What do you think?
Rate this book
Sixteen Souls #1
Sixteen Souls
The spooky, swoony YA debut by BookTok star Rosie Talbot (@Merrowchild) -- the "TikTok Made Me Buy It" sensation dubbed Heartstoppers with ghosts! Perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab and Aiden Thomas.
Sixteen-year-old Charlie Frith has problems. His crush is dating someone else, his sisters have glitter-bombed his prosthesis (again), and he's a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in England, and all his friends are ghosts.
To make matters worse, it seems that famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York's haunted streets and alleys. Charlie is determined to stay out of it, but Sam, the irritating new seer in town, expects him to track down who -- or what -- is responsible and uncover the dark purpose behind these disappearances.
But when one of Charlie's ghostly friends vanishes, he has no choice but to face the shadows -- and his growing feelings for Sam. The boys must be willing to risk it all to save York’s spirits, because this adversary will stop at nothing to complete their devastating plan. Afterlives are at stake, and Charlie is running out of time ...
Sixteen-year-old Charlie Frith has problems. His crush is dating someone else, his sisters have glitter-bombed his prosthesis (again), and he's a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in England, and all his friends are ghosts.
To make matters worse, it seems that famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York's haunted streets and alleys. Charlie is determined to stay out of it, but Sam, the irritating new seer in town, expects him to track down who -- or what -- is responsible and uncover the dark purpose behind these disappearances.
But when one of Charlie's ghostly friends vanishes, he has no choice but to face the shadows -- and his growing feelings for Sam. The boys must be willing to risk it all to save York’s spirits, because this adversary will stop at nothing to complete their devastating plan. Afterlives are at stake, and Charlie is running out of time ...
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2022
259 people are currently reading
13378 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Talbot
7 books579 followersA lover of dark and tightly woven stories, Rosie is inspired by creepy things in junk shops, haunted houses and strange magic. She is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative and Write Mentor.
By day she works as a bookseller. By night, she spends time sewing big skirts with even bigger pockets and wondering why her family has a suspiciously large collection of cauldrons. She currently resides in a mysterious pocket of the Sussex countryside with her very patient spouse and two cats called Tinkerfluff and Captain Haddock.
You can connect with Rosie via Tiktok and Instagram (@merrowchild) or on her website www.rosietalbot.co.uk.
By day she works as a bookseller. By night, she spends time sewing big skirts with even bigger pockets and wondering why her family has a suspiciously large collection of cauldrons. She currently resides in a mysterious pocket of the Sussex countryside with her very patient spouse and two cats called Tinkerfluff and Captain Haddock.
You can connect with Rosie via Tiktok and Instagram (@merrowchild) or on her website www.rosietalbot.co.uk.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 919 reviews
December 27, 2023
3.5 z serduszkiem 🫶🏼
July 27, 2022
I still can't believe this is a debut novel. It's THAT GOOD.
I never have a problem screaming about books I genuinely love, and I love this book. The author’s ability to evoke entire settings with minimal details is just amazing. The writing is rich; the characters are sharply drawn. This really is a stellar, supernatural YA -- with vibes of RIVERS OF LONDON mixed with V. E. Schwab's world-building.
Welcome to the world, Charlie Firth – I can’t wait to watch other readers fall in love with you.
I never have a problem screaming about books I genuinely love, and I love this book. The author’s ability to evoke entire settings with minimal details is just amazing. The writing is rich; the characters are sharply drawn. This really is a stellar, supernatural YA -- with vibes of RIVERS OF LONDON mixed with V. E. Schwab's world-building.
Welcome to the world, Charlie Firth – I can’t wait to watch other readers fall in love with you.
October 1, 2023
4.5/5
Nothing is forever.
This book was incredible, the perfect read for spooky season!
The characters were all so likeable, so fleshed out with flaws and insecurities, yet also shaped by their kindnesses. Every single character we encountered throughout the entire story had their own unique personality that built up the (primarily spectral) community of York.
I devoured this book! I loved every second of the story as we delved further and further into the mystery. It's incredibly atmospheric, I could feel the ghosts of York all around me. It was also (mostly, I believe, because of its amazing cast of characters) immensely comforting. It perfectly incapsulated that feeling that comes in the colder months, when the skies grow darker and there's a bite to the air and snow begins to fall and rain lashes at the windows, but you're safely wrapped up in a blanket and sipping at hot chocolate in front of the fire. To put it plainly, it feels like the warmest of warm hugs.
All of the representation was brilliant, some of the sweet and gentle moments made me tear up. If you're looking for great disabled rep (as well as lots of wonderful queer and trans rep) then this is the book for you!
I can't wait for the sequel! I would follow these characters anywhere. If you're a fan of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, you will absolutely adore this book. It's so much fun, I implore you to read it.
Nothing is forever.
This book was incredible, the perfect read for spooky season!
The characters were all so likeable, so fleshed out with flaws and insecurities, yet also shaped by their kindnesses. Every single character we encountered throughout the entire story had their own unique personality that built up the (primarily spectral) community of York.
I devoured this book! I loved every second of the story as we delved further and further into the mystery. It's incredibly atmospheric, I could feel the ghosts of York all around me. It was also (mostly, I believe, because of its amazing cast of characters) immensely comforting. It perfectly incapsulated that feeling that comes in the colder months, when the skies grow darker and there's a bite to the air and snow begins to fall and rain lashes at the windows, but you're safely wrapped up in a blanket and sipping at hot chocolate in front of the fire. To put it plainly, it feels like the warmest of warm hugs.
All of the representation was brilliant, some of the sweet and gentle moments made me tear up. If you're looking for great disabled rep (as well as lots of wonderful queer and trans rep) then this is the book for you!
I can't wait for the sequel! I would follow these characters anywhere. If you're a fan of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, you will absolutely adore this book. It's so much fun, I implore you to read it.
February 9, 2025
Although most basic summaries refer to this as a ghostly tale, at its core this YA fantasy is such a charming example of young, first time, boy/boy love...a love the author norms well here. It's such a believable representation--nothing too dramatic or inappropriately over the top for it's age group rating. The main character, through whose eyes we see, is a likable, gay young man who is still trying to figure out how to be comfortable in a world which is not always welcoming. He also happens to see ghosts...ghosts which can physically harm him if they are "hungry" (the aggressive type). The author adds several more twists of her own when defining the abilities of "seers," and it's quite an original take. If you enjoy the T. L. Huchu novels (Library of the Dead), you'll love this one too. Sixteen Souls predates Huchu's series and they are in no way carbon copies, but their protagonists deal with overcoming similar hurdles.
The basic premise is that the ghosts of York have been disappearing and of course no one knows this except those who can see them. The protagonist and his friends, in their search for the missing ghosts, find themselves hunted and wrapped up in mayhem in general. There's never a slow moment in the pacing. As a lifelong student of literary history (and thus history itself), I loved that the author referred to many famous hauntings and their respective historical events around York. There's really a lot to love about this novel.
I actually finished this a while back but am only now getting around to recording it. This was only a two day/two sitting read for me--it's relatively simple but highly palatable prose--very "readable." I found the plot engaging consistently. LGBTQ+ representation is positive and respectful. Probably the age group that Sixteen Souls would registrar with the most is 12-15 year olds. I rated this 3.5 rounded up to 4--but this is exactly the sort of book I wish had been around when I was a kid, and I strongly recommend it to any kid looking for an exciting fantasy with characters with whom they can identify.
The basic premise is that the ghosts of York have been disappearing and of course no one knows this except those who can see them. The protagonist and his friends, in their search for the missing ghosts, find themselves hunted and wrapped up in mayhem in general. There's never a slow moment in the pacing. As a lifelong student of literary history (and thus history itself), I loved that the author referred to many famous hauntings and their respective historical events around York. There's really a lot to love about this novel.
I actually finished this a while back but am only now getting around to recording it. This was only a two day/two sitting read for me--it's relatively simple but highly palatable prose--very "readable." I found the plot engaging consistently. LGBTQ+ representation is positive and respectful. Probably the age group that Sixteen Souls would registrar with the most is 12-15 year olds. I rated this 3.5 rounded up to 4--but this is exactly the sort of book I wish had been around when I was a kid, and I strongly recommend it to any kid looking for an exciting fantasy with characters with whom they can identify.
November 14, 2022
Seers are like buses; none around and then three come along at once.
I didn't know what to expect, when I picked Sixteen Souls up. What I got blew me away. A spooky ghost-riddled mystery. Found family, both incorporeal and bodied. And a burgeoning cute romance between two boys of the ghost whisperer variety.
I loved this and I hope there'll be a sequel!
___
Charlie died. But then he came back, and now he can see the dead. Ghosts can't touch or interact with the living world, except for seers. This means Charlie has to be careful, if he doesn't want to be accosted by ghosts all day.
When another seer by the name of Sam takes up residence in York, Charlie can't continue keeping to himself and his ghost friends. Ghosts around York are disappearing, all signs pointing to it being against their will.
Charlie grudgingly agrees to team up with Sam to find out whats going on. The deeper they go, the more dangerous the mytery becomes. If they're not careful it'll not be just the ghosts in danger of disappearing.
December 19, 2022
This book is about Charlie who, unlike anyone else, can see ghosts – and touch ghosts, respectively can also be touched by ghosts. Which is kind of a problem because not all ghosts are nice persons. So Charlie keeps his head low and relies only on his few ghost friends. This changes when suddenly ghosts are missing, among them one of his closest friends, and he has to team up with Sam, another boy who can see ghosts.
The book title's marketing appendix is “TikTok made me buy it” and this is a good indication of who the target audience is. The plot is very fast and very dense. There's always something happening and barely a time to rest. Maybe I'm already to old but I was longing for some kind of breather chapter every now and then. Reading this book is like riding a rollercoaster twenty times in a row nonstop. It's a little bit exhausting. At least for me. I know of people who would scream for a twenty-first ride.
Especially the first half of the book is like that. Charlie gets constantly in trouble and beaten up and I was biting my nails and screaming “Please give this poor boy a rest!” It gets better in the second half of the book. And this is also justified. The first half of the book Charlie is on his own and refuses to let others help him. In the second half he slowly opens up and finds some old and some new friends and things gets better for him.
I really loved reading this book. It has a thrilling plot, fascinating world-building and amazing character development. The writing is also great. And not to forget the queer representation. Not only are the main characters queer but also a bunch of the side characters.
Highly recommend this book. Full five stars without a doubt. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
The book title's marketing appendix is “TikTok made me buy it” and this is a good indication of who the target audience is. The plot is very fast and very dense. There's always something happening and barely a time to rest. Maybe I'm already to old but I was longing for some kind of breather chapter every now and then. Reading this book is like riding a rollercoaster twenty times in a row nonstop. It's a little bit exhausting. At least for me. I know of people who would scream for a twenty-first ride.
Especially the first half of the book is like that. Charlie gets constantly in trouble and beaten up and I was biting my nails and screaming “Please give this poor boy a rest!” It gets better in the second half of the book. And this is also justified. The first half of the book Charlie is on his own and refuses to let others help him. In the second half he slowly opens up and finds some old and some new friends and things gets better for him.
I really loved reading this book. It has a thrilling plot, fascinating world-building and amazing character development. The writing is also great. And not to forget the queer representation. Not only are the main characters queer but also a bunch of the side characters.
Highly recommend this book. Full five stars without a doubt. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
January 30, 2023
Sixteen Souls is a fantasy ghost novel set in York (England, not that anyone from Eboracum might recognise this fact). Its power ought to rest upon two important factors: its detailed sense of place; its ability to create tension through character. Unfortunately, Talbot's attempts in both directions are less than successful.
Her York is riddled with misconceptions and is a map imagined from some "mysterious pocket of the Sussex countryside" where she lives. The errors indicate the quality of her research. Probably, fine for a "BookTok star" on TikTok, but ... The hero, Charlie Frith, at the start of the novel, regrets not visiting Monk's Gate shopping Park. He means Monk's Cross. Later, limping (on his artificial legs) from the city centre to his bus stop, he takes a scenic walk along the ancient Roman walls. The walls at this point, in York, are high, with a terrible vertical drop, and the pathway slopes treacherously in places. It would be impossible for a shambling Charlie, already exhausted by the cobbles in The Shambles, to negotiate. Even simple names are misnamed/mistyped by Talbot: Monk Gate for Monkgate, Todcaster Road for Tadcaster, Goodramsgate for Goodramgate, Parliament is confused with Pavement, an open square, when it should be a street -- Parliament Street. King's Landing ought to be King's Staith. York is nothing more than a painted backdrop in a Hammer horror movie, a convenient city with lots of ghost stories that Talbot can plunder via the internet.
At the centre of Sixteen Souls there is the relationship between Charlie Frith, a sixteen-year-old gay, Yorkshire lad (though he speaks like any run-of-the-mill two-dimensional teenager, in youth fiction, is pissed off a lot, and peppers his utterances with fuck) and Sam Harrow, a "trans-man" who has been hunting for Charlie. Both are young seers with the ability to see the living dead, a dubious gift bestowed upon them after near death experiences. "Imagine a story that has all the character of York, then fill it with all the ghosts from there too ... and whilst you're at it make it QUEER" writes the author, Rory Michaelson, in praise of Talbot's novel. Or to put that another way: imagine a story that has little of York's character and two heroes that are labelled gay and trans and made queer for the sake of novelty and selling power. Much has been made of the relationship between the two, but really this never gets much beyond pining and a final kiss. Yet again, Sixteen Souls is an example of a straight female writer writing a superficially queer novel without any understanding of inner lives.
Supposedly, Sixteen Souls is a radical departure. Really? Its description of Leonie, the girlfriend of Charlie's ex-crush, Mitch, suggests something different. "Every lass at school wants to be Leonie's best mate and every lad -- except me [Charlie] -- wants to snog her. I get it, though, she's well beautiful -- round cheeked, petite and curvy, with dark brown skin and long lashes." As with this stereotypical description and piece of female sexual objectification, Talbot's writing is often lax. This really shows when the phantoms assemble at the ghostmoot: to discuss the disappearance of spirits in York and the magical workings of the soul catcher. York has many ghosts from all centuries. How do you bring all of these together and align the Latin of Emperor Septimus Severus with the Old Norse of Inge of Jorvik, the Old English of King Aelle, and the Elizabethan English of St. Margaret Clitherow? You side-step the creative challenge and make them all speak a fake English filled with archaic sounding words, a sort-of ghostly Esperanto. Amidst "The Grand Old Souls of York", George Villiers is one successful creation, though Talbot misses a trick here: he was, of course, the lover of James I, a man compared by the Christly king to Christ's beloved John. A piece of Queer history (a useful parallel) slips by unnoticed.
Sixteen Souls suffers from an over-contrived plot, lots of ghostly cartooning worthy of Scooby Doo, and face-slashing horror (that often comes across as comedy). As the book warns, it contains "death/dying, body horror, physical torture, violence and mentions of suicide, self-harm and murder." There should be a content warning for mullock and fulter.
Her York is riddled with misconceptions and is a map imagined from some "mysterious pocket of the Sussex countryside" where she lives. The errors indicate the quality of her research. Probably, fine for a "BookTok star" on TikTok, but ... The hero, Charlie Frith, at the start of the novel, regrets not visiting Monk's Gate shopping Park. He means Monk's Cross. Later, limping (on his artificial legs) from the city centre to his bus stop, he takes a scenic walk along the ancient Roman walls. The walls at this point, in York, are high, with a terrible vertical drop, and the pathway slopes treacherously in places. It would be impossible for a shambling Charlie, already exhausted by the cobbles in The Shambles, to negotiate. Even simple names are misnamed/mistyped by Talbot: Monk Gate for Monkgate, Todcaster Road for Tadcaster, Goodramsgate for Goodramgate, Parliament is confused with Pavement, an open square, when it should be a street -- Parliament Street. King's Landing ought to be King's Staith. York is nothing more than a painted backdrop in a Hammer horror movie, a convenient city with lots of ghost stories that Talbot can plunder via the internet.
At the centre of Sixteen Souls there is the relationship between Charlie Frith, a sixteen-year-old gay, Yorkshire lad (though he speaks like any run-of-the-mill two-dimensional teenager, in youth fiction, is pissed off a lot, and peppers his utterances with fuck) and Sam Harrow, a "trans-man" who has been hunting for Charlie. Both are young seers with the ability to see the living dead, a dubious gift bestowed upon them after near death experiences. "Imagine a story that has all the character of York, then fill it with all the ghosts from there too ... and whilst you're at it make it QUEER" writes the author, Rory Michaelson, in praise of Talbot's novel. Or to put that another way: imagine a story that has little of York's character and two heroes that are labelled gay and trans and made queer for the sake of novelty and selling power. Much has been made of the relationship between the two, but really this never gets much beyond pining and a final kiss. Yet again, Sixteen Souls is an example of a straight female writer writing a superficially queer novel without any understanding of inner lives.
Supposedly, Sixteen Souls is a radical departure. Really? Its description of Leonie, the girlfriend of Charlie's ex-crush, Mitch, suggests something different. "Every lass at school wants to be Leonie's best mate and every lad -- except me [Charlie] -- wants to snog her. I get it, though, she's well beautiful -- round cheeked, petite and curvy, with dark brown skin and long lashes." As with this stereotypical description and piece of female sexual objectification, Talbot's writing is often lax. This really shows when the phantoms assemble at the ghostmoot: to discuss the disappearance of spirits in York and the magical workings of the soul catcher. York has many ghosts from all centuries. How do you bring all of these together and align the Latin of Emperor Septimus Severus with the Old Norse of Inge of Jorvik, the Old English of King Aelle, and the Elizabethan English of St. Margaret Clitherow? You side-step the creative challenge and make them all speak a fake English filled with archaic sounding words, a sort-of ghostly Esperanto. Amidst "The Grand Old Souls of York", George Villiers is one successful creation, though Talbot misses a trick here: he was, of course, the lover of James I, a man compared by the Christly king to Christ's beloved John. A piece of Queer history (a useful parallel) slips by unnoticed.
Sixteen Souls suffers from an over-contrived plot, lots of ghostly cartooning worthy of Scooby Doo, and face-slashing horror (that often comes across as comedy). As the book warns, it contains "death/dying, body horror, physical torture, violence and mentions of suicide, self-harm and murder." There should be a content warning for mullock and fulter.
May 9, 2025
3.75 🌟 War im großen und ganzen echt süß und unterhaltsam 😊 Ich habe zwar nicht allzu viel von der Handlung verstanden, ( das Pacing war auch nicht so gut) aber ich fand die Charaktere & die Romance echt toll. Ich mochte auch gerne das es ziemlich viel Diversität & Representation gab.
February 21, 2023
I've been struggling through this book for months hoping it would get me out of my reading slump but the only thing that might take me out of it is finally finishing this.
Not a bad book by any means but one I just struggled with a lot. I really thought the premise was fun and I enjoyed the disability and trans rep but I just couldn't bring myself to care.
There were so many (ghostly) characters that I constantly forgot who was who and why they were even important for the story. So many things going on all at once and I felt lost. Especially lost in the writing style that would change scenes and places in a heartbeat. Blink and you'll miss it.
Obviously I wanted to like this more and enjoy my time reading it but it just didn't click with me and I'm happy to be done now more than anything.
Not a bad book by any means but one I just struggled with a lot. I really thought the premise was fun and I enjoyed the disability and trans rep but I just couldn't bring myself to care.
There were so many (ghostly) characters that I constantly forgot who was who and why they were even important for the story. So many things going on all at once and I felt lost. Especially lost in the writing style that would change scenes and places in a heartbeat. Blink and you'll miss it.
Obviously I wanted to like this more and enjoy my time reading it but it just didn't click with me and I'm happy to be done now more than anything.
October 9, 2023
buena idea
mala ejecución
me gustan charlie y sam
mala ejecución
me gustan charlie y sam
December 16, 2022
A YA paranormal book with lots of lots of GHOSTS 👻👻 but some are kind and cute so don’t worry if you have a fainted heart 😄 the main character is a disable grumpy gay boy and the love interest is a trans which i rarely read in YA paranormal book
The Plot is pretty fast but some scenes are not quite engaging
I had fun 😊 it’s a solid debut book
3.5 STARS
The Plot is pretty fast but some scenes are not quite engaging
I had fun 😊 it’s a solid debut book
3.5 STARS
October 6, 2023
la idea está buena pero son muchos personajes y eso confunde, aparte me perdí completamente con la resolución del misterio. igual de todos modos entretiene.
June 18, 2022
Sixteen Souls is a thrilling, heartfelt debut that I’m so grateful I had the privilege to read early! The premise is incredibly cool - people who have died and come back gain the ability to see and interact with ghosts. Our protagonist, Charlie, one of these seers, lives in York, the oft declared most haunted city in the entire world. Charlie mostly hates his ability, considering it more of a curse than a blessing, for various reasons that become clear throughout the book.
I don’t want to say too much and spoil anyone, because it was delightful to slowly peel back the layers of the story and world building, but I highly recommend Sixteen Souls, especially for fans of YA urban fantasies like Cemetery Boys!
Many thanks to the author, Rosie Talbot, for sending this early copy for review! All opinions my own.
Love queer books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Bookstagram | Twitter
I don’t want to say too much and spoil anyone, because it was delightful to slowly peel back the layers of the story and world building, but I highly recommend Sixteen Souls, especially for fans of YA urban fantasies like Cemetery Boys!
Many thanks to the author, Rosie Talbot, for sending this early copy for review! All opinions my own.
Love queer books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Bookstagram | Twitter
October 22, 2023
This is perfect if you want like a gay YA version of City of Ghosts. While it has its suspense, this will probably be a comfort read for me. I absolutely loved seeing Charlie's friendships with all these ghosts!
November 2, 2023
Bardzo lubię takie historie. Na swój sposób jest prosta, ale bardzo przyjemna. Ma mroczny klimat, ciekawych bohaterów i barwne reprezentacje. Więcej, dajcie mi więcej!
October 10, 2022
5 stars!
This was incredible - so incredible in fact, that I finished it all in one sitting. I simply could not put it down.
Sixteen Souls follows Charlie, a seer of spirits living in the city of York, the most haunted city in Europe. All of Charlie’s friends are ghosts, but apart from that Charlie has tried to stay out of the ghostly business and just live his life as well as he can.
That is until a new seer, Sam, comes into town and expects Charlie to join him on discovering why some of the ghosts in town are disappearing.
This was a wild ride through and through. Rosie Talbot has created a magical world with her wonderful writing and amazingly well fleshed out characters. I had no idea what to expect from the ending, but this absolutely blew me away.
Sixteen Souls is filled with character, whimsy, high stakes, and a spooky vibe all throughout. Not going to lie, my heart almost leapt out of my throat a few times because it’s impossible to not immerse yourself in the story so completely that it feels like you’re there with the characters.
It is the perfect read for this time of year, and it will leave you wanting more.
This was incredible - so incredible in fact, that I finished it all in one sitting. I simply could not put it down.
Sixteen Souls follows Charlie, a seer of spirits living in the city of York, the most haunted city in Europe. All of Charlie’s friends are ghosts, but apart from that Charlie has tried to stay out of the ghostly business and just live his life as well as he can.
That is until a new seer, Sam, comes into town and expects Charlie to join him on discovering why some of the ghosts in town are disappearing.
This was a wild ride through and through. Rosie Talbot has created a magical world with her wonderful writing and amazingly well fleshed out characters. I had no idea what to expect from the ending, but this absolutely blew me away.
Sixteen Souls is filled with character, whimsy, high stakes, and a spooky vibe all throughout. Not going to lie, my heart almost leapt out of my throat a few times because it’s impossible to not immerse yourself in the story so completely that it feels like you’re there with the characters.
It is the perfect read for this time of year, and it will leave you wanting more.
Read
November 26, 2022a really sweet story that reminded me of Cemetery Boys with a British twist, featuring a charmingly diverse cast and lots of ghosts
CW/TW: death, murder, blood & gore, violence, dead bodies, medical content, injury detail, suicide, alcohol consumption, self harm (for magic)
CW/TW: death, murder, blood & gore, violence, dead bodies, medical content, injury detail, suicide, alcohol consumption, self harm (for magic)
October 9, 2024
[Vorab möchte ich mich beim Loewe Verlag und NetGalley für die Bereitstellung dieses Rezensionsexemplares bedanken!]
4,5⭐️
Das Buch war der Hammer, allerdings hatte ich kein 5 Sterne Gefühl.
„Den größten Ärger bereiten mir die Toten, die erst kürzlich gestorben sind.“
Zu Anfang der Geschichte hatte ich Probleme reinzukommen, da ich die Welt und das System nicht verstanden habe und es teilweise ziemlich stockend war.
Ich war trotz den kleinen Problemen von der ersten Seite an gehooked.
Charlie ist ein super sympathischer und authentischer Protagonist. Man hat während des ganzen Buches mit ihm gefiebert.
Generell waren alle Charaktere im buch liebenswert, mit ihren Problem und Unsicherheiten. Jeder hatte seine Story, die sie zu dem macht, was sie sind und einige durchlaufen auch eine krasse Charakterentwicklung im laufe der Story.
Die Storyline war fesselnd und nie langweilig, es ist immer etwas passiert. Manchmal ging alles leider viel zu schnell und man ist nicht mitgekommen, aber die Fragen die aufkamen, wurden meist auf der nächsten Seite geklärt.
Ich liebe, dass das Buch so viele unterschiedliche Menschen und Probleme repräsentiert.
[Kleiner Spoiler]
Sam und Charlie sind so süß zusammen und ich kann es kaum erwarten im nächsten Buch mehr von ihnen zu bekommen!
Generell freue ich mich schon sehr auf den nächsten band!
January 2, 2023
Spoilers!
This has to be the most wappy book I’ve read in a long time. Random characters get introduced, die and become ghosts in the space of a few pages. A shadowy organisation is introduced with about two chapters left in the book. Every possible effort is made to be hyper inclusive (which I appreciate as a gay man) but it is done so clumsily that we have a gay teen boy in love with a pre op trans man and neither actually deal with the difficulties in their own identity or the conflicts in their relationship. This was like an episode of Buffy written by someone with a glass of magic mushroom tea.
I’m assuming the five star responses were written in exchange for free copies as the level of mind bleach I now need is huge. Avoid. Two stars for the creativity.
This has to be the most wappy book I’ve read in a long time. Random characters get introduced, die and become ghosts in the space of a few pages. A shadowy organisation is introduced with about two chapters left in the book. Every possible effort is made to be hyper inclusive (which I appreciate as a gay man) but it is done so clumsily that we have a gay teen boy in love with a pre op trans man and neither actually deal with the difficulties in their own identity or the conflicts in their relationship. This was like an episode of Buffy written by someone with a glass of magic mushroom tea.
I’m assuming the five star responses were written in exchange for free copies as the level of mind bleach I now need is huge. Avoid. Two stars for the creativity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
This is a case if it’s not the book, it’s me. In my edition, there were not content warnings, and I didn’t do any research going into this book, so that is all on me, but I definitely think special editions or book boxes should include triggers for this book. I’ve seen this compared to Heartstopper and despite Sam being able to be compared to Nick in some ways, this book is DARK, and quite scary. The pacing was really slow and off for me and the British dry humor was hard for me to get into, especially as I didn’t particularly care for Charlie as a main character by any means, which also made it hard for me. If you like truly chilling down to the bones type of books, this one is for you! I loved the disabled, trans, and gay rep though!
October 28, 2023
At its core this is a beautiful story about friendship and finding the courage to come out of your shelf and embrace who you are.
Charlie is a seer. This means quite simply that he can see ghosts. He can not really talk to anyone about it until he meets Sam.
And even though Sam and Charlie will not see eye to eye at first, when ghosts start disappearing in York, they will have to work together to find how to stop this.
Truly enjoyed the writing and the deep character development as well as all the representation in the book. The ghost world was really well explained and felt so unique and special.
A great paranormal book full of different unexpected friendships with ghosts and a lot of love.
Charlie is a seer. This means quite simply that he can see ghosts. He can not really talk to anyone about it until he meets Sam.
And even though Sam and Charlie will not see eye to eye at first, when ghosts start disappearing in York, they will have to work together to find how to stop this.
Truly enjoyed the writing and the deep character development as well as all the representation in the book. The ghost world was really well explained and felt so unique and special.
A great paranormal book full of different unexpected friendships with ghosts and a lot of love.
December 22, 2023
4.75 (casi casi 5 estrellas)
es muy adorable y muy paranormal. mi vida sería mucho más felíz si todo los romances queer adolecentes tuvieran fantasmas.
es muy adorable y muy paranormal. mi vida sería mucho más felíz si todo los romances queer adolecentes tuvieran fantasmas.
September 12, 2022
June-ish? 2022:
OH MY GOD I CAN’T BELIEVE I CAN FINALLY RATE THIS BOOK ON GOODREADS AND GIVE IT THE FIVE STARS IT SO DESPERATELY DESERVES 😭😭
I did a sensitivity read on this just over two years ago and I’ve NEVER STOPPED THINKING ABOUT IT. I’ll write a proper review after I buy a finished copy (who am I kidding, several, to force upon my loved ones), hold it in my hands, scream, do a reread, scream again, take 5-7 business days to process my feelings, scream some more, then collect my brain cells and get on goodreads. For now, suffice to say, YALL ARE IN FOR A TREAT WITH THIS BOOK.
———————
September 2022:
This is one of my favourite books EVER. I was lucky enough to be a sensitivity reader for Sixteen Souls back in 2020 and ever since then I've been waiting, hoping, and praying to the benevolent gods of bookishness that some wise publisher would see what a game-changer this was destined to be. Even before it existed as an actual book I was waxing lyrical about it to my friends, family, and all the kids at my queer youth groups, so I am THRILLED that I now get to forcibly press it into peoples hands and make uncomfortable eye contact as I tell them I will not leave them alone until they read and love it. There is SO MUCH to love about this book so if you don't want to read me rambling on for ages, I will just say:
beautiful queer rep; perfect, down-to-earth approach to disability; heaps of dry British humour; fascinating, imaginative magic system; action-packed, unputdownable plot; gorgeous setting; and characters you will want to lay down your life for.
If you want an *actual* review...
Rosie Talbot is an astonishing writer. Her narrative pulled me in with the wonderful sensory description and command of metaphor and personification that I love so much in writers like Maggie Stiefvater. Her skill with words is matched only by her passion; I can feel the blood, sweat, and tears she's poured into crafting this story rolling off every page. I absolutely knew while reading that she loved and respected these characters, and she was telling this story because she *needed* to. I get the sense that nothing could have stopped her giving Charlie, Sam, and their ghosts a voice, and I'm once again so proud and grateful that Scholastic saw the potential in her and gave these boys their chance to reach more readers.
I was completely in the palm of Talbot's hand throughout both my first read and (now, two years later) my second, feeling every single emotion across the course of the story - sometimes all at once! It's action-packed and perilous, full of unexpected twists and shocking reveals, keeping the reader on the edge of their proverbial seat right up until the end. The action is perfectly balanced though, by the romantic tension, beautiful character development, and heaps of dry humour. It's exquisitely paced; the author seems to know exactly what the reader needs at any given moment to ensure putting it down is never even a possibility, with every chapter ending in a 'oh go on then, just one more'.
A huge part of what had me so invested, alongside the fantastically imaginative plot, was the characters. There's not a single character in this book, no matter how minor, that doesn't feel like there could be a whole book dedicated to them. There's clearly been so much thought invested into building this cast, and everyone feels so distinct and developed. I just want this world to keep stretching out and I would DEVOUR novellas on what Heather got up to while Charlie was in Normandy, or fleshing out the backstories of the Mouldy Oldies, or - I don't know - Villiers and Reid smut fic, I'll frankly take anything!
But as much as I was hooked by the supporting players, I cannot put into words just how much I love Charlie and Sam. I want to scoop them both up into a giant hug and smother them with my care and protection. The budding relationship between them is written so tenderly and it made me ACHE watching them be stupid little chaos gays with their stupid miscommunication and stupid self-esteem issues and I wanted to bash their stupid heads together but also I wouldn't change a thing and I was literally reading it with tears streaming down my cheeks and a grin on my face most of the time.
At every turn it just felt so real. This wasn't a romance book where the author had gone 'I need to make this more interesting, let's set it in space' or a fantasy book where they'd added inexplicable kissing while the world is crashing down around them, it was just *natural*. You could take any one of my kids from youth group, give them the ability to see ghosts, and this book would be what happens; they get on with it. Friendships, crushes, family shit, fuck ups, insecurities, GCSEs, etc all still happen, they just save the world as well. I honestly think this is one of the most powerful books I've read, and it achieves that through its subtle touch and refusal to treat its MCs as anything other than exactly who they are. They're not 'chosen ones', they're flawed, messy teenagers who are unique and special and completely ordinary all at the same time. THIS is exactly the representation queer kids need. Not another coming out story, or queerphobia-ridden 'issues' novel, but a contemporary ghost story that's equal parts soft and chaotic, starring people that look exactly like them.
That comment goes for the approach to disability rep as well. We don’t see disabled MCs nearly enough, and disabled MCs done well are even rarer, so the minute Charlie is introduced with the main thing bothering him about his prostheses being the glitter polish his little sisters had taken to them, my heart sang. Reading little things like Charlie’s opposition to push handles on his wheelchair told me how much Talbot got it, and was so affirming. Just like his queerness, his disability is not a plot-point in itself, something he has to overcome, something that makes him special or gifted, something that’s forgotten about as soon as the action gets going, or any other kind of trope, it’s simply a consistent part of who he is. Again, the power in this character just boldly existing, and NOT feeling the weight of representation, blew me away. It feels like this book has the ability to teach people so much without them even realising it’s happening, which is something truly special.
There was so much about the book that was really close to my heart - the gorgeous queerness and fantastic disability representation at the top of the list - and something else I was particularly happy to see was the sheer Britishness - and specifically northernness. It feels like a real triumph for UKYA to read all those Yorkshire colloquialisms and descriptions of narrow ginnels and trip-hazardous cobblestones in a book that feels so accessible and well-placed within the mainstream. Learning so much about York and all the rich history that goes along with it will be fascinating for the uninitiated, and give northern readers a rare chance to see something approaching their lives spotlighted.
While I maintain that it can't be compared to anything else, because it's *just that good*, Sixteen Souls would be perfect for fans of William Hussey, Christine Lynn Herman, Patrick Ness, or Maggie Stiefvater. Overall it’s a well-rounded, downright good book that I can see sitting firmly in the mainstream YA market and receiving five star reviews from all sorts of readers. If you haven't already rushed off to get yourself a copy, WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE?
(Note: I’m aware I probably sound super biased here, but I swear I’d never met Rosie before she approached me to sensitivity read, we’re not mates or anything, I honestly do just love it that much 😂)
OH MY GOD I CAN’T BELIEVE I CAN FINALLY RATE THIS BOOK ON GOODREADS AND GIVE IT THE FIVE STARS IT SO DESPERATELY DESERVES 😭😭
I did a sensitivity read on this just over two years ago and I’ve NEVER STOPPED THINKING ABOUT IT. I’ll write a proper review after I buy a finished copy (who am I kidding, several, to force upon my loved ones), hold it in my hands, scream, do a reread, scream again, take 5-7 business days to process my feelings, scream some more, then collect my brain cells and get on goodreads. For now, suffice to say, YALL ARE IN FOR A TREAT WITH THIS BOOK.
———————
September 2022:
This is one of my favourite books EVER. I was lucky enough to be a sensitivity reader for Sixteen Souls back in 2020 and ever since then I've been waiting, hoping, and praying to the benevolent gods of bookishness that some wise publisher would see what a game-changer this was destined to be. Even before it existed as an actual book I was waxing lyrical about it to my friends, family, and all the kids at my queer youth groups, so I am THRILLED that I now get to forcibly press it into peoples hands and make uncomfortable eye contact as I tell them I will not leave them alone until they read and love it. There is SO MUCH to love about this book so if you don't want to read me rambling on for ages, I will just say:
beautiful queer rep; perfect, down-to-earth approach to disability; heaps of dry British humour; fascinating, imaginative magic system; action-packed, unputdownable plot; gorgeous setting; and characters you will want to lay down your life for.
If you want an *actual* review...
Rosie Talbot is an astonishing writer. Her narrative pulled me in with the wonderful sensory description and command of metaphor and personification that I love so much in writers like Maggie Stiefvater. Her skill with words is matched only by her passion; I can feel the blood, sweat, and tears she's poured into crafting this story rolling off every page. I absolutely knew while reading that she loved and respected these characters, and she was telling this story because she *needed* to. I get the sense that nothing could have stopped her giving Charlie, Sam, and their ghosts a voice, and I'm once again so proud and grateful that Scholastic saw the potential in her and gave these boys their chance to reach more readers.
I was completely in the palm of Talbot's hand throughout both my first read and (now, two years later) my second, feeling every single emotion across the course of the story - sometimes all at once! It's action-packed and perilous, full of unexpected twists and shocking reveals, keeping the reader on the edge of their proverbial seat right up until the end. The action is perfectly balanced though, by the romantic tension, beautiful character development, and heaps of dry humour. It's exquisitely paced; the author seems to know exactly what the reader needs at any given moment to ensure putting it down is never even a possibility, with every chapter ending in a 'oh go on then, just one more'.
A huge part of what had me so invested, alongside the fantastically imaginative plot, was the characters. There's not a single character in this book, no matter how minor, that doesn't feel like there could be a whole book dedicated to them. There's clearly been so much thought invested into building this cast, and everyone feels so distinct and developed. I just want this world to keep stretching out and I would DEVOUR novellas on what Heather got up to while Charlie was in Normandy, or fleshing out the backstories of the Mouldy Oldies, or - I don't know - Villiers and Reid smut fic, I'll frankly take anything!
But as much as I was hooked by the supporting players, I cannot put into words just how much I love Charlie and Sam. I want to scoop them both up into a giant hug and smother them with my care and protection. The budding relationship between them is written so tenderly and it made me ACHE watching them be stupid little chaos gays with their stupid miscommunication and stupid self-esteem issues and I wanted to bash their stupid heads together but also I wouldn't change a thing and I was literally reading it with tears streaming down my cheeks and a grin on my face most of the time.
At every turn it just felt so real. This wasn't a romance book where the author had gone 'I need to make this more interesting, let's set it in space' or a fantasy book where they'd added inexplicable kissing while the world is crashing down around them, it was just *natural*. You could take any one of my kids from youth group, give them the ability to see ghosts, and this book would be what happens; they get on with it. Friendships, crushes, family shit, fuck ups, insecurities, GCSEs, etc all still happen, they just save the world as well. I honestly think this is one of the most powerful books I've read, and it achieves that through its subtle touch and refusal to treat its MCs as anything other than exactly who they are. They're not 'chosen ones', they're flawed, messy teenagers who are unique and special and completely ordinary all at the same time. THIS is exactly the representation queer kids need. Not another coming out story, or queerphobia-ridden 'issues' novel, but a contemporary ghost story that's equal parts soft and chaotic, starring people that look exactly like them.
That comment goes for the approach to disability rep as well. We don’t see disabled MCs nearly enough, and disabled MCs done well are even rarer, so the minute Charlie is introduced with the main thing bothering him about his prostheses being the glitter polish his little sisters had taken to them, my heart sang. Reading little things like Charlie’s opposition to push handles on his wheelchair told me how much Talbot got it, and was so affirming. Just like his queerness, his disability is not a plot-point in itself, something he has to overcome, something that makes him special or gifted, something that’s forgotten about as soon as the action gets going, or any other kind of trope, it’s simply a consistent part of who he is. Again, the power in this character just boldly existing, and NOT feeling the weight of representation, blew me away. It feels like this book has the ability to teach people so much without them even realising it’s happening, which is something truly special.
There was so much about the book that was really close to my heart - the gorgeous queerness and fantastic disability representation at the top of the list - and something else I was particularly happy to see was the sheer Britishness - and specifically northernness. It feels like a real triumph for UKYA to read all those Yorkshire colloquialisms and descriptions of narrow ginnels and trip-hazardous cobblestones in a book that feels so accessible and well-placed within the mainstream. Learning so much about York and all the rich history that goes along with it will be fascinating for the uninitiated, and give northern readers a rare chance to see something approaching their lives spotlighted.
While I maintain that it can't be compared to anything else, because it's *just that good*, Sixteen Souls would be perfect for fans of William Hussey, Christine Lynn Herman, Patrick Ness, or Maggie Stiefvater. Overall it’s a well-rounded, downright good book that I can see sitting firmly in the mainstream YA market and receiving five star reviews from all sorts of readers. If you haven't already rushed off to get yourself a copy, WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE?
(Note: I’m aware I probably sound super biased here, but I swear I’d never met Rosie before she approached me to sensitivity read, we’re not mates or anything, I honestly do just love it that much 😂)
December 13, 2023
Nie sięgam często po książki młodzieżowe, ale opis „Sixteen Souls” i jej wysokie oceny na goodreads zachęciły mnie, by zrobić dla niej wyjątek. „Młodzieżowa powieść grozy i romans fantasy w jednym” jest dla niej bardzo trafnym określeniem i trudno zawyrokować, który z tych wątków przeważa.
Bohaterem powieści jest młody chłopak, Charlie, który prócz zmagania się ze zwykłymi problemami nastoletniego wieku, zostaje obarczony o wiele poważniejszym brzemieniem. Mianowicie ma dar, a może przekleństwo widzenia duchów. Nie jest to temat, o którym mógłby rozmawiać z rodziną i znajomymi bez posądzenia go o szaleństwo, więc przyjaźni szuka tam, gdzie może być sobą, właśnie wśród duchów.
Jednak i w ich świecie nie dzieje się dobrze, a kolejne niepokojące zdarzenia prowadzą do odkrycia mrocznej i niebezpiecznej tajemnicy. Charlie, który początkowo unika angażowania się, nie może od niego uciec, gdy zagrożenie dotyka bezpośrednio jego przyjaciół i osobę, którą zaczyna dążyć silniejszym uczuciem.
Akcja prowadzona jest bardzo dynamicznie, nie dając chwili na zaczerpnięcie oddechu. Nie wszystko jest tu podane od razu na tacy, więc przyjemnością jest odkrywanie kolejnych warstw tej historii tworzących spójną fabułę. Autorka wyjaśnia stopniowo czytelnikowi, ale i bohaterom choćby przyczynę daru pozwalającego widzieć i rozmawiać z duchami, czy mroczną tajemnicę znikania niektórych z nich. Duży plus za tą spójność, bo nie ma tu urwanych wątków i niewyjaśnionych spraw.
Bohaterowie, jak na nastolatków przystało nie zawsze postępują rozsądnie, reagując czasem z przesadą, innym razem wykazując się naiwnością, ale właśnie to czyni ich takimi prawdziwymi. Autorka zgrabnie wplata tematykę niepełnosprawności i radzenia sobie z nią, queer i transseksualizmu, ale również pozytywnej zmiany, jaką może przynieść otwarcie się na drugiego człowieka.
To zdecydowanie powieść dla starszej młodzieży ze względu na sporo scen dość brutalnej przemocy, ale dostarczająca nie tylko mrocznej rozrywki, ale i wartościowych, niosących nadzieję treści. Ukazująca wagę przyjaźni, tolerancji i współpracy. Już dałam ją do przeczytania mojemu synowi i ciekawa jestem jego opinii.
Bohaterem powieści jest młody chłopak, Charlie, który prócz zmagania się ze zwykłymi problemami nastoletniego wieku, zostaje obarczony o wiele poważniejszym brzemieniem. Mianowicie ma dar, a może przekleństwo widzenia duchów. Nie jest to temat, o którym mógłby rozmawiać z rodziną i znajomymi bez posądzenia go o szaleństwo, więc przyjaźni szuka tam, gdzie może być sobą, właśnie wśród duchów.
Jednak i w ich świecie nie dzieje się dobrze, a kolejne niepokojące zdarzenia prowadzą do odkrycia mrocznej i niebezpiecznej tajemnicy. Charlie, który początkowo unika angażowania się, nie może od niego uciec, gdy zagrożenie dotyka bezpośrednio jego przyjaciół i osobę, którą zaczyna dążyć silniejszym uczuciem.
Akcja prowadzona jest bardzo dynamicznie, nie dając chwili na zaczerpnięcie oddechu. Nie wszystko jest tu podane od razu na tacy, więc przyjemnością jest odkrywanie kolejnych warstw tej historii tworzących spójną fabułę. Autorka wyjaśnia stopniowo czytelnikowi, ale i bohaterom choćby przyczynę daru pozwalającego widzieć i rozmawiać z duchami, czy mroczną tajemnicę znikania niektórych z nich. Duży plus za tą spójność, bo nie ma tu urwanych wątków i niewyjaśnionych spraw.
Bohaterowie, jak na nastolatków przystało nie zawsze postępują rozsądnie, reagując czasem z przesadą, innym razem wykazując się naiwnością, ale właśnie to czyni ich takimi prawdziwymi. Autorka zgrabnie wplata tematykę niepełnosprawności i radzenia sobie z nią, queer i transseksualizmu, ale również pozytywnej zmiany, jaką może przynieść otwarcie się na drugiego człowieka.
To zdecydowanie powieść dla starszej młodzieży ze względu na sporo scen dość brutalnej przemocy, ale dostarczająca nie tylko mrocznej rozrywki, ale i wartościowych, niosących nadzieję treści. Ukazująca wagę przyjaźni, tolerancji i współpracy. Już dałam ją do przeczytania mojemu synowi i ciekawa jestem jego opinii.
March 29, 2024
Nie wiem czy to wina audiobooka, czy nie, ale jakoś mnie nie porwało. Myślałam nawet o tym, żeby przerwać czytanie i odłożyć, a że zostało mi 2h audio, to postanowiłam skończyć. Zakończenie też mnie nie jest jakieś super.
November 2, 2024
Now I'm really curious what will happen in the next book. I'm going right in (i have audio 😏) cuz i want to be with Sam and Charlie longer.
March 13, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Unsettling: 😬😬/5
SCARY: 👻/5
DEATH: 💀💀/5
INTRIGUE: 🧠🧠🧠🧠/5
I went into Sixteen Souls with zero expectations. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and I fell. Hard. This cover is stunning and it says so much about the book without actually saying anything at all. I didn't read the synopsis before reading this because I really like to go into any kind of horror/paranormal books without knowing anything.
I am so glad that I did. Because it left nothing for me to be disappointed in. I greatly appreciate all of the representation that is whiting this book. There is LGBTQ+, disability rep for a double amputee, trans representation. With all of this rep I feel like it only deepened the connection with the characters. And you were able to get to know their true authentic selves.
Getting to know you're characters throughout the book and how they handle the different bombs thrown their way was executed so well.
The world building and all of the different characters can be a bit much but it was so well written you were able to follow everything within their respective timelines and lifelines.
I really enjoyed the relationships within this book and how well they were written. Having more LGBTQIA+ in YA is such a pertinent need and this book fulfilled the need so well. I wish that there would have been a bit more explanation of one of the characters journeys so that we could have known them a bit better. But I'm hoping that will come in a follow up book.
Unsettling: 😬😬/5
SCARY: 👻/5
DEATH: 💀💀/5
INTRIGUE: 🧠🧠🧠🧠/5
I went into Sixteen Souls with zero expectations. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and I fell. Hard. This cover is stunning and it says so much about the book without actually saying anything at all. I didn't read the synopsis before reading this because I really like to go into any kind of horror/paranormal books without knowing anything.
I am so glad that I did. Because it left nothing for me to be disappointed in. I greatly appreciate all of the representation that is whiting this book. There is LGBTQ+, disability rep for a double amputee, trans representation. With all of this rep I feel like it only deepened the connection with the characters. And you were able to get to know their true authentic selves.
Getting to know you're characters throughout the book and how they handle the different bombs thrown their way was executed so well.
The world building and all of the different characters can be a bit much but it was so well written you were able to follow everything within their respective timelines and lifelines.
I really enjoyed the relationships within this book and how well they were written. Having more LGBTQIA+ in YA is such a pertinent need and this book fulfilled the need so well. I wish that there would have been a bit more explanation of one of the characters journeys so that we could have known them a bit better. But I'm hoping that will come in a follow up book.
October 11, 2023
A delightfully spooky, humorous and marvellously plot twisty romp that hooked with the promise of ghost-filled antics, that I’m happy to report did NOT disappoint!
I’ve yet to visit York (the setting for Sixteen Souls) myself but Rosie Talbot’s beautifully atmospheric world-building and wonderfully descriptive prose really brought the city and all of its rich, uniquely haunted history to life.
I also loved the dialogue, and the use of British colloquialisms, which made all of the characters’ interactions feel waay more realistic —it was almost as if Talbot had eavesdropped on actual ghostly conversations, making for an incredibly immersive and entertaining reading experience.
Our loveably endearing cast of characters helped with that too. Aside from the obvious villains and a few of the Mouldy Oldies (old spirits who essentially govern the city’s ghost residents) , I pretty much loved them all. Particularly Charlie (our reluctant, ghost seeing MC) and his spectral, ride or die besties Ollie and Heather— as well as the highly amusing George Villiers, who won me over with his rather amusing antics. I also liked fellow seer Sam whose adorably sweet romance with Charlie gave me supernatural Heartstopper vibes that I’m excited to see more of.
If you’re looking for something spooky to read this autumn, but also love heartwarming found family vibes, LGBTQIA and disability rep —then I thoroughly recommend checking this out. Just make sure to check the TWs beforehand.
I’ve yet to visit York (the setting for Sixteen Souls) myself but Rosie Talbot’s beautifully atmospheric world-building and wonderfully descriptive prose really brought the city and all of its rich, uniquely haunted history to life.
I also loved the dialogue, and the use of British colloquialisms, which made all of the characters’ interactions feel waay more realistic —it was almost as if Talbot had eavesdropped on actual ghostly conversations, making for an incredibly immersive and entertaining reading experience.
Our loveably endearing cast of characters helped with that too. Aside from the obvious villains and a few of the Mouldy Oldies (old spirits who essentially govern the city’s ghost residents) , I pretty much loved them all. Particularly Charlie (our reluctant, ghost seeing MC) and his spectral, ride or die besties Ollie and Heather— as well as the highly amusing George Villiers, who won me over with his rather amusing antics. I also liked fellow seer Sam whose adorably sweet romance with Charlie gave me supernatural Heartstopper vibes that I’m excited to see more of.
If you’re looking for something spooky to read this autumn, but also love heartwarming found family vibes, LGBTQIA and disability rep —then I thoroughly recommend checking this out. Just make sure to check the TWs beforehand.
July 15, 2023
A ver no es Heartstopper, como lo estan intentando vender en redes (hay que subirse al tren de la publicidad facil), ya que ademas no por ser una lectura LGBT de dos chicos automaticamente sea “Heartstopper con fantasmas”, no.
Aparte de eso, es una novela bastante amena de leer, ligera y entretenida, con representacion de personajes con caracteristicas no tan tipicas de los heroes protagonistas (el prota usa protesis de pierna porque se las tuvieron que amputar por una enfermedad) y unas relaciones logicas y organicas.
Por poner una pega es que la trama de los espiritus, la caza de fantasmas y todo eso en general se desarrolla poco, dando pie a una segunda parte que espero que si exploren mas eso.
Aparte de eso, es una novela bastante amena de leer, ligera y entretenida, con representacion de personajes con caracteristicas no tan tipicas de los heroes protagonistas (el prota usa protesis de pierna porque se las tuvieron que amputar por una enfermedad) y unas relaciones logicas y organicas.
Por poner una pega es que la trama de los espiritus, la caza de fantasmas y todo eso en general se desarrolla poco, dando pie a una segunda parte que espero que si exploren mas eso.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 919 reviews