Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Tor Books (2016), 304 pages
Description
Ginger Stuyvesant, an American heiress living in London during World War I, is engaged to Captain Benjamin Harford, an intelligence officer. Ginger is a medium for the Spirit Corps, a special Spiritualist force. Each soldier heading for the front is conditioned to report to the mediums of the Spirit Corps when they die so the Corps can pass instant information about troop movements to military intelligence.While Ben is away at the front, Ginger discovers the presence of a traitor. Without the presence of her fiance to validate her findings, the top brass thinks she's just imagining things. Even worse, it is clear that the Spirit Corps is now being directly targeted by the German war effort. Left to her own devices, Ginger has to find out how the Germans are targeting the Spirit Corps and stop them. This is a difficult and dangerous task for a woman of that era, but this time both the spirit and the flesh are willing...… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member pwaites
Ghost Talkers is a historical fantasy novel that speculates that during World War I, the British army uses mediums to gather intelligence from dead soldiers. Ginger Stuyvesant and her fellow mediums work tirelessly on behalf of the British army, channeling the dead soldiers and living through
I liked the idea behind Ghost Talkers, but nothing else in the book really jumped out at me. Something about it just felt a little too paint by numbers. I had a fairly easy time guessing who the traitor was (hint, the culprit is always the one you’ll least suspect), so the big twist wasn’t much of a surprise for me.
I also never felt much of an emotional attachment to any of the characters. Helen might have been interesting, but we didn’t get to see much of her. Everyone else felt like character types I’d seen before. Ginger was the smart and clearheaded heroine, who was going to get the job done despite the sexism of the era. Trouble is, I’ve seen that sort of character before and in more interesting iterations.
The romantic arc was something unusual and didn’t follow the normal patterns set forth in these sort of stories. For one sort of thing, Ginger’s already engaged to him at the beginning of the book, instead of meeting him part way through and falling in love on page. However, I don’t think this arc was explored as thoroughly as it could have been, and it had a potential for emotional resonance that it didn’t live up to. Then again, it’s hard to care much about a romantic arc when you don’t care about the characters.
Ghost Talkers wasn’t horrible, but my feelings towards it remain tepid. Hopefully anyone else reading it has better luck than I did.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC of Ghost Talkers from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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memory after memory of death. The Spiritualist force is kept a closely guarded secret, but word has it that the Germans have found out and are preparing to target the mediums, with the help of a traitor among the top brass.I liked the idea behind Ghost Talkers, but nothing else in the book really jumped out at me. Something about it just felt a little too paint by numbers. I had a fairly easy time guessing who the traitor was (hint, the culprit is always the one you’ll least suspect), so the big twist wasn’t much of a surprise for me.
I also never felt much of an emotional attachment to any of the characters. Helen might have been interesting, but we didn’t get to see much of her. Everyone else felt like character types I’d seen before. Ginger was the smart and clearheaded heroine, who was going to get the job done despite the sexism of the era. Trouble is, I’ve seen that sort of character before and in more interesting iterations.
The romantic arc was something unusual and didn’t follow the normal patterns set forth in these sort of stories. For one sort of thing, Ginger’s already engaged to him at the beginning of the book, instead of meeting him part way through and falling in love on page. However, I don’t think this arc was explored as thoroughly as it could have been, and it had a potential for emotional resonance that it didn’t live up to. Then again, it’s hard to care much about a romantic arc when you don’t care about the characters.
Ghost Talkers wasn’t horrible, but my feelings towards it remain tepid. Hopefully anyone else reading it has better luck than I did.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC of Ghost Talkers from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Strider66
Pros: brilliant premise, some heart-wrenching scenes, great characters
Cons: a few off notes
July 1916, the Great War continues and so does the work of the Spirit Corps, taking reports and messages from the British dead. Ginger Stuyvessant is a medium, doing her duty both with the ghosts and at the
I absolutely loved the premise of this book. Mediums who used the ghosts of the dead to track enemy troop positions? What a brilliant idea. If, of course, also a horrific one as it’s entirely dependant on your side dying. I loved that part of the mediums’ job was assuring each soldier that their death had meaning.
The cast was great. I loved Ginger’s pluck and her relationship with the members of her circle as well as the deep love she has for Ben. Ben is also a good character, trying to protect Ginger while acknowledging that part of what made him fall in love with her was her adventurous spirit.
I was impressed that Kowal brought in an Indian squad as well as a West Indian woman, and horrified by how they were treated by the military brass.
Given that it details wartime, it’s not surprising that there are some heart-wrenching scenes.
A few minor things bugged me, like at the end I got Edna and Aunt Edie confused. There was also an ending scene with a character that rang a bit false to me.
The mystery was well done with a good number of twists and turns to the investigation. Ginger and Ben certainly work hard to find out what’s going on, taking a lot of physical - and other - punishment.
I really enjoyed this novella. It’s only about 200 pages, but it took a while to read, simply because of the heavy subject matter. I would love to see more done with this setting/premise.
Cons: a few off notes
July 1916, the Great War continues and so does the work of the Spirit Corps, taking reports and messages from the British dead. Ginger Stuyvessant is a medium, doing her duty both with the ghosts and at the
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hospitality tent that acts as their cover. When a message comes through suggesting that the Spirit Corps is being targeted, her fiance and military spy, Captain Ben Harford, starts to investigate.I absolutely loved the premise of this book. Mediums who used the ghosts of the dead to track enemy troop positions? What a brilliant idea. If, of course, also a horrific one as it’s entirely dependant on your side dying. I loved that part of the mediums’ job was assuring each soldier that their death had meaning.
The cast was great. I loved Ginger’s pluck and her relationship with the members of her circle as well as the deep love she has for Ben. Ben is also a good character, trying to protect Ginger while acknowledging that part of what made him fall in love with her was her adventurous spirit.
I was impressed that Kowal brought in an Indian squad as well as a West Indian woman, and horrified by how they were treated by the military brass.
Given that it details wartime, it’s not surprising that there are some heart-wrenching scenes.
A few minor things bugged me, like at the end I got Edna and Aunt Edie confused. There was also an ending scene with a character that rang a bit false to me.
The mystery was well done with a good number of twists and turns to the investigation. Ginger and Ben certainly work hard to find out what’s going on, taking a lot of physical - and other - punishment.
I really enjoyed this novella. It’s only about 200 pages, but it took a while to read, simply because of the heavy subject matter. I would love to see more done with this setting/premise.
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LibraryThing member bibliovermis
This was slow to get started—the initial outpouring of world-building details was a little overwhelming, and to be honest, not that engaging—but ended up being exciting and suspenseful (even if I had the twist figured out awfully early!)
LibraryThing member eyes.2c
Great read!
Set in the First World War, I really enjoyed this! Action packed! The ghost talkers are mediums who talk to dead soldiers to find out enemy troop actions in an attempt to foil them.
Very clever premise!
Ginger Stuyvesant is an American heiress and medium, with an English mother. She has
Plenty of intrigue and heart stopping moments. I admit to a tear or two!
Kowal has managed to capture the essence of the era, the battle fronts and the organizations that worked so diligently in secret. It's not the Bletchley circle but it comes close with the intrigue and devotion to cause, bringing an air of reality to an otherwise fantastical notion.
A NetGalley ARC
Set in the First World War, I really enjoyed this! Action packed! The ghost talkers are mediums who talk to dead soldiers to find out enemy troop actions in an attempt to foil them.
Very clever premise!
Ginger Stuyvesant is an American heiress and medium, with an English mother. She has
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joined the Spirit Corps, an elite spiritualist force, as a volunteer. Her fiancé Captain Ben Hartford is also involved as an intelligence officer, fully aware of the Corps mission. He is looking for a traitor who is supplying information about the Corps to the Germans. The Germans are targeting the Corps. The Sprit Corps is in grave danger.Plenty of intrigue and heart stopping moments. I admit to a tear or two!
Kowal has managed to capture the essence of the era, the battle fronts and the organizations that worked so diligently in secret. It's not the Bletchley circle but it comes close with the intrigue and devotion to cause, bringing an air of reality to an otherwise fantastical notion.
A NetGalley ARC
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
I'd like this book even if I didn't know Mary Robinette Kowal wrote it. But the fact that she did, had me quivering in anticipation until I could get my hands on a copy. It's got that MRK touch that brings a story to life. I think all her work in her other life, which include dramatic speaking,
So, I've been to Regency England (with magic!) with Mary, and to Mars, and a bunch of other places. This time, she took me to WWI, and introduced me to the Spirit Corps, England's secret weapon that gets real time battle information and military intellegence from British soldiers on the front. The only catch is that these are soldiers who have died, and their ghosts are reporting in before following the light to whatever comes next. The details they are able to give, such as where they were, which direction the shot came from, etc, helps to give the British command valuable information.
In the meantime, Ginger Stuyvesant, an American who is engaged to intelligence officer Captain Ben Harford, is one of the mediums of the Spirit Corps. She and her circle discover there's a traitor in the system, mucking up the works, and helping the Germans who want to destroy the Spirit Corps. Even though she and her colleagues provide valuable information, they have a hard time convincing those in charge that there is a true threat. And when that threat is aimed at the Spirit Corp itself, Ginger and company move into action.
There's a lot to like in this novel. I did have a quibble or two with a couple of stereotypes, but they ended up being kind of fun against the other characters. Also, I did roll my eyes and groan, and complain to my husband that I thought Michael Livingston had a hand in getting one of the troops in the trenches mentioned. (Turns out, I was right, but had to wait 136 pages to the Acknowledgements to find out my hunch was correct. The man is everywhere!) There's also a love story (though that's not the, pardon the expression, thrust of the story. It's all very proper.)
My main dissatisfaction? That I have to wait for MRK to finish writing something else for me to read. Whatever it is, i'm pretty sure I'll squee with delight when I get my hands on that, too.
Tags: a-favorite-author, alternate-history, made-me-look-something-up, met-or-know-the-author, read, taught-me-something
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puppetry, and voice acting, really helps shape her conversations so that they actually sound like conversations that occur in real life. They're not overly stuffed with information, the pace and emotions are realistic, and you can hear the characters speak in your head (or at least I can. And it's not that I'm hearing voices in the she-needs-medical-evaluation sense, but that the author has given life to her characters through their words, thoughts, and action, and I, as the reader, benefit from that.)So, I've been to Regency England (with magic!) with Mary, and to Mars, and a bunch of other places. This time, she took me to WWI, and introduced me to the Spirit Corps, England's secret weapon that gets real time battle information and military intellegence from British soldiers on the front. The only catch is that these are soldiers who have died, and their ghosts are reporting in before following the light to whatever comes next. The details they are able to give, such as where they were, which direction the shot came from, etc, helps to give the British command valuable information.
In the meantime, Ginger Stuyvesant, an American who is engaged to intelligence officer Captain Ben Harford, is one of the mediums of the Spirit Corps. She and her circle discover there's a traitor in the system, mucking up the works, and helping the Germans who want to destroy the Spirit Corps. Even though she and her colleagues provide valuable information, they have a hard time convincing those in charge that there is a true threat. And when that threat is aimed at the Spirit Corp itself, Ginger and company move into action.
There's a lot to like in this novel. I did have a quibble or two with a couple of stereotypes, but they ended up being kind of fun against the other characters. Also, I did roll my eyes and groan, and complain to my husband that I thought Michael Livingston had a hand in getting one of the troops in the trenches mentioned. (Turns out, I was right, but had to wait 136 pages to the Acknowledgements to find out my hunch was correct. The man is everywhere!) There's also a love story (though that's not the, pardon the expression, thrust of the story. It's all very proper.)
My main dissatisfaction? That I have to wait for MRK to finish writing something else for me to read. Whatever it is, i'm pretty sure I'll squee with delight when I get my hands on that, too.
Tags: a-favorite-author, alternate-history, made-me-look-something-up, met-or-know-the-author, read, taught-me-something
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LibraryThing member Sarah_Gruwell
I really hope this book is the start of a series, ‘cause holy carp, is it good! Where I thought the book was headed changed about page 75-ish into a completely new direction. The new events led us on a heart-wrenching, suspenseful mystery/spy thriller that I wasn’t expecting. The intensity of
I loved Ginger. She’s a blend of courage and vulnerability, making her instantly relatable to the average person today. Experiencing a tumult of emotions throughout the entire book, she struggles at times to hold it together as she faces spies, bodies, and murder right and left. Yet, when the situation calls for it, she finds the inner strength deep down to face down enemy mediums and traitors alike.
When I say this story is intense, I think I’ve got to admit I’m understating things. This tale is a roller coaster ride of narrow escapes, chases through trenches and warfare, and confrontations with people Ginger wasn’t sure she could trust. The reader was never sure who was working for Ginger’s benefit or detriment. The final identity of the traitor/murderer blew me away, completely unexpected.
The author gave us an intricate, detailed ghost and medium system, like her previous series’ magic system. I love when the author takes the time to explore the mechanics of how the supernatural elements work into the story and how they affect the society and events portrayed.
In this book, she explores how a ghost operates and how their emotional state deteriorates their being. Seeing the ghosts loose themselves if they don’t immediately cross over after reporting in made my heart cringe in places. I also loved seeing how medium-ship and spying through spirits affected WWI and its espionage scene. Everything was unique to my reading experience which is not something that can be always said nowadays.
An engrossing tale from start to finish, this book continue to surprise throughout. A combination of relatable characters, suspenseful storytelling, and a great supernatural system makes this one stand out. I really hope this book is the start to a series; I’d be first in line to buy book two. This author has proven in the past to only get better as a series progresses. This book left some intriguing threads unanswered so I am panting for more exploration. More please, Ms. Kowal!!
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the story and how much I was hooked surprised me. How’s that for proof of a great story?!I loved Ginger. She’s a blend of courage and vulnerability, making her instantly relatable to the average person today. Experiencing a tumult of emotions throughout the entire book, she struggles at times to hold it together as she faces spies, bodies, and murder right and left. Yet, when the situation calls for it, she finds the inner strength deep down to face down enemy mediums and traitors alike.
When I say this story is intense, I think I’ve got to admit I’m understating things. This tale is a roller coaster ride of narrow escapes, chases through trenches and warfare, and confrontations with people Ginger wasn’t sure she could trust. The reader was never sure who was working for Ginger’s benefit or detriment. The final identity of the traitor/murderer blew me away, completely unexpected.
The author gave us an intricate, detailed ghost and medium system, like her previous series’ magic system. I love when the author takes the time to explore the mechanics of how the supernatural elements work into the story and how they affect the society and events portrayed.
In this book, she explores how a ghost operates and how their emotional state deteriorates their being. Seeing the ghosts loose themselves if they don’t immediately cross over after reporting in made my heart cringe in places. I also loved seeing how medium-ship and spying through spirits affected WWI and its espionage scene. Everything was unique to my reading experience which is not something that can be always said nowadays.
An engrossing tale from start to finish, this book continue to surprise throughout. A combination of relatable characters, suspenseful storytelling, and a great supernatural system makes this one stand out. I really hope this book is the start to a series; I’d be first in line to buy book two. This author has proven in the past to only get better as a series progresses. This book left some intriguing threads unanswered so I am panting for more exploration. More please, Ms. Kowal!!
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
A very interesting premise. The story wasn't bad, but it didn't excite me. WWI, but England (at least) has harnessed its spiritualists; soldiers are conditioned to come back, as ghosts, to a particular location after they die, and report their last moments to mediums. It makes for very good
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battlefield intelligence, particularly as the enemy has not (yet) figured out either what they're doing or how to replicate it. That's fascinating, and very nicely presented. The narrator and hero(ine) of the book is Ginger, a medium who's engaged to a captain in intelligence. Her ability to see and speak to ghosts, and the bindings the army has set upon these ghosts, play a major part here. There are ghosts reporting in who were murdered - not killed in battle, but deliberately killed to silence them or keep them from investigating further. Ginger, for personal and more general reasons, takes action to complete the investigations that were interrupted. So she's going hither and yon - and dealing with the perception that ladies don't _do_ such things, at least not without the close supervision of a man. Traitors abound, suspicions are even more prevalent, officialdom's reactions to the idea that women, or colored people (they use ruder terms in the book - accurate to the times), might have something to provide the war effort more than simple low-level work cause a great many problems (two POC characters, with the more active one a woman as well, are among the more interesting ones here). Ginger herself is pushed to her limits and beyond - physically and psychically. I found a good deal of the book mostly annoying - those who should have helped were getting in the way, and the bad guys were taking advantage of such roadblocks. One traitor really surprised me, and one who was suspected but turned out not to be a traitor. I'm trying hard to avoid spoilers - it's a complicated story, with multiple twists in the action and the understanding of the characters. And with all that, all the excitement and adventure and crises of the story, it never quite drew me in. I found the beginning fascinating, and the ending very satisfying, but the middle is already fading. Maybe if I enjoyed spy thrillers more, it would have drawn me in. And even so, I'd be delighted to read more in this world, and I'm likely to reread this in a year or two. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stewartry
I did not see that coming. I read the first book in the author's "Glamourist Histories" series last year, and was ambivalent about it. Maybe a bit more negative than positive, actually, because when I realized this was the same author I had serious requester's remorse. But its time came, and I was
Having forgotten everything about the synopsis by the time I started it, I was very pleased to discover that it's set in the middle of WWI, both time- and place-wise. In my experience it’s an under-used setting, and Kowal utilizes it magnificently, weaving reality with her reality to the point that this fantasy seems like the way it should have been. I believed it. World-building is something usually associated with settings that come straight out of a writer's head, but this is a beautiful example of how important it is to, if not build, recreate a historical setting for something that takes place in our very own past. Ghost Talkers explores war-torn France and the war-torn soldiers and mediums with painful realism.
The plot featured a murder mystery which was handled skillfully enough that I honestly had a doubt or two about the possibility of guilt where a lesser book would never have allowed it.
There's a guest appearance in the trenches that could easily have scuttled the whole thing for me, if badly handled. But it wasn't, and it didn't. Someone – I won't spoil it for you – comes onstage (so to speak), has a line or three, and departs again with absolutely no fanfare. It was well done, and it tickled me.A hint, because I enjoyed the description: "a lieutenant who seemed too bookish to be in a war".
The relationship between the main character, Ginger, and her fiancé Ben is absolutely lovely. It features realistic and enjoyable banter, well-demonstrated affection (shown, not told!), and the end of the book left me with a tear in my eye. There might have been more than one. There might have been sniffling.There was definitely powerful longing for more. It was a solid stand-alone novel, but I would be delighted if a sequel came along.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
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instantly hooked. It's a remarkable, wonderful book. Having forgotten everything about the synopsis by the time I started it, I was very pleased to discover that it's set in the middle of WWI, both time- and place-wise. In my experience it’s an under-used setting, and Kowal utilizes it magnificently, weaving reality with her reality to the point that this fantasy seems like the way it should have been. I believed it. World-building is something usually associated with settings that come straight out of a writer's head, but this is a beautiful example of how important it is to, if not build, recreate a historical setting for something that takes place in our very own past. Ghost Talkers explores war-torn France and the war-torn soldiers and mediums with painful realism.
The plot featured a murder mystery which was handled skillfully enough that I honestly had a doubt or two about the possibility of guilt where a lesser book would never have allowed it.
There's a guest appearance in the trenches that could easily have scuttled the whole thing for me, if badly handled. But it wasn't, and it didn't. Someone – I won't spoil it for you – comes onstage (so to speak), has a line or three, and departs again with absolutely no fanfare. It was well done, and it tickled me.
The relationship between the main character, Ginger, and her fiancé Ben is absolutely lovely. It features realistic and enjoyable banter, well-demonstrated affection (shown, not told!), and the end of the book left me with a tear in my eye. There might have been more than one. There might have been sniffling.There was definitely powerful longing for more. It was a solid stand-alone novel, but I would be delighted if a sequel came along.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
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LibraryThing member juniperSun
This the first book I've read by this author and I was much impressed. Set in an alternate first World War, the Allies have the edge in collecting information because they use mediums to gather the dying soldiers' last memories. Ginger and Ben are engaging main characters. While the formal
I had this book on audio tape and I admit the accents took a lot of concentration to understand at first. Even when I became accustomed to the accent, sometimes I was a bit annoyed at some of them being too upper crust British (tho, since it was read by the author, it seems wrong to criticize what must be the way she hears the characters). Sergeant Patel was right on, tho.
I'd love to read more, if this were a series, as the concept entices me as much as the characters. However, I'll be sure to get a print copy so I'm not distracted by other voices.
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conversational style between this affianced couple was foreign to me, it did fit with the historic era. I had this book on audio tape and I admit the accents took a lot of concentration to understand at first. Even when I became accustomed to the accent, sometimes I was a bit annoyed at some of them being too upper crust British (tho, since it was read by the author, it seems wrong to criticize what must be the way she hears the characters). Sergeant Patel was right on, tho.
I'd love to read more, if this were a series, as the concept entices me as much as the characters. However, I'll be sure to get a print copy so I'm not distracted by other voices.
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LibraryThing member Katya0133
It's easy to think that historical fantasy must necessarily skimp on either the worldbuilding associated with fantasy or the real-world research associated with historical fiction. Mary Robinette Kowal's book Ghost Talkers is evidence that it's possible to satisfy both expectations as she weaves a
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tale full of both the wonder of fantasy and the detail of historical fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisCarey
Ginger Stuyvesant is a young American heiress, who moves to London to be with her aunt, and meets a British army officer. She and Captain Benjamin Harford become engaged, just in time for World War One.
Ginger and her aunt are both mediums, and in this very slightly alternate world, the British army
The Germans don't have s similar corps because they still burn witches. They've realized something is going on, though, and are now trying to find the "conditioning" method, so they can have their own similar corps of, as they imagine it, ghost spies.
The "London branch" of mediums is in Le Havre. This is another vital piece of information the Germans don't have. They're not all that far from the front their dead soldiers are reporting in from.
When first an officer who was too persistent with Ginger, and then Captain Harford himself, are killed in circumstances Ginger knows are murder--because both men reported in to her--she's got a problem. General Davies doesn't believe the first officer's death was murder--he was drowned--and he's not going to assign her to investigate Ben's death.
But with Ben's ghost sticking around, telling her he'd discovered a traitor in their midst, but can't remember critical information, she has little choice. Gen. Davies won't believe her, but there's a traitor to be caught.
It's World War One. Some of their best mediums are West Indian. Some of their best soldiers are Indian. And both are undervalued by the British. Ginger, uncomfortably aware that she shared those attitudes not long ago, has had her viewpoint changed by working with those West Indian mediums. With her own circle, her aunt (also a medium), Ben's ghost, and Ben's batman, she sets out to find the traitor.
It's a nicely done wartime mystery, with their biggest but far from only problem being that they have no idea who they should trust and who they shouldn't. Ginger is smart, capable, and tough, but, medium or not, not superhuman. Ben's problems with remaining coherent become greater and greater as he stays on this side longer and longer, but he can't leave until he has "finished his business."
A very engaging tale. Recommended.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audible, in exchange for an honest review.
Ginger and her aunt are both mediums, and in this very slightly alternate world, the British army
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recognizes a potential advantage. Ginger and her aunt become part of the "London branch," a corps of mediums and their supporting circles. British soldiers are conditioned, by a secret method, to report in to the mediums when they are killed in action. They can't pass beyond the veil until they've made their last report. This gives the British an often critical advantage.The Germans don't have s similar corps because they still burn witches. They've realized something is going on, though, and are now trying to find the "conditioning" method, so they can have their own similar corps of, as they imagine it, ghost spies.
The "London branch" of mediums is in Le Havre. This is another vital piece of information the Germans don't have. They're not all that far from the front their dead soldiers are reporting in from.
When first an officer who was too persistent with Ginger, and then Captain Harford himself, are killed in circumstances Ginger knows are murder--because both men reported in to her--she's got a problem. General Davies doesn't believe the first officer's death was murder--he was drowned--and he's not going to assign her to investigate Ben's death.
But with Ben's ghost sticking around, telling her he'd discovered a traitor in their midst, but can't remember critical information, she has little choice. Gen. Davies won't believe her, but there's a traitor to be caught.
It's World War One. Some of their best mediums are West Indian. Some of their best soldiers are Indian. And both are undervalued by the British. Ginger, uncomfortably aware that she shared those attitudes not long ago, has had her viewpoint changed by working with those West Indian mediums. With her own circle, her aunt (also a medium), Ben's ghost, and Ben's batman, she sets out to find the traitor.
It's a nicely done wartime mystery, with their biggest but far from only problem being that they have no idea who they should trust and who they shouldn't. Ginger is smart, capable, and tough, but, medium or not, not superhuman. Ben's problems with remaining coherent become greater and greater as he stays on this side longer and longer, but he can't leave until he has "finished his business."
A very engaging tale. Recommended.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audible, in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member whatsmacksaid
Three and a half stars. The writing itself was masterful, but the story couldn't always hold my interest.
LibraryThing member sussura
I heard Mary read from Ghost Talkers at KGB Fantastic Fiction and it was mesmerizing. I cannot wait to read this book.
LibraryThing member ladycato
I received this book through NetGalley. It will be released on August 16th, 2016.
This was one of my most-anticipated books this year, and it lived up to my expectations. Ghost Talkers is historical fiction and fantasy at its finest, weaving the use of mediums and ghosts into World War I's brutal
This was one of my most-anticipated books this year, and it lived up to my expectations. Ghost Talkers is historical fiction and fantasy at its finest, weaving the use of mediums and ghosts into World War I's brutal
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trench warfare. Ginger is a strong, savvy heroine, a woman who refused to be confined by social standards of her time. She plays a pivotal role in the war effort by living through the last moments of countless soldiers each day to extract information on German positions, and when called to save the living from espionage, she is no less daring. Her relationship with Captain Ben is one of the most beautiful, heartfelt romances I have read this year. I won't lie: this book made me emotional at times between the depth of love that is displayed, and the rawness of war, and the frustrating racism and sexism of the period. Show Less
LibraryThing member cindywho
3 1/2 actually... I liked it, but also found it hard to take Kowal's charming tone with the horrors of WWI. It's a ghost story with mediums and spies and a sad love story.
LibraryThing member tldegray
The stairway off my grandmother's bedroom was lined with bookshelves and when I was staying with her I'd raid them for stories. I particularly liked the WWII ghost story romances. As an adult I am always tempted by stories about WWII witches fighting in the war. This book very much reminds me of
You know you're reading a Mary Robinette Kowal novel when there's a soldier named Lethbridge-Stewart and "a doctor in his midforties, with absurdly curly hair and a long scarf that" says, when asked where he's from "Oh, all over. I move from time to time..."
[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]
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both of those story types. I enjoyed it very much.You know you're reading a Mary Robinette Kowal novel when there's a soldier named Lethbridge-Stewart and "a doctor in his midforties, with absurdly curly hair and a long scarf that" says, when asked where he's from "Oh, all over. I move from time to time..."
[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]
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LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
Review to come
Review to be posted on August 2nd per publisher request.
In this alternate World War One historical, the British are using mediums to speak to soldiers right after death so they can get up to date intelligence on troop movements. With conditioning during boot camp and a small blood
This book had me crying several times while I was reading it. It was a great read and so far everything I have read from Mary Robinette Kowal has not disappointed.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Review to be posted on August 2nd per publisher request.
In this alternate World War One historical, the British are using mediums to speak to soldiers right after death so they can get up to date intelligence on troop movements. With conditioning during boot camp and a small blood
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sample soldiers give report and pass along a final message. Ginger is an American working as a medium and has a British fiancée. When she gets a report from a soldier that was murdered near their camp because he overheard something some spies were plotting to do away with the mediums her report is ignored since the soldier was discredited as someone trying to get out of going back to the front. Being a woman and not in the direct chain of command she tries to do what she can to find out who is plotting to kill them. This book had me crying several times while I was reading it. It was a great read and so far everything I have read from Mary Robinette Kowal has not disappointed.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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LibraryThing member hexenlibrarian
i am sad and betrayed, but i really liked this!
LibraryThing member bgknighton
WWI is tearing the world apart. Ginger is a medium in the Spirit Corps, their task is to take reports from soldiers who die in battle. Her fiancé, Ben, is a spy trying to find the traitor in their midst. By the time he is found everyone around her will be changed. The feel of the front is ever
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present. Show Less
LibraryThing member MontzaleeW
Ghost Talkers
by Mary Robinette Kowal
This book is one of the best books I've read this year! I loved everything about it! This is an alternate world where there is a war with Germans, English, and more. Women and blacks are not looked upon as big assets. But, they are making great progress in a new
The soldiers are somehow trained to come to the Corp to check in if they die. When the dead spirit checks in, psychic women are there to take their report of where they died, what they saw, and any information that might be helpful to the troops. Then they can leave a message to family or friends they are leaving behind. Something they couldn't do if their spirit left from the battlefield.
The main characters include a psychic woman and an American man working for the British. They are engaged to be married. The way the writer brings all the characters to life is amazing but it's as if you can feel the love between these two people.
One of the spirits brings a message that the Germans are onto the Spirit Corps and plan to take them out. The suspense and suspicion that there may be a leak from someone from the camp. This is a big possibility and terrifying.
This book had my emotions everywhere! Terrified, happy, sad, devastated, full of love, and contentment.
Please, do yourself a favor, if you like fantasy with a touch of suspense and romance, read this book!
by Mary Robinette Kowal
This book is one of the best books I've read this year! I loved everything about it! This is an alternate world where there is a war with Germans, English, and more. Women and blacks are not looked upon as big assets. But, they are making great progress in a new
Show More
English spy system, Spirit Corps.The soldiers are somehow trained to come to the Corp to check in if they die. When the dead spirit checks in, psychic women are there to take their report of where they died, what they saw, and any information that might be helpful to the troops. Then they can leave a message to family or friends they are leaving behind. Something they couldn't do if their spirit left from the battlefield.
The main characters include a psychic woman and an American man working for the British. They are engaged to be married. The way the writer brings all the characters to life is amazing but it's as if you can feel the love between these two people.
One of the spirits brings a message that the Germans are onto the Spirit Corps and plan to take them out. The suspense and suspicion that there may be a leak from someone from the camp. This is a big possibility and terrifying.
This book had my emotions everywhere! Terrified, happy, sad, devastated, full of love, and contentment.
Please, do yourself a favor, if you like fantasy with a touch of suspense and romance, read this book!
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LibraryThing member Tikimoof
I'm apparently not much for war novels. It was fine, it was heartbreaking.
Apparently putting Tolkien in a Great War book is also one of my rage buttons. So, you know, now I know.
Apparently putting Tolkien in a Great War book is also one of my rage buttons. So, you know, now I know.
LibraryThing member jennybeast
An interesting new direction, and while I can't point to any specific thing, I just wasn't that into it. Lots of cool ideas, and I appreciate both the diversity and the strong women. I even like the historical era and how MRK is playing with it. It might be me experiencing reading fatigue.
Also, a
Also, a
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red-head named Ginger... why? Show Less
LibraryThing member zot79
A satisfying tale of war and spies and love and ghosts. There are good twists and inventive storytelling.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This was a wonderful historical fantasy set during World War I. Ginger Stuyvesant is an American heiress who is engaged to Captain Ben Harford, an English intelligence officer. Ginger is also a medium and one of the women who take reports from soldiers who die in battle and then watch them go into
She and Ben are harassed by a drunken soldier one evening when they are out together and Ben fights him off. Imagine Ginger's surprise when the same soldier's ghost comes to her the next day to tell her that he was murdered after overhearing threats to the Spirit Corps. When Ginger brings this news to her commanding officer, he is quick to dismiss her information. However, Ben has also been picking up rumors of a traitor in the ranks. When he is murdered, he comes to give his final report but refuses to go on to the light until he finds the one who killed him and the traitor who endangers Ginger and the rest of the Spirit Corps.
She and Ben are in a time crunch. The longer he stays, the worse his memory gets as his personality fragments. And Ginger is torn between her loss and broken heart, and the best good for Ben. They need to retrace his steps and track down the clues that he found to the traitor when he doesn't remember any of it.
I thought the setting and time period with its endemic chauvinism and racism was well done. One of Ginger's colleagues is West Indian. She's the one who developed the technique that has the dead coming to them to report. However, her skin color makes it easy for the commanding officer to ignore her contributions. Another key character is an Indian truck driver who hides the fact that he is also a medium.
The romance between Ben and Ginger was wonderfully realized. I was heartbroken knowing that the relationship had to end. This was a great story filled with memorable characters.
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the light. Their skills and their location is a secret from the Germans since the intelligence they gather helps in the war effort. She and Ben are harassed by a drunken soldier one evening when they are out together and Ben fights him off. Imagine Ginger's surprise when the same soldier's ghost comes to her the next day to tell her that he was murdered after overhearing threats to the Spirit Corps. When Ginger brings this news to her commanding officer, he is quick to dismiss her information. However, Ben has also been picking up rumors of a traitor in the ranks. When he is murdered, he comes to give his final report but refuses to go on to the light until he finds the one who killed him and the traitor who endangers Ginger and the rest of the Spirit Corps.
She and Ben are in a time crunch. The longer he stays, the worse his memory gets as his personality fragments. And Ginger is torn between her loss and broken heart, and the best good for Ben. They need to retrace his steps and track down the clues that he found to the traitor when he doesn't remember any of it.
I thought the setting and time period with its endemic chauvinism and racism was well done. One of Ginger's colleagues is West Indian. She's the one who developed the technique that has the dead coming to them to report. However, her skin color makes it easy for the commanding officer to ignore her contributions. Another key character is an Indian truck driver who hides the fact that he is also a medium.
The romance between Ben and Ginger was wonderfully realized. I was heartbroken knowing that the relationship had to end. This was a great story filled with memorable characters.
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LibraryThing member Kiri
This was a very engaging read. The attention to historical detail was excellent. The story/plot line was also very well done. The little references to other series were also very well done and brought several smiles! Definitely an author to keep an eye out for their next novel.
I don't know if this
This is in the running (the lead at the moment) for my "best of" pick for 2016.
I don't know if this
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will develop into a series, it has the markers but no official indication. Either way I hope to see more from Ms. Kowal. This is in the running (the lead at the moment) for my "best of" pick for 2016.
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Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2017)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2017)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-08
Physical description
304 p.; 5.86 inches
ISBN
0765378256 / 9780765378255