Spooktober Review: Angels of Music

Angels of Music 
Rating: 4/5 
Buy or Borrow: Buy 
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Deep in the shadows under the Paris Opera House resides Erik the Phantom, mysteriously enduring through the decades as the mastermind behind a strange and secret agency. A revolving door of female agents are charged by wealthy Parisians and the French Government to investigate crimes and misdemeanours they would prefer to keep out of the public eye. 

The toxic underbelly of Paris is exposed by Erik's tenacious women operatives as they confront horror and corruption throughout the city. But it is one dreadful murder during the 1910  Great Flood of Paris that brings Irene Adler, Kate Reed and others together for a final, deadly confrontation. 

I'm not going to lie to you guys, I completely love The Phantom of the Opera! I got to see it back when I was in school, in the West End with a brilliant cast, the same cast in actual fact, who are in the anniversary DVD! I loved it, the music, the costumes, the story, and I become completely obsessed with it for a while there. Like I knew all the songs by heart, and I watched the anniversary DVD on a loop near enough. Not the movie adaption. I don't like to mention the movie adaption. The book has been on my to read list for ages and I will get there eventually....my life motto right there folks, but if there's a book that's to do with Phantom then it's a safe bet I'm going to read it and add to my mental images of the Phantom and his story all ready to be destroyed when I read the actual book! 

What drew me about this book was the mention of Irene Adler, and an agency founded by Erik. You are all well aware that I love anything original and unique and so this caught my eye immediately and I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the concept/premise for it and I completely and utterly loved the writing style and the language used and ugh. Perfect writing is perfect. Angels of Music is so beautifully and well written, and it's funny and there's action and adventure and mystery and plenty of literary/pop culture references to ferret out which was a lot of fun too! 

I loved the setting and getting to know/see Paris through the book. I loved the characters, each brought something different and they where all interesting to read about. I loved seeing Irene multiple times as she was the character I was most familiar with. I loved seeing Erik too, I kinda wish there was more of him but then the book was about the girls and solving things so it might not have worked with Erik all over the place. Plus he doesn't really leave the Opera much. 

I've only read Drearcliff by the author, Anno Dracula is on my shelf waiting for me to pick it up and I fully intend to get to it at some point, so I'm not as familiar with Newman's works as other readers might be. BUT I have been reliably informed that some of these stories are novellas and Newman has brought them together with some new stories to create this tale, and Newman really makes it work! We have different acts, and each act has three new Angels to meet and a new mystery/crime to solve. I thought the stories where, as previously stated, well written and clever. They all wrapped up nicely within the limit they had and kept you guessing until the end. I was intrigued the entire way through, I was entertained and the fast pace meant that I whizzed through this in two sittings. 

What I loved was how each act introduces the Angels, introduces the villain and then each act builds up to the final act. The final act brings together some old faces both Angels and villains for a final face off as it where, and I loved how Newman brought all of the stories together and linked them in. The ending though...poor old Erik. I could totally go for another book if Newman decides to do so, because I'd love to see the Angels sorting Erik out and seeing more of the stories with them. 

Angels of Music is a fast paced, entertaining and well written book that is entertaining throughout and full of pop culture references that have you getting all excited when you spot one. For instance, having just read Dorian Gray I definitely got way too excited to be able to get the Sybil Vane reference! Angels of Music will be a fun read whether you're a fan of Phantom of the Opera or not, whether you've even heard of it or not! 

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Spooktober Recommends: Magic & Mayhem

It's recommends time again folks! 

I've got a lot of blog posts coming up for what remains of October, rec posts, discussions and reviews so just a heads up that I'm probably going to have to double up posts once or twice to fit them all in! I know I don't usually do that, I just one a day, but I've got a lot to share with you guys! 

Today's recommends post is all about magic and I say mayhem because in a few of these there are other things going on besides the magic. Magic may be the main element but there are others! So here we go....

1. The Veil

Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle.

Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.

Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack—in full view of the French Quarter—Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.

But when the Veil threatens to shatter completely, Claire and Liam must work together to stop it, or else New Orleans will burn… 

So. We've got magic, we've got supernaturals/paranormals and we've got a totally cool setting with a unique premise. A prison for paranormals right in the middle of New Orleans! This book is a good, easy, fun read and it's a great read for Halloween! 

2. Poison Princess

She could save the world-or destroy it.
Sixteen year old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future-and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Derveaux.

But she can't do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...

Okay, so, I always associate these books with Halloween, most likely because I actually read them myself at Halloween one year when I first discovered the first two, but they totally fit in the magic category! I love this series, it's so original and has a lot of unique-ness to it, there's an apocalypse and romance and it's a lot of fun! 

3. The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School

A week after Mother found her sleeping on the ceiling, Amy Thomsett is delivered to her new school, Drearcliff Grange in Somerset. Although it looks like a regular boarding school, Amy learns that Drearcliff girls are special, the daughters of criminal masterminds, outlaw scientists and master magicians. Several of the pupils also have special gifts like Amy’s, and when one of the girls in her dormitory is abducted by a mysterious group in black hoods, Amy forms a secret, superpowered society called the Moth Club to rescue their friend. They soon discover that the Hooded Conspiracy runs through the School, and it's up to the Moth Club to get to the heart of it. 

This is such a great read you guys, I can't even! It's also totally good for Halloween! Although there is magic, and it has a certain dark atmosphere, it's almost like a superhero origin story at one point!

4. Hex Hall

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. 

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. 

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Okay so I read this trilogy quite a while ago, and it's perfect for Halloween! These books are full of magic, it's a boarding school for witches, and more, and there's murder and mystery and some nice creepy vibes! It's also a totally easy read! 

5. Unspoken

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

This is one of my favourite trilogies you guys, I'm not gonna lie! Even though Sarah brings the pain and feels. The books have such a nice Halloween vibe, and there's plenty of magic in the books, although it's a more subtle presence in the first book, there is some nice creepiness going on!

6. Royal Street

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.

Okay, so this is like a new adult book and it's soooo gooooddd! I loved the setting and the premise, and I love the characters in the book! There's magic and murder and creepiness and lots of fun! 

Spooktober Recommends: Vampires!

Hey guys! 

Welcome to my first Spooktober rec post! I've got quite a few of these planned, I'm going to do a whole series of them and I figured rather than doing what I'd originally planned, you know, YA, Adult etc, I'd do something else instead! 

First up for my recs are.....vampires! They're kind of a Halloween staple you know? So I figured I'd start with them. 

Hopefully I've got all your vampire needs covered and I've got a mix of categories, although mostly YA as usual! 

1. Dracula

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to advise Count Dracula on a London home, he makes a horrifying discovery. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman's neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the arrival of his 'Master', while a determined group of adversaries prepares to face the terrifying Count. 

Of course we have to kick of this vampire rec session with the most famous vampire there is....good old Dracula! I read this a loooongg time ago and I completely loved it! It's essential Halloween reading! 

2. Vampire Academy

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's the very place where they're most in danger. . . .Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires make Lissa one of them forever.

Hitting the lighter spectrum of the vampires, we have VA. I read this back when the vampire thing was a huge trend and I loved how original it was, and how different it was from the normal. It's a fun read and it's the first in a series so you can enjoy it for a while! There's humour and romance and plenty of intrigue and mystery!  

3. Crusade

Vampires-the Cursed Ones-have declared war on humanity. Most people are too afraid or unwilling to take a stand, but eighteen-year-old Jenn Leitner trains to become a vampire hunter, risking everything in the process. When Jenn falls for Antonio, a vampire fighting on the side of humanity, she discovers a love that transcends attraction and physical consummation. But the closer Jenn and Antonio become, the greater the danger. Together, they must fight for their love--and to bring light into the darkness the vampires have drawn over the face of the planet.

Another from the list of books I read a long time ago, again it's a nice unique look at vampires and it's such a brilliant read, there's tonnes of action and romance and it's got a nice dystopian kinda feel to it! 

4. Chicagoland: Some Girls Bite

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but I was doing fine until Chicago’s vampires announced their existence to the world. When a rogue vampire attacked me, I was lucky he only got a sip. Another bloodsucker scared him off and decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Now I’ve traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed,
four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude—and servitude. Right…

But someone’s out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches? 
My initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood. 

I read another series by Neill and completely loved it, it was all supernatural and brilliant and so I've been eyeing up this series for a while. It's kind of a long one, but I've read the first chapter of this and it's on my eBook list for Spooktober! Knowing Neill it's going to be a lot of fun, and have humour as well as everything else! 

5. Crave

When Savannah Colbert returns to school after a mystery illness, the fact that she has changed is clear to everyone. None more so than every school girls golden boy Tristan Coleman. Ever since their first kiss in fourth grade, Savannah and Tristan have been cruelly and inexplicably banned from associating with each other. Now, as the pair navigate the tricky social life of high school, the truth is about to be revealed. 

As Savannah learns of their paranormal ancestry and Tristan deals with the repercussions of her new powers, the relationship they have been denied for so long becomes utterly irresistible and all consuming. Like Romeo and Juliet centuries before them, Savannah and Tristan’s love is destined to fail; and Tristan’s powerful magical family, the Clann, are watching.

Okay. So, I know it sounds kind of cheesy and cliche, and I did read this a while ago back when it first came out so I was a lot younger BUT it was a good read, and there was an originality to it that made it a fun read! Also it's totally vampire-y even though it doesn't sound it! 

6. Glass Houses: Morganville Vampires

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?

Okay so I think a town that's run by vampires and is full of you know...vampires, qualifies as a good Halloween vampire read! I love the twists Caine has given these books as the series has gone on, and the books are a lot of fun with plenty of lively characters, my particular favourite is the ever Gothic Eve! 

7. Anno Dracula 

It is 1888 and Queen Victoria has remarried, taking as her new consort Vlad Tepes, the Wallachian Prince infamously known as Count Dracula. Peppered with familiar characters from Victorian history and fiction, the novel follows vampire Geneviève Dieudonné and Charles Beauregard of the Diogenes Club as they strive to solve the mystery of the Ripper murders.

Anno Dracula is a rich and panoramic tale, combining horror, politics, mystery and romance to create a unique and compelling alternate history. Acclaimed novelist Kim Newman explores the darkest depths of a reinvented Victorian London.

This is a series everyone raves about, and after reading Newman's Drearcliff novel, I'm excited to get stuck in to this, this Halloween! I feel like this is possibly a modern classic, and it's certainly a vampire classic! After reading Drearcliff, I feel pretty confident rec-ing this to you guys even though I haven't read it yet! 

8. The Drake Chronicles

The Drakes are rather different to your usual neighbors. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped, Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

So, I had quite the vampire phase back around the Twilight era, and this book is one of the first I read in the genre after Twilight. This is another one at the lighter end of the spectrum, it's fun, it's got it's original twists to it, and it's an entertaining read! I love Alyxandra's books because she always makes them fun and original! 

9. The Immortal Rules

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for…again.

Julie Kagawa is another favourite author of mine, and I'm definitely due a re-read of this trilogy at some point! Kagawa always delivers, romance, humour, originality and writing that makes the book hard to put down! 

10. Interview with the Vampire

In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life - the story of a vampire, gifted with eternal life, cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood. 

Yep, not much for the synopsis but spoilers so you're gonna have to deal! Although some of you may or may not have watched the movie, the book is still worth a read! It is, after all, the original! It's also a vampire classic, and therefore kind of a Halloween classic! 

There's a tonne of other vampire books out there but I've had to narrow it down to ten otherwise we'd be here all month! Keep an eye on my blog, as I've got plenty more rec posts coming your way, plus other fun Spooktober things! 

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June Book Haul

Hey guys!

It's time for my June Book Haul! I'm gonna keep this as simple and fast as possible, I've been slacking on the blogging because I have so much stuff to do! 

I've had another month full of things to be grateful for, and with a lot of epic post! 

So first up are the books that I have been lucky enough to receive from publishers! 

Red's Untold Tale by Wendy Toliver

I am a HUGE Once Upon A Time fan so when I got emailed asking if I'd like to review this it was kind of a no brainer! Red is one of my favourite characters and I wish she was in the show more! 

The Dragon Lords: Fools Gold by Jon Hollins

I love me some dragons and this sounds super intriguing, it's been described as "Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Hobbit"...two of my favourite movies! 

Imprudence by Gail Carriger

The sequel in a spin off series from Carrigers Parasol Protectorate, and I'm so excited to see what happens next! I'm definitely going to make time to re-read the previous book because I LOVE these books! 

Duskfall by Christopher Husberg

I'm being spoiled with fantasy and this one sounds like it's going to be one of the good ones, I'm excited to get started on it! 

All The Feels by Danika Stone

Okay so at the time of writing this post, I've just started this and I had to force myself to stop reading it because it's completely hilarious and I would have stayed up until the early hours reading it in one go! 

Songs About A Girl by Chris Russell

I've heard a lot about this book and I'm intrigued to see what all the hype is about! Plus I'm a sucker for boyband fiction shhhhh! This also came with a link to a playlist to match the book...how awesome!? 

The Somnambulist and The Psychic Thief by Lisa Tuttle

I was hooked on this by the title, not going to lie! It screams unique and steampunk at very loud volumes and the synopsis sounds brilliant! 

Vigil by Angela Slatter

The synopsis hauled me in on this one because it sounds so original, keep an eye on the blog because I'm gonna be doing the blog tour for this one! 

Star Wars Aftermath: Life Debt by Chuck Wendig

This was a surprise in the post, and I love Star Wars books and I saw everyone raving about the first book! This is obviously the sequel to the first book, and I think I'm gonna have to pick up the first one now! 

King Slayer by Virginia Boecker

One of my most anticipated sequels of the year, I completely loved Witch Hunter when I read it last year and I've been so excited to see what's going to happen next! 

The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey

Another of my most anticipated sequels, the first book kind of made my month when I read it last year, and pulled me in to this fantastic world that helped me to block some other stuff out, and I've been so excited to get back there and see how my ship is doing! 

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

Aaaaannnd a third for the 'Most Anticipated Sequel' category, although I only read the first book recently, Caine is kind of an auto-buy author for me! I just loved the first book, once it got going! 

I got a couple of really cool books this month, as well as some manga which I stared at on the shelf for ages and ultimately forgot to add to this....oops? I'm sure you can guess which manga it is anyway! 

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Not going to lie, the cover drew me in, and then I read the synopsis and it was like...NEED. So I finally picked it up! 

Thief of Lies by Brenda Drake

I actually already read this because I reviewed it on NetGalley, but I wanted a finished copy because I loved it so much and I managed to get a bargain! 

Ruined by Amy Tintera

Another bargain! I couldn't resist this one because everyone's been raving about it and it was in Fairy Loot's box and I couldn't resist after reading the synopsis! 

The Near Witch by V E Schwab

This book has been missing from my Schwab collection, along with the sequel to The Archived! This book is really tricky to get hold of, you can only get it if you buy it used, but I just NEED all of the authors books so whatever! 

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I love Carriger's books and so of course I had to get the super fancy, limited edition of the first book in the Soulless series! If you think the cover is gorgeous...you should see the endpapers! 

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

I've been after this for a while, ever since it was making the rounds last year at all the book con's and I finally picked it up because I'd had a crappy day and was like "screw it" basically! 

Aaaannd finally we have my haul from the charity book shop trip that I was tweeting about the other day! I don't know why people have a problem with charity shops, I mean...cheap books and the money goes to charity?! Aside from the snatching incident which I'm still not over because 50TH ANNIVERSARY LORD OF THE RINGS SNATCHED FROM UNDER MY FINGERS. But yeah. 

The Bloody Red Baron by Kim Newman

I'm slowly collecting all the Anno Dracula books and this is one of the ones I needed it and it honestly looks like it has never been read! Bargaaaain!

The Axeman's Jazz by Ray Celestin

This intrigued me...history...murder...New Orleans...what's not to love?

The Court of The Air by Stephen Hunt

Not going to lie, I first looked at this book because of the cover and I'd been debating it for ages and ages so when I saw it looking all brand new I thought...why not!? 

The Kingdom Beyond the Waves by Stephen Hunt

The sequel to the book above....obviously I needed to get the sequel because ya know....once I've read the first book I need to read the second! 

Retromancer by Robert Rankin

This just sounded interesting and had a pretty cover. I'm simple/shallow like that. 

The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Another author who's books I'm collecting! Another one checked off the list! 

Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

I collect all the Penguin English Library's and I was actually surprised to see this in the shop! 

For Esme With Love and Squalor by J D Salinger

Because I'm thick and not as literary as others, I had no idea the author had written other books, and this edition just so happened to match by Cather in the Rye edition. 

Nanny Oggs Cookbook by Terry Pratchett 

Once again, I collect all of the authors books and I know it's not an ACTUAL book per se but still! 

Aaaannnd there you have my book haul! It's missing a few things that just turned up the other day, but you can see them on Twitter! 

The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School

The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy 
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher, Titan! 

A week after Mother found her sleeping on the ceiling, Amy Thomsett is delivered to her new school, Drearcliff Grange in Somerset. Although it looks like a regular boarding school, Amy learns that Drearcliff girls are special, the daughters of criminal masterminds, outlaw scientists and master magicians. Several of the pupils also have special gifts like Amy’s, and when one of the girls in her dormitory is abducted by a mysterious group in black hoods, Amy forms a secret, superpowered society called the Moth Club to rescue their friend. They soon discover that the Hooded Conspiracy runs through the School, and it's up to the Moth Club to get to the heart of it. 

Daaammnnn this book is SO GOOD! I'm a big Kim Newman fan, meaning I've only read Anno Dracula basically. Just gonna admit that straight away! This intrigued me because of the whole floating on the ceiling, school for the daughters of criminal masterminds etc. I immediately read that and was like SIGN ME UUUUUPPPP! 

The story starts straight away with Amy arriving at the school, no chapters of discovering the powers and faffing about. It's straight in there. In a way it kind of reminded me of St. Trinians, not entirely sure why. I think it's because all these girls and their schemes and the way things work at the school and stuff. Unlike St. Trinians this is darker, and it's kind of like a superhero origin story with the Moth Club. There's also powers and different abilities and stuff. There was just something about this that I can't really put my finger on exactly, that really reminded me of St. Trinians but maybe I'm wrong haha! I think it was the houses and the "the sporty girls, the posh girls" and so on. 

Drearcliff is a YA and it's incredibly different, I know I'm not the only one who likes books that are a little bit unique, a little bit original and so on. This book is full of originality! It's dark fantasy, and is incredibly sinister as the book goes on and the plot thickens. I loved how it started out fairly normal, but got darker and more sinister as the book went on and added the fantasy in more and more. I loved watching it build and develop, and as you read on this feeling of unease and not right-ness builds until it all comes to a head. 

I've not really read many boarding school stories, except for some Enid Blyton when I was younger, so I can't really compare it to other books out there right now other than to say it's obviously going to be very different. Like them almost, but darker....duh! That being said, adults could read this just as easily as teens and young adults. As you read you won't get the sense that it's for a younger audience with things simplified or a bit cheesy. The plot was very complex, with lots of different threads going in to it to keep you guessing. It was incredibly well written and I was never entirely sure what was going to happen next. 

I loved how it was divided in to three parts, and in the first part it was like a mystery book, trying to find their kidnapped friend. Then as you go in to the second part, it changes and there's this new girl and that's when it starts to get darker. The people who kidnapped her are still at large and you see how much more is going on, and then in part three it's like the final battle for the school. Each part is slightly different, even though the last two parts are the same main plot thread as it where. I'm really not explaining this very well! There where different stages basically! I just got the sense that I was reading stories within stories and I loved it. There genuinely where all these little stories about other girls, the teachers and events and the book was dark, but also so much fun. 

There's adventure and mystery and strange goings on and the storytelling is completely fantastic. I loved the imagery the author creates, I loved the language/writing style. Like I said, it makes everything in to a story. There's twists and turns all over the place. I was particularly partial to the story about the ship under the school, and the stories about the army manoeuvre type exercises one of their teachers has them doing as part of the Women's Auxiliary Army. The book is genuinely funny with all these moments of humour that just go so well with the darker undertones of the book. Could have done without all the ant imagery though, it made my skin crawl a bit! 

The characters where all so lively and interesting. Kali and her way of speech learned from the Americans. Amy herself and her moths and alter ego. Light Fingers and her parentage and ability. Frecks just in general, I loved her she was one of my favourites along with Amy! Then you've got the more vile characters like Gryce and her cronies determined to keep up school Spirit. The characters where one of the things that made the book so authentic. As you're reading you're remembering bits from school like "ah yes....I may not have been to a boarding school but that's bringing back some memories". 

Every single character is memorable, and they're a colourful and diverse cast of characters. Like I said, the vile characters perfectly spring in to mind as they go about their villainous ways. Then you have our crew of four, kind of like the Musketeers. THEN you have all the rest. The snitcher, Palgraive who's brain has been eaten by a maggot,  Marsh and her gills! OH and the one girl that's in every school, who makes up all these wild stories was also present! I liked how she changed when the Black Skirts arrived. Just saying! They're all very eccentric I think and I enjoyed meeting all of them and learning about their place as it where in the hierarchy of the school. Like I said there's a school snitcher, there's another one who's obsessed with a teacher, then there's one that makes people a bit forgetful. I loved learning about the different abilities. The interaction between characters is genuine and authentic and funny and it's so easy to get lost reading this book and just read and read and read. 

I loved the Moth Club, I loved how Amy's obsession with moths was explored, it was very original. The Moth Club really felt like the Musketeers and fledgling superheroes rolled in to one. When the Black Skirts came in to play, I t think the division between those with abilities and those without was done brilliantly. It all felt almost uncomfortably real and you couldn't help thinking on current affairs and past affairs although on a lesser scale. 

The book has so much detail to it, you learn about the school rules, official and unofficial and I imagine as you arrive at the school with Amy you feel just as overwhelmed as she is as all the rules become apparent. The slang and wording of the time was done perfectly, the way the teachers acted. You always had one horrific teacher, and others on varying levels. Never have I ever been to a school where all the teachers where fantastic and amazing and nice. It's not real. Drearcliff has a range which is much more authentic. The teachers themselves all had little stories to go with them that the girls discuss, and rumours and so on that was another nice little authentic detail. 

The book is set, from what I worked out, sometime in the 20's or 30's, I think 20's because I don't think it was long after the war from things that where said. I loved the setting. I loved seeing how the girls and their families where effected as well as the school and the country in general by the war and the aftermath. It was genuinely interesting to read about. Frecks Uncle in particular, he was in the Pendragon Squadron, and had this chainmail from the Lady of the Lake. I freaking LOVED that detail. But also love how it was kept real with Frecks saying he was a man of war, like, he was useful in the war but after the war he didn't really have much to do and wasn't good at much else. It was so real and so heart breaking to read that because it's what was true for a lot of people I imagine at the end of the war. I just love the detail and the stories the other girls had about their war experiences and their families, it was present everywhere. Most people who wrote a book set after the war, wouldn't mention it much. Newman takes a very authentic approach and it's just brilliant. The war and the aftermath is in the mindset of the teachers (hello army manoeuvres) and the girls I think as they go off to do battle. I just liked that it wasn't mentioned once and then swept under the rug, it was present everywhere and it was such a nice touch. As I keep saying. I'm babbling because I can't find the words I'm looking for!

SO much happens in the book. It's such a satisfying read when you come to the end. Newman teases you as well with this one little chapter that whips us forward in time. It also shows that ya know....Newman has looooaaaddsss of ideas for potential other Drearcliff books. Just saying. I wouldn't be complaining if it becomes a series, I'd be cheering. It was so brilliantly British and I want to read more about the girls and their adventures especially after the near teaser trailer Newman gives us! 

The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School is a completely fantastic read. Descending father in to darkness and getting more sinister as you read on it keeps you guessing and allows you to fall in to the world completely. I'm not sure why I pictured everything in dreary tones but I did. The imagery and the setting where fantastic. Newman has a way of storytelling that makes everything in to a great story, even if it's only a tale about a teacher. The book is so authentic and so genuine and is funny as well as serious. It's such a dose of originality and I loved every page!