A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope

Harlow Sanctum Interconnected Series, Book 2

By: K. M. Moronova

Narrated by: Walker Williams, Isabelle Turner

"Death is not the end of us."

Follow the emotional and heartwarming story of two mentally unwell ghosts who've lost their way.

Lanston

It's been five years since I died and I'm still here. Still haunting this world. I've all but given up hope of passing on the other side when I'm dragged to a spring performance with Yelina and Jericho. It's there that I see the most beautiful phantom I've ever witnessed dancing on the stage. Only after meeting her do I realize how similar we are. But darkness chases her, keeping her distant from me. But how far am I willing to go to find peace?

Ophelia

I've evaded other phantoms for years. To keep them safe and away from the shadows that haunt me. But for some reason, I can't stay away from him. He invites me to join him at Harlow Sanctum, where he asks me to join him in completing our bucket list. He wants to pass on. But I have a dark past that keeps me from wanting to follow him into the dark.

This is the spin-off to The Fabric of Our Souls, which must be listened to first to follow the characters in this story.

©2024 K. M. Moronova LLC (P)2025 Podium Audio

There were moments when my heart physically hurt.

Some books don’t just tell a story—they live inside you, whispering their truths long after you’ve turned the final page. A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope is one of those rare books. It isn’t just a story—it’s an ache, a breathless moment, a flicker of hope in the darkest of nights.

From the very first page, Moronova’s writing grips you. It doesn’t ask for permission—it pulls you in with hauntingly poetic prose and refuses to let go. The characters feel raw, almost too real, as if their pain, their longing, their fragile hope could shatter at any moment. And yet, even in their brokenness, they shine.

There were moments when my heart physically hurt. Moments when I had to pause, close the book, and just breathe. The grief, the ghosts—both literal and metaphorical—felt suffocating at times. But then, just when the darkness threatened to consume everything, Moronova would slip in a line, a scene, a whisper of hope that felt like the first light after a storm.

This book is a masterpiece of emotions. It will break you. It will mend you. And in the end, it will remind you that even in the presence of ghosts, even when the past clings like a shadow, hope is always there—soft, quiet, but alive.

If you read one book this year, let it be A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope. It will haunt you. It will heal you. And it will stay with you, forever.

beautiful

A great finish to Lanstons story. To think that maybe this is what wait us after death who is to say but it is beautiful written that i hope part of it is true that in the in between you can still find love and happiness that eventually leads you to your peace. Everyone deserves it not matter how they left this earth.

Left me a sobbing mess (in a good way)

It was definitely a slower one than the first book but I think it was perfectly written, the emotions it makes you feel is insane! The way they ended Lanstons story was remarkable and It couldnt have been written better.

5.5 stars

K.M. Moronova's words have recently become my catnip - she weaves these stories that are addicting and truly make you feel, and I can't get enough of them.

I absolutely loved The Fabric of Our Souls, and while I was desperate for Lanston's story, I was a little skeptical about how it could be told. Clearly, I shouldn't have had any doubts because it was absolutely incredible. Lanston and Ophelia's story is tragically beautiful, full of angst, and unputdownable. My only regret is not reading it sooner.

Isabelle Turner was incredible as Ophelia, bringing her character to life in the most beautiful way. Walker Williams did an amazing job giving a voice to Lanston, from his hopes to his fears, and every emotion between. The chemistry between the two was amazing, and they were absolutely perfect for this narration.

Real tears

I love the way Lanston’s story was ended. It was so heartbreaking at times and yet so beautiful. Perfect ending to the series.