The Keeper of Lonely Spirits

I rarely write book reviews but this one deserves a few words of admiration.First of all, the first chapter captured me and I wanted more. Characters are well developed and interesting. So easy to form an emotional attachment to each one with their various life stories. I never felt like the story was moving too slowly or was boring in any way.The author’s writing style is something I truly appreciate. It is sophisticated and intelligent without assuming the reader needs too detailed an explanation or simple words. Personally I enjoy coming across a word I’m unfamiliar with and have to highlight for the dictionary meaning.All in all a great read and one of those books you wish would keep going to keep the characters around just a little longer ;-) Highly recommend and have selected it for our book club to read.

Struggled through this book. Not cozy. Yes to supernatural, ghosts and queer. ( I am NOT homophobic.) The storyline was definitely unique, but Blacks, Muslims, gay and binary people, ghosts (kind and angry), miraculous healing - all acknowledged and accepted (except the angry ghost) in a small town in Ohio was quite unrealistic. I read this because of the positive reviews and regret wasting my time.

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits follows Peter, an over 200-year old Irishman that was cursed by them folk (the fae) to eternally wander far from home. After his curse, Peter has found himself able to see ghosts - a talent that most people lose as they grow up. Unable to return home and having lost everyone he's ever loved - and deeply traumatized by the prospect of an eternity of losing everyone he ever lets himself love - he puts his talents to use by helping set unsettled and dangerous spirits to rest by resolving their unfinished business. He finds himself on his way to Harrington, Ohio based on the story of a teenager on a random bus to research the powerful spirit haunting the town.At times spooky, heartwarming, hopeful and mournful - I found The Keeper of Lonely Spirits to be a refreshing take on cozy fantasy (a subgenre I personally adore).There are trigger warnings that need to be considered, including: child death (past), ghostly possession, suicide attempts (past), death of family members (sibling, parent, grandparent)I would highly recommend The Keeper of Lonely Spirits to fans of found family and cozy fantasy.

I'm giving this book a thumb's down, I'm afraid. I liked the premise and the characters, but the story would have benefited from a more exacting editorial eye. For instance, the prose was bland and the pacing slow. I suppose the rather flat style is appropriate for a story whose main character has one foot in the ghost world and who has no need to fear death, but I found it dull, especially since it did not vary when events that were supposed to be exiting were taking place. That problem leads to the second. The story was full of boy-who-cries-wolf moments. Peter was exiled from his true love--until they were reunited. The girl Samira ran away and was found, and then ran away again and was found again--and then once more for good measure. If the intent was to build suspense, it had the reverse effect. I admit, however, that my disappointment may be attributed to a misguided review; the reviewer recommended the book as a "cozy mystery." There isn't much of a mystery, and "cozy" certainly doesn't apply to a book with a climax that owes a great deal to Stephen King. If I had known the book is actually a "cozy fantasy," I might have been less critical. On the other hand, I believe that a fantasy must establish, then follow, its own internal logic, but that's another topic! I can sincerely assert, however, that this book is certainly "cozy" in its message that love in all of its forms "conquers all."

A lovely tale of hopelessness, love and redemption. The love is expressed in many of its different forms from familial to relationships between adults. Lot of tears of sadness and joy.