Forgotten Ghosts
Author: Cass Kay
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: A-
October TBR optional theme: Spooky (Gothic)
What I’m Talking About:
Vianna is a legacy witch who ran from her history only to return and embrace her familiar demon to protect what is hers. Picking up about three months after the explosive events in the first book, Forgotten Ghosts shares with readers what comes next for Vianna.
Vianna, with her housemate Dee, has settled into a routine while carefully avoiding the Original Blood Coven and creating a tenuous truce with Shuck, her bonded demon. When a friend asks Vianna to check on his Hoodoo shop, she discovers odd ghosts lurking in the tunnels below the Salem businesses. Unfortunately, she also finds out that there are humans who know about her ability to see ghosts, some of whom don’t seem to have her best interests at heart.
Forgotten Ghosts is an excellent sophomore story from Cass Kay. Mostly urban fantasy with a touch of paranormal horror, the world and characters are engrossing and dark, yet there is some brightness as Vianna struggles to break from her family’s monstrous past. The author successfully builds upon the world she created in her first book by layering in details and complex emotions.
Vianna is a complicated heroine who goes against the grain, denying the passion to kill and amass power. Yet in order to protect herself and friends, she has taken on the mantle of the Root family’s power. Vianna lives in the gray; which makes the story so interesting. She is conflicted, trying to find her way, and I want her to succeed. But it’s not just Vianna, it’s those around her. I love that there are some straight up bad guys, a few genuinely good guys, but mostly lots and lots of gray ones in between. Vianna struggles to trust, and seeing her try to open up to Dee and eventually Shuck is wonderful. But there is a lot of tension because you never know if someone will turn on Vianna. There is also a little bit of an Angel/Buffy vibe with Officer Grayson Elliott, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
In the end, Forgotten Ghosts is a wonderful follow up story in the Legacy Witches series. I really hope the author continues this well-written, captivating series.
My Rating: A –
Jen
About the Book:
Vianna has finally stopped running from her legacy, but she refuses to be a part of Salem’s daily drama. Instead, she’s content to work in her garden, bond with the family familiar, and make candles.
When an old friend reaches out about ghostly encounters in the tunnels that run below his hoodoo shop, Vianna and roommate bestie Dee agree to poke around. But they’re not the only ones on the case. Bossy Detective Elliott insists they combine their efforts, despite centuries of mistrust between law enforcement and the craft.
Down in the tunnels, their unlikely trio entangles with a team of ghost hunters-which can’t be a coincidence. In order to find out what the ghosts want, she’ll have to learn to trust her new alliances and the magic within her.
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Dream the Dream
Series: Legacy Witches #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, mild paranormal horror
Format(s): paperback (238 pages), e-book
Book Source: purchased with my own funds
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)