The Warm Hands of Ghosts

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden left me reeling in the best possible way. This paranormal novel, set during the first World War in Belgium, tells the story of a Canadian brother and sister who both join up as infantry and a nurse respectively. Her hospital gets hit and she gets sent home for her injuries, and soon after she receives a box containing her brother’s effects - including both of his dog tags.

Something is wrong because one of the tags is supposed to stay with the body.

She volunteers to go back to get answers, and what follows is a chilling, hauntingly accurate portrayal of PTSD and love. To get her brother back, she must face a man who could be the devil himself.

With a dual POV between the brother and sister, this book uses every one of its 318 pages to wring out every note on the spectrum of human emotion, ultimately leaving the reader with a story that will stick with them for years.

5 Stars