Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments is the second book in the Edinburgh Nights series. You can read my review of the first book, Library of the Dead, here. These books are narrated by Ropa Moyo who has the ability to speak with ghosts. She’s a struggling teenager in Edinburgh, Scotland who supports her aging grandmother and younger sister by delivering messages to and from ghosts.
Because of the events in Library of the Dead, Ropa becomes the intern in Magic to Sir Callander, Edinburgh’s most powerful magician. But, since the internship doesn’t pay any money, Ropa takes on a case at the magical hospital Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments. Two students are in mysterious comas and Ropa is hired to find how how that happened…and how to reverse their conditions.
So, basically, Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments is a detective novel as Ropa and her friends follow the clues and use their magical powers to discover a secret society of Monks and users of Dark Magic.
Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments is perfect for Summer Reading. I suspect the target market is the Young Adult market, but I enjoyed the twisty plot and off-beat characters, too. GRADE: B
I’ve noticed lately a lot more books featuring characters who can speak to ghosts, or the dead in general. Stephen King and Dean Koontz have both done it. I don’t mind it if it’s done well.
Jeff, I like the female teen-age character in Huchu’s series. She’s struggling with poverty and trying to learn Magic. The Edinburgh setting rings true, too.
This sounds interesting, George.
I enjoy the Edinburgh setting. Jenny Colgan has used it to advantage, most notably in The Christmas Bookshop. I don’t know that you would like her stuff but Diane might. Lots of book-related settings.
Beth, Diane just finished reading Jenny Colten’s AN ISLAND WEDDING==sixth book in the series. Diane loved it!