Book: Tunnel of Bones by V.E. Schwab
Read From: 27th June - 28th June 2021
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Cassidy is in Paris where her parents are filming their TV show about the world's most haunted places. When she accidentally awakens a strong spirit, she must rely on her ghost-hunting skills and friends both old and new to help unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger.
I really enjoyed City of Ghosts when I read it last year but for some reason I never got around to buying Tunnel of Bones until very recently. Even though I left it a while before picking up the second instalment in this middle grade trilogy, it honestly didn’t matter. I do think that this could have been read as a stand-alone, but I’m glad I read City of Bones first as it was nice to have the backstory and to see how Cassidy’s parents’ TV show is progressing.
Paris was SUCH a great setting for this book, especially with the involvement of the Catacombs. It is a children’s book so if you’re going to read this as an adult, then I’ll state the obvious that you’re not going to feel scared. Regardless, this book is written so well and Schwab really brings all of the different ghost stories to life. Accompanied by the subtle hints about Jacob’s past, it’s hard not to keep turning the pages - the atmosphere and the mystery is built up really well throughout.
On the topic of Jacob, I loved his character development and thought that his sarcastic and witty personality shone through a lot more in comparison to the first book. His friendship with Cassidy is so wholesome, it’s the kind of friend you wish you had when you were younger (aside from the ghost part, obviously). I liked that more of his back-story was explored and I’m excited to see where this could potentially go as the series progresses. Whilst I love Cassidy, Jacob is definitely my favourite character in this series.
I would really recommend this one - it’s a FAB middle grade! So far this series has been quick, easy, atmospheric and gripping; I can’t wait to get around to reading Bridge of Souls! V.E. Schwab is an auto-buy author for me (also my favourite author of all time) and I find it so fascinating that every single time she is able to write amazing books tailored to a wide range of different audiences. If you’re looking for a fun page-turner, give this series a go!