Gloom Town

by Ronald L. Smith

When twelve-year-old Rory applies for a job at a spooky old mansion in his gloomy seaside town, he finds the owner, Lord Foxglove, odd and unpleasant. But he and his mom need the money, so he takes the job anyway. Rory soon finds out that his new boss is not just strange, he’s not even human—and he’s trying to steal the townspeople’s shadows. Together, Rory and his friend Isabella set out to uncover exactly what Foxglove and his otherworldly accomplices are planning and devise a strategy to defeat them. But can two kids defeat a group of ancient evil beings who are determined to take over the world?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Childrens, Juvenile, Magic

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2020

About the author

I grew up on Air Force bases and have lived in Japan, Maine, Alabama, Michigan, South Carolina, Delaware, Washington, DC, Illinois and a bunch of other places I don’t remember. After reading Ray Bradbury’s R is for Rocket and Eleanor Cameron’s Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet I fell in love with books.

I haven’t stopped reading since.

HOODOO is my debut middle-grade novel. My second novel, THE MESMERIST, is available February, 2017.

My work is represented by Adriann Ranta of Foundry Literary + Media.

My publisher is Clarion, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Reviews

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory is a young biracial boy who lives in Gloom Town, a dreary seaside Dickenson style town with his mother. They barely have enough to feed themselves so Rory decides to leave home and take a job working for Lord Foxglove at a spooky old mansion. He soon discovers the rumors are true and there are a lot of secrets hidden within the mansion. The mansion's owner isn't human and he must enlist the help of his best friend Izzy, a young fortune teller to save the day.

The writing in this book is very atmospheric and I think Ronald L. Smith does a great job building up that sense of dread you feel in this town. While this book is billed as a standalone is does end in a way that allows it to be continued if the author were to ever revisit it.

[Jeni Coxson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was completely underwhelmed with this book. I was looking forward to a spooky, fun read. Instead, what I got was a dark, sketchy experience with violence, murder, cult ritualism, and animalistic monsters preying on humans. This could have been done better, but as it is I felt like it was too dark and not appropriate for young readers.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm of two minds about this book.

On the one hand, I like the characters and setting. I want to read more adventures with them. I want to see what their next steps are. But the narrative has a very odd flow.

There are multiples turns to the story. It's not that the surprises are too much out of left field. But when there's three narrative turns, their placement will almost necessarily be awkward. The climax and long epilogue make this feel more like a prologue to an already existing story rather than a stand alone.

Much of the tension also has an odd balance. The protagonists are young. And given the rules of the world, there's a limit to what they can conceivably do. But they should still have some agency over what happens in order for there to be a victory. Instead, the main plot resolution is practically an accident, a trinket ex machina. Given their cleverness and how hard they worked, I felt the deserved better.

[Amita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vibes were impeccable, the main characters were believable and fun, and the mystery pulled me in.

I think the book could have benefited from being a bit longer. The climax was pretty short, and everything that came after needed to be extended as well to not feel rushed.

But overall this was a solid read! I have no idea why this particular book's rating is so low compared to other books that I feel are at the same level, so I'd say this definitely deserves to be closer to 4 stars.

[TheGeekishBrunette · Rating 3 out of 5]

eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I liked the premise for this one and the cover is a bit spooky and cool at the same time! There are things that I enjoyed and then there were other parts that were a bit confusing.

Let’s start with the good. I liked the friendship between Rory and Isabella/Izzy. She is always there for him and will help in any way she can even if that means freeing the town from evil. Rory is a brave kid and does what he must to keep the house his mom and him live in. It’s nice to see a kid take on responsibility. Although getting a job leads him into some trouble!

The plot was interesting and creepy. It has you wondering what will happen next and if their luck is about to run out. I liked the plot twists that were involved and it was cool to see how it would all play out. I wasn’t expecting the ending and that is where it got confusing. I am sure it was made for another book to come (maybe?) but at the same time it just came out of nowhere.

Another part that I wish more was said about was the evil. We got a bit of backstory but there were still things that were left unsaid and I just wanted to know why it existed and happened to plant itself in this town. Maybe if there is another book there will be more backstory for it.

Overall, I think this was a good read and if children love books about fighting evil with a dash of creepy then they will certainly enjoy this one!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children’s fantasy with some dark themes.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazingly creepy read! Full of seafaring mythology, & magic...loved the friendship b/n these 2 characters so much, & the love of family..The story was so unique & weird & wonderful. I seen it described on google as, “Lemony Snicket and Jessica Townsend meet Greenglass House, with a hint of Edward Gorey thrown in.”-yup! & I loved it! Lol Rory is such a sweet kid, & he deserves the world! Lol he was just a great character.💜💜 this cover is amazing as well!!😍😍recommend this if you’re in the mood for a great spooky read!

Synopsis: When twelve-year-old Rory applies for a job at a spooky old mansion in his gloomy seaside town, he finds the owner, Lord Foxglove, odd and unpleasant. But he and his mom need the money, so he takes the job anyway. Rory soon finds out that his new boss is not just strange, he’s not even human—and he’s trying to steal the townspeople’s shadows. Together, Rory and his friend Isabella set out to uncover exactly what Foxglove and his otherworldly accomplices are planning and devise a strategy to defeat them. But can two kids defeat a group of ancient evil beings who are determined to take over the world?

[Ila Bartholomew · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a town called Gloom, almost everything and everyone is washed out and dark. For Rory, this is the only life he's known. But when he gets a new job for a dangerous and secretive employer, he starts to wonder if life in Gloom was supposed to be that way. With the help of his best friend Izzy, Rory sets out to unravel the web of secrets and darkness that engulfs Gloom.

I don't know how to describe this book. Episodic? Improvised? Unclear? There were parts that I did enjoy, and parts I thought were done well, but.... By the end, I was frustrated and underwhelmed with the story. There didn't seem to be much continuity. Things were only introduced when they were needed, and the plot felt stitched together with only a few pieces running through the whole thing. The tone was also confusing and a little bit all over the place. There were elements that felt like horror, but it also felt like fantasy, and then sometimes magical realism and then other times like a mystery. The characters were mostly flat, without much depth, which did fit the story- it was short enough and simple enough to not necessarily need really complicated characters- but that fact didn't do the story any favors either. If the characters were deeper or more personable, it might have saved the story. Rory was mostly just tense, and Izzy has the potential to be sassy or more street smart, but she was mostly just there to provide information or quick saves Rory couldn't do for himself. So all in all, it just didn't satisfy the way I hoped it would.

Things to be Aware of:
- Upsetting circumstances (a lot, but not too bad. Rory works for creepy and dangerous people for awhile and he gets captured and threatened more than once)

- Violence (intense, but overall mild. I have a pretty low threshold, but there were some parts that really creeped me out or were really disturbing. Rory is attacked a few times, but usually there isn't much gore. However, the threat if violence and harm is more graphic and more frightening)

- Death (there is at least one death were the characters witness the aftermath of a murder and interact with a dead body. It's mostly mild, but it is a little gruesome. There are other deaths mentioned or viewed, and the description of one is gruesome)

- Sexual content (little to none)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very fast read that I think I would have enjoyed a lot when I was younger. It's got an interesting magical mystery, two strong characters, and some fun plot points. The writing and plot were pretty simplistic but still conveyed a good story. This isn't among my favorites of the "children's books I read as an adult" category but I did enjoy the book.

[Gina Wiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally!!! A middle school "scary book" that's actually scary! Just the right amount. Loved it!

[Christina Tabla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Less cozy/gloomy more dreary/gruesome. Culty , human/animal creatures, body parts, cannibalism, made me feel icky reading this

[Anna Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rory and his friend Izzy live in a (surprise) gloomy village by the sea. Rory's single mother struggles to make ends meet. When she is unable to pay the rent, Rory takes a job as a valet to Lord ? The townsfolk are very superstitious about the house and the person who lives there but Rory is desperate and the pay is very good. He dislikes the requirement that he must live at the mansion. The butler watches Rory constantly and he is not allowed to walk around the house and its grounds on his own. He must focus only on the repetitious chores that he is given. Rory naturally becomes curious about the odd aspects of the house and his employer. He discovers a human heart buried in the garden and learns that a great evil is coming to his village. He confides in no one but his good friend Izzy who is a witch. Together, he and Izzy search for a way to save themselves and their people.

Spoiler
Improbably...well actually the whole story is weird and improbable... a ship comes sailing into the port bearing the dark skinned, golden-haired father that Rory has never seen. The father helps to save the day. His father never intended to leave Rory and his mother, but some magical ,curse-type situation prevented his return until now.

[Jester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out strong with this one, but by two-thirds of the way, the plot of the book and the enjoyment of the story became uninteresting. It took me longer than I thought to get through it. At the end of the story, Rory's father is briefly brought up. This was unexpected, as he was not mentioned throughout the story. One thing I did like was the characters. Rory and the supporting characters were what kept me going.

Note: Using new rating system starting 2025.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rory is a 12-year-old who is struggling to help his single mother provide for their humble living in a very Dickensian-style town where nobody is cheerful and the weather is always glum. His mom works two jobs, and Rory feels that he is old enough to work himself, so he gets a job at a local mansion called Foxglove Manor which turns out to be more than he bargained for. His new boss is acting quite suspicious. Why are the guests to the house so mysterious and secretive? Why is Rory having weird dreams? Why is he the only dark-skinned person in Gloom Town? And what in Europica is going on with everyone's shadows???

This review will be a bit different from others. Since the things I liked and didn't like about the book are so closely related, I'm not going to split them up into positive-negative. I'm just going to mention each aspect and what I did and didn't like.

I felt like the book was paced very quickly, and at some points I found myself wishing that parts that had been glossed over had more meat to them or had been arranged in a different order. For example, the fact that Rory is mixed race is an integral part of his character and development, and while the story mentions he has darker skin, I would have liked to see more of his diversity included in the story. The representation is very important and one of my favorite parts about this book, and I appreciate that the author didn't overdo the diversity, which made it feel more authentic and genuine and is crucial for young children of color reading books that portray characters that look like them, but because the book doesn't have pictures, I think sprinkling in more details and events where he illustrates how his darker skin impacts him and his mother would have made it even better. The tie-in between the stories about him and Goldenrod, his favorite seafarer, would have been far more interesting if we'd gotten stories peppered in throughout the book. I felt like the fight against the "Big Bad" was very fast and would have liked more of a build-up and resolution.

Things like reveals about certain characters' strengths and backgrounds, including that of Rory, Izzie, and Gloom Town's, felt like they came out of nowhere while others took a very long time to get to. There was a twist about the city's history that felt a little bit like an off-hand comment when it should have been a giant revelation that changed the course of the story. There was a twist at the very end that I, being an older reader, had picked up on, but that younger readers probably would never see coming, because the clues to it were so vague. I also felt like after what was supposed to be this big explosive reveal, things kind of fizzled out and resolved themselves too quickly and the end came very abruptly. I think a lot of this comes from the telling and not showing of certain important parts. Instead of telling us that Rory has asked about his dad in the past, showing him asking his mom and having that conversation would give it more depth. Instead of telling us Goldenrod is a popular myth/legend people love to tell stories about, have Rory carry around a notebook that he fills every time he hears a new story about Goldenrod. For example, one of the best scenes was the seance scene with Izzie, and that worked so well because it was shown and not simply told - the atmosphere of that scene was so well-done and spooky. I also think this is a story that would be served well by occasional full-page illustrations, given the age of the target audience.

This was a short, easy read. I am sure there is a sequel coming with the big twist at the end. I enjoyed Gloom Town's atmosphere and intriguing characters and would definitely give the sequel a try, in hopes for more details like I mentioned above.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the new valet at Foxglove Manor, Rory discovers that things are not what he'd hoped. There are unusual guests, a forbidden red door, and a grumpy old butler who watches his every move. Things really go south when Rory discovers a human heart buried in the garden. He has kept everything hidden from his mother, but not from his best friend Izzy. When Lord Foxglove steals their shadows, they decide to get them back and free the town from Foxglove's evil plot. Rory is kidnapped on their way to the manor; but Izzy escapes and arrives with reinforcements just in time to save him. Together they pass through the red door and discover an evil queen feasting on shadows in order to reenter the corporeal world. Rory's stone necklace shatters on the ground; releasing his shadow which defeats the voracious queen. The defeat of the queen has released Rory's father from her prison and he has returned, unaware that he has a son. Rory discovers that his father is a mage and so is he. Mages attend the Bastion for training and Rory decides that he would like to learn there, Izzy is determined to go with him.

This is so close to being a truly outstanding story. The premise is intriguing, the plot moves along apace, and the characters are likeable or detestable in approiate measure, but the story seems to get lost in it's possibilities somehow. Rory's time in the mansion is perfect; creepy characters, danger around every corner, and a malevolent mystery to be solved. His best friend, Izzy, is a wonderful and courageous heroine who inspires Rory to his own great deeds. The adventure is always up to par and the mystery of the town and it's inhabitants is well plotted. The flat feeling comes from Rory's mother who doesn't seem to quite fit in with the rest of the characters and the story. Perhaps this is because the story is told from her twelve year old son's point of view, but it would be nice if she was more dashing and daring to match Rory, Izzy, and Goldenrod. The descriptions of people and places provide intrigue and interest and it is easy to visualize this as a great Disney movie. The right actress could supply the bravado his mother needs and the story would be perfect escapism.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning to the works of R. L. Stine made me nostalgic for the type of spooky middle grade/YA fiction that got me into reading in the first place. So I wondered what kind of creepy new novels are out there nowadays for middle grade readers. Turns out, quite a lot! No matter the age, spooky stuff seems irresistible.

In “Gloom Town,” twelve-year-old Rory lives in a creepy seaside town called Gloom with his mom and best friend Izzy (a fiery red-headed young witch). In need of money, Rory accepts a job at the mysterious Foxglove Manor. A series of unsettling events leads Rory to believe that there’s something sinister going on with the Lord of the manor, something involving evil beings from another world. Will Rory and Izzy be able to uncover the town’s secrets and defeat the growing threat?

I loved the Lovecraftian elements of this story: murky seaside town, mysterious cult rituals, otherworldly entities. I guess you could call it Lovecraft Lite. I don’t know much about how middle grade fic works, but it seemed like everything worked out pretty easily for the characters all the time. I mean, I know it can’t be too dark, but the ease with which conflicts were resolved and mysteries were unraveled left me with a vaguely unsatisfied feeling. This story has lots of fun garnish but not much meat on the bones. I would have preferred less plot points and more time making the world and characters feel “lived in.” Regardless, I love the aesthetic Ronald L. Smith creates and would recommend this to a young reader who is intrigued by spooky stuff but isn’t quite ready for real scares.

Rating 3.5/5

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many things which I enjoyed about Gloom Town. The main characters are well fleshed out, and the secondary characters (like Rory’s mom’s friends) are a colorful lot. I like it when secondary characters are quirky and not just in a book for “fillers.”

Rory’s strength of character makes him one which I hope the children who read this book will want to emulate. He knows he and his mom are in trouble financially. His mother works two jobs, so Rory takes the initiative to find a job to help out. However, his job is less than desirable, and if he’d read the contract carefully, he may have saved himself a lot of grief. But then we wouldn’t have this story either!

Though I enjoyed the story as a whole, it took me a while to get through the first third of the book. Yes, important events occur within that section of the story, but I just felt like it dragged a bit. The rest of the book moved much faster and was more exciting. Several elements in Gloom Town are very dark. Rory’s friend Izzy is a witch as is her mother, and I have no problem with that. What I did find a bit disturbing happen during the last “action sequence” (for lack of a better term and without giving spoilers). If you have a sensitive middle grade student, you might want to read this first. You can decide if you think they can handle it.

I give the book a little over 3 stars. I’d give it 4 had I not (as an adult) been disturbed by the dark elements in the story.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Huge thank you to Raincoast for this ARC!

Gloom Town is the story of twelve-year-old Rory, who decided to apply for a job at a spooky mansion called Foxglove, as a means to help out his mother who is financially struggling. Rory thinks the job should be easy, until he uncovers that their may be something more sinister going on at the manor. Rory finds out that his new employer is a shadowy figure who likes to steal people's shadows -- he's not even human! Rory and his new friend Izzy must stop the crazy cultists of Foxglove Manor before more people potentially lose their shadows!

This book was a lot of fun and I quite enjoyed it. It definitely has a spooky Harriet The Spy vibe floating through the narrative and Rory and Izzy make for fun investigators to follow. I sort of wished the big bad in this story felt like a real big bad, but I appreciate the effort that went into this book for understanding that cultists might in fact be hard to pitch to a middle grade audience. The friendship between Izzy and Rory is easily the book's strongest element, especially as they are trying to uncover the big bad, but I just wish that the big bad and it's reveal had been stronger.

I do think this is going to be a great book to recommend to middle grader fans, if only because it moves at such a quick pace and the mystery element is good, even if the payoff isn't as strong. There is a lot of fun and quirkiness in this story, and I truly enjoyed my time reading it.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description
A delightfully creepy novel from a Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner imbued with magic and seafaring mythology. Lemony Snicket and Jessica Townsend meet Greenglass House, with a hint of Edward Gorey thrown in.

When twelve-year-old Rory applies for a job at a spooky old mansion in his gloomy seaside town, he finds the owner, Lord Foxglove, odd and unpleasant. But he and his mom need the money, so he takes the job anyway. Rory soon finds out that his new boss is not just strange, he’s not even human—and he’s trying to steal the townspeople’s shadows. Together, Rory and his friend Isabella set out to uncover exactly what Foxglove and his otherworldly accomplices are planning and devise a strategy to defeat them. But can two kids defeat a group of ancient evil beings who are determined to take over the world?

Another delightfully creepy tale from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award–winning author Ronald L. Smith.

Is there a sequel? That's what I wondered while reading the book. Great character development - loved Rory and Isabella(Izzy). There's unanswered threads that are left hanging, as if they'll be answered in another book. The backstory in this book seemed to be the tip of an iceberg, making me feel that there was more to come. I hope so! This is a must read!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are not too pleasant in the town of Gloom. They are, shall we say, rather gloomy. In addition, Rory and his mom are having trouble paying the rent to their mean and greedy landlord. So, Rory decides to get a job in order to help. But Rory is only twelve, and, due to his age, does not qualify for any job. Then, he sees a notice for a job as a gentleman’s valet for Lord Foxglove. He knew that it wouldn’t be easy, but, in addition to the hard and ceaseless work, he discovers some very unusual, suspicious, and dangerous happenings at the Manor.

This story gets off to a rough start with an uneven plot line, but it smooths out as the book progresses. I grew to love the characters, and the story ended up having an impact on me after all. This is a story of fantasy, magic, and amazing sea voyages. What child, big or small, wouldn’t enjoy that?

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from the publisher at YallFest in exchange for an honest review.

Rory is a young boy living in the sea town of Gloom. His mother struggled to meet the amount needed for rent, so Rory found a job at the Foxglove Manor, a weird manor in his town. He experienced some weird encounters with his employer, Mr. Foxglove. When he found a heart buried in the backyard of the manor, he became very suspicious of the situation and wanted to figure out why. After he ran away from the manor, he found out his shadow had been taken. But by who?

I found this book quite interesting. It had a fast-paced, interesting story that kept me wanting to read more. Rory and Izzy were well thought out characters. They were definitely characters that children could look up to. I do want to know how the story goes on if Ronald L. Smith does write another book in the series. It was left at a place where he could do either.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think some kids in grades 4-6 might really enjoy this book about a boy in what feels like a fictional steam-punky/fantasy Victorian seaside city who desperately takes a job as a "valet" in a creepy mansion. Rory isn't at Foxglove manor but a few days before he discovers that something very wrong is happening. He quickly involves his best friend Izzy as they try to escape from his murderous employer, and stop an ancient evil. Pros of this book: the plot once it gets going doesn't waste any time at all on any extra details - it just moves along. Rory is an appealing character - it's genuinely scary and a little gory in parts - effortlessly presents characters of color without it being a big deal. Cons of this book: it took a little bit to get started and build the gross/scary - sometimes it moves so fast it's confusing. All in all a good choice for kids who like spooky adventure, but might not have the stamina for a longer book.

[zhar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd prefer to not rate this due to a reason described a bit further down, but if I had to rate it, I'd give it 2.5 stars. Picked this up in a used bookstore a year or two back and thought, reading the blurb, "Man, this is totally something that I would have loved to read as a kid."

I've been sick with a cold for the last few days, so I figured now would be the perfect opportunity to finally read this (and maybe pass it on to my nibling now that I'm an aunt). And well...I don't know. The characters and setting were appealing, but the pacing feels off, even for a middle grade novel.

Regarding my reluctance to rate this book - I didn't notice back when I bought it, but looking at the cover now...I appear to have the ARC version of the book, so I'm not sure if any adjustments to the pacing were made in the final published edition. (There were some placeholders for missing art, though, which were admittedly kind of amusing to see.)

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Rory and his mom live in Gloom Town. Despite working all the time, she can barely pay the rent, so when Rory sees an ad for a valet at Foxglove Manor, he decides to apply for the position, even though he doesn't know what a valet is. Things at Foxglove Manor are super creepy and Rory discovers that his new boss is hiding some mysterious secret. When Rory tries to figure out exactly what's going on, things go terribly wrong. Luckily he has best friend Isabella by his side.
I liked that the relationship between Rory and Isabella stays solidly in friendship land. Other than that it is a solid fantasy/magical realism. It never truly drew me in but I can see where it would have appeal for students.

[Hira Chaudhary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a gloomy, dark, magical middle grade novel that I would have loved to read as a kid! Rory is such a great protagonist and I love how he wanted to get a job and help his mother pay their rent. Izzy was grand and I loved her witchy powers and what great friends they were.

I felt like some things were a little too rushed (like that whole ending—defeating Mara and the others was wayyyy too easy), but overall it was a cute MG story and Rory’s dad showing up at the end was pretty grand (though also, way too convenient and rushed)

[Dontreadlikethem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloom Town is the story of Rory who gets hired at a estate surrounded in mystery and maybe even a little evil. While his best friend Izzy helps him figure out what is really going on behind the red door they don't realize there are bigger issues at hand. This story reminded me of The Night Gardener. One of the things I enjoyed most is that after the mystery is solved the story doesn't end. Without looking at the cover I wouldn't have known Rory was African American. The story mentions his skin being dark but for some reason it still didn't click. If I could change anything it would be the discussion of his race and make it more up front. Children ages 10 and up will enjoy this book.

[Jennybeast · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it's very... atmospheric. And it takes about 100 pages before the story finally starts to kick off. I kept wondering what the point of the book was -- there's some good friendships, but the characters are fairly rudimentary. There's a happy ending, that sails in out of nowhere and drops a last-minute chosen-one fate. There are a lot of salty sayings, like "tears of a fish" that are weird and charming. There's a whole mysterious cult raising a sorceress which is very over-the-top, but apparently they are quite easily defeated, so I don't know why no one bothered to do it previously. Meh.

[totally_not_a_felony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was quite good. the plot was super interesting and I liked the authors writing style. my main dislikes were that the pacing felt weird, a lot slower at the beginning then very fast at the end, and I would have liked to have more background info because I found one of the best parts of this book was the side character but their backstory left a lot to wonder about. the book was around 300 pages and I really wish more went into the backstory/worldbuilding. overall I thought this was a great book that kept me interested.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed as I really wanted to like this. It was packed with all the elements I generally enjoy and I have been a fan of Smith's other books. This one unfortunately didn't quite gel for me. The magical system and world building was not very well developed and the plot seemed more a series of events that didn't have enough basis or explanations to support them. There was a sort of random unconnected feel to the story for me and as a result I didn't quite connect to the overall story.