Sparrow Hill Road (Ghost Roads, #1) (Ghost Stories, #1)

by Seanan McGuire

Now in a new redesigned edition, featuring an updated introduction from the author and songs!

Rose Marshall died in 1952 in Buckley Township, Michigan, run off the road by a man named Bobby Cross—a man who had sold his soul to live forever, and intended to use her death to pay the price of his immortality. Trouble was, he didn’t ask Rose what she thought of the idea.

It’s been more than sixty years since that night, and she’s still sixteen, and she’s still running.

They have names for her all over the country: the Girl in the Diner. The Phantom Prom Date. The Girl in the Green Silk Gown. Mostly she just goes by “Rose,” a hitchhiking ghost girl with her thumb out and her eyes fixed on the horizon, trying to outrace a man who never sleeps, never stops, and never gives up on the idea of claiming what’s his. She’s the angel of the overpass, she’s the darling of the truck stops, and she’s going to figure out a way to win her freedom. After all, it’s not like it can kill her.

You can’t kill what’s already dead.

• ISBN10: 0756414407
• ISBN13: 9780756414405
• Publish Date: 5 June 2018 (first published 6 May 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Daw Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780756414405

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Sparrow Hill Road came out in May 2014, and I honestly have no idea how I have never read it before now. It’s a ghost story, but not your typical ghost story. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Seanan McGuire so far, so I wasn’t even remotely surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel.
It’s been long enough since this book came out that I managed to get my hands on an alternate cover edition, and I love it (no offense to the original). I’m hoping the sequel will end up with a similar cover, that would be fantastic (I prefer my series to look like they’re well, the same series).
Every area has their own favorite ghost stories to share. But what if those stories were actually true? Rose Marshall died at the age of 16, so that is the age she’ll always be. She travels the roads as a hitchhiker, and has many names she goes by. The ghost of Sparrow Hill Road, the Girl in the Diner, the Phantom Prom Date, the Girl in the Green Silk Gown, and probably even more than that. Her story is a captivating tale, and one I hope you give a chance.



It’s been a while since I found a story about ghosts I was able to fully throw myself into. This was so refreshing and beautifully written; I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. This isn’t’ a standard ghost story, Rose doesn’t haunt people or places in the typical sense. She has a purpose in life, well death I suppose.
Rose ushers those that die on the road to the next natural step. That may mean that they end up as ghosts on the road much like her, or it could be they move on to somewhere else. Rose doesn’t know where they go through; she hasn’t been given the luxury to see what is beyond that road.
You see, Rose’s death forged her path for her – she was never consulted in it and she certainly wasn’t given a choice. Her story is heartbreaking and compelling, and I ate up every word of it.
I loved Rose as a character. Sure, she was a little harsh at times, but really, considering all the girl has been through already, can you blame her? Despite the life and death that she’s lived she truly does care and she even goes out of her way to save those that she can.
The system for ghosts created in this universe was beautifully done. Their world is as complex as ours, which makes sense considering they’re a reflection of our world. I loved the intricacy and details added throughout. Seanan McGuire has a way with world building.
One thing that really struck a chord in particular for me was the way Rose could sense death and accidents. It wasn’t a sixth sense, so to speak. She could smell it. Each accident was a combination of scents, the cause, the result, who was after them, it all added to the aroma. As somebody that lives by her sense of smell, this little touch meant so much to me. I wasn’t aware that I missed this being represented in media until I found an example of it. I know that may sound weird to say, but it’s the truth.
I’ll be honest and tell you that there were parts of this book that sincerely broke my heart, or were so bittersweet I broke down in tears. If you’ve read this book than you probably know the parts I’m talking about. They were beautifully done, and really push you to feel the full extent of emotions involved.
The antagonist for this series is interesting. He’s the sort of character you love to hate, but it doesn’t feel cheap to have it that way. He’s made a deal with the devil (in this case a crossroads witch) and his victims are the ones who pay that price. I look forward to seeing him get what he deserves.
I can’t wait for the release of The Girl in the Green Silk Gown. It looks fantastic. I can’t wait to start reading it (almost there!). Yet another series by Seanan McGuire that I’m thoroughly hooked on.


For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[kimbacaffeinate]

The stories contained within this book all focus on Rose Marshall who died in 1952 in Buckley Township, Michigan. It was her prom night. A dance she never attended because a man named Bobby Cross who sold his soul to ride the highways forever ran her off the road.

Originally published in serial form, the book follows Rose in a non-linear timeline from her death in 1952 to present day. McGuire shares stories about this ghost who is known by many names; the phantom prom date, the woman at the diner, the girl in the green silk gown, and the walking girl of Route 42.  She is most commonly referred to as the ghost of Sparrow Hill Road.

I’m the phantom prom date, the woman at the diner, the girl in the green silk gown, and the walking girl of Route 42. But most of all, I’m the ghost of Sparrow Hill Road. Rosie Marshall. Just one more girl who raced and lost in the hand of the forest, the shade of the hill, on the hairpin curves of that damned deadly hill.
People call me a lot of things these days. You can call me Rose.
Now come with me.

McGuire shares different events that occur on the highway as Rose travels.  Along the way, we meet routewitches, crossroad guardians and roads that are alive. The story has royalty within the ghostly realm, vengeful humans, and ghosts. We even meet a be`a sidhe (banshee). 

I loved the hierarchy, rules, and roads as the author fleshed out the world of the non-living. I came to care for Rose and secondary characters, even her nasty relative. The story has a bit of everything from death to romance.

The suspenseful thread surrounding Bobby Cross allowed me to experience suspense and chills. While I wouldn't classify Sparrow Hill Road as horror, it does have spine-tingling moments that only a good ghost story can deliver. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[violetpeanut]

This is one of those books that I really wanted to like. I tried. I really did! It's just not my taste, I guess. I love the idea of a ghost story from the POV of the ghost herself. I loved some of the descriptions of the ghost road and I loved Rose herself.

The problem is that this book is really more like a string of short stories with the same setting and characters than an actual novel. After reading it I found that this had originally been published in a serialized form. That probably explains the format of the book. There are themes that tie it all together but the chapters (stories?) are not tied together by a plot. Some readers may really love that but it kept me from really getting sucked in to the book.

There is also a LOT of repetition. In the beginning I was interested in hearing about the ghost roads and the types of ghosts but after a while I felt like I kept reading the same basic descriptions over and over just using different words.

This just wasn't my thing. I have to say, I was really disappointed. Especially after all of the great reviews I've read. I would not, however, discourage anyone from checking this one out. If it sounds interesting to you and you don't mind short stories, you may enjoy this much more than I did.