Mike Mizov

Mackenize Martin's Phantoms in Brick and Ivy is an atmospheric and thoughtful exploration of identity, belonging, obsession, and the occasionally blurred distinction between perception and reality.

The book is set in the beautifully realized Carillon College and follows Lacy Daley as she deals with her freshman year. She forms friendships, discovers romance, and becomes fascinated by the mysterious in her new home. Martin excels at bringing Carillon to life, from its shadowy halls, icy-covered brick buildings, and insular academic culture, it felt like a world unto itself.

What stood out to me most was the attention given to the characters and their relationships. Lacy's insecurities, her desire to belong, and her issues with feeling like her authentic self. Complicating things was her evolving relationship with the enigmatic Rowan, which gave the novel a compelling psychological dimension. It explores the uncomfortable territory where affection and devotion can slip into obsession. The rest of the cast, especially Jonah, provided a welcome counterbalance to the darker elements of the story.

While the novel was wrapped in the trappings of a gothic mystery, Phantoms in Brick and Icy was ultimately interested in something I thought more personal: the ways we're haunted by our own memories, expectations, and the preconceived stories we create about others. These ideas are woven throughout Lacy's journey, and culminates in an ending that really made me question what it really means to be haunted.

Readers who appreciate character-driven fiction, dark academia, psychological tension, and an atmospheric approach to storytelling will find plenty to enjoy here. This was an engaging debut that uses a ghost story to explore something deeply human, and I thank Mackenzie for allowing me to experience it.

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