The Ghost Chronicles 2


Young Adult - Paranormal
334 Pages
Reviewed on 02/11/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Marlo Berliner is the award-winning author of THE GHOST CHRONICLES, her debut book which was released in November 2015 to critical acclaim. The book won the 2016 NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best First Book, was named FINALIST in the National Indie Excellence Awards for Young Adult Fiction, received the Literary Classics Seal of Approval, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion, and was named one of the “best indie YA books we have seen in the past year, from both self-publishers and small presses” by IPPY Magazine. Marlo is represented by Eric Ruben of the Ruben Agency and she writes young adult, women’s fiction, and short stories.
When she's not writing or editing, Marlo loves reading, relaxing at the beach, watching movies, and rooting for the Penn State Nittany Lions. After having spent some wonderful time in Pittsburgh and Houston, she’s now back in her home state of New Jersey where she resides with her husband, two sons, and a rambunctious puppy named Max.
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

The premise of The Ghost Chronicles 2, a between-life fiction adventure by Marlo Berliner, is so strong that one knows very well a great story is sure to follow. As explained immediately at the beginning by one between-life soul, Tom (as told to him by our greatest-ever President) delineates for the newly-spirited Michael the five roles of after-life souls: Messengers, Navigators, Protectors, Seers, and Warriors. Tom is a protector. His ward’s classification is not yet known. Both are learning what their roles might eventually entail. And this process for maneuvering as a purposeful spirit in a world between the earthly and the presumed-heavenly makes for a most fascinating and adventurous journey, especially when you factor in the demons and other evildoers. With wonderfully competent writing and a powerfully concise style, Ms. Berliner easily holds her readers enthralled throughout this high octane, thrilling ride.

Young adult fiction, as The Ghost Chronicles series is conveniently labelled, is often interest-constrained to that particular demographic. The quality of Berliner's writing, however, ensures that curious guests to Marlo Berliner’s exquisitely formulated world may easily include many self-indulgent, guilty-pleasure seeking adults such as myself. The plotting is fast and furious, the dialogue is pitch-perfect, and the human interest is ignited often with true love, mystery, and crisis. In other words, this literary adventure is filled with fun, action, and intrigue of a highly believable, supernatural sort. That Ms. Berliner also conveys a thoroughly adult understanding of the devastating grief survivors feel over their deceased loved ones only adds to the veracity and completeness of her book. It would be a shame to waste all this talented fun solely on the kids.

Melinda Hills

Action-packed with equal measures of drama, suspense, romance and humor, The Ghost Chronicles 2 by Marlo Berliner continues with Michael, Sarah and a group of ghosts stuck at some post-death mid-point, trying to figure out how to go into the light. The forces of evil seem to have Michael in their sights, though, as he and Sarah stand up to more frequent and deadlier attacks. On top of that, Michael is not sure who to trust after a brief visit and warning from his long-gone father. Is someone in their group not who they think he is?

Michael likes showing Sarah around the places he used to enjoy when he was alive. She enjoys experiencing what made Michael happy. She is also happy to console him when thoughts about his life become overwhelming, especially after a visit to his home and what is left of his family. As Michael confronts his personal ‘demons’, the real demons are massing to cause tremendous havoc. Will Michael and his friends be able to save innocent lives or are the stakes higher than even they can imagine?

Paranormal YA fiction at its best! Marlo Berliner has created a believable world of ghosts where not everything makes sense to the characters in the Ghost Chronicles series. The Ghost Chronicles 2 works as a stand-alone with clear-cut action, but is also the perfect bridge between what happened in Book 1 and what is to come as the characters try to figure out what their purposes are and why they can’t get to heaven. The writing is great - full of feeling and well-built highs and lows. Strong emotions and great psychological insights, as well as fantastic descriptions of the Jersey Shore and true historic events, make this book both engaging and easy for readers to relate to. This is a book that is sure to please YA and older readers and leave them wanting more.

Divine Zape

The Ghost Chronicles 2 by Marlo Berliner is a sweeping ghost story that follows the adventures and trials of Michael and Sarah in the afterlife. Although they are aware there is a destination after death, they are worried they might not find their path in time. The evil one lurks in the dark, ready to claim their souls. Can they find out why they are still lingering in limbo? What does it take to move on? There is so much for readers in this book and the author makes it feel so real that readers find themselves believing in the mysterious world he creates.

Listen to how it starts: “Michael stood there, holding a phantom breath.” And then the reader is immediately introduced to the conflict and the psychological pain of this protagonist: he needs answers, and there is a secret kind of fear that steals into his very existence, the fear that any answers he gets will lead to more questions. From this point on, the reader is plunged into a psychologically strong narrative, following characters who, even dead, still reflect a lot of human feelings and intuition. The writing is excellent and readers will enjoy the dialogues. The dialogues are well-written and they have a natural feel to them. The Ghost Chronicles 2 is the first ghost story I have read, and even though I am not a fan of ghost stories and horror, this one awoke the finest sentiments of compassion in me as I read it. The Ghost Chronicles 2 is well-written; it feels real, even troubling at times, but it is an enjoyable read.