The Ghosts of Nothing

The Weird and the Wicked, Book 1

By: Cecily Walters

Narrated by: Allen B. Ellis

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

"All right then, human," Jack said, a smirk playing on his lips. "We accept your terms. But you should know, we don't have to take what is already ours. She will seek us out when she's ready."

The town of Nothing is haunted…

Or so its citizens believe. Sixteen-year-old Nelly is skeptical of the stories until one night she spots a strange light sneaking through the abandoned house on her family’s farm.

When she investigates, she finds … fairies.

Within hours of this discovery, Nelly's grandmother is catatonic, and the otherworldly trespassers are offering up a cure. But only at a terrible price. It turns out that Nelly is a rare find for the fae. And the shocking reason why is buried in a past only the dead can remember.

The Ghosts of Nothing is the first book in a fantasy series based on traditional fairy mythology. It's like a spooky version of Harry Potter, but with fairies. Perfect for fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince series, Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey or Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone.

©2023 Cecily Walters (P)2024 Cecily Walters

Magically Refreshing!!!

The Ghosts of Nothing is a tale filled with suspense, mystery and magic. An absolutely easy read/listen. The narrator was wonderful to listen to and brought another level to the story. This book is good for just about any age, save two words (H & B). The use of the many types of Fae made for quite an interesting story. I truly hope there is another book coming out, filled with the same characters. I HAVE to know what happens to a certain one! As I am trying my best not to give any spoilers, I will not name said character. The only thing I didn't like about the book was ... that it ended. Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to listen to this absolute gem. You're a queen amongst the fae Ms Walters. Long may our "Scary Fairy Godmother" reign. (find her on YouTube!)

Something About Ghosts

I would like to first disclose that I read this book before I listened to it on audio. This story really is incredible, and has a lot going for it in numerous ways. It reaches out to audiences of all ages, and is the kind of story where you discover new things each time you read it.

That being said, I already had an idea of how this story would sound if narrated, so I think I did myself a bit of a disservice in that respect. However, I do feel strongly in my ability to recognize that and yet still give an honest opinion.

I enjoyed the narration, at some times in the story more than others. There were times in the story that the narration was very good, but sadly, I felt it wasn’t when he was portraying characters. It really felt as though the narrator was pushing the idea that this story must be for teens or very young adults. I really feel like he missed the mark and missed good opportunities to bring even more depth to characters in this story by really exploring what they may sound like. Instead it felt as though he applied some cliche choices to his voices for characters. This didn’t make it unenjoyable, it still was very enjoyable. I would still highly recommend you give it a try. You really won’t be disappointed, and will certainly be entertained. I was just really hoping for a bullseye for the narration, but felt it was just off the mark.

The story itself was fantastic. I absolutely love how true folklore is woven in with imagination to give explanations about why the Fae are who they are. I love how it is used to give wonderful ideas in why they do what they do. Hearing this story after reading the book, I was discovering things I had missed, and I just adore when that happens in a story. It shows me there is true substance, with multi-level thought going in to the process. Cecily truly thought about this story a lot. You can tell she dreamed about it, day dreamed about it, mulled it over and found how to connect the ideas in a way that was profound. It is very obvious to me that this story was not taken lightly; but a true vision that she was attempting to paint on the canvas of our imaginations. It has become a beautiful portrait I’ll be looking at again and again.

All in all, if you have already read Cecily’s book, I would recommend you get the audio book. It is going to give you another level of entertainment, and a different lens to see this phenomenal story through. If you haven’t read her book, also get this audio book. You will be entertained, and that is really what you are looking for. You won’t be disappointed. But after you have listened, head over to your computer, or you bookstore or your favorite app, and buy the book, discover the magic Cecily is offering, then share it, to keep the magic alive.

A Wonderful Listen

To be honest when I first started listening I was a little bit disappointed because I was looking forward to the familiar voice from “the scary fairy godmother” however I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the narrator! The story was very magical with going in between worlds and I loved learning a few new things from the fairy lore. I loved each character, especially the two mischievous fairies. I can’t wait for more in book two. Highly recommend giving this a listen if you love fairies and fantasy.

Enthralling story and overall a fun listen

I thought the pacing of the book was good, except by the end I just wanted more. It was a fun read with some twists. I would recommend to others for sure!

I'm going to need more books please!

This book was a wonderful world to get lost in and I can't wait for the next one! I have been listening to the others channel Scary Fairy Godmother on YouTube for a long time now and I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed her channel!

story had a lot of depth

The story was written and narrated well, it was a joy to listen to. I would recommend it to anyone who likes ghost/fairy stories.

amazing

a beautiful story steaped in folklore I can't recommend it enough, I'm also a fan of her YouTube channel and this story reflects the tales told there

My Favorite Fairytale!

An undulating tale rich in its exquisite scenery, Eldritch faerylore, and woven throughout with ghostly shadows of revenge and redemption.
Cecily Walters debut novel, The Ghosts of Nothing, had me relishing every word. It is my utmost desire as a YA Fantasy genre enthusiast that she extend her imagination to invite the readers in a second time to this world, that I have fallen in love with, never to return.
I purchased three physical copies of this book. Why? Because it is just too good not to share!
This is an exquisite piece of literary fiction. My ONLY reason for a slightly lower rating on the audio performance is that I personally would have preferred it voiced by a female narrator, especially this author who has a beautiful voice. Given that the main character is a young girl and many characters are also female it would have been a nice touch. That being said, the chosen narrator for this edition has excellent pacing and annunciation. I encourage everyone to give this debut novel a listen!

Coming of age story

This is a wonderful and spooky coming of age story. If you've ever been the weird kid, felt alone, or have never quite fit in. This is the story for you. The narrator draws you into the story and really helps bring it to life. I look forward to more adventures as Nelly the main character grows, discovers more about herself, her family and the new world she is apart of.
~Chris

Amazing! Can’t wait for the next one!

I adored the book. Very well written and the narrator was great. So many phenomenal charterers, places, and ideas introduced. I can’t wait for book number two!