Overview

In this second Edinburgh Nights novel, Ropa Moyo is still juggling school, family duties, and her work as a ghostalker. When a well connected teenager falls into a coma with no medical explanation, Ropa is pulled into a private hospital where something old and magical is feeding on the sick. What starts as a job quickly becomes a fight against entrenched power, secrecy, and a system designed to protect itself at any cost.

Voice & Atmosphere

We loved how sharp and grounded the voice remains. Ropa’s narration is funny, defensive, and deeply caring, which keeps the story moving even when the stakes darken. Edinburgh feels present on every page, from damp pavements to silent libraries and humming hospital corridors. The pacing is brisk and readable, with short chapters that make it easy to keep going.

Characters

Ropa’s loyalty to her gran and chosen family continues to anchor the book emotionally. Returning characters gain more depth, while new figures in the medical and magical worlds bring tension and moral pressure. No one feels purely good or bad, and the choices people make feel shaped by fear, ambition, and survival.

Themes

The novel looks closely at access to care, control of knowledge, and the cost of keeping secrets. It asks who gets help and who is left behind when profit, prestige, and power mix with magic. Boundaries matter here, whether personal, ethical, or supernatural, and the story keeps testing how far Ropa is willing to bend them.

What Worked

• Compelling narrator: Ropa’s voice stays warm, funny, and emotionally grounded.
• Strong setting: Edinburgh is woven into the mystery rather than sitting in the background.
• Clear momentum: the plot moves quickly without feeling rushed.

Minor Quibbles

• A few plot resolutions come together a little too neatly.
• Readers wanting detailed magical rules may wish for more explanation.

Final Thoughts

We found Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments to be a confident and engaging sequel that deepens the world while keeping its focus on character, care, and consequence.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)