"Can they get over their mutual distrust-and this weird attraction between them-to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don't exist?"
I don't think I've ever smiled so broadly after reading a book than I did with Stacey Kade's The Ghost and the Goth. Vibrant and full of life, this book just downright loveable. Yep, you totally should get this, and devour it right away.
Alona Dare - three-time homecoming queen, varsity cheerleader co-captain, technically perfect - is such classic Queen Bee (warning: can be bitchy). I love her voice - undeniably feminine, saturated with unyielding confidence and with an admirable tenacity. What endears me most to Alona is not the fact that she has hidden issues or that she is afterall imperfect, but more because she's not infuriatingly arrogant. She may be ruthless, but this only stems from one trait: frankness. Unlike the conventional miss perfect, she's not being mean for the sake of it. It's simply just her defense mechanism, the one way she knows how to survive the big world with.
Similarly, Will Killian is a charming character with many faults and vulnerabilities. Although commonly labelled the school freak, hidden behind the drone of music and the colour black is really just a boy longing to live his life in peace. In the world's unlikeliest partnership (that's not even considering the fact that she's dead and he's not), Alona and Will will find answers, help and drive each other mad. And tell you what, I love every single bit of Alona-Will moments!
It's hard to find fault in either of these wonderful pair. It's one of those rare books with characters so magnetic you immediately connect with them - that's what it was like to me. They are charming by themselves alone and so hilariously uplifting together. Alona's and Will's narrative occur alternatively in this book, interwoven to ensure a continuous flow of all the positive vibes I could ever get in a book. But no, I'm not implying the book is everything fun and happy. It has depth and morals too. The plot spends time in highlighting the transition of Alona and Will's relationship with each other from aversion to acquaintance to friendship and beyond, and in doing so emphasises their acceptance of each other by seeing more than just the superficial. As they begin to trust each other, their smallest acts become significant and carry with them a major 'aww' factor. So very cute!
As the plot progresses, the focus shifts more towards seeking answers both Alona and Will are looking for and generally turns to its darker side. Sub plots also become more prominent in the second half of the book, as do the secondary characters. Unconnected links are finally drawn together and a very fresh, very inventive take on the afterlife is conjured in the Ghost and the Goth. It's slightly vague at parts, but there should be some more answers in the sequel, and there was nothing significantly amiss. Of course, Alona and Will learn to accept, if not understand each other too. In doing so, their respective characters really develop and mature. Together, these two seems to have an endless supply of surprises that had me giggling and grinning and being extremely happy!
The Ghost and the Goth is one of the most endearing books I have ever read. Uplifting, funny and loveable beyond compare, it's also one of my utter favourites! Loving the cover as much as I do is not harm either, right? What am I to do whilst waiting for Queen of the Dead?
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