What do you think?
Rate this book
The Weird and the Wicked
The Ghosts of Nothing
** Winner - Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion **
** Winner - Readers' Favorite Silver Medal **
** Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards **
** Finalist - The IAN Book of the Year Award **
"All right then, human," Jack said, a smirk playing on his lips. "We accept your terms. But you should know, we don't have to take what is already ours. She will seek us out when she's ready."
The town of Nothing is haunted...
...or so its citizens believe. Sixteen-year-old Nelly Morighan is skeptical of the stories, and for good reason. The locals blame her "cursed" family for all their ghostly woes and do their utmost to make Nelly's life a living hell. But then one night she spots a strange light sneaking through the abandoned house on the farm.
When she investigates, she finds ... fairies.
Within hours of this discovery, Nelly's grandmother is catatonic, and the otherworldly trespassers are offering up a cure. But only at a terrible price. It turns out that Nelly is a rare find for the fae. And the shocking reason why is buried in a past only the dead can remember.
** Winner - Readers' Favorite Silver Medal **
** Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards **
** Finalist - The IAN Book of the Year Award **
"All right then, human," Jack said, a smirk playing on his lips. "We accept your terms. But you should know, we don't have to take what is already ours. She will seek us out when she's ready."
The town of Nothing is haunted...
...or so its citizens believe. Sixteen-year-old Nelly Morighan is skeptical of the stories, and for good reason. The locals blame her "cursed" family for all their ghostly woes and do their utmost to make Nelly's life a living hell. But then one night she spots a strange light sneaking through the abandoned house on the farm.
When she investigates, she finds ... fairies.
Within hours of this discovery, Nelly's grandmother is catatonic, and the otherworldly trespassers are offering up a cure. But only at a terrible price. It turns out that Nelly is a rare find for the fae. And the shocking reason why is buried in a past only the dead can remember.
388 pages, Hardcover
Published July 18, 2023
11 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 13, 2023
Short weird review: Mandatory Read.
The wicked review:
When I heard youtube’s own Scary Fairy Godmother had written a book and was looking for reviewers, I ran immediately to my email machine and volunteered as tribute. There’s only two things I live for; a good story filled with mysterious and esoteric characters and themes, expressing my opinion about all things literary on the internet, and accurately numbering lists. And then it happened, I got an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let's ultracrepidate this thing.
I loved this story. It is a modern fairy tale told through the eyes of a strange little girl, Nelly. That’s how chapter one refers to her. She is actually 16 and only arguably strange - she’s definitely haunted and assuredly persecuted for her family name. In fact, one of the strongest features of this tale is the amount of tension that gets ratcheted up as we delve deeper into the story. There are points where I was fairly worried about our protagonist’s well being - and that’s before we even plunge into the fairy realm.
The plot - while reading I marked up my tablet with notes and ended up placing a “!” every few paragraphs. Exclamations of shock and surprise. This thing is a paranormal thriller with deep lore and an intriguing cast of characters. It’s a marvelous blend of supernatural fantasy and coming-of-age drama. And it excels in its genre with suspense, imaginative other-worldly politics, and moral complexity.
Finally, I have to reiterate how cinematic and visually striking this book feels. I felt like Edgar Wright was reading it to me and scoring the accompanying soundtrack all at once.
Ghosts of Nothing has it all; fencing, fighting, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles… everything a reader could hope for or require.
I am sure author Cecily Walters is going to have a brilliant career and I can’t wait to see what happens next for the weird and the wicked.
The wicked review:
When I heard youtube’s own Scary Fairy Godmother had written a book and was looking for reviewers, I ran immediately to my email machine and volunteered as tribute. There’s only two things I live for; a good story filled with mysterious and esoteric characters and themes, expressing my opinion about all things literary on the internet, and accurately numbering lists. And then it happened, I got an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let's ultracrepidate this thing.
I loved this story. It is a modern fairy tale told through the eyes of a strange little girl, Nelly. That’s how chapter one refers to her. She is actually 16 and only arguably strange - she’s definitely haunted and assuredly persecuted for her family name. In fact, one of the strongest features of this tale is the amount of tension that gets ratcheted up as we delve deeper into the story. There are points where I was fairly worried about our protagonist’s well being - and that’s before we even plunge into the fairy realm.
The plot - while reading I marked up my tablet with notes and ended up placing a “!” every few paragraphs. Exclamations of shock and surprise. This thing is a paranormal thriller with deep lore and an intriguing cast of characters. It’s a marvelous blend of supernatural fantasy and coming-of-age drama. And it excels in its genre with suspense, imaginative other-worldly politics, and moral complexity.
Finally, I have to reiterate how cinematic and visually striking this book feels. I felt like Edgar Wright was reading it to me and scoring the accompanying soundtrack all at once.
Ghosts of Nothing has it all; fencing, fighting, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles… everything a reader could hope for or require.
I am sure author Cecily Walters is going to have a brilliant career and I can’t wait to see what happens next for the weird and the wicked.
July 23, 2023
The life of Nelly was something truly captivating. She was a relatable teenager and so so brave. Nelly is part of a family that is believed to be cursed and they are outcasts in the town of Nothing. Nelly goes on an adventure to save her Grandmother and many others. I first heard about this book through the author’s Youtube channel and was so happy and grateful to get an ARC of this amazing book. I can’t wait for book 2 and to see Nelly again!!
August 2, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Cecily Walters and Victory Editing for this ARC.
Nelly Morrighan is a 16 year-old who has been been bullied all her life by her classmates, teachers and townspeople. She learns more about herself and her family's history in the town of Nothing.
I felt this book started off really well, the first chapter itself was captivating. The world-building was great, I was able to vividly imagine the fairy world and events taking place. However, I didn't like how she just randomly started liking one of the guys at school when he was also such a bully and the other love interests seemed weird too. I felt there were some things we still didn't know so hopefully we'll find out more in the next book.
Nelly Morrighan is a 16 year-old who has been been bullied all her life by her classmates, teachers and townspeople. She learns more about herself and her family's history in the town of Nothing.
I felt this book started off really well, the first chapter itself was captivating. The world-building was great, I was able to vividly imagine the fairy world and events taking place. However, I didn't like how she just randomly started liking one of the guys at school when he was also such a bully and the other love interests seemed weird too. I felt there were some things we still didn't know so hopefully we'll find out more in the next book.
July 5, 2024
All right then, human,” Jack said, a smirk playing on his lips.
“We accept your terms. But you should know, we don’t have to take what is already ours. She will seek us out when she’s ready.” -The Ghosts of Nothing
An undulating tale rich in its exquisite scenery, Eldritch faerylore, and woven throughout with ghostly shadows of revenge and redemption. Cecily Walters debut novel, The Ghosts of Nothing, had me relishing every word. It is my utmost desire as a YA Fantasy genre enthusiast that she extend her imagination to invite the readers in a second time to this world, that I have fallen in love with, never to return.
I purchased three copies of this book. Why? Because it is just too good not to share!
An undulating tale rich in its exquisite scenery, Eldritch faerylore, and woven throughout with ghostly shadows of revenge and redemption. Cecily Walters debut novel, The Ghosts of Nothing, had me relishing every word. It is my utmost desire as a YA Fantasy genre enthusiast that she extend her imagination to invite the readers in a second time to this world, that I have fallen in love with, never to return.
I purchased three copies of this book. Why? Because it is just too good not to share!
September 3, 2023
This book couldn't have come at a better time. I've been in a HUGE reading slump, and needed something to be excited about to hopefully pull me out of it. The Ghosts of Nothing did that, and more.
The book follows 16 year old Nelly Morighan in the sleepy small town of Nothing. A small town, not even a blip on a map...yet claimed by many as the most haunted town in the world. Nelly doesn't buy it though. You see...all of the stories about the towns ghosts, curses, and what not all point back to the Morighan family...Nelly's family. As you can imagine, being a teen-ager in school with that last name makes Nelly's live near unbearable. To top all that off, Nelly lives with her overbearing and straight knit grandmother, who I must say reminded me a Bette Davis character if there ever was one. Nelly's mother is MIA, and her father is catatonic in a mental asylum. Life is rough enough as it is without every towns member blaming Nelly or her grandmother for every little misfortune that falls upon them.
Aside from some strange memories of her mother, a woman Nelly hasn't seen in 4 years, Nelly hasn't experienced anything that would make her believe any of the legends about the town of Nothing...well, that is until two creatures step out of her closet in the middle of the night....fairies. We're not talking about cute, tiny winged creatures here. The author choses to go with the classic, Celtic mythology brand of fairies...something that got me hook, line, and sinker, and I was immediately enthralled with the whimsical direction she went in. Think of something like...if Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman collaborated on something together.
It becomes clear rather early that the fairies need Nelly for something, although getting a straight answer from their mischievous selves is a lot harder than Nelly originally thinks. These two characters, Jack and Fig, immediately steals the show for me. I can't tell you how long its been since I genuinely smiled while reading passages of a book. Every time these two fairies appear, the reader is in for a real treat.
As whimsical as this story can get, it has its fair share of darkness about it as well. I've seen somewhere that someone describes it as a spooky Harry Potter. Now, I've never read any of the Harry Potter books so I can't weigh in on that, but for me, this book has a perfect blend of whimsical and dark, almost horror aspects. One never overtakes the other. Each feeling carries such a great balance with each other, that its hard to put into words.
And no, the title The Ghosts of Nothing is not misleading. The whole stories is intertwined with vengeful ghosts and legends that stretch all the way back to the town's founding over 200 years earlier. I can't go into all that too much, but trust me, this story is full of twists and turns that was an absolute joy to navigate through.
This story is both fun and dark, carries themes of revenge and forgiveness, love and hate, family and mortal enemies. This book not only broke my reading slump...it shattered it into a million pieces.
This book is going to be a hard one for someone else to surpass. The Ghosts of Nothing could very well be my favorite read of 2023. I know it is so far.
The book follows 16 year old Nelly Morighan in the sleepy small town of Nothing. A small town, not even a blip on a map...yet claimed by many as the most haunted town in the world. Nelly doesn't buy it though. You see...all of the stories about the towns ghosts, curses, and what not all point back to the Morighan family...Nelly's family. As you can imagine, being a teen-ager in school with that last name makes Nelly's live near unbearable. To top all that off, Nelly lives with her overbearing and straight knit grandmother, who I must say reminded me a Bette Davis character if there ever was one. Nelly's mother is MIA, and her father is catatonic in a mental asylum. Life is rough enough as it is without every towns member blaming Nelly or her grandmother for every little misfortune that falls upon them.
Aside from some strange memories of her mother, a woman Nelly hasn't seen in 4 years, Nelly hasn't experienced anything that would make her believe any of the legends about the town of Nothing...well, that is until two creatures step out of her closet in the middle of the night....fairies. We're not talking about cute, tiny winged creatures here. The author choses to go with the classic, Celtic mythology brand of fairies...something that got me hook, line, and sinker, and I was immediately enthralled with the whimsical direction she went in. Think of something like...if Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman collaborated on something together.
It becomes clear rather early that the fairies need Nelly for something, although getting a straight answer from their mischievous selves is a lot harder than Nelly originally thinks. These two characters, Jack and Fig, immediately steals the show for me. I can't tell you how long its been since I genuinely smiled while reading passages of a book. Every time these two fairies appear, the reader is in for a real treat.
As whimsical as this story can get, it has its fair share of darkness about it as well. I've seen somewhere that someone describes it as a spooky Harry Potter. Now, I've never read any of the Harry Potter books so I can't weigh in on that, but for me, this book has a perfect blend of whimsical and dark, almost horror aspects. One never overtakes the other. Each feeling carries such a great balance with each other, that its hard to put into words.
And no, the title The Ghosts of Nothing is not misleading. The whole stories is intertwined with vengeful ghosts and legends that stretch all the way back to the town's founding over 200 years earlier. I can't go into all that too much, but trust me, this story is full of twists and turns that was an absolute joy to navigate through.
This story is both fun and dark, carries themes of revenge and forgiveness, love and hate, family and mortal enemies. This book not only broke my reading slump...it shattered it into a million pieces.
This book is going to be a hard one for someone else to surpass. The Ghosts of Nothing could very well be my favorite read of 2023. I know it is so far.
October 12, 2023
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during For the Love of Book Clubs (February-August 2024)
If your last name is Morrighan you're going to have a tough time of it in Nothing, a town typically topping "most haunted" lists. Nelly Morrighan knows this all too well. She has been bullied and ostracized her entire life because the town believes all their woes can be laid at the feet of the Morrighans. All her sixteen years have been spent holding in the pain, keeping her head down, not thinking about her missing mother and her institutionalized father. Because the one time she lashed out at her bullies a kid ended up in the hospital. Her one reprieve is school, far away from Nothing, even if she's saddled with a roommate from home. Until her strict grandmother changes her mind and Nelly ends up boarding at the local school which is run by the mother of the boy she hospitalized. But these changes are nothing compared to the bigger changes ahead when she uncovers a secret. A secret that has been kept from her her entire life and revealed by two otherworldly figures she encounters on the Morrighan Farm late one night, Jack and Fig. Who just happen to be fairies. And Nelly's a half-fairy. And unlike almost all offspring of these forbidden interspecies liaisons she has power. And for someone who has spent their entire life cowering, you know when you are given power you must wield it responsibly. Which is why Nelly's off to the land of fairies. It was her powers that hospitalized her bully, and it was Fig's powers that has done the same to Nelly's grandmother. They can put things right by travelling to the other realm. Which is dangerous for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is what Nelly is and the fact that Fig is a wanted criminal and that the government assumes that she is dead, which is what she will be if she is found back in fairy. But Nelly's eyes are opened there and she feels free for the first time ever, the food tastes different, she feels powerful, and no longer haunted by her name. Will she be able to hold onto this feeling when she returns to Nothing or will the past come back to haunt her?
As one of my friends said about The Ghosts of Nothing it's cinematic. He put into one word what I was struggling to say with way too many. This book reminds me of epic eighties fantasy movies, you know, cinematic. The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, Return to Oz, The Secret of Nimh, movies that are part of my DNA. These films showed us wonders as well as horrors. Sure, they might have traumatized an entire generation, but I wouldn't have had my childhood any other way. Because these films made me believe in magic. The Ghosts of Nothing connected me to memories I had long since forgotten. Growing up I had a huge sugar maple in my front yard and I would spend hours under it and near it, carefully prying open the propellers while watching a very specific section of sky which, thanks to the eighties Serendipity books series, I was convinced was the only place where a pegasus could come through to our world. I saw a unicorn at the circus, so surely a pegasus would visit me! I mean, I now know that that wasn't a unicorn I saw, but there was still the magic of nature under that maple. And reading about the maple keys, the distinct turn of phrase the inhabitants of Nothing use for maple propellers, brought all these memories flooding back. It also made me wonder how the inhabitants of this town use such a fairy turn of phrase. I'm wondering if there's a lot more cross-pollination between the worlds that we will learn about in the coming books. And that again feeds into the fairy tale origins of it all. The way stories are passed down through the generations and are used to teach us lessons and morals. And the thing is, these lessons can be terrifying, and those morals, they might just mean you life. This book doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of life. The politics in particular in the fairy realm will feel eerily prescient to anyone following today's news. Which is what fairy tales are all about, telling us a story but reflecting the world around us. Dark and light. I can't wait to see how Nelly embraces her powers, but I think the real lesson she needs to take to heart is to not be too hard on herself. The world is dark and full of monsters, be the light even if other people can't see it.
If your last name is Morrighan you're going to have a tough time of it in Nothing, a town typically topping "most haunted" lists. Nelly Morrighan knows this all too well. She has been bullied and ostracized her entire life because the town believes all their woes can be laid at the feet of the Morrighans. All her sixteen years have been spent holding in the pain, keeping her head down, not thinking about her missing mother and her institutionalized father. Because the one time she lashed out at her bullies a kid ended up in the hospital. Her one reprieve is school, far away from Nothing, even if she's saddled with a roommate from home. Until her strict grandmother changes her mind and Nelly ends up boarding at the local school which is run by the mother of the boy she hospitalized. But these changes are nothing compared to the bigger changes ahead when she uncovers a secret. A secret that has been kept from her her entire life and revealed by two otherworldly figures she encounters on the Morrighan Farm late one night, Jack and Fig. Who just happen to be fairies. And Nelly's a half-fairy. And unlike almost all offspring of these forbidden interspecies liaisons she has power. And for someone who has spent their entire life cowering, you know when you are given power you must wield it responsibly. Which is why Nelly's off to the land of fairies. It was her powers that hospitalized her bully, and it was Fig's powers that has done the same to Nelly's grandmother. They can put things right by travelling to the other realm. Which is dangerous for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is what Nelly is and the fact that Fig is a wanted criminal and that the government assumes that she is dead, which is what she will be if she is found back in fairy. But Nelly's eyes are opened there and she feels free for the first time ever, the food tastes different, she feels powerful, and no longer haunted by her name. Will she be able to hold onto this feeling when she returns to Nothing or will the past come back to haunt her?
As one of my friends said about The Ghosts of Nothing it's cinematic. He put into one word what I was struggling to say with way too many. This book reminds me of epic eighties fantasy movies, you know, cinematic. The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, Return to Oz, The Secret of Nimh, movies that are part of my DNA. These films showed us wonders as well as horrors. Sure, they might have traumatized an entire generation, but I wouldn't have had my childhood any other way. Because these films made me believe in magic. The Ghosts of Nothing connected me to memories I had long since forgotten. Growing up I had a huge sugar maple in my front yard and I would spend hours under it and near it, carefully prying open the propellers while watching a very specific section of sky which, thanks to the eighties Serendipity books series, I was convinced was the only place where a pegasus could come through to our world. I saw a unicorn at the circus, so surely a pegasus would visit me! I mean, I now know that that wasn't a unicorn I saw, but there was still the magic of nature under that maple. And reading about the maple keys, the distinct turn of phrase the inhabitants of Nothing use for maple propellers, brought all these memories flooding back. It also made me wonder how the inhabitants of this town use such a fairy turn of phrase. I'm wondering if there's a lot more cross-pollination between the worlds that we will learn about in the coming books. And that again feeds into the fairy tale origins of it all. The way stories are passed down through the generations and are used to teach us lessons and morals. And the thing is, these lessons can be terrifying, and those morals, they might just mean you life. This book doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of life. The politics in particular in the fairy realm will feel eerily prescient to anyone following today's news. Which is what fairy tales are all about, telling us a story but reflecting the world around us. Dark and light. I can't wait to see how Nelly embraces her powers, but I think the real lesson she needs to take to heart is to not be too hard on herself. The world is dark and full of monsters, be the light even if other people can't see it.
July 2, 2023
This was a great book!! I thoroughly recommend it!!
July 14, 2023
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't quite sure whether I was going to love this book. it started out a little slow but the second half of the book was amazing.
Nelly is seen as a freak by her peers for the sole transgression of her having the Morighan name, a family who are blamed for every misfortune to ever befall the town of Nothing. Could they be on to something?
I related to Nelly in a lot of ways. I was outcast growing up, bullied by my peers for being too timid, too mousey, too, everything that the popular girls and boys weren't.
There's a moment when her frenemy is exposed to a sort of love powder and begins expressing her love for Nelly. I got the impression that Bianca's feelings weren't entirely down to the effects of the powder but didn't want to admit that she liked both a girl and one from the Morighan family. She'd shown that she could have cared for Nelly well before this when she stood up to her friends.
The idea of maple keys opening portals into the fairy world was genius, I wouldn't be surprised if people started collecting maple keys. It gave me the same sort of feeling after I'd seen Peter Pan for the first time and waiting up at night hoping he'd arrive at my window. Imagination is a powerful thing and a collection of maple keys, imagining that they can take us away from this world for a little bit, well, I think that would be pretty cool.
I hope that we get more stories with Nelly, Bianca, Fig, Doed and Jack and that we finally meet Nelly's mother.
I wasn't quite sure whether I was going to love this book. it started out a little slow but the second half of the book was amazing.
Nelly is seen as a freak by her peers for the sole transgression of her having the Morighan name, a family who are blamed for every misfortune to ever befall the town of Nothing. Could they be on to something?
I related to Nelly in a lot of ways. I was outcast growing up, bullied by my peers for being too timid, too mousey, too, everything that the popular girls and boys weren't.
There's a moment when her frenemy is exposed to a sort of love powder and begins expressing her love for Nelly. I got the impression that Bianca's feelings weren't entirely down to the effects of the powder but didn't want to admit that she liked both a girl and one from the Morighan family. She'd shown that she could have cared for Nelly well before this when she stood up to her friends.
The idea of maple keys opening portals into the fairy world was genius, I wouldn't be surprised if people started collecting maple keys. It gave me the same sort of feeling after I'd seen Peter Pan for the first time and waiting up at night hoping he'd arrive at my window. Imagination is a powerful thing and a collection of maple keys, imagining that they can take us away from this world for a little bit, well, I think that would be pretty cool.
I hope that we get more stories with Nelly, Bianca, Fig, Doed and Jack and that we finally meet Nelly's mother.
July 28, 2023
Good or bad is a choice we must all make, day to day, hour to hour. It's never simple or obvious; it's usually difficult.”
The Ghosts of Nothing is the first book in the fantasy series The Weird and the Wicked and it’s based on traditional Irish fairy mythology.
I absolutely love this cover for this book and the blurb sounded amazing however sadly I didn’t love the story as much.
While the genre of the book stated it was a young adult book I found it to be more of an older mid grader book. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be due to the cover and the characters' thoughts, conversations and actions were dreamlike. Most of the descriptions in the story were told and not shown.
Another thing that got me was the amount of times the main protagonist Nelly blackened out or fell asleep at the end of each chapter, waking up surrounded by “powder” and the powder magically disappearing.
I did feel sorry for Nelly, with the amount of bullying she suffered due to the rumours told about her family heritage. At times I felt the bullying was overdone and thus making the bullying not as believable.
While this story wasn’t my cup of tea, it quite possibly be yours.
Thank you Netgalley and Victor Editing for the digital copy of The Ghosts of Nothing by Cecily Walters for reviewing purposes.
The Ghosts of Nothing is the first book in the fantasy series The Weird and the Wicked and it’s based on traditional Irish fairy mythology.
I absolutely love this cover for this book and the blurb sounded amazing however sadly I didn’t love the story as much.
While the genre of the book stated it was a young adult book I found it to be more of an older mid grader book. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be due to the cover and the characters' thoughts, conversations and actions were dreamlike. Most of the descriptions in the story were told and not shown.
Another thing that got me was the amount of times the main protagonist Nelly blackened out or fell asleep at the end of each chapter, waking up surrounded by “powder” and the powder magically disappearing.
I did feel sorry for Nelly, with the amount of bullying she suffered due to the rumours told about her family heritage. At times I felt the bullying was overdone and thus making the bullying not as believable.
While this story wasn’t my cup of tea, it quite possibly be yours.
Thank you Netgalley and Victor Editing for the digital copy of The Ghosts of Nothing by Cecily Walters for reviewing purposes.
August 2, 2023
I have been following Ms Walters for several years on her youtube channel. I enjoyed her work enough that I contributed to her efforts on Paetron, so when her first novel was published it was a must read for me.
The work did not disappoint. There were 4 factors that struck me on my first read through of the book.
1. Walter's characters feel real. The main character, Nelly, is a 16 year old girl who has a life time of bullying behind her, with absentee parents, and an intense introverted personality. The reader can become frustrated with Nelly but she is clearly written as a teenage girl with intense emotional frustrations. In the same vein, the faeries in the book are written to be alien enough to be nonhuman, but still relatable to a reader. The other characters are less distinct; that is due to less page time and not fully seeing their full personality or views. Walters' still gives subtle, well crafted hints on the motivations of the others.
2. The Fae, feel mysterious. The reader gets a distinct impression of the essence of the Fae without getting all the information. Faerie is still a great mystery, with enigmatic hints peeking out of the curtain. To any fans of the old Irish tales of faeries, the essence of the same is in this story.
3. The pacing of the story seems jolted at points, but after completing the novel, the reader can see there are 3 distinct parts to the story. Each part has its own internal pacing and focus. At 388 pages, distinct parts in the plot is to be expected.
4. The nature of Walters's world building and plotting had an echo of Patricia McKillip to me. I found Ms Walters' wordsmithing more straight forward than McKillip's well done lyrical style, yet I was still reminded deeply of the modern fairy tale feel of McKillip's novels. In the end, Walters' has crafted a story where the emotional growth of the characters and their joys & pains are even more important than the crises confronted in the plot. Telling a story that way, makes this a story worth rereading several times.
I strongly recommend this novel for anyone who is fan of modern fairy tales and the works of Patricia McKillip or Charles de Lint.
The work did not disappoint. There were 4 factors that struck me on my first read through of the book.
1. Walter's characters feel real. The main character, Nelly, is a 16 year old girl who has a life time of bullying behind her, with absentee parents, and an intense introverted personality. The reader can become frustrated with Nelly but she is clearly written as a teenage girl with intense emotional frustrations. In the same vein, the faeries in the book are written to be alien enough to be nonhuman, but still relatable to a reader. The other characters are less distinct; that is due to less page time and not fully seeing their full personality or views. Walters' still gives subtle, well crafted hints on the motivations of the others.
2. The Fae, feel mysterious. The reader gets a distinct impression of the essence of the Fae without getting all the information. Faerie is still a great mystery, with enigmatic hints peeking out of the curtain. To any fans of the old Irish tales of faeries, the essence of the same is in this story.
3. The pacing of the story seems jolted at points, but after completing the novel, the reader can see there are 3 distinct parts to the story. Each part has its own internal pacing and focus. At 388 pages, distinct parts in the plot is to be expected.
4. The nature of Walters's world building and plotting had an echo of Patricia McKillip to me. I found Ms Walters' wordsmithing more straight forward than McKillip's well done lyrical style, yet I was still reminded deeply of the modern fairy tale feel of McKillip's novels. In the end, Walters' has crafted a story where the emotional growth of the characters and their joys & pains are even more important than the crises confronted in the plot. Telling a story that way, makes this a story worth rereading several times.
I strongly recommend this novel for anyone who is fan of modern fairy tales and the works of Patricia McKillip or Charles de Lint.
July 10, 2023
The Ghosts of Nothing is a highly enjoyable romp through the (maybe not actually) haunted town of Nothing and the Fairy Realm. It follows the story of Nelly and her family who are blamed for years of odd happenings in the town, and while there is indeed a family connection there, it isn't at all what the citizens expected.
I most appreciated the fairies and magic in this story. There are elements of folklore that those who love old tales will recognize mixed with the author's own delightful twists and imagination. The use of the maple "keys" was such a delight and I really liked the repeated element of the importance of names to the fey. The fairy characters are wonderfully other and inhuman in the best possible ways. The two main fairy characters are dangerous and caring by turns and I found their relationship to be unique and interesting. The section with the Piper was truly frightening and eerie as only the powerful fey can be.
The voice and rhythms of the narrative were very enjoyable. I could easily imagine sections of this book being told around a campfire like a scary ghost story. I suppose this only makes sense as the author hosts a successful YouTube show where she narrates fairy encounters and so her ear for how words and phrases work aloud is finely attuned. While the book was grand fun to read, I would expect an audio version to also be fantastic!
The ending of the book was beautifully cinematic and there were some great sections that would look wonderful on screen. I was reminded of "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" or "Legacies" when we had the big party at the high school interrupted by magical chaos! I think this book will appeal to those who enjoy "scary" fairies and students trying to balance worldly and otherworldly problems.
Many thanks for an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I most appreciated the fairies and magic in this story. There are elements of folklore that those who love old tales will recognize mixed with the author's own delightful twists and imagination. The use of the maple "keys" was such a delight and I really liked the repeated element of the importance of names to the fey. The fairy characters are wonderfully other and inhuman in the best possible ways. The two main fairy characters are dangerous and caring by turns and I found their relationship to be unique and interesting. The section with the Piper was truly frightening and eerie as only the powerful fey can be.
The voice and rhythms of the narrative were very enjoyable. I could easily imagine sections of this book being told around a campfire like a scary ghost story. I suppose this only makes sense as the author hosts a successful YouTube show where she narrates fairy encounters and so her ear for how words and phrases work aloud is finely attuned. While the book was grand fun to read, I would expect an audio version to also be fantastic!
The ending of the book was beautifully cinematic and there were some great sections that would look wonderful on screen. I was reminded of "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" or "Legacies" when we had the big party at the high school interrupted by magical chaos! I think this book will appeal to those who enjoy "scary" fairies and students trying to balance worldly and otherworldly problems.
Many thanks for an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2024
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Ghosts of Nothing
Author: Cecily Walters
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I enjoy fantasy so this was perfect for me. It’s a good adventure with a coming of age feel to it. I liked it a lot.” Female reader, aged 14
“Good novel for 13 – 16 year olds. It’s the story of Nelly, her grandmother and lots of magical characters. It’s not scary but it is exciting. Now I want to find the next book. When’s it out?” Female reader, aged 16
“Cover is AMAZING! I liked the story too as it’s sort of gritty. If you like magic books, you’ll enjoy this. The writing is very easy to follow and the MC (Nelly) is cool and a bit mysterious. I liked her..” Male reader, aged 15
“I loved that this book was so unpredictable. The author is a good writer who’s excellent at plotting and keeping the reader engaged. I’d recommend it to other teenagers. I will be looking out for book two.” Female reader, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A thrilling, fast-paced, fantasy adventure. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Ghosts of Nothing
Author: Cecily Walters
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I enjoy fantasy so this was perfect for me. It’s a good adventure with a coming of age feel to it. I liked it a lot.” Female reader, aged 14
“Good novel for 13 – 16 year olds. It’s the story of Nelly, her grandmother and lots of magical characters. It’s not scary but it is exciting. Now I want to find the next book. When’s it out?” Female reader, aged 16
“Cover is AMAZING! I liked the story too as it’s sort of gritty. If you like magic books, you’ll enjoy this. The writing is very easy to follow and the MC (Nelly) is cool and a bit mysterious. I liked her..” Male reader, aged 15
“I loved that this book was so unpredictable. The author is a good writer who’s excellent at plotting and keeping the reader engaged. I’d recommend it to other teenagers. I will be looking out for book two.” Female reader, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A thrilling, fast-paced, fantasy adventure. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
July 20, 2023
The Ghosts of Nothing
Cecily Walters
4.5/5 Stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a brilliant book, I honestly think it will go down as one of my favourites of 2023. An urban fantasy inspired by Irish folktales and lore, the author knows her stuff. She has a deep understanding of her source material and this shines throughout her book. This book feels instantly accessible, yes, we don’t know everything and we are as confused as Nelly is with the capricious fairy around her but that doesn’t disincentivize you from continuing to read. Nelly is an emotional mature teenager and while you will definitely feel anger at the teenagers around her, you can feel her loneliness throughout. Even with her Grandmother (so formal and stiff) her step grandfather (Mr Granville) she has no one in her corner/
Revenge and Forgiveness are the themes of this book, weaving throughout with a dark creepy malevolence seeping from every page, the imagery of the world around Nelly is fantastically built by the author.
Random thoughts while reading:
Very strong opening chapter, those first 10 or so pages really slap
Karma and Revenge
History of the character is taught to the reader not told.
Grandmother is a surprisingly protective badass
The dangers that stem from a teenagers ignorance and fearlessness
Magic system is very clever in the fairy world
Pacing in the later third of the book was very good.
Cecily Walters
4.5/5 Stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a brilliant book, I honestly think it will go down as one of my favourites of 2023. An urban fantasy inspired by Irish folktales and lore, the author knows her stuff. She has a deep understanding of her source material and this shines throughout her book. This book feels instantly accessible, yes, we don’t know everything and we are as confused as Nelly is with the capricious fairy around her but that doesn’t disincentivize you from continuing to read. Nelly is an emotional mature teenager and while you will definitely feel anger at the teenagers around her, you can feel her loneliness throughout. Even with her Grandmother (so formal and stiff) her step grandfather (Mr Granville) she has no one in her corner/
Revenge and Forgiveness are the themes of this book, weaving throughout with a dark creepy malevolence seeping from every page, the imagery of the world around Nelly is fantastically built by the author.
Random thoughts while reading:
Very strong opening chapter, those first 10 or so pages really slap
Karma and Revenge
History of the character is taught to the reader not told.
Grandmother is a surprisingly protective badass
The dangers that stem from a teenagers ignorance and fearlessness
Magic system is very clever in the fairy world
Pacing in the later third of the book was very good.
July 9, 2023
Enchanted realms, and dusted fates unbound...
This book weaves within and through as if a needle weilded by a fae. The characters spun by such seem quite real, and each have their own motives throughout the story. Although not all become clear, which appears beautifully deliberate. Our primary protangist, is reserved and distant by nature, but she is fully fleshed out, and can be well understood. Many of her emotions are introspective due to the circumstances of where she lives. Which couples well with some of the more exterior plot points. These narrative beats centered around 'calls to action', and discovery of one's self. A lost light just searching through the dark. The atmosphere is most certainly reactive, especially later on in the novel. When the mystical elements come further to the forefront. Instead of the environment forming itself around the characters; it is often vice-versa. An environment clearly defined, with or without one present.
As for the fairies... Well, most have heard partial bits of folk and lore. They are everything one may have heard, and so much more... Add a fairy amount of dust, and haunts, then one dream world of a tale spanning eras...awakens in The Ghosts of Nothing. Truly captivating debut that leaves an aftertaste of magic upon the thoughts. A desire to be enveloped within... Nothing, and everything of this realm.
This book weaves within and through as if a needle weilded by a fae. The characters spun by such seem quite real, and each have their own motives throughout the story. Although not all become clear, which appears beautifully deliberate. Our primary protangist, is reserved and distant by nature, but she is fully fleshed out, and can be well understood. Many of her emotions are introspective due to the circumstances of where she lives. Which couples well with some of the more exterior plot points. These narrative beats centered around 'calls to action', and discovery of one's self. A lost light just searching through the dark. The atmosphere is most certainly reactive, especially later on in the novel. When the mystical elements come further to the forefront. Instead of the environment forming itself around the characters; it is often vice-versa. An environment clearly defined, with or without one present.
As for the fairies... Well, most have heard partial bits of folk and lore. They are everything one may have heard, and so much more... Add a fairy amount of dust, and haunts, then one dream world of a tale spanning eras...awakens in The Ghosts of Nothing. Truly captivating debut that leaves an aftertaste of magic upon the thoughts. A desire to be enveloped within... Nothing, and everything of this realm.
July 12, 2023
Book Review 📚
The Ghosts of Nothing by Cecily Walters - 4.5/5 ⭐
I AM SO HAPPY THIS IS A SERIES!
I want to just leave it as that to be perfectly honest, because there isn't anything I can say that will make this book look as good as it was!
Nelly - the poor girl can't catch a break. Bullied throughout school, feared/hated and the unwanted centre of attention. And then one day, everything changes for her! In a good way or in a bad way? I'll let you find out!
Honestly, I was not expecting this book to be as good as it was. And the cover did not lead me to believe it was a completely different genre to what it actually is! I don't want to give anything away, AT ALL, so I'm saying the bare minimum. But you HAVE to read it. It's incredible.
Walters needs to continue writing for the rest of her life. She has now become an author in which I will buy instantly because of how good the book was. It's an award worthy book. Phenomenal writing, beautiful written characters and so much description you feel like you're there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cecily Walters for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
The Ghosts of Nothing by Cecily Walters - 4.5/5 ⭐
I AM SO HAPPY THIS IS A SERIES!
I want to just leave it as that to be perfectly honest, because there isn't anything I can say that will make this book look as good as it was!
Nelly - the poor girl can't catch a break. Bullied throughout school, feared/hated and the unwanted centre of attention. And then one day, everything changes for her! In a good way or in a bad way? I'll let you find out!
Honestly, I was not expecting this book to be as good as it was. And the cover did not lead me to believe it was a completely different genre to what it actually is! I don't want to give anything away, AT ALL, so I'm saying the bare minimum. But you HAVE to read it. It's incredible.
Walters needs to continue writing for the rest of her life. She has now become an author in which I will buy instantly because of how good the book was. It's an award worthy book. Phenomenal writing, beautiful written characters and so much description you feel like you're there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cecily Walters for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
July 18, 2023
The Town of Nothing is the most haunted town ever, and Nelly's family gets the blame for it. This is Cecily Walters' first installment of her The Weird and the Wicked series. I believe this is and indie published author as well.
I can't find where I read this recommended for fans of Holly Black's writing, and that might be right if you compare it to her The Darkest Part of the Forest. It's got high school kids going to class, there's Fairies from Fairyland and the place where the two worlds converge. Nelly and the Fairies travel back and forth between them. It's darkly whimsical with a touch of the creepy and horrific.
The story builds for the first half and feels very meandering, but never managed to lose my interest. Then the second half really takes off and was more interesting because that's when Nelly finally enters her quest.
The characters were fine. My favorite was Doed. But everyone was either unreasonably cruel with the only reason being inherited prejudice, or they were vapid, caddy, aloof, and cowardly. The teens were very stereotypical, and bullyish with very little more to their personalities.
Don't go into this for romance or you will be disappointed. However there may be romance to come as the series goes on.
Overall the story was fun and entertaining, but I'm not sure if it will be memorable. I would still recommend, especially for teens.
Content is clean of sexual content and coarsee language. Contains mild violence and bullying.
Thank you to Cecily Walters and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book in advance.
I can't find where I read this recommended for fans of Holly Black's writing, and that might be right if you compare it to her The Darkest Part of the Forest. It's got high school kids going to class, there's Fairies from Fairyland and the place where the two worlds converge. Nelly and the Fairies travel back and forth between them. It's darkly whimsical with a touch of the creepy and horrific.
The story builds for the first half and feels very meandering, but never managed to lose my interest. Then the second half really takes off and was more interesting because that's when Nelly finally enters her quest.
The characters were fine. My favorite was Doed. But everyone was either unreasonably cruel with the only reason being inherited prejudice, or they were vapid, caddy, aloof, and cowardly. The teens were very stereotypical, and bullyish with very little more to their personalities.
Don't go into this for romance or you will be disappointed. However there may be romance to come as the series goes on.
Overall the story was fun and entertaining, but I'm not sure if it will be memorable. I would still recommend, especially for teens.
Content is clean of sexual content and coarsee language. Contains mild violence and bullying.
Thank you to Cecily Walters and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book in advance.
July 13, 2023
The Ghosts of Nothing is the first of a proposed series, The Weird and The Wicked, and what a fine Book 1 it is!
Cecily Walters has created a world of ghosts and fairies who enter the very human world of teenage jealousies, crushes, bullying, and conflicts with adults who never understand what the young people they are meant to look after are really up to.
Nelly Morighan is a teenager who does not fit in because her town of Nothing has deep rooted prejudices against her family. As Nelly deals with the bullying of her peers, she begins to learn more about who, and what, she is.
In a quest novel full of strange happenings, fantastic creatures, and family secrets, we follow Nelly as she attempts to right some wrongs from her family’s past which still affect her in the present day.
Walters’s novel is an engaging and entertaining page turner that is amusing, scary, and delightful by turns. I look forward to seeing what these characters, the weird, the wicked, and the loveable, get up to next.
Cecily Walters has created a world of ghosts and fairies who enter the very human world of teenage jealousies, crushes, bullying, and conflicts with adults who never understand what the young people they are meant to look after are really up to.
Nelly Morighan is a teenager who does not fit in because her town of Nothing has deep rooted prejudices against her family. As Nelly deals with the bullying of her peers, she begins to learn more about who, and what, she is.
In a quest novel full of strange happenings, fantastic creatures, and family secrets, we follow Nelly as she attempts to right some wrongs from her family’s past which still affect her in the present day.
Walters’s novel is an engaging and entertaining page turner that is amusing, scary, and delightful by turns. I look forward to seeing what these characters, the weird, the wicked, and the loveable, get up to next.
July 19, 2023
I picked this book thinking it was more of a horror then a fantasy and my gosh am I not disappointed. Told like a fairytale through the eyes of Nelly, our main character, described as strange from the first chapter, she is mistreated purely for her family name who are blamed for all the weird things that happen in their town. Persecuted and bullied her whole life, she clearly is haunted and at times i worried for her well being. This book knows how to build tension and i found myself completely on edge for most of the book. The plot is twisty and unpredictable and constantly took me by surprise or left me shocked. The imagery was beautiful and kept me engrossed until the end. The supernatural elements were intriguing and well fleshed out and the character development made Nelly feel like a real person. I highly recommend this for anyone who like dark supernatural, adventure coming of age stories!
July 13, 2023
I read a lot of books. A lot of books I find really good. This book is hands down the BEST book I have read this year. I LOVED it. The characters, the setting, the plot. Everything was perfection. It was one of those books you want to read both fast and slow. It’s a world you don’t want to leave and you just want more. AMAZINGLY written. Imagery was beautiful and engrossing. Character growth and development made you feel like you were meeting them in person. This is an author who I will devour every book she writes in the future. A hands down must read!!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. Especially those who like a ghost/fairy/coming of age/adventure type of story. Books like this are why I love Voracious Readers Only.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. Especially those who like a ghost/fairy/coming of age/adventure type of story. Books like this are why I love Voracious Readers Only.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only.
July 9, 2023
This book was a joyous read and I can't wait to own a hardcover copy as well! The author has so much knowledge of the Fae and uses that to her advantage when she wrote The Ghosts of Nothing. I have to say that the writing style and imagery really caught my attention and I was able to picture it all like a movie playing in my mind just fine.
Since the last few years have been nothing but vampires and magical schools, so I hope this story can bring about a new era of fantasy based on folklore and mythical creatures like the Fae since there are SO MANY different ones out there in each culture.
I recommend giving this book a read if you are interested in fantasy and fairy lore. I really can't wait for the author to write more books in the future! ^_^
Since the last few years have been nothing but vampires and magical schools, so I hope this story can bring about a new era of fantasy based on folklore and mythical creatures like the Fae since there are SO MANY different ones out there in each culture.
I recommend giving this book a read if you are interested in fantasy and fairy lore. I really can't wait for the author to write more books in the future! ^_^
August 7, 2023
The Ghosts of Nothing is such a great book. I went into this pretty much not knowing what to expect and I loved it. The story is about Nelly and how she is treated by her community and finding out about fairies. She is a great main character, smart, strong, and funny. The other characters were very well done as well, the fairies were interesting and I can't wait to learn more about Doed, Jack, and the gang. And while the townsfolk were horrible, the characters were very well done. I enjoyed watching Bianca at the end of the book, I hope she stays nice. While it was a tiny bit slow at the very beginning, it flew by. I like this author's writing style, she really knows how to tell a story. I can't wait to read more!
March 15, 2024
I love fairy stories set in the modern world, and this one hits the mark. In real life, I sometimes wonder if ghost stories shared on various YouTube channels are actually fairy stories that the teller doesn't know any better to describe. This book knows exactly how to describe it. The world is enchanting, the characters are interesting. Many of the cruel ways adults treat the MC are a little too relatable. My only gripe is that MC brings heaping boats of denial to the table about her circumstances, and that's annoying, but not exactly unreasonable in her situation. Overall though, I liked it and looking forward to book 2! I'm a fan of the Author's YouTube channel as well. I really encourage you to check out Scary Fairy Godmother while we wait for the second installment!
July 5, 2023
"The Ghosts of Nothing" was an enjoyable read from start to finish! Set in both our own world and the world of the Fae, there's really something for everyone in here~ First off, Cecily's writing is very good at setting the mood and allowing you to immerse yourself in this world... You feel what the characters feel, you see what they see, the whole story is incredibly immersive! The thought of a realm existing parallel to our own will always be a topic to fascinate us, and I think Cecily's take was just brilliant! The ending leaves you satisfied, yet begging for the next book! Definitely worth the read!
July 9, 2023
I really enjoyed reading the Ghosts of Nothing, the first book in the Weird and the Wicked series by Cecily Waters.
The protagonist, Nelly Morighan, aged sixteen, lives in a place called Nothing. Her family is hated and feared and blamed for causing hauntings and other problems for the other people living there. Nelly is bullied at school.
One night, when investigating a strange light in the abandoned house on her family’s property, she finds fairies.
Travel along with Nelly into the wicked and whimsical fairy world as she searches for answers.
Thanks to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).
The protagonist, Nelly Morighan, aged sixteen, lives in a place called Nothing. Her family is hated and feared and blamed for causing hauntings and other problems for the other people living there. Nelly is bullied at school.
One night, when investigating a strange light in the abandoned house on her family’s property, she finds fairies.
Travel along with Nelly into the wicked and whimsical fairy world as she searches for answers.
Thanks to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).
February 11, 2025
Overall I really enjoyed this book, more than I thought since I don’t usually enjoy fantasy-type novels. The author pulls you in from the very beginning and your curiosity keeps you reading to find out what will happen next. She does a good job describing the fairy world with so much creativity and imagination. There are some things in the human world that seem less realistic or perhaps need more explanation. A downside for me is that it is book 1 and the reader is left with some unanswered questions and storylines . The upside to that, though, is that I would definitely read the second book to see what else will happen to Nelly and her companions.
July 9, 2023
The Ghosts of Nothing is a spooky coming of age story. If you’re a fan of ghost stories, fairy tales, and mysteries this book is right up your alley. Cecily Walters blends classic fairy tale themes with a modern-day story. I found myself not only drawn to the mystery and adventure surrounding the main character Nelly but the supporting characters as well. I would highly recommend this book to any young adult or kid at heart that loves fantasy and good spooky mysteries. I’m looking forward to reading more about Nelly and the Town of Nothing.
~Chris
~Chris
August 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Cecily Walters for the opportunity to read rate and review this arc which has been available since July 18,2023!
Everyone knows to never trust the fae. It is widely known fact!
The Ghosts of Nothing is a town that is haunted. But not by ghosts. But by the fae or fairies. This blends horror and fantasy and traditional Irish folklore into a truly creepy book. I enjoyed it. Nelly was a great main character to follow through the story. The pacing was steady. Characters were well rounded. The suspense and tension was palatable.
Everyone knows to never trust the fae. It is widely known fact!
The Ghosts of Nothing is a town that is haunted. But not by ghosts. But by the fae or fairies. This blends horror and fantasy and traditional Irish folklore into a truly creepy book. I enjoyed it. Nelly was a great main character to follow through the story. The pacing was steady. Characters were well rounded. The suspense and tension was palatable.
September 5, 2023
The story is about a young girl named Nelly, who is a descendant of the founding family in which the town she lives in is named for. It is said that the town is cursed. Her mother has disappeared and father is in a psychiatric hospital therefore she lives with her Grandmother. One night she notices a light in the abandoned house,... an exact duplicate of the main farmhouse and she sneaks over to investigate. This is the beginning of how Nelly discovers who she is and why her family is treated the way that they are.
This book was a fascinating read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
This book was a fascinating read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
September 8, 2023
Part ghost story, part fairy story, this was a really enjoyable read for me! Nelly's family has been blamed for the hauntings in town for hundreds of years. Interesting characters, especially Nelly, and a intriguing plot kept the story paced nicely. Reminds me of Holly Black's style of story/writing. I was especially happy in the author's notes at the end of the book that there is a second book coming!
Thank you Netgalley and Cecily Walters for the ARC!
#TheGhostsofNothing #NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Cecily Walters for the ARC!
#TheGhostsofNothing #NetGalley
April 3, 2024
I was part of the ARC for this book and I am so very happy to have been chosen for it.
I truly loved this book!
Cecily is not only a fabulous Scary Fairy Godmother, but her writing is also fantastic, capable of keeping you on the edge of your sit, while making you travel back and forth between our world and her vision of the otherworld of Fairy.
I'm not sharing any spoilers because, although I usually don't mind them, I would definitely have been annoyed to bump into any spoilers for this one book.
Cecily, I really hope this book turns into a movie!
I truly loved this book!
Cecily is not only a fabulous Scary Fairy Godmother, but her writing is also fantastic, capable of keeping you on the edge of your sit, while making you travel back and forth between our world and her vision of the otherworld of Fairy.
I'm not sharing any spoilers because, although I usually don't mind them, I would definitely have been annoyed to bump into any spoilers for this one book.
Cecily, I really hope this book turns into a movie!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews