Review: Sara Ghost

Sara Ghost by Matt Posner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult (Trigger warning disturbing themes, warning due to self-inflicted injuries by cutting)
Recommended for: fans of School of the Ages, magic, those learning to love themselves

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook from the author. He specifically told me I was under no obligation, but I am happy to provide in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: I lock the bathroom door, strip to get in the shower. My arms are specked with white lines from little cuts. But I don't cut in the house. I want to, now, really badly. I imagine cutting really deeply, like with a steak knife, leaving a puddle on the green tiles. Bleed out the fear, the worry, to make me ready for whatever horrible thing Jack Misra is going to do to me. Did I really just say "Eew" like a five-year-old who doesn't like what's on her plate? Why didn't I have guts to say, 'Dad, this guy is a pervert and he's going to rape me?' My dad's … disgusting and my mom's a beast and I'm growing into a mix of both of them. My mom's big butt and fat lips … and dusty skin, my dad's round fat face and muddy eyes with pinched eye sockets and even a little of his mustache if you look closely. I imagine taking a big butcher knife and cutting around the edges and just peeling my ugly face away and flushing it down the toilet. Even Jack Misra wouldn't want me after that. Go on, Jack. You wanted to @#$%@# a pig, but will you @#$%@# a faceless bleeding monster?

Sara Ghost is a novelette (a long short story) in the School of the Ages series about young magicians in New York City. To learn more about the characters in this story, you can read Book I: The Ghost in the Crystal; Book II: Level Three's Dream; short story collection Tales of Christmas Magic; and, Book III: The War Against Love.

My Thoughts: The events of this book take place between Level Three's Dream and The War Against Love. I have read all the books in this series so far (with the exception of the short-story collection, about which I did not know and which situation I plan to remedy) and have loved them.

This is a very different story from the main novels – it features a non-magician, and the main characters are only peripherally involved., It also deals with the very serious issue of cutting, hopelessness and self-hatred that is unfortunately becoming more common among young people. Those with triggers over this issue should beware. However, like all School of the Ages stories, I really enjoyed it – it’s very well-written and interesting. Posner has included a couple interviews in which he discusses why he decided to write this story, and a bonus excerpt of an old story that I really hope he will finish. Recommended.



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