Silence of Winter

This had an interesting premise that didn't really reach its full potential here. It definitely reads age-appropriate as the main characters are 12-17 years old but as I'm significantly older, I found myself rolling my eyes a bit, especially at the romance and the 800 mentions of pumpkin spice lattes. I love a good ghost romance but this relationship seemed a bit forced in parts because we were only told about all these conversations the two supposedly had to get to know each other and were not actually there with them. Based on their interactions we are privy to, they would just be good friends - there's no reason they feel this is their greatest love (especially as the MC is only 16). I get that feeling often with huge age/generational differences though. Why would someone with 100+ years of consciousness have anything in common with a child and then to fall in love with them so quickly seems... incorrigible and predatory. Since this was intended to be a series, the author should have waited for the declarations of love and aged him up in the subsequent books, where it would feel more appropriate and rational.
The mother was also a useless character other than giving a reason for him to move into Ethel's house. She could have been either more complex or just written differently. The blatant homophobia as well as religious conservationism didn't really match the rest of her characterization so it just made me angry and frustrated rather than her having an obvious motivation. How could she have been with the dad with such differing opinions? How could the dad continue to be with her when she completely forced his complete removal from his own family? Why wasn't Social Services called when she kicked a 16 year old out of her house? It just didn't really add up to a realistic situation for me.
Other than that, it was overall an enjoyable romp and I would have moved on to the sequel if it was already out, but this seems a bit abandoned despite the author's old blog posts that it's in the works. I probably won't return to the series.

hello, yes, i need shadow of night right now immediately please.

this isn't a perfect book but it's absolutely fascinating and i couldn't put it down. i'm so intrigued by the entire premise.

content warnings: suicide references, death references, violence

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me when victor is introduced: this boy is a ghost
oliver for two thirds of the book: wow victor is so interesting and not like other boys at all but he's so hot and cold i just don't get what his deal is
victor: is dead and a ghost