Title: The Library of Shadows
Author: Rachel Moore
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 368
Release Date: 28 September 2023
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Hello fellow book lovers! Today I'm sharing my review of The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore. And paranormal rom-com fans should rejoice as Moore’s gorgeously written, ghost-filled debut was an absolute (spooky) delight. It has an intriguing cast of characters and an eerie library shrouded in secrets that dark academia lovers are almost certain to enjoy.
Synopsis
Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn’t uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.
Not literally, of course. She doesn’t believe in ghosts. Going to her dad’s school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.
But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe—probably—definitely—a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.
When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library’s secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.
Except following her father’s footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren’t just myth. And if she isn’t careful, she’ll be next.
Review
I really enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for stories set in libraries (as most book lovers are) so jumped at the chance to read this and, honestly it was soo good.
The writing was utterly engaging and the setting gorgeously atmospheric with secret passageways, ominously shadowy book shelves and a cast of ghostly characters I couldn’t get enough of (Aoife and Mateo being my faves.)
But I loved Este, our protagonist, most of all. Her bookish enthusiasm was really relatable and her guarded, standoffish demeanour really showcased the grief she still feels in the loss of her father (as well being the sole motivation for attending Radcliffe.) Her emotional journey was really satisfying to watch and seeing Este finally build emotional connections and friendships made me feel a little like a proud mum.
I also loved how reminiscent she was of Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday—especially in how stubborn and determined she is in her endeavours. Her initial interactions with perky, ghost obsessed roommate, Poppy also reminded me of Wednesday and Edith’s dynamics which I loved (though Poppy doesn’t have nearly as many scenes as I would’ve liked.)
The romance between Este and her ghostly love interest, Mateo was also surprisingly swoon-worthy considering how rocky some of their initial interactions were —I just wish there was more of a buildup to it as, though their friendship was well paced, their leap into romance felt a teensy bit rushed. That may just be a me problem though, as I’m a huge fan of a slow-burn romance.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, though I did sort of guess the identity of the person responsible for the missing students, but the reveal was nevertheless quite shocking.
Overall, a fast paced paranormal YA with autumnal/ dark academia vibes that’s perfect for starting off your spooky reading season in style.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the digital arc.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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