The Furies by Katie Lowe

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 384

Publisher: Harper Collins 

Released:  2nd May 2019 

In 1998, a sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on school property, dressed in white and posed on a swing, with no known cause of death. The novel opens with this image, as related to us by the narrator, Violet, looking back on the night it happened from the present day, before returning to relate the series of events leading up to the girl’s murder.

After an accident involving her Dad and sister, Violet joins Elm Hollow Academy, a private girls school in a quiet coastal town, which has an unpleasant history as the site of famous 17th century witch trials. Violet quickly finds herself invited to become the fourth member of an advanced study group, alongside Robin, Grace, and Alex - led by their charismatic art teacher, Annabel.

While Annabel claims her classes aren’t related to ancient rites and rituals - warning the girls off the topic, describing it as little more than mythology - the girls start to believe that magic is real, and that they can harness it. But when the body of a former member of the society - Robin’s best friend, with whom Violet shares an uncanny resemblance - is found dead on campus nine months after she disappeared, Violet begins to wonder whether she can trust her friends, teachers, or even herself. 

What I Have to Say 

Toxic friendships, peer pressure and bad girls, taken to the very extreme. Dabbling with drugs to be part of the popular crowd is something, but witchcraft and murder? This makes it so much more exciting. I loved how it was a book about friendships and trying to fit in while also being a book about murder and summoning ancient beings of vengeance at the same time. 

I loved how awful Robyn was. How toxic she was and how she just kept pushing the girls further and further into witchcraft and worse. I liked the relationship between all four girls to be honest. But Robyn's interactions with each of the girls was the most interesting. 

The only problem I really have with this isn't really a problem at all. I'd like a good witch book about nice witchcraft and real Wicca, but this wasn't it. It was a great book regardless and I'm really happy about how good it was. 

My thanks go to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me with this free copy for reiew. 

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 322

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 

Released: 25th of February 2016 

I was brave

She was reckless

We were trouble

Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated. As Suzanne’s past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realises, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own.

What I Have to Say 

I loved this book so much. It was a truly beautiful story about a very screwed up girl and how her issues and the trauma she's been through affects the people around her, but I think what I liked most about it was that the story wasn't overshadowed by a romance plot that was shoehorned in there for no reason. 

It was interesting how Suzanne's story was told through Caddy's voice as well as how it was told after the things that Suzanne went through rather than before. It shows the effects of trauma and how what people go through affects them well after they get out of the situation their in. 

I loved the ending as well. I won't say any specifics, but it was the right ending, even if it wasn't the one that people may want. It was real and hopeful without everything being tied up neatly and happily. 

Beautiful Broken Things will remain one of my favourite books of a long time and I'm really looking forward to what Sara Barnard writes next.