The Secrets Of Ghosts

by Sarah Painter

[Leah]

Last year I read and enjoyed Sarah Painter’s debut novel The Language of Spells, it was a fantastic book feauting witches, but not the kind you might imagine – there were no capes or pointy hats or warty noses in sight, and I very much enjoyed getting to know more about Pendleford, which was the setting. It sounds like such a fantastic village, so I was super pleased when it was announced not only was Sarah releasing a second novel The Secret of Ghosts, but it was taking us back to Pendleford! WOOP. Back to Katie, and Gwen, which was such a fantastic idea; I only realised how much I missed them once I was back with them again, and it was safe to say their story was far from over, as we see Katie trying very, very hard to come into her Harper powers, something which is proving very disheartening and difficult as the novel opens.

Katie Harper knows that the Harper women are special, they have magical abilities, like her Aunt Gwen, who can find lost things and who is a dab hand at making magical potions and creams that help the folks of Pendleford, so Katie’s desperate to finally learn what her powers are… but they’re just not playing, and she’s starting to feel like a failure. Until, one night whilst working at the Grange, the local hotel, Katie stumbles across a dead man which sets off a terrifying chain of events, and leads her to Max, a con-man, with a deadly smile and wicked sense of humour. When Katie’s magical abilities finally make an appearance, everyone is surprised when it turns out Katie can see ghosts, but it’s not that simple, and her Aunt Gwen is warning her to be careful, but Katie loves her new powers, and is determined to use her powers for good, consequences be damned.

I have to admit that it did take me a little while to get into The Secrets of Ghosts, for some reason it just took ages for it to click for me, and I definitely think the second half is a much stronger read than the first half. It eventually did get to the point, thankfully, where I was just reading, reading, reading, desperate to read more and discover just what Katie’s new powers were going to do. (They wreaked havoc, lemme tell you, and it’s quite a cool power, but still not the power I would choose if I could have a witchy power). I probably would have got into it much easier if I’d just finished the first novel The Language of Spells, but it did happen and I very much enjoyed getting to know Katie a bit better. Gwen was relegated to a smaller role this time around, but her presence was definitely felt and definitely enjoyed whenever she did appear. I’d love to have an aunt just like Gwen, she’s amazing. Katie’s power creates a very interesting story featuring a girl called Violet, and I liked whenever she appeared as I knew it was a chance to know a little bit more about her, and why she was trapped at the Grange, I warmed to her just as much as Katie did, and I didn’t want to let her go! (Painter could TOTALLY go and write a historical novel about Violet, and I would DEVOUR it because Violet’s life sounded tragic, but very interesting).

I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret of Ghosts. It was just as magical and just as enjoyable as The Language of Spells and I am soooooo glad Sarah Painter decided to go back to Pendleford. Katie is such a fascinating character, and it really helped me warm to her because she was my age (but going through a waaaaay tougher time than me, let’s be honest). I was never quite sure of Max, because of his grifter/con-man ways, but he did seem rather sincere whenever he was with Katie, so I was very happy to give him the benefit of the doubt; although I still prefer Cam, let it be known. Max is going to have to try harder to beat Cam in the men-I-love stakes. I really do love magical fiction and I think Sarah Painter is one of the best at giving you a realistic look at magic and all that comes with it. I don’t think I believe in ghosts (and I’m only saying ‘think’ so a ghost doesn’t decide to come and haunt me and prove me wrong), but I always love reading about them in books, because in books anything can happen, that’s how it works, and it’s fantastic. I will eagerly be awaiting a new Sarah Painter, she’s become an author whose work I very much enjoy and I look forward to reading many more books from her!