Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Ghost Roads # 2
Tradepaperback, 352 Pages
Publication: July 17, 2018 by Daw Books
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
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For Rose Marshall, death has long since become the only life she really knows. She’s been sweet sixteen for more than sixty years, hitchhiking her way along the highways and byways of America, sometimes seen as an avenging angel, sometimes seen as a killer in her own right, but always Rose, the Phantom Prom Date, the Girl in the Green Silk Gown.
The man who killed her is still out there, thanks to a crossroads bargain that won’t let him die, and he’s looking for the one who got away. When Bobby Cross comes back into the picture, there’s going to be hell to pay—possibly literally.
Rose has worked for decades to make a place for herself in the twilight. Can she defend it, when Bobby Cross comes to take her down? Can she find a way to navigate the worlds of the living and the dead, and make it home before her hitchhiker’s luck runs out?
There’s only one way to know for sure.
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown continues the story of Rose Marshall, a sixteen-year-old girl who died in the 1950’s and now spends the rest of eternity as a hitchhiking ghost. But just because you’re dead doesn’t mean death gets any easier. Bobby Cross, the immortal man that ran Rose off the road to her death is still looking for her, the one that go away because with Rose’s soul can power his car for a year or more. Rose has Persephone’s protection sigil on her which makes her untouchable to Bobby. However, after an elaborate trap, Bobby brings Rose back from the dead making her fair game and all Rose wants to do is to die, again.
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown is a solid sequel to Sparrow Hill Road. Sparrow Hill Road was initial written as an online serial and the writing felt disjointed and pieces of a story. McGuire had more time on the sequel and it clearly shows. The story/plot felt more grounded and the writing flowed better; readers can clearly see the beginning, middle and end. If the first book had you interested in the ghost roads and it’s inhabitants then this book will more than satisfy your curiosity. McGuire delves deeper into the different roads, routewitches, a whole variety of ghost types and a little mythology and folklore for good measures; such as the significance of Halloween and the Greek Mythology of Persephone and Orpheus.
McGuire is a talent writer and I’ve enjoyed most of her work. The Girl in the Green Silk Gown is no exception. I thought this was a good book, well written and researched as with all of her books. I just wished there was more action and a sense of urgency. Yes, this is basically a cat and mouse chase with Bobby and Rose but the plot dragged in a lot of places. Nor did I feel as connected or invested in the characters as I do with other series (I.e. October Daye). But as I said it still a good book and with the story still unresolved, I’m sure we’ll be seeing Bobby Cross and Rose Marshall again real soon.
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