed all the Melbourne and Australian culture thrown into Gap Year in Ghost Town. There was a lot of pop-culture references throughout the story with a detailed and poignant Melbourne setting. Ghosts bring a scary element to the story and a spooky undertone to Anton and Rani's adventures.
Overall, this novel wasn't to my liking, but I can see how Gap Year in Ghost Town would appeal to other readers and would recommend you check it out if you're looking for a witty ghost hunting tale with an Australian urban twist.
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Gap Year in Ghost Town by Australian author Michael Pryor is a ghostly tale of adventure and danger set amongst a Melbourne backdrop.
Anton Marin is a member of a long line of descendants capable of seeing ghosts and who have spent their lives hunting them down and helping them move on. Living with his father and running a used book-shop in the heart of Melbourne, Anton spends his nights searching for ghosts and is used to taking the gentle approach with exorcising them. Until he meets sword welding, British expat Rani Cross on assignment from London. Rani's approach to ghost hunting is more slash first, ask questions never. The Marin family are anomalies in the ghost hunting world and the organization Rani works for is sure their way is right, but with a massive spike in ghosts threatening society, Anton and Rani must work together to stop the ghosts from hurting innocent people, even if it means acknowledging that not everything is black and white.
I have to be honest; I really wanted to adore this novel, I did. I went into it looking for something fresh and with an open mind, and although there were parts of Gap Year in Ghost Town I appreciated, it was a struggle for me to read this novel all the way through. While Michael Pryor is clearly a talented writer and has a decent writing style, I feel like Gap Year in Ghost Town could have been condensed with the majority of the dialogue removed and you wouldn't loose anything within the story.
Anton's personality is all sarcasm and sass, but what began as endearing in the beginning of the novel quickly became grating to me. I could totally see what Pryor was going for and it may work for some people, but for me so much of the conversations seemed unnecessary and overly witty that it all fell on deaf ears. It grew tiresome quickly and I just wanted to skip over a lot of the dialogue to get to important parts of the story which seemed far and few in between as it was.
That being said, I enjoyed all the Melbourne and Australian culture thrown into Gap Year in Ghost Town. There was a lot of pop-culture references throughout the story with a detailed and poignant Melbourne setting. Ghosts bring a scary element to the story and a spooky undertone to Anton and Rani's adventures.
Overall, this novel wasn't to my liking, but I can see how Gap Year in Ghost Town would appeal to other readers and would recommend you check it out if you're looking for a witty ghost hunting tale with an Australian urban twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2024
I wrote a review of this awesome book! It's spoiler free. :D
https://becklebooks.wordpress.com/201...
https://becklebooks.wordpress.com/201...
September 17, 2017
3.5 stars. Read this to find out what could be lurking in the back lanes, old mansions, creepy greenhouses and sedate suburbia of the world's most liveable city; Melbourne...
November 12, 2018
Stacey Evans, or the person who had been Stacey Evans before she was transformed into this supernatural serial killer, put her hands together on her lap. "Would you like a biscuit? I have Tim Tams somewhere, I'm sure."
I hesitated. After all, Tim Tams.
OK, maybe you have to be Aussie to squeal excitedly at a line like that. Let's just say that gave me the same kind of joy as in that other Aussie urban fantasy, WR Gingell's Between Jobs, when someone started using the noble trifle as an illustration of some magical cosmology.
Help. This review has taken a hard left turn into desserts and got stuck there. Rerouting.
Gap Year in Ghost Town, by Melbournian author Michael Pryor, is a refreshing and charming YA urban fantasy romp set in my favourite city in the world, Melbourne. This book is full of books and swords. The narrator is a thoroughly nice smartalec who reminded me a lot of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas. He's in the family business helping ghosts move on to the great unknown, and he's just made friends with the mysterious sword-wielding Rani Cross, who works for the wealthy but tradition-bound Company of the Righteous. Together, they'll have to stop an incursion of particularly dangerous ghosts and figure out if they want to keep hunting ghosts - and whether easing them into the unknown or hacking them to pieces is the better option.
I liked a lot of things about this book. There was barely any romance, which is always a win as far as I'm concerned. I liked the reasonable authority figures, especially Anton's dad, who is a thoroughly likeable character. Indeed, everyone in this book is extremely reasonable. Rani, from the Company of the Righteous, has pretty firm ideas of her own about the right way to dispatch ghosts - but she's rarely rude or snobby about it, and she's open to learn. By the end of the story, rather than trying to paint one side or another as the baddies, Rani and Anton have teamed up and you can imagine them taking the best parts of each approach and combining them into something new. Sure, the book doesn't feel like it has super high stakes, but then, I'm not sure it was meant to. It's just a huge lot of refreshing, uncomplicated fun.
Plus, it's set in Melbourne. I love Melbourne!
I do have a content advisory, for those who want it:
I hesitated. After all, Tim Tams.
OK, maybe you have to be Aussie to squeal excitedly at a line like that. Let's just say that gave me the same kind of joy as in that other Aussie urban fantasy, WR Gingell's Between Jobs, when someone started using the noble trifle as an illustration of some magical cosmology.
Help. This review has taken a hard left turn into desserts and got stuck there. Rerouting.
Gap Year in Ghost Town, by Melbournian author Michael Pryor, is a refreshing and charming YA urban fantasy romp set in my favourite city in the world, Melbourne. This book is full of books and swords. The narrator is a thoroughly nice smartalec who reminded me a lot of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas. He's in the family business helping ghosts move on to the great unknown, and he's just made friends with the mysterious sword-wielding Rani Cross, who works for the wealthy but tradition-bound Company of the Righteous. Together, they'll have to stop an incursion of particularly dangerous ghosts and figure out if they want to keep hunting ghosts - and whether easing them into the unknown or hacking them to pieces is the better option.
I liked a lot of things about this book. There was barely any romance, which is always a win as far as I'm concerned. I liked the reasonable authority figures, especially Anton's dad, who is a thoroughly likeable character. Indeed, everyone in this book is extremely reasonable. Rani, from the Company of the Righteous, has pretty firm ideas of her own about the right way to dispatch ghosts - but she's rarely rude or snobby about it, and she's open to learn. By the end of the story, rather than trying to paint one side or another as the baddies, Rani and Anton have teamed up and you can imagine them taking the best parts of each approach and combining them into something new. Sure, the book doesn't feel like it has super high stakes, but then, I'm not sure it was meant to. It's just a huge lot of refreshing, uncomplicated fun.
Plus, it's set in Melbourne. I love Melbourne!
I do have a content advisory, for those who want it:
May 31, 2021
Two teens from opposing ghost hunting families, a manic ghost manipulator, a one-eyed tech genius, a horrible tragedy and a violent ghostly encounter on nearly every page and you have a novel that is both ludicrously entertaining and reaffirming in the sense that the ghostly references actually make sense. Pryor succeeds in combining tongue-in-cheek comedy with non-syrupy coming of age situations and a great deal of terrific sword slinging. Cool characters, even the see-through ones, and a ripping storyline earn this intriguing tale full stars.
Read more of this review at DIM'SreVIEWS: https://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com/2...
Read more of this review at DIM'SreVIEWS: https://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com/2...
October 3, 2022
dnf-ing this bc im returning this to the library and lmao its js kindof boring. pretty obviously inspired by pjo and esp percys sense of humor but that Literally doesnt work at all w the mcs personality (have already forgotten his name LOL) i went into the book assuming rani would be the one w the ""funny"" personality and also the entire character arc of the mc spoiled considering theres a sequel. also had no clue this was an AUSSIE book oml
November 13, 2017
Fun book about ghost hunting in Melbourne. I loved the Australian feel and references and all of the little pop culture mentions. The story is interesting, about a ghost hunting family and a ghost hunting organisation, and the different ways they send spirits on to "the other side". Fun characters and just a good read :)
August 31, 2022
I WANT MORE BACKSTORY ON THE GHOSTS! SEE HARDER ANTON!
But i digress. It was a pretty interesting read for me. Am excited to start the sequel
But i digress. It was a pretty interesting read for me. Am excited to start the sequel
January 28, 2024
this was so boring oml
July 26, 2019
Warning - do not read this book on an aeroplane unless you want to get frequent raised eyebrows from the man across the aisle like I did. So many snort-laughs. Anton is a beautiful soul with a cracking sense of humour and I loved spending time with him (I reckon he'd get along great with Lainie Gracewood - just sayin') His ghost hunting adventures through Melbourne's city streets had me intrigued and flipping pages the whole time. Chokkas full of sweet Aussie references that made me feel so right at home in this story that I grabbed the second book the minute I finished. So much fun.
July 24, 2017
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Ghosts are real and they manifest in all different types, a Moaner, a Weeper, a Lingerer, a Rager and it's the obligation of the Marin family and companies around the world to deal with them. Anton Marin is the main character of this story and very much like any other seventeen-year-old in Australia he's just graduated high school and is doing a gap year but his gap year is a little different. Before Anton moves to a career and a future going to a university next year he's spending this year hunting ghosts and easing them to the other side so not really like every other Australian. His family is an old one in the Ghost community but the Marin family is also not a very respected one after they left the Company of Righteous over irrevocable differences. The Company believes ghosts need to be dispatched and chopped into little pieces no matter how peaceful or angry the Ghost is but Anton was taught by his family to guide them from this world into the next.
Now Anton is working hard every day at tracking down ghosts and helping them ease into whatever is next to fully commit to his gap year working on the family tradition. Everything is going as normal as it can go when your job includes ghosts until he meets Rani, a girl sent from the company to clean up an area they think is easy and simple for her first assignment. Rani is something he's never encountered before since he's only ever known the lifestyle taught from his father and aunt. She has super strength and other superior skills from some mystical induction to the company and carries a sword she uses to cut up ghosts and dispatch them. Rani asks to tag along and observe his way but they never expected they would discover a sinister, evil plot using Rouge ghosts and all other kinds to prowl the streets of Melbourne, track enemies down and murder people in cold blood.
The characters are the best part of this book and that's saying a lot since the plot was really cool. Anton's father owns a super cool and old bookstore and believes every blank wall and space needs more bookshelves and that is just all I need to fall in love with his character. He's also a really great character because he's been through a lot himself that you'll have to read to find out about and he still manages to be exactly what his son and his friends need. Anton's best friend Bec is also such a badass and I'm glad she had a bigger role in the book than I expected too because even if she is just a civilian she knows how to organise the hell out of an archive, she's super funny, interesting and a great friend to Anton and Rani. However, I was also very happy with how the plot of the book played out too.
I loved that once the setting was established it was action, witty remark, action, cool show reference, action, adorable family/friend moment and on like that until the end. Honestly from the first page when Anton made a reference to one of my favourite shows I was in love with it and it just kept climbing from there. Michael Pryor just has a way of writing events so truthfully as well (in particular a past event that affects the Marin family) because he'll just drop a sentence that shocks you but it's so appreciated because his work is so beautifully honest. Also, that cover guys! The proof copy is really cool with all the background ghosts but I definitely have to get the finished copy when it comes out very soon because Rani and Anton look so badass, well Rani looks badass but Anton looks cool in that red and in the same scared way I would be too if I was surrounded by Rouge ghosts without any battle training. I don't know how readable this review is because I'm still processing the book but I really enjoyed another wonderful read from Michael Pryor and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves mystery, fantasy and paranormal fiction written with a really cool bunch of characters.
Ghosts are real and they manifest in all different types, a Moaner, a Weeper, a Lingerer, a Rager and it's the obligation of the Marin family and companies around the world to deal with them. Anton Marin is the main character of this story and very much like any other seventeen-year-old in Australia he's just graduated high school and is doing a gap year but his gap year is a little different. Before Anton moves to a career and a future going to a university next year he's spending this year hunting ghosts and easing them to the other side so not really like every other Australian. His family is an old one in the Ghost community but the Marin family is also not a very respected one after they left the Company of Righteous over irrevocable differences. The Company believes ghosts need to be dispatched and chopped into little pieces no matter how peaceful or angry the Ghost is but Anton was taught by his family to guide them from this world into the next.
Now Anton is working hard every day at tracking down ghosts and helping them ease into whatever is next to fully commit to his gap year working on the family tradition. Everything is going as normal as it can go when your job includes ghosts until he meets Rani, a girl sent from the company to clean up an area they think is easy and simple for her first assignment. Rani is something he's never encountered before since he's only ever known the lifestyle taught from his father and aunt. She has super strength and other superior skills from some mystical induction to the company and carries a sword she uses to cut up ghosts and dispatch them. Rani asks to tag along and observe his way but they never expected they would discover a sinister, evil plot using Rouge ghosts and all other kinds to prowl the streets of Melbourne, track enemies down and murder people in cold blood.
The characters are the best part of this book and that's saying a lot since the plot was really cool. Anton's father owns a super cool and old bookstore and believes every blank wall and space needs more bookshelves and that is just all I need to fall in love with his character. He's also a really great character because he's been through a lot himself that you'll have to read to find out about and he still manages to be exactly what his son and his friends need. Anton's best friend Bec is also such a badass and I'm glad she had a bigger role in the book than I expected too because even if she is just a civilian she knows how to organise the hell out of an archive, she's super funny, interesting and a great friend to Anton and Rani. However, I was also very happy with how the plot of the book played out too.
I loved that once the setting was established it was action, witty remark, action, cool show reference, action, adorable family/friend moment and on like that until the end. Honestly from the first page when Anton made a reference to one of my favourite shows I was in love with it and it just kept climbing from there. Michael Pryor just has a way of writing events so truthfully as well (in particular a past event that affects the Marin family) because he'll just drop a sentence that shocks you but it's so appreciated because his work is so beautifully honest. Also, that cover guys! The proof copy is really cool with all the background ghosts but I definitely have to get the finished copy when it comes out very soon because Rani and Anton look so badass, well Rani looks badass but Anton looks cool in that red and in the same scared way I would be too if I was surrounded by Rouge ghosts without any battle training. I don't know how readable this review is because I'm still processing the book but I really enjoyed another wonderful read from Michael Pryor and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves mystery, fantasy and paranormal fiction written with a really cool bunch of characters.
August 15, 2017
Gap Year in Ghost Town was the YA Room’s August Book Club pick, and boy, it did not disappoint.
Set in present day Melbourne, Anton Marin is takes a gap year after high school to figure out what he wants to do with his life and (possible) university career. His father talks him into going into the hereditary-family business of ghost hunting to make up his mind whether or not it’s the career path for him. The Marin family traditionally believe in assisting ghosts to ease their pain and allow them to pass on, a belief that put them odds with the majority of the ghost hunting community years ago and there’s minimal communication between the two groups.
All goes well until Anton runs into Rani Cross, a member of The Company of the Righteous in England. The two clash over the best technique for hunting ghosts, but must ultimately work together when there are unheard of numbers of dangerous ghosts rising in Melbourne.
This book was just plain fun. It was hilarious - Michael Pryor has included some fantastic pop culture and Melbourne references that were just a delight to read, and his one liners were top notch. Melbourne is depicted perfectly and I was nodding along to many of the tidbits of information (if I was laughing out loud at just how accurate it was).
The characters are absolutely delightful. Anton is very much the undecided teen at the beginning of the book, caught between making a break from his family or going into the family business, but he has a heart of gold and he honestly tries to the right thing all the time. Rani was a great foil to that; she’s lived her life in the pursuit of rising the ranks of The Company of the Righteous only to find her beliefs challenged. Anton’s best friend, Bec, is the hilarious, non-nonsense organisationally-obsessed glue in Anton’s life. She also has a prosthetic eye and puts it to good use.
Oh, and there’s no romance. Just lots of great friendships between boys and girls… and a bit of cosplay, if you’re into that!
Gap Year in Ghost Town is an easy 4.5 out of 5 star read for me.
Set in present day Melbourne, Anton Marin is takes a gap year after high school to figure out what he wants to do with his life and (possible) university career. His father talks him into going into the hereditary-family business of ghost hunting to make up his mind whether or not it’s the career path for him. The Marin family traditionally believe in assisting ghosts to ease their pain and allow them to pass on, a belief that put them odds with the majority of the ghost hunting community years ago and there’s minimal communication between the two groups.
All goes well until Anton runs into Rani Cross, a member of The Company of the Righteous in England. The two clash over the best technique for hunting ghosts, but must ultimately work together when there are unheard of numbers of dangerous ghosts rising in Melbourne.
This book was just plain fun. It was hilarious - Michael Pryor has included some fantastic pop culture and Melbourne references that were just a delight to read, and his one liners were top notch. Melbourne is depicted perfectly and I was nodding along to many of the tidbits of information (if I was laughing out loud at just how accurate it was).
The characters are absolutely delightful. Anton is very much the undecided teen at the beginning of the book, caught between making a break from his family or going into the family business, but he has a heart of gold and he honestly tries to the right thing all the time. Rani was a great foil to that; she’s lived her life in the pursuit of rising the ranks of The Company of the Righteous only to find her beliefs challenged. Anton’s best friend, Bec, is the hilarious, non-nonsense organisationally-obsessed glue in Anton’s life. She also has a prosthetic eye and puts it to good use.
Oh, and there’s no romance. Just lots of great friendships between boys and girls… and a bit of cosplay, if you’re into that!
Gap Year in Ghost Town is an easy 4.5 out of 5 star read for me.
May 8, 2021
Ghost town book one Anton Marin and his father Leon Marin are a two man team of ghost hunters, Anton has the gift to see ghosts ghost sight he touches them to release them so they can move on ease them. Rain Cross is a fighter combat style ghost hunter with more violent methods. She comes from a group of ghost hunters called the Righteous, which the Marins ancestors were once a part of until they became outcasts. Anton and Rani initially clash over methods but she is curious about the Marin ghost hunting style, they start getting to know each other as they team up to track a woman Stacey Evans a phasmaturgy someone who summons and controls rogue ghosts by enslaving the dead. Anton has just finished high school and has made a deal with his father Leon that for a gap year twelve months he will go into the family business full time and after the twelve months if he still wishes so that he can attend university and study art. There are all kinds of ghost some not so harmful and others extremely dangerous Lingerer, weeper, Rager, Rogue, Moper, thugs. But that’s not all Anton and Rani have to deal with there is a dangerous group of nasty ghost hunters called Malefactors who steal peoples abilities and have used magic to prolong their lives. I liked the depth of details that the writer went into with the characters backstories like with Anton when he was eight years old his three year old brother was killed by a snake and his mother couldn’t deal and abandoned him two years later leaving him emotionally scarred and insecure in a lot of ways. Rani didn’t know her parents when they were killed she lost her memories of them when she underwent training with the righteous. I liked her mentor Diane Gatehouse I am curious to find out more about what happened between the Marins and the Righteous order. It is only touched up in this book I would like to find out more about it. I really enjoyed reading this book I love ghost books and this was was really enjoyable to read I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
September 15, 2017
2.5-3 stars.
This book was... okay. Unfortunately, because of all the positive reviews and high ratings it's received so far from other Aussies, I was expecting a lot more than just 'okay'. For me, it failed to deliver.
This novel relied a lot of humour to make it work - the narrator, Anton, is a smart-mouthed, witty teenager who has a comeback for everything and a mouth that works before his brain sometimes. But I found the continual, non-stop use of humour and pop-culture references to be either hit or miss, and most of the time, they were a miss. Some of them were great, no doubt about that (eg. quoting from the 'Spanish Inquisition' skit by Monty Python), but it's hard to stay engaged in a novel when the writing style is completely putting you off.
There were things I liked though, particularly the whole explanations given about the supernatural world of ghosts, and how Anton's relationship with Bec and Rani was completely platonic. No romance here, folks. I also enjoyed the fewParkville Melbourne references that I actually understood. ('She turned and looked at me, which freaked me out because we were curving around the cemetery and about to launch into that long complicated roundabout near the university colleges and she WASN'T LOOKING AT THE ROAD.' I feel you, Anton. That roundabout is such a pain.)
Also, all you Melbourne people really need to re-evaluate what your definition of 'country Victoria' is. Here's a hint from a country girl. It's not a town an hour out of the city.
This was a disappointing read because I expected so much more out of it, but man, it's really hard to enjoy a novel when the style of narration just isn't working for you at all.
This book was... okay. Unfortunately, because of all the positive reviews and high ratings it's received so far from other Aussies, I was expecting a lot more than just 'okay'. For me, it failed to deliver.
This novel relied a lot of humour to make it work - the narrator, Anton, is a smart-mouthed, witty teenager who has a comeback for everything and a mouth that works before his brain sometimes. But I found the continual, non-stop use of humour and pop-culture references to be either hit or miss, and most of the time, they were a miss. Some of them were great, no doubt about that (eg. quoting from the 'Spanish Inquisition' skit by Monty Python), but it's hard to stay engaged in a novel when the writing style is completely putting you off.
There were things I liked though, particularly the whole explanations given about the supernatural world of ghosts, and how Anton's relationship with Bec and Rani was completely platonic. No romance here, folks. I also enjoyed the few
This was a disappointing read because I expected so much more out of it, but man, it's really hard to enjoy a novel when the style of narration just isn't working for you at all.
March 8, 2018
Anton and Rani have just finished school - Anton in Melbourne and Rani in London. The one thing they have in common is that they can see ghosts and they are ghosthunters. Other than that - nada.
Rani has come to Australia to further her career has a ghost hunter/ destroyer. Anton is trying not to be ‘that’ sort of ghost hunter - he’d rather be a ghost helper.
But the ghosts have other plans. Something is making them cranky, and angry, and agitated, and powerful. Melbourne is in the grips of a ghost plague. Can Anton and Rani puts aside their differences long enough to sort it all out?
This is an enjoyable, unusual, interesting take on the ghost hunter genre. Melbourne readers will recognise many of the place that Anton and Rani visit, but the Melbourne-ness doesn’t get in the way of a ripper story of secret societies, criminals, chases and danger. Anton and Rani have authentic young adult voices, and there is little in the story that will render it ‘old-fashioned’ in a few years - the setting is modern but timeless. Because the protags are young/new adults, the cover feels a bit ‘middle-grade’ to me and doesn’t quite fit, but that’s a minor quibble.
Loved this book, and recommend it to all readers.
Rani has come to Australia to further her career has a ghost hunter/ destroyer. Anton is trying not to be ‘that’ sort of ghost hunter - he’d rather be a ghost helper.
But the ghosts have other plans. Something is making them cranky, and angry, and agitated, and powerful. Melbourne is in the grips of a ghost plague. Can Anton and Rani puts aside their differences long enough to sort it all out?
This is an enjoyable, unusual, interesting take on the ghost hunter genre. Melbourne readers will recognise many of the place that Anton and Rani visit, but the Melbourne-ness doesn’t get in the way of a ripper story of secret societies, criminals, chases and danger. Anton and Rani have authentic young adult voices, and there is little in the story that will render it ‘old-fashioned’ in a few years - the setting is modern but timeless. Because the protags are young/new adults, the cover feels a bit ‘middle-grade’ to me and doesn’t quite fit, but that’s a minor quibble.
Loved this book, and recommend it to all readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews