This is a re-read. It was a complete (happy) accident that I found this book on Libby. After finishing Three Dark Crowns, I was just looking at what other books Kendare Blake had written and I found this book that I read years ago, had been wanting to reread but couldn’t remember enough about it to find it.

And, as I did the first time, I really enjoyed it the second go-round. It’s part creepy horror ghost story, part strange romance story. The characters are interesting and dynamic and you really get to watch Cas grow and shift his understanding as to what friendship means to him. I like that he has a female friend, because I feel like there’s not enough platonic friendships between two people who might otherwise be cast in a romance. (I’m hoping that doesn’t change with Girl of Nightmares.)

I do, however, feel like as much as Carmel is made to be the Queen Bee of the high school, you don’t actually see her with her friends. Every now and again, you will but not as frequently as I would have expected. Though I do like that Carmel isn’t portrayed as vapid, superficial, mean or any other “popular girl in high school” stereotype.

I really enjoyed this a lot. I can’t wait to get to Girl of Nightmares.