Book Review: “Tunnel of Bones” by Victoria Schwab
Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake, #2)
Victoria Schwab
I love dipping into Middle Grade fiction, and every horror book that gets into younger readers hands is a good thing. Books like the Cassidy Blake series draw them into the horror in a way really child-friendly, but still with high stakes and decent scares attached, as well as similar to themes you’ll see in ‘Adult’ horror.
Cassidy’s parents have a paranormal TV show, ‘ghost hunting’ and discussing the history of the places they visit. After an eventful trip to Edinburgh, Cassidy and her best friend, Jacob hope for a more enjoyable trip in Paris. The problem is that Cassidy sees ghosts, and Jacob is one. Cassidy now knows her ability comes with a responsibility to help ghosts move on. But Paris is teeming with ghosts, and Cassidy and Jacob draw the attention of a very dangerous one in particular.
I am a big fan of Schwab’s work, and even the ‘non-horror’ books tend to have heavy doses of horror elements. The Near Witch is exceptionally good for this, but there are some good examples in both the Shades of Magic series (which I highly recommend) and Vicious, both written under V.E. Schwab. But whether using Victoria or V.E., Schwab manages to slip between different genres with ease, and Tunnel of Bones is no exception.
Cassidy is a great MG heroine, determined, kind, eager to do the right thing, and always seeing the best in people. Paired up with Jacob, their friendship is lovely to read, though it’s not always easy for Cassidy, having a best friend who can read minds. Parallel to the main story in Tunnel of Bones is the story of their relationship, as Cassidy fears Jacob is growing stronger and may eventually become out of control.
This book also takes us deep below Paris, into the catacombs, creating a really eerie atmosphere. Although Cassidy crosses the veil in both books, there are distinct differences between Edinburgh and Paris in the veil that Schwab conveys really well. And here, Cassidy has the added disadvantage of the language barrier, causing even more complications.
Books like these are the kind you can devour happily as an adult, then pass onto younger readers in your life. It hits the intended age range really well, and will definitely keep MG (and older) readers hooked throughout. I can’t wait to get my hands on Bridge of Souls, the third instalment of Cassidy’s adventures, taking Cassidy from Europe to New Orleans.
Grade:
Review by Elle Turpitt
Twitter: @elleturpitt
I purchased this paperback.
