Thursday 22 October 2015

The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School - Kim Newman

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. 

My thoughts:
I read a lot a lot of boarding school books when I was young. I always wanted to attend one too, it seemed fun. Giggles, smuggled candy, horse back riding. Very posh, and very British, yes they were all British schools.

This school is not like the others. Yes there are dorms, and different wings. Our heroine Amy ends up in Desdemona and shares a room with 4 other girls. One with quick fingers, one a bandit princess and one a lady. She soon realizes that she is not alone, there are other unusual girls like her there. Ok stop here for a moment.

The unusuals are mentioned a lot. So it does seem like the public are aware of these others and are perfectly jolly fine with it. Some of them are good and helped in WW1, Some turn bad.

But this school is not just for those few. All sorts of strange folks sends their girls there. There are ladies, there are thieves, there are daughters of criminal masterminds.

Let's call it a supernatural suspense. They are soon on their first case, but then things does turn darker. Not scary dark, just eerie. What is going on? The school turns unfriendly (not that is was perfect to begin with with those punishments!). I'd be afraid to walk in those hallways.

And at the end, all is well. The road there is just dark.

Was this YA or Adult? Who knows. It fits both I'd say.

Conclusion:
I enjoyed this book. I'd read more about this school too. But then Newman does have that dark touch. From the 2 books I have read (and 1 novella). He puts an interesting twist on what he does.

Cover
I'd like some color

Paperback, 400 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2015 by Titan Books
Supernatural suspense
For review

46 comments:

  1. Good to hear you enjoyed and it works for both audiences

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  2. Creepy! good one to read for October.

    I have never wanted to go to boarding school. I always associated with being unloved and sent away lol

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. Oh sad! I never thought about it like that :/ But yes that is the way too

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  3. Sounds okay! :(
    Haniya
    booknauthors.blogspot.com

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  4. I have been wanting this one for a while. I tried to read Anno-Dracula by Newman years ago and couldn't get in to it. Hoping this one fares better.

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    1. I have not read that one, so can't say. But this was easy to get into

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  5. Who would want to go to school there, that cover is creepy !

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  6. I am a sucker for boarding school tales..and dark it good!

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  7. Sounds like a fun one, especially for this time of year.

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  8. Sounds good and I kinda like the cover. I would have liked to go to boarding school too when younger. It sounded so much fun.

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    Replies
    1. When there I would have realised I hated it, but I always wanted to try it

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  9. I am curious and I like the creepy boarding school.

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  10. honestly looks like a lot of fun

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  11. It does sound like the story was always at the tipping point and what a fantastically creepy cover!

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  12. Sounds good and I really like that cover.

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  13. Titan Books has such good stuff. I've had my eye on this one! Sounds really creepy, and I love dark. The freaky boarding school setting is bonus :)

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    1. It was so weird, a v ery nice world indeed

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  14. Living in a dorm room with four other girls at college broke me of ever wanting to attend boarding school. ;) But an eerie one like this with those sorts of classmates? Might have to revise that opinion.

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    1. In college, yeah, not anymore then. I did share a flat in uni with 2 others. But we all had big rooms of our owns

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  15. I used to read a lot of boarding-school fiction too. Not so much lately... This one does sound different, so maybe I should give it a try :)

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    1. Not so much lately here too. But it's fun to read some again

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  16. Honestly...I always wanted to go to a boarding school as well. hahaha

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  17. The cover is creepy. Fits the season well. :)

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  18. me too on boarding school lol. I think I'd like this one and the cover is kinda cool

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  19. This book sounded good up until the dark ending. Good to know it turns out okay though. I'm a fan of paranormal boarding schools and this one sounds unique. I'm curious what's special about the main character.

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  20. This one sounds good. I'll be looking for it.

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