Living With Ghosts [Mass Market Paperback]

Kari Sperring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Read Kari Sperring's posts on the Penguin Blog.

The dazzling debut from a brilliant new fantasy talent.

This highly original, darkly atmospheric fantasy novel immerses readers in a world where ghosts and other malevolent spirits seek entry into mortal realms— invisible to all but those who are not entirely human themselves. Drawn into the ancient city of Merafi, yet barred from entering by an ancient pact sealed in blood, these hungry haunts await their opportunity to break through the magical border and wreak havoc on the city’s innocent denizens.

And as a priestess and prince weave a sorcerous plot to shatter the pact and bring ruin on Merafi, only a failed assassin-priest who is now a courtesan, a noble lord married into the ruling family of Merafi, an officer of the city guard, a woman warrior who was the former lover of a now-dead lord, and the ghost of that lord himself stand between Merafi and the tidal wave of magic that may soon bring ruin flooding down upon the city.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kari Sperring has been writing as long as she can remember and completed her first novel at the age of 8 (12 pages long and about ponies). She started writing fantasy in her teens, inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien, Alexandre Dumas and Thomas Mallory. She holds a B.A and a PhD in medieval history from Cambridge University, and as Kari Maund has written and published five books and many articles on Celtic and Viking history and co-authored a book on the history and real people behind her favourite novel, The Three Musketeers. She’s been a barmaid, a tax officer, a P.A. and a university lecturer, and has found that her fascinations, professional or hobby-level, feed and expand into her fiction. Living With Ghosts evolved from her love of France and its history, ghosts, mysteries, Celtic culture, strange magic and sword fights. Her novel-in-progress has even found a creative role for bookkeeping. She’s British and lives in Cambridge, England.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: DAW; Original edition (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756405424
• ISBN-13: 978-0756405427
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,461,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars! Well worth the effort!, May 10, 2009

By 

TigerLilium "Nocturn Reader" (MN, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living With Ghosts (Mass Market Paperback)

This was not the easiest book to read, but the story is enthralling. The horror of what is happening within the city of Merafi unfolds slowly. The city is sinking into the river and the ghosts of the dead are rising with the river. Two of the unlikely heroes are Gracielis, a prostitute and failed priest, and Thiercelin, the quiet, reserved noble. It is not the promise of glory and rich reward which drives these men, it is the fear and care for those they love that pushes them to be more than they are.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read, looking forward to a sequel, April 3, 2009

By 

Meb (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living With Ghosts (Mass Market Paperback)

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The style was a little choppy at first (too many short sentences in the first chapter) so I started off not feeling great, but I was quickly swept up in the action and characters. The writing became much more smooth through the rest of the book. I liked the evocative, dream-like quality of many of the descriptions. The world was excellently crafted. There were definitely some issues with character development though. For instance, WHY did Tiercelin love his wife so much? Sperring just kept saying that he loved his wife desperately, but I had a hard time believing it because I couldn't imagine how the two characters came together or why they'd be attracted to each other. Other aspects of Thierry's character were very believable though and he was one of my favorite characters, along with Gracielis. There was a similar problem with Iareth (my least favorite character!) and Valdin - why did they love each other? Iareth didn't seem capable of love. In all, some of the characters lacked depth and more on their pasts would have helped, but the descriptions of what they were thinking and feeling in the present were very well done.

All in all a terrific debut, and I want to read more! Particularly about Gacielis and Thierry.

5.0 out of 5 stars my favorite book last year, January 21, 2011

By 

vincula - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living With Ghosts (Mass Market Paperback)

wow, some reviewers didn't get this book at all. Gracielis' character is drawn in delicate pen and ink pain - the dialogue is crafted like Austen and the middle of the book IS the point. In the end the gentle lines of his agony are what create the strength of this book. I came looking desperately for a follow up novel and had to respond.