The Girl Who Trusted Ghosts

This fourth installment of Tansley’s paranormal YA series follows a modern-day teenage spellcaster as she confronts dark magic in the 16th century.

Four families have been locked in a “life-and-death struggle” with numerous outside enemies for centuries. To uncover the origins of that bond, high schooler Kat, a Langley heir, puts together a powerful spell. She and several friends, including at least one ancestor from the other three families (Kingsley, Radcliffe, and Mallory), use magical mirrors to travel to their ancestral homes and gather the spell’s ingredients. Their enemies, which include “dark warlocks,” target each set of travelers and one individual’s fate is thrown into question. Later, Kat casts the spell, which sends her and three allies to 1591 England and into the bodies of their ancestors. They arrive just as six families are planning their centennial renewal of the sinister Dark One’s seal. However, Kat, who’s currently inhabiting the body of Lorelei Langley, soon learns of a plan to weaken that seal and allow a terrifying evil to escape. Tansley, following up The Girl Who Loved Ghosts (2019), packs this series entry with supernatural elements, including the eponymous ghosts, scene-stealing telepathic gargoyles, and, of course, time travel, which Kat attempts without the magical-mirror portals. The novel’s first half, with the search for ingredients breaking the cast up in various locales, moves at a sluggish pace, mostly due to relentless nods to earlier installments, which also involved travel into the past. However, the story picks up when it centers on Kat and Lorelei; the author skillfully tackles their dual personalities, as it’s clear when Kat is checking in with her friends (such as romantic interest Evan in Ian Kingsley’s body) and when Lorelei, who’s unaware of Kat’s presence, takes the reins. The final act, while exciting, is more invested in setting up another sequel than in providing a firm resolution.

A rousing entry in a consistently engaging supernatural saga that shows no signs of slowing down.