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

An English Ghost story - Kim Newman

A dysfunctional British nuclear family seek a new life away from the big city in the sleepy Somerset countryside. At first their new home, The Hollow, seems to embrace them, creating a rare peace and harmony within the family. But when the house turns on them, it seems to know just how to hurt them the most—threatening to destroy them from the inside out. 

My thoughts:

I liked this. It was not HORROR, but it was indeed horror. Now what do I mean with that? It was more subtle, and it grew and grew until I was all, I sure hope my house is not haunted 0_0

A dysfunctional family, wait a moment. I just have to say that this family should have been in family therapy and the parents should have gotten a divorce. Toxic! Anyway, the family wants to move, to improve their relationship and then they see the house. See there it starts, the subtle strangeness. They freaking love the house, they want to marry the house and dance around it singing. And the house feels it.

We have a mother who was dependent on a friend. A father who wanted to rule. A sister with an eating disorder. And a son who plays soldier. But everything changes. The house is amazing, they are all happy. They eat pancakes and smile. But, the house knows. The house is watching, and there are ghosts playing around.

Slowly we see that there is something going on. Things move on their own. And as the family realizes this, everything starts to fall apart. It goes from happy to chilly to creepy. Subtle...English. Because sometime it's you who are the dark one.

Conclusion:

A nice ghost story :)

Cover

Ok for a ghost story

Paperback, 400 pages
Published October 7th 2014 by Titan Books
Horror /fiction
For review