Tunnel of Bones

This series continues to delight. This second installment is even stronger than the first, and the characters are continuing to develop in unexpected ways. As before, the friendship between Cass and Jacob is at the heart of the story, but it was also nice to see another side to Lara, as well as a bit more of the workings of the shadowy world beyond the veil. Again, the tension builds throughout the story, and again, the dramatic action-packed resolution was thoroughly enjoyable. Secrets are revealed, new powers are tested, and a few surprisingly poignant moments add a great deal of depth. I am eager to read the next tale in what promises to be a very special and charming series.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Tunnel of Bones

The next stop for Cassidy on her parent’s ghost tour is Paris. But her time exploring the sites and eating fine French pastries is soon to become haunted. As her parents' film inside the Tunnel of Bones, something awakens when Cassidy and Jacob cross into the Veil. A presence lingers around Cassidy, causing mischief and mayhem. Something, not even her abilities as a ghost hunter will allow her to send on. But time is ticking as the ghost grows stronger, turning simple tricks into potentially deadly mishaps.

When Cassidy and Jacob begin to explore the Tunnel of Bones, Victoria Schwab blends fact with fiction to create a creepy and unsettling scene. Picture tunnels created show more from bones and rows of skulls staring out at you as you walk by. Now imagine how Cassidy feels, a girl who can see ghosts and feel the lingering presence of those unable to pass on. It’s no wonder she attracts the attention of a mischievous little spirit. One who has been lost among the bones for a long time.

Each new encounter with the ghost will build apprehension, leaving readers wondering what will happen next and what new way the ghost will find to torment Cassidy. It will take a combination of Cassidy and Jacob’s clever thinking to trap the ghost haunting them. But for the pair to even have a chance, they will have to find out the mystery surrounding who the ghost is and how they died. And not only is Cassidy’s life at stake but anyone who is near her as well.

But the new ghost isn’t the only thing Cassidy has to worry about. Cassidy and Jacob have been having difficulties with their friendship. While she may be a ghost hunter, Cassidy doesn’t want to send her best friend on. Yet she can’t help but notice Jacob is growing stronger. His personality hasn’t changed, and he’s still just as dedicated a friend, but doubt begins to creep into Cassidy’s mind. Could Jacob potentially become as dangerous as the ghost haunting them? Through the trials Jacob and Cassidy face, Victoria Schwab reinforces for readers the importance of communication and trust in a friendship.

Tunnel of Bones was a thrilling sequel to City of Ghosts. It upped the tension and chilling tones, while also maintaining the relationships that make the story so enticing to read. I encourage readers of all ages to give the Cassidy Blake series a try. show less

This is an enjoyable sequel to the first Cassidy Blake book. I appreciated that there was a change to the villain type in this one so that the plot felt different, and not a re-hashing of book one. As with book one, however, I found that I liked the side characters more than the main characters. (And I'm still a bit annoyed that the cat on the cover is more of a plot point than any kind of sidekick.)

Overall, the book had a very similar vibe to the first one, though. I'm not sure that I'll be able to differentiate most of the details between them after a month or two have gone by. I haven't decided yet whether I like that or not... it does make the series cohesive, but it prevents the individual books from standing out in my memory.

I love this world but didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one. The conflict wasn't as interesting or at least not as developed but seemed more akin to a classic ghost story than the first book. I realise that this was written for children rather than a middle-aged adult like me but I felt Schwab dumbed down Cassidy too much. She's 12 and in modern times, not an infant. A pre-teen in 2019 is going to know basically what a crepe is. I also worry that her parents aren't really providing any sort of education since she knew absolutely nothing about Paris and some of the things she wondered about seemed... worrying. Still, these are fun books and I love ghost stories. I would love a book focusing on Jacob or his backstory since we show more still don't know anything about it besides he drowned and he's not willing to share with Cassidy. show less

{My thoughts} – Cassidy, Jacob and her parents venture to Paris for the next installment in her parents television show. They get to go to some fun and interesting places. The Catacombs, The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and others. The description of these places almost makes you feel like you are right there with them, which is a nice feeling given I have been to a number of the locations mentioned within the book.

A Majority of the book centers on the Catacombs because it is the last place the ghost/poltergeist that Cassidy is trying to send on, had died. It takes her new found friend from the previous book and the help of Jacob along with a new friend in this book to help her work her way through how to best accomplish that show more task. The first thing she needs to do is to figure out how he had died and then to figure out how to best help him remember what happened that had caused his death so that he’d be able to remember who he was. Without his memories it is impossible for her to send him on. It takes a lot of detective work and some trial and error for them to all figure out the best way in which they can accomplish this task.

Cassidy also gets to learn more about Jacob in this book. More about his back story from before they met one another, more about what happened to him before he’d saved her life. More information that helps you to better understand the characters and their ever growing bond. There is so much information within the pages of this book and it is so well written and flows seamlessly together that it’s easy to understand and follow along.

I do believe this book had been written sometime before the fire of the Notre Dame Cathedral. I come to that conclusion because in the book they were actually able to go into the building and film their episode for the up and coming show. I was in Paris in July and that was not an option for us. We were able to see the building in ruins and were not allowed anywhere near it. It is said that it is going to take sometime to complete the repairs needed to restore the building as close to its former glory as possible. I do like how this book speaks about how nice the building was and gives a hint of how incredible it may have been before the fire had happened.

I enjoy how this series gives you that creepy feel as you are reading it. It isn’t too creepy that I’d classify it as horror, but it’s creepy none the less. The description of the Catacombs and all the scenes that take place there are enough to creep anyone out – it definitely has that ghost, chill, yikes vibe going on within it’s pages. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future and hope that she continues to add to the story of Cassidy and Jacob! show less

{My thoughts} – Cassidy, Jacob and her parents venture to Paris for the next installment in her parents television show. They get to go to some fun and interesting places. The Catacombs, The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and others. The description of these places almost makes you feel like you are right there with them, which is a nice feeling given I have been to a number of the locations mentioned within the book.

A Majority of the book centers on the Catacombs because it is the last place the ghost/poltergeist that Cassidy is trying to send on, had died. It takes her new found friend from the previous book and the help of Jacob along with a new friend in this book to help her work her way through how to best accomplish that show more task. The first thing she needs to do is to figure out how he had died and then to figure out how to best help him remember what happened that had caused his death so that he’d be able to remember who he was. Without his memories it is impossible for her to send him on. It takes a lot of detective work and some trial and error for them to all figure out the best way in which they can accomplish this task.

Cassidy also gets to learn more about Jacob in this book. More about his back story from before they met one another, more about what happened to him before he’d saved her life. More information that helps you to better understand the characters and their ever growing bond. There is so much information within the pages of this book and it is so well written and flows seamlessly together that it’s easy to understand and follow along.

I do believe this book had been written sometime before the fire of the Notre Dame Cathedral. I come to that conclusion because in the book they were actually able to go into the building and film their episode for the up and coming show. I was in Paris in July and that was not an option for us. We were able to see the building in ruins and were not allowed anywhere near it. It is said that it is going to take sometime to complete the repairs needed to restore the building as close to its former glory as possible. I do like how this book speaks about how nice the building was and gives a hint of how incredible it may have been before the fire had happened.

I enjoy how this series gives you that creepy feel as you are reading it. It isn’t too creepy that I’d classify it as horror, but it’s creepy none the less. The description of the Catacombs and all the scenes that take place there are enough to creep anyone out – it definitely has that ghost, chill, yikes vibe going on within it’s pages. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future and hope that she continues to add to the story of Cassidy and Jacob! show less

Tunnel of Bones is book 2 of the City of Ghosts series, which was a Lone Star novel.

Cassidy's family visit Paris for the next installment of their TV show about ghosts. It's interesting that Cassidy doesn't tell her parents that she can go behind the veil and visit the world of ghosts. Her father believes in history and presents a non-supernatural explanation to the phenomenon while her mother wants to believe in the supernatural. Paris's famous catacombs become stop number one to film, and it's here that Cassidy meets her challenge.

In the catacombs, Cassidy finds a ghost unlike any she has encountered. What she learned in Scotland won't work with this ghost. He's getting stronger and affecting everyone in Paris. If she can't get him to show more disappear, Paris will suffer. She gets help from Jacob and Lara as well as a friendly Parisian.

I always hate to say much about sequels, but it you liked the first book, you'll like this book as well. show less