If I Have To Be Haunted Readalong: Day 2!

Wonderful photo by @bookish_archive

Hello fairies!

Happy Tuesday and welcome to day 2 of our readalong of If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun. I’m so excited to be reading this one with you, I hope you all love it!

That was quite the exciting but sinister start yesterday, wasn’t it? 

 I hope you’re all enjoying it so far!

Today we’re reading from chapter 8 to the end of chapter 13. Let’s do this!

When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!

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Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun from Chapter 8 to Chapter 13. Please only read on if you have finished this section!

-!SPOILERS!-

We start with a stunning depiction of the Wildwoods as they head towards Zach’s body: “Depressions in the forest floor had birthed infant puddles, feathery crimson leaves floating at the bottoms like wet fire. Iridescent beetles scuttled out of the wood chips; and hidden from sight, and birds called out to each other replacing the storm’s song with their own. The smell of pine rose from the needle-strewn soil, saturating her senses with a dizzying scent.” Do you guys love the writing as much as I do? It gives you a very clear picture of the setting making it very atmospheric.

During their trek to the clearing, they discover that it is new and the Wildwoods have changed somehow. They approach Zach’s body and Laolao borrows some of Cara’s strength by holding onto her since she is an amplifier; to cast a spell to hide, preserve and protect Zach’s body. She then also teaches Cara the words she would need to remove the barrier should they be successful in finding the antidote. We also learn from Cara’s grandmother that all forests bear magic but the Wildwoods has a mind of it’s own, as well as the fact anyone who has some form of magical ability can learn and practice spells such as the one she used. Powerful enough ghost speakers could also be capable of creating what would be considered a ‘Zombie’.

As they approach Cara’s house Laolao suggests Zach stay there with them and mentions that she knew his grandfather and owed him a debt. Cara asks her grandmother how she knows so much about the Signet Snake to which she replies that it is just a personal interest of hers. But as Cara demands to know more eventually she reveals the real reason is because many years ago she had a friend who had been bitten by the Signet Snake; she spent days trying to find answers to no avail. Laolao is also wondering why the snake chose Zach but also tells Cara not to be too hopeful about saving him. I want to know who her friend was and what happened… It can’t be a coincidence that out of all places in the world, the Signet Snake shows up in Autumn Falls again and Cara is now experiencing a similar situation to her Grandmother. What do you think?

The next morning Cara is abruptly awoken by Zach blaring an air horn in her bedroom. Honestly, I would have been just as mad if I was Clara so her throwing that pillow is justified in my eyes. It also turns out that it is snowing which is very unusual as Autumn Falls never gets snow until December. Could this be a bad omen of sorts or related to something strange going on?

“When she looked at him, it was like getting caught in a winter wind: exhilaration thrilling her veins, the force so strong she could barely breathe.” I think our main girly might have a crush on Zach without even realising it. OR, could it be something more? The red string of fate perhaps that was mentioned in yesterday’s reading? 👀 

We find out that in the past Cara’s grandmother had defeated a guy who was ‘basically a supervillain’ named Ambrose; an ambitious ghost speaker who hadn’t been satisfied with magic and wanted more. He was the only one who ever came close to rivalling Laolao’s powers, but with his fiancee who could amplify his abilities he was nearly unstoppable. He had sent out to build an army of zombies and to control the living as well as the dead. I have to admit this Ambrose guy sounds like a terrifying villain – I do not like zombies. However with the help of a few magical families, Laolao was able to take care of the amplifier and consequently, Ambrose vanished, never to be seen again. Do you think Ambrose might have a part to play in Cara and Zach’s story? I hope not!

Cara and Zach spend some time up in the attic amongst Laolao’s books and find a page glued down in a book. Eventually they get to the hidden page and learn that the ‘Analyx’ flower may be in a cave known as Midnight’s peak in Autumn Falls, and they make a plan to go there. Later that evening they arrive at the cave and head inside to try and find the flower. They find a yellowed piece of paper hiding under a rock which turns out to be a letter to Ambrose from somebody called ‘R’. However, whilst distracted by the letter they did not hear the snake approach or its hiss until it was too late.

Several steps behind them is a white serpent blocking the exit of the cave; about six or eight feet long, with bared fangs. Suddenly Zach appears in front of Cara brandishing a stalactite like a sword shouting “Like hell you’re touching her.” okayyyy that is very cute even in this situation. He obviously cares about her and wants to protect her!

Then there is the sound of laughter and the snake morphs itself into a man. In a blur it moves and is suddenly behind Cara, a hand clamped over her mouth and something sharp and cold angled between her ribs. It then speaks to Zach saying it is impressed that he managed to find a ghost speaker, meaning this is the Signet Snake that bit Zach. It also reveals that it killed the author of the letter they just read. We then find out that the Signet Snake is an Ouroboros known as ‘Kingsbane’ who has toppled thrones with a single bite, bringing death everywhere it went. It means to kill Cara so that she cannot help Zach and ruin his plans, but then Cara bites his hand sending the ring it wears on its finger to the ground. Cara swallows the blood from its hand and it begins to morph back into a snake. She grabs the ring from the ground and they take off to the exit of the cave, the snake following them. Cara guesses the ring is some form of magic which can make the Signet Snake human and proposes a trade; the ring in exchange for information on the antidote. The snake agrees and tells them they have to find his other half, his antithesis, and that her venom is the antidote. “She can be found at the end of the ancient river, the first river. The water that connects the lands of the liminal world.” She realises that this is the creek in the clearing. The snake gives her a mark that allows her to pass through the liminal world and tells her that his blood is poisonous and dangerous after she ingested it when she bit him.

As they leave the cave Zach has gone transparent meaning things are getting getting worse and they need to find the antidote sooner rather than later. Cara tells him he didn’t have to protect her and he shrugs it off and says he had to protect the ghost speaker who will save him. Cara believes this – blatant to me – lie and it cements her loathing toward him. However, I suspect in that moment that never even crossed his mind and all he wanted was to protect her. I am sensing a he fell first vibe and that he has always liked Cara. Anyone else?

At six am the next morning Cara gets up to pack food she will need for the week-long quest she is about to embark on to find the antidote, whilst Zach waits for her in the Wildwoods. She also mentions that she awoke feeling hot and could feel the snake’s blood and magic in her body. I wonder what will happen to her as a result. Will it enhance her powers or slowly kill her?

Cara tells her friends she is going to China to see a sick aunt so they won’t wonder where she is as well as telling the same lie to everyone else whilst leaving a letter for both her mother and Laolao who she hasn’t seen for a few days. As she is about to walk out the door her mother catches her with the note in her fist. They begin to argue over Cara deciding to help Zach and embrace her gifts; harsh words are spoken before her mother turns her back on Cara and leaves her.

She heads to the Wildwoods in a sombre mood and meets Zach to begin their journey to the clearing. Zach asks what Liminal means and she explains “Liminality concerns thresholds. Boundaries. It’s where things transition from one state to another. Where things change. They affect your mind, emotions and decisions. They unsettle you because they’re not permanent.” He then asks what the liminal world is since that’s their destination and we learn that there are pockets of land where soil takes up a little more magic, where strange things grow: crossroads. Where it’s easy to slide from life to death. And that they are like stitches and they thread the fabric of the world and the liminal river where the other snake is connects them all. They arrive at the creek within the clearing and together hold hands and step into the dark.

They find themselves in a new place with a building named ‘Mortmanagers Emporium’ and decide to head inside. After looking around and not finding anyone or any information Zach decides to head into the back to find the manager. Clara then sees a book on the counter and stares at the title which then has her leaping over the counter to find Zach and leave immediately. As she crashes into him the lightbulb goes off and they find themselves upside down suspended in heavy black nylon. It turns out the book is about cannibalism and the owner of the store is a cannibal and they walked right into their trap. Suddenly a man appears and ignoring their pleas to be let out, pulls a lever that puts them into a cage whilst licking his lips. He also remarks that he can see Zach’s ghost too and he plans to eat them both.

Stuck in the cage they begin to bicker with one another and are at a loss on how to escape, Zach is unable to phase through as it appears to be spelled. Then Zach comes up with an idea to use a hair pin from Cara to pick the lock which works. They escape out of the cage and then hatch a plan to tackle the man and lock him in the cage. As he enters the room finding the cage empty, Zach launches himself and tries to tackle him but the man has fast reflexes and rolls with him. He then takes his cane, twisting the handle so that steel claws emerge from one end, and drives it into Zach’s chest which has him shouting in pain. Cara runs into the shop to grab the rope she saw earlier only to find it wriggling of its own accord in her hands. She then flings it and it wraps around the man sending him crashing to the ground. They get him strapped to a chair and ask him why he as a ghost speaker would eat ghosts. Mr. Mortmanger laughs exclaiming that he isn’t a ghost speaker. Cara then realises he is using a magical sort of device to have the ability to see ghosts; glasses and a hearing device which Zach confiscates. They then ask him how they can find the Signet Snake and he informs them that there are many doorways in the liminal world and you cannot control which ones the river will take you through. He then points at a brochure detailing all the aspects of the liminal world including a map. They call the police and leave him tied to the chair, stepping outside overlooking a peaceful blue river.

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What do we think Fairies, have they secretly liked each other for some time but been in denial?

What do you make of Signet Snake? Why did he choose to bite Zach?

Do we think Ambrose might make an appearance at some point?

I’m having so much fun and cannot wait to read more tomorrow! I hope you’re all enjoying it too!

Love,

Jodie