Millie vs the Machines by Kiera O'Brien

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

My thanks go to Quercus for providing me with this review copy.

Pages: 320

Publisher: Quercus

Released: 6th of August 2015

Within the confines of Oaktree boarding school, Millie Hendrick and her friends are privileged kids in a future world, where robots are hired help for everyone.

But Millie has never trusted the Units. They're just... creepy.

When pupils start disappearing, and no one else shares her increasing terror, how can Millie find out whether she is the only person who can see the truth, or is simply going crazy?

Who can be trusted - and who will be next?

What I Have to Say 

This book was amazing. As I was starting to read it, I was worried that it was a bit predictable, but the unreliability of Millie's mind made it so that you're never sure whether to believe in Millie or everyone else. It creates this whole psychological feel where you're constantly questioning everything and looking for clues as to what's real and what isn't. 

The thing that I really liked about the book, right from the start was the setting. I love a boarding school book to begin with, add in awesome technology and androids and you get something even more special. It's obvious from reading how much work Kiera O'Brien has put into this inventive and immersive world. 

And the ending! It's the kind of book that leaves you with the feeling that you've just read the most amazing book (which a lot of the time you have) and makes you incredibly excited for where the author is going to go next. 

The problem with this book? The next one isn't out until March!! 

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 440

Publisher: Orion Children's Books 

Released: 6th of August 2015

Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Three people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . . 

Re-opened police records, psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage and fragments of diary reveal a web of deceit and intrigue, violence and murder, raising a whole lot more questions than it answers.

Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?

What I Have to Say 

I was worried that this book would scare me more than it did, which might be a negative point for some people but it made it better for me. I liked the question of whether it was real or mental illness too. It made it really interesting to read because you're constantly doubting things. 

One thing I really liked was Naida and her Mala practices.  I've not heard much about Mala before, so I was really interested in it from that angle. 

The style of it was really interesting too. I really like books that are written in a variety of styles like this. It mixes it up a little to be reading a diary extract followed by a video transcript.