Blog Tour | The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E.M. Anderson | Review

For fans of UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by T.J. Klune, the sweet comfort of THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES is combined with the endearing grump of A MAN CALLED OVE, in this cozy fantasy about an immortal ghost hunter who must forgive himself for his tragic past in order to embrace his found family.

In this mesmerizing, wonderfully moving queer cozy fantasy, an immortal ghost hunter must confront his tragic past in order to embrace his found family.

Find an angry spirit. Send it on its way before it causes trouble. Leave before anyone learns his name.

After over two hundred years, Peter Shaughnessy is ready to die and end this cycle. But thanks to a youthful encounter with one o’ them folk in his native Ireland, he can’t. Instead, he’s cursed to wander eternally far from home, with the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants.

Immortality means Peter has lost everyone he’s ever loved. And so he centers his life on the dead—until his wandering brings him to Harrington, Ohio. As he searches for a vengeful spirit, Peter’s drawn into the townsfolk’s lives, homes and troubles. For the first time in over a century, he wants something other than death.

But the people of Harrington will die someday. And he won’t.

As Harrington buckles under the weight of the supernatural, the ghost hunt pits Peter’s well-being against that of his new friends and the man he’s falling for. If he stays, he risks heartbreak. If he leaves, he risks their lives.

Buy Links | HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but the synopsis intrigued me so I definitely wanted to pick it up. The characters had so much depth and it’s obvious the author really took their time crafting them. On the surface level this may sound like a story simply about a man who is essentially immortal who helps find ghosts and move them on, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a wonderfully woven story about grief, loss and learning to find your place in the world. I found myself taking my time with this story rather than speeding through it so I could truly absorb the story and the characters. It was really atmospheric and cozy and I look forward to reading more from the author.

E.M. Anderson (she/they) is a queer, neurodivergent writer and the author of The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher. Her work has appeared in SJ Whitby’s Awakenings: A Cute Mutants Anthology, Wyldblood Press’s From the Depths: A Fantasy Anthology, and Dark Horses: The Magazine of Weird Fiction. They have two master’s degrees and a feral passion for trees, birds, pole fitness, and Uncle Iroh. You can find them on Instagram, BlueSky, and Tumblr at @elizmanderson.

Social Links | Author Website | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Bluesky

Happy reading!

Review | Falling in Love with a Traveling Cat by Juno

Where would you like to travel? The aquarium, the amusement park, the great outdoors, the hot springs, or all the way across Japan? Make a plan and pack your little bag!

The cute kitties of Mofusand have conquered Japan and now, they’re taking a trip! Incredible illustrator JUNO brings the lives and travels of these cats to life in F’alling In Love with a Traveling Cat: Mofusand’s 1st Illustration Book!’ A cute collections of narrative illustrations and text that will be beloved by readers and cat-fanciers of all ages!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This book was so adorable and a great palette cleanser for me. While there is some text, it is mostly a picture book of all the Mofusand cats in different travel locations and doing different activities, everything ranging from going to an amusement park, to getting relaxing spa treatment. The art style is whimsical and fun, and there were little tidbits here and there that were entertaining, sprinkled among the images. It was a super quick read, but also super fun.

Happy reading!

Review | The Age of Video Game by Jean Zeid

Press Start on an immersive journey revealing the pixels, polygons, and people that revolutionized entertainment forever. Join journalist Jean Zeid, artist Émilie Rouge, and their console pal Roby to learn how digital dreams built an industry now worth hundreds of billions of dollars. This engaging and comprehensive graphic novel is a knowledge power-up for hardcore gamers and curious noobs of all ages!

Time travel to pivotal moments in video game history with a wistful millennial Jean Zeid, extremely online zoomer, Émilie Rouge, and their robot sidekick Roby in a lively, action-packed conversation all generations of gamers will enjoy. Émilie’s massive portal cannon takes the team from era-to-era, lab-to-lab, revealing the real people, inventions, and breakthroughs in gaming. Go right with them as they clear levels in 8-bit sidescrollers, combat games, simulators, multi-player RPGs, and more — but watch your step! Includes a full index and acknowledgements.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

As an avid gamer I was excited to pick up this one. Anything that is a deep dive, especially into the history and evolution of video games or different technologies is probably something I will find interesting. I really enjoyed the format of the graphic novel, not just taking us chronologically through the history of video games, but also touching on a wide range of different aspects of video games and how they progressed. I think for anyone there are going to be games they wished had been mentioned, but there’s no way to name everything and I felt the author did a good job of not only naming huge titles, but also highlighting a lot of other titles as well, all the way from the beginning of the industry to today. Plus, I loved that even through I’ve been gaming all my life pretty much there was a lot I didn’t know and tons of little factoids that ranged from nuggets of knowledge to humorous tidbits.

Happy reading (and gaming)!

Review | Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi

From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler, author of Parable of the Sower and Kindred .

Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler experienced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I didn’t know much about Octavia E. Butler’s life before picking up this book, but found the format and premise of it intriguing. It’s a mix of poetry, some media and small chapter snippets about her life and the events that shaped it or impacted her writing. Each poem has a companion chapter that explains more about her life and the current events at the time. There were also some photographs and other media included. Though this was written for/marketed to younger readers, I felt it was a great read for anyone wanting to know more about Octavia E Butler and definitely made me more interested in checking out more of her work.

Happy reading!

Review | The Ghostkeeper by Johanna Taylor

Perfect for fans of everything from Lockwood & Co to The Haunting of Hill House, this gothic graphic novel follows a young medium with the gift—or curse, as some might say—to communicate with the dead. This ghost story “powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife” raved Kirkus in a starred review!

Dorian Leith can see ghosts. Not only that, he listens to their problems and tries to help them move on to the afterlife. It’s a gift that’s made him an outcast to everyone in town. That is except for his dearly departed grandmother, who he’s partnered with to turn this paranormal ability into an honest living, and the local bookshop owner, who seems to be the only non-deceased person willing to give him a chance. But it’s all worth it to Dorian, who feels like he’s been given a bigger purpose. A chance to save those who cannot save themselves.

Then one day, the key to Death’s Door is stolen, trapping all the ghosts in the land of the living. Since he’s only one who can see them, the spirits rely on Dorian to retrieve the key before it is too late. If they can’t move on, they’ll soon be consumed by a ghostly rot that has begun to plague them.

As it continues to fester and spread, and the ghosts become desperate for relief, Dorian must do whatever it takes to find a way to bring peace to the restless dead—even if that peace comes at the cost of his own….

Rating: 4 out of 5.

When I initially picked this one up I was not expecting it to go as deep as it did. There’s a lot of talk about grief, how different people might think of those that have been lost, despair and loss. The ghosts aren’t the only ones who have lessons to learn, but Dorian does as well as he navigates helping the ghosts, especially after discovering that they can’t move on in the afterlife. The story was full of a lot of heart, a little humor and some underhanded plots. The art style was charming and suited the characters and setting perfectly, I especially liked how the ghosts were portrayed.

Happy reading!