Format: Audio 

Having read several Laura Purell adult novels, I was intrigued to give her YA debut a try, and it was certainly chilling and atmospheric. 

For me, I think the highlights of this story were the combination of regency setting with the paranormal storyline – as a lover of this period, I’m always interested to see how writers use it and adapt it in their work – and the side characters whose stories I’d have been keen to get more of. 

Unfortunately, it also fell down for me in a few places: 

The pacing – the start of the story felt quite slow which was a marked contrast to the ending which was very rushed. We have this really long build up to a final couple of events that then passed so quickly. 

Our main character – I just couldn’t get on with Camille, so being in her head made this quite a difficult story for me to get into. I do think a lot of this was the fact that so much was hidden from her – which admittedly we wouldn’t have a story without, but it just made it incredibly frustrating as the reader having worked out the things she didn’t know and then watching her fumble around because of that lack of knowledge. She was also quite self-centred – probably a commentary on her age and class – which also made it quite hard to root for her. 

Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable listen and another success for Laura Purcell, although it’s one that now I’ve read it, I am unlikely to pick up again.