Customer Reviews

Walk of the Spirits

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Walk of the Spirits by Richie Tankersley Cusick is a well written young adult ghost story. I've read and own almost all of her books and this one doesn't disappoint. This story is about a 17 year old girl, Miranda, who relocates after a hurricane destroys almost everything in her life. She and her mother move in with her grandfather and aunt. Miranda starts hearing voices and having visions soon after arriving.

I found this book to be a very quick read, despite the fact it doesn't rely on a lot of action and gore. It is very atmospheric and creepy. I loved it.

I recommend almost all of her other books. Some of my favorites are: Teacher's Pet, Help Wanted, The Locker, The Mall, Fatal Secrets, Vampire, and Someone at the Door. She also wrote two adult novels, Scarecrow and Blood Roots.

The second book, Shadow Mirror, in this series was released March 2010, if you like this book I recommend that one as well.

I've been a fan of Richie Tankersley Cusick since middle school, and I've enjoyed all of her YA novels to date. Walk of the Spirits was no exception. It's not like the horror tales of her earlier works, but rather a ghostly mystery involving spirits from the Civil War era. Though it's an easy, quick read, the story has all the charm and atmosphere of its Louisiana setting. I especially loved the interaction between Miranda and her new friends. The camaraderie between them made me nostalgic for my own high school friends. And I developed a particular fondness for Etienne, who reminded me of a childhood friend who had to grow up quickly due to family circumstance, and was often working a part-time job or caring for her younger sibling while the rest of us were enjoying our teen years. The end of the story leaves room for sequels, so hopefully we'll get to see Miranda and friends again.
While Walk of the Spirits doesn't have gore, it does have some profanity and mild sensuality that may not be suitable for younger youth. However, for older teens and adults who have been fans of RTC for years, I do recommend you give this book a try.

Hurricanes do anything possible. They cause chaos, damage, and emotional distress. For Miranda Barnes, the hurricane that hit Florida is causing all of the above... tearing her life apart.

Miranda is losing everything - her home, her friends; basically, the life she's adapted to. Now, once she moves into her grandfather's house in St. Yvette, Louisiana, strange things start to happen. It's bad enough that everyone thinks her grandfather is crazy, but now she is hearing voices while she's sleeping. Is she losing her mind, too?

Feeling disturbed and unsettled, Miranda is forced to join a group for a project centered on how the town is haunted. Her group is full of all types of people from different cliques - the jock, popular girl, goth girl, and two hotties. Add in Miranda and it's like The Breakfast Club. Miranda is in definite need of a pick-me-up. One of the hotties in her group, Etienne, is showing some interest. It's a definite plus that he is picking up on Miranda's distress, as it shows that he pays attention.

Turns out Miranda has the same power as her grandfather, where she can talk to ghosts who have yet to move on. The only hopes she has in beginning to have a normal life in this new town is by solving the mystery of the rose, helping the man who has been haunting her while she sleeps, and deciphering what it is between her and Etienne.

My favorite stories besides the ones all about vampires are those centered around mediators. WALK OF THE SPIRITS is haunting, intriguing, and at times amazingly sweet. All of the characters are well-developed and the chemistry between Miranda and Etienne is adorable. Readers will not be disappointed in this newest story by Richie Tankersley Cusick!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Walk of Spirits is about a girl, Miranda, having just survived a hurricane and had to move to her estranged grandfathers house, learns that she can communicate with spirits. When we first meet Miranda she is heart broken and confused. She inadvertantly gets brought into this tight knit group of friends, and things take off from there. She learns she can communicate with the dead, she finally meets her grandfather, a ghost is trying to tell her something, Miranda and her friends solve a very old mystery, and finally danger when a severe thunderstorm hits.

But more than ghosts and a bit of romance, this book is about friendship, courage, becoming strong, doing things that are hard, growing up, and understanding that somethings in life can't be changed. The only thing about this book that annoyed me was how overly dramatic several of the scenes were, but other than that it was a pretty great book.

Walk of the Spirits is a captivating ghost story from Richie Tankersley Cusick. Even before she moves to St. Yvette and becomes haunted by a soldier in gray, Miranda is dealing with the ghosts of her past, having lost everything in a hurricane and being forced to start over in a place not her home. This leaves her hollow and withdrawn, so much so that she passionately dreads having to work on a group project for class. Through a smooth narrative narrative that easily draws you in, it soon becomes apparent to Miranda that she can communicate with the other side and, without her help, spirits like the gray soldier will never achieve peace.

As engaging as the ghost story is, Miranda desperately trying to figure out exactly why the gray soldier is restless so he can move on, that's not the true heart of the novel. Miranda forges endearing friendships with those in her project group, each one possessing a vibrant personality that simultaneously meshes and clashes. They're so dimensional, you expect them to walk straight out of the book and into real life -- so much so that Miranda pales in comparison to them. She's more of a cookie-cutter protagonist, developed enough to move the story forward, but not enough so for readers to fully grasp who she is as a character. Regardless, Walk of the Spirits is an engrossing read, the interweaving plotlines of loss and the peace that follows too compelling to pass up.

While, believe me, I adore Richie T., I just did not dig "Walk of the Spirits". I was so excited to have the hot-off-the-presses book in my hands since I have re-read her other books many times over the years. This plot didn't have that tight, not-a-word-wasted structure that the rest of hers have (namely "Someone at the Door", "Help Wanted", "The Lifeguard", etc.) As I was reading it, I kept thinking "Who edited this?", because there would be whole paragraphs that just seemed superfluous to the plot or descriptive passages that were overly long or just plain silly. Also, Cusick has always known had to instantly endear you to a character, and this time I simply never came to like any of the group of friends that Miranda meets; each one read like a stock character (the blonde, ditzy cheerleader, the arrogant jock, the deadpan, uber-intense goth girl). The love interest Etienne came off as cocky and behaved far too old to be a high school student. I really found myself wondering what had happened to one of my favorite authors who is so good at quick, fun, young adult thrillers. Maybe next book, because this one just didn't do it for me.

I purchased Walk of the Spirits on a whim and I didnt regret it at all. The characters are great, the story line kept my attention from page one and I loved the paranormal twist. I have never read anything by Richie before I purchased this book, but I have been a fan ever since. The second book in the series is just as good! If you are a fan of paranormal romance you will love this book!!!!

I really enjoyed this book. I have read this book and its sequel a few times now.

Walk of the Spirits is about a girl named Miranda who just moved to Louisianna after a hurricane demolished her home town. Miranda and her Mother move in with her Aunt Teeta and a crazy Grandfather whose existance had been hidden from her for years. While adjusting to her new environment she discovers an unusual new gift; the ability to communicate with ghosts. She adjusts quickly with the support of her new friends, including Etienne, a potential love interest and the only person in town who seemed to know that her Grandfather had the same abilities. I think that the characters are interesting and have great chemistry with each other. It was fast paced and exciting.

This book was a VERY pleasant surprise. I've never really read any of Richie Tankersley Cusick's books before so when I picked this up I was a bit wary. After reading this I just couldn't wait for the sequel! The characters really grab you and make you want to be part of their group. The interaction between Miranda, the main charcter, and Etienne, the sexy handyman that's got her back, is just delicious. If all of RTC's books are like this then I better order them all!

From the timid Miranda to the delectable Etienne, Richie Tankersley Cusick has spun a web of drama, mystery and desire in Walk of the Spirits! Far better than any other series or YA book in the last few years!!
Awaiting more exciting stories from this amazing author!