The Legacy of Arniston House

• Author: TL Huchu
• Genre: Fantasy
• Publication Date: November 7, 2024
• Publisher: Tor Books/Macmillan Audio
• Series: Edinburgh Nights #4

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of this book (and audiobook) in exchange for an honest review.

Ghostalker and magician Ropa Moyo returns in this spellbinding fourth instalment of the Edinburgh Nights series by T. L. Huchu.

’Alluring . . . hints of sophisticated academic magic will draw you in’- Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six on The Library of the Dead

Ghoststalker Ropa Moyo learns a shocking truth about her family. But after she confronts her grandmother with the revelation, Gran is murdered and Ropa is now the prime suspect on top of dealing with her loss. Ropa races to uncover the real murderer, and soon finds a connection to an old magical cult. They are trying to take control of Scotland by resurrecting an army of the dead, led by a dark lord. She’ll have to use all her magic and hard-won skills in her biggest challenge yet.

Praise for the Edinburgh Nights series

‘Fast-moving and entertaining . . . Stupendously engaging’- Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London series

‘I highly recommend The Library of the Dead’- Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series

I have been a dedicated fan of this series since I was approved to read an ARC of the first book years ago. I’ve been amazed at Huchu’s creativity throughout this series. In addition to crafting a dystopian version of Edinburgh, Huchu also develops an awesome magic system, incredible characters who commonly have to walk a morally gray line, and a mystery in each book that consistently surprises me.

This book has a far more emotional Ropa, as she faces events that broke my heart and hers. Her Gran is so important to her in so many ways: she turns to her for assistance with magic, family support, and a sense of home that comes from having been raised so significantly by her Gran. But with Izwi away at boarding school for magicians, and their grandmother murdered, Ropa is the prime suspect, just as things are going well for her, everything gets jammed up. 

It’s obvious that Ropa isn’t responsible for the death, but she’s forced to watch everything she values be taken from her. Ropa doesn’t expect to have very many allies in her corner anymore, even as she is building a connection to English magic. She’s used to tough times, though, and she knows how to make use of any advantages or opportunities that arise.

There’s been an overarching storyline that runs throughout the series, of something larger pulling the strings, and we inch closer to the solving the underlying mystery. But it’s written so wonderfully that I was simply unable to stop reading. More often, I try to piece together all the clues and figure things out on my own, but I’m consistently blindsided by the plot twists, which seem to be a specialty of Huchu’s. 

Ropa is my favorite character in the story, but Priya is a close second. Priya has all the coolest and most helpful magical skills, and she embodies all the best characteristics of a best friend. She’s wheelchair-bound, but the wheelchair has some pretty awesome tricks up its sleeve as well, making her easily the most badass of side characters. 

The audiobook is narrated by Kimberly Mandindo, and while she does have a Scottish accent during the reading, it wasn’t so strong that it would interfere with my ability to understand what she was saying. The audiobook was fantastic, and I honestly can’t find any fault with the book or the narration.

Overall, this is a strong addition to the series, and I found myself unable to put it down. I flew through this story, and if you haven’t started the series already, the next best time to do so is now. It’s easy to visualize this dystopian version of Edinburgh, and there’s just something about Ropa that I adore. She’s the kind of person who hasn’t ever had anything handed to her, yet she isn’t afraid of hard work and doing whatever she can to survive. The depth of emotion that this book brought out in Ropa was outstanding, and I really loved seeing Ropa growing emotionally. The story leaves off on a cliffhanger, and I know I’ll be biting my nails during the wait. 

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