Victoria Schwab’s City of Ghosts introduces readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead blurs into what the protagonist calls “the Veil.” In this first installment of the Cassidy Blake series, Schwab crafts a middle-grade paranormal adventure that balances genuine chills with heartfelt exploration of friendship, identity, and purpose.
As someone familiar with Schwab’s more mature works (the Shades of Magic series and Vicious), I was curious to see how her distinct voice would translate to a younger audience. The answer: brilliantly. Schwab loses none of her atmospheric storytelling while creating a ghost story accessible to younger readers yet engaging enough for adults.
The Story: Death Is Only the Beginning
When Cassidy Blake nearly drowns in a frozen river, she’s saved by a boy named Jacob—who happens to be a ghost. The accident leaves Cassidy with the ability to see and interact with the dead, to cross the “Veil” between worlds, and with Jacob as her constant (and ghostly) best friend.
Fast forward a year, and Cassidy’s paranormal scholar parents (who ironically can’t see ghosts themselves) land a TV deal to film a show about the world’s most haunted cities. Their first stop? Edinburgh, Scotland—a city with centuries of dark history and restless spirits.
As Cassidy explores Edinburgh’s haunted sites, she encounters Lara, another girl who can cross the Veil. Unlike Cassidy, who merely observes ghosts, Lara hunts them—sending them “on” to whatever lies beyond. This revelation forces Cassidy to question her own purpose and the nature of her friendship with Jacob.
But lurking in Edinburgh’s cobbled streets is a malevolent spirit known as the Raven in Red, who steals children’s life essence—and who sets her sights on Cassidy’s unusually bright life force. When the Raven steals Cassidy’s “thread of life,” trapping her in the Veil, Cassidy must find a way to reclaim her life before it’s too late.
Characters: Vibrant and Memorable
The beating heart of City of Ghosts is the relationship between Cassidy and Jacob. Their friendship feels authentic and lived-in, complete with inside jokes, banter, and established “rules of friendship” they’ve built over their year together. Jacob’s inability to remember his own death creates mystery, while his pop-culture quips (constantly getting Harry Potter references wrong) bring welcome humor to balance the story’s darker elements.
Cassidy herself is a compelling protagonist—curious, brave when necessary, but also realistically frightened by her circumstances. Her passion for photography adds depth to her character while serving the plot; her vintage camera becomes both a tool for capturing glimpses of the supernatural world and a weapon against malevolent spirits.
Lara Chowdhury, the “ghost hunter” Cassidy meets in Edinburgh, provides a wonderful foil to our protagonist. Where Cassidy is hesitant and uncertain about her abilities, Lara is decisive and knowledgeable. Their developing dynamic promises interesting developments in future books.
Setting: Edinburgh Comes Alive (and Undead)
Schwab’s Edinburgh is a character unto itself. From Mary King’s Close to Greyfriars Kirkyard to Edinburgh Castle, she weaves real locations and their associated ghost stories into her narrative seamlessly. The city becomes a layered space where the past and present, the living and the dead, exist simultaneously:
“For most people, life and death are pretty black-and-white. But something happened that day when Jacob pulled me out of the water. I guess I pulled him out of somewhere, too, and we got tangled up, and now I’m not all alive and he’s not all dead.”
This concept of in-between spaces—physical, temporal, metaphysical—runs throughout the novel and gives it depth beyond a simple ghost story.
Themes: More Than Just Ghosts
What elevates City of Ghosts above standard middle-grade fare is Schwab’s deft handling of complex themes:
- Life and death as a continuum rather than binary states
- Finding one’s purpose in unexpected circumstances
- The power of friendship across boundaries
- The weight of responsibility that comes with special abilities
- Learning to face fears rather than run from them
These themes are woven naturally into the narrative without ever feeling didactic.
Writing Style: Atmospheric Yet Accessible
Schwab’s prose finds the perfect balance for her target audience. It’s atmospheric and evocative without being overly complex:
“People think that ghosts only come out at night, or on Halloween, when the world is dark and the walls are thin. But the truth is, ghosts are everywhere.”
Short chapters help maintain narrative momentum, while Cassidy’s first-person narration keeps readers directly connected to the unfolding events. Schwab doesn’t talk down to her young readers—she trusts them to follow her into dark places and complex emotional territory.
A Series with Promise
City of Ghosts is followed by Tunnel of Bones (set in Paris) and Bridge of Souls (set in New Orleans), completing Cassidy’s journey. This first book establishes a solid foundation for the series while also working as a standalone adventure.
The ending resolves the immediate threat of the Raven in Red while planting seeds for future developments—particularly regarding Jacob’s mysterious past and the true nature of Cassidy and Jacob’s connection.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Well:
- The central friendship between Cassidy and Jacob
- The vivid, atmospheric setting of Edinburgh
- The unique ghost mythology involving the Veil, life threads, and mirrors
- Balanced tone that delivers genuine scares without overwhelming younger readers
- A protagonist who feels like a real twelve-year-old rather than a miniature adult
Areas for Improvement:
- Secondary characters sometimes lack development – Cassidy’s parents, though charming, remain somewhat one-dimensional, serving primarily as a plot device to get Cassidy to Edinburgh.
- Some worldbuilding elements feel underdeveloped – The rules of the Veil, while intriguing, sometimes feel inconsistent.
- Pacing issues in the middle section – The story takes a while to hit its stride after the initial setup.
- Convenient resolutions – A few key problems are solved too easily, particularly the camera repair subplot.
For Fans Of…
If you enjoyed City of Ghosts, you might also like:
- Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
- Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel
- The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown
Readers of Schwab’s other works will recognize her talent for creating eerie atmospheres and morally complex situations, though City of Ghosts is decidedly less violent than her adult novels. The blend of friendship dynamics and supernatural elements might also appeal to fans of Stranger Things or The Haunting of Hill House.
Final Verdict: A Spooky, Heartfelt Adventure
City of Ghosts successfully balances supernatural thrills with emotional resonance. While some elements could be more developed, and the pacing occasionally falters, the strength of the central relationship and the richly depicted setting make this a standout middle-grade ghost story.
The novel establishes Victoria Schwab as a versatile author capable of crafting compelling stories for readers of all ages. If you’re looking for a ghost story with both scares and substance, City of Ghosts—and its sequels Tunnel of Bones and Bridge of Souls—should be at the top of your reading list.
For readers brave enough to pull back the Veil between worlds, Cassidy Blake’s journey offers a rewarding exploration of the spaces between life and death, and the connections that transcend both.
