Ropa will dice with death as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. And although underground Edinburgh hides a wealth of dark secrets, she also discovers an occult library, a magical mentor and some unexpected allies.
Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted?
Ok, first off…that cover. Goddamn. THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD comes with one of my favorite covers of the year, easy. Something about that ominous, broody cityscape paired with that quirky font just sets an absolutely perfect tone for this story. Leo Nickolls did both the art & design, and it’s fucking gorgeous.
This is the first book in T. L. Huchu’s series, EDINBURGH NIGHTS, and nearly from the first page, I knew this was going to be something I’d completely adore. THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD is also one of those books with great crossover appeal. Although this is marketed as an adult novel, this would definitely work for a younger audience as well.
Ropa Moya is a fourteen-year-old ghosttalker. She lives in a camper with her grandmother and her younger sister. The story takes place in a near-future Edinburgh, after some non-specific catastrophe has left the world in a bit of a shambles. Not quite post-apocalyptic territory, but in that general direction. Ropa and her family are a loving, tight-knit bunch, scraping by as best they can.
Ropa’s main source of income is carrying messages from the recently deceased to the family members they’ve left behind. It’s not glamorous work, but the rent is overdue, and her family counts on her. But sometimes these spirits try to press Ropa into doing things outside the scope of her job description. Typically, she refuses, stays the course, and focuses on doing the jobs that pay. But when some kids in town start to go missing, Ropa finds herself trying to solve one mystery after another to bring them home.
There’s a playfulness to this story…it’s campy & funny, but also very, very dark. It’s a great balance that Huchu strikes, while also delivering some impactful commentary on racism & classism.
Ropa is a delightful protagonist, blending her Scottish street smarts with Zimbabwean magic to great effect. She’s funny, hard working, and kind of a softie beneath the crunchy outer shell. Oh, and she has a pet fox!
THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD is Extremely My Shit™️, a story that exists right on the line between urban fantasy and horror. Again, while this book is published by Tor, and subsequently marketed as adult, I really can’t think of any reason why this wouldn’t appeal to younger readers looking for something dark & fantastical.
This was such a fucking treat, oof…I just loved everything about THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD & I really can’t wait to see what’s next in this series!
Huge thanks to Tor Books for the copy!
Grimdark Dad 
I’ve been intrigued by this book, especially with that cover! Now, my interest has piqued enough to read it! Excellent review!
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