
Rory (The Ghosts of Palladino, #1)

Aside from her overuse of the word "alas," Rory is a wonderful narrator with just the right amount of snark in her "voice." She's brave, impulsive and strong, yet also vulnerable and insecure. And the fact that she bakes and decorates cakes for a living is really neat and makes her stand out among the female YA protagonists.
The secondary characters are just as well-developed and intriguing. I really liked Manny the skine and the Ghost Lord Martin, though Cookie the talking cat stole the show whenever he was in a scene. I can't wait to explore more of these characters' histories in future books.
I can't finish my review of Rory without mentioning the cover, which was designed by Cho himself. It's absolutely gorgeous and relevant to the story.
Overall, Rory was a really enjoyable, inventive read. It may have been the first book that I've read by Ciye Cho, but it certainly won't be the last. I look forward to reading the sequel!
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.