Between the Living and the Dead is a haunting, heartwarming, and genre-defying novella that follows Cavilla, a teenage girl straddling two worlds—the realm of the living and a shadowy, spiritual in-between. After a tragic summer that claimed the lives of her closest friends and beloved cat, Cavilla discovers she can interact with the dead and navigate otherworldly dimensions shaped by Peruvian mythology. With ghosts for companions and an inquisitive mind sharpened by Agatha Christie mysteries, Cavilla becomes an unwitting detective and guardian between realms. Her journey is not only about uncovering truths behind ghostly unrest but also confronting her own fractured identity, cultural roots, and hidden family secrets.

From the first page, I was hooked. Sophie Jupillat Posey’s writing is vivid, lyrical, and brimming with emotion. She captures Cavilla’s inner world with poetic detail while keeping the pace sharp and unpredictable. What stood out most was the voice—raw, funny, intelligent, and very real. Cavilla isn’t some tropey “chosen one”; she’s awkward, stubborn, observant, and relatable. Her relationships, especially with her friends Niko and Angelica, are full of warmth and wit, while her dynamic with Tia Luz Marina is tense, layered, and heartbreaking. The blending of supernatural mystery and Latin American folklore felt seamless, adding richness without ever turning preachy or heavy-handed.

The novella doesn’t hand anything to the reader. The metaphysical elements—different realms, time loops, ancient gods—are murky by design. It can be a little disorienting, especially in the middle chapters where time and space stretch like taffy and you’re not sure what’s real. But that confusion mirrors Cavilla’s own experience, and it made me lean in more. This book doesn’t play by the usual rules, and I appreciated that. The story makes space for grief, healing, and cultural rediscovery without trying to tie everything up neatly. It left me with more questions than answers, in the best way.

I’d recommend Between the Living and the Dead to readers who crave more than just thrills in their supernatural fiction. If you like your ghost stories tangled with myth, memory, and mystery—and told by a smart, fiercely curious teen girl who talks back to gods and ghosts alike—this book’s for you. Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour, Isabel Allende, or early Neil Gaiman. It’s weird, wild, and wonderful.

Pages: 112 | ASIN : B0DRYZJFK9