It’s an unusual story this one. Not really sure what genre it fits under. Some have described it as a coming of age story but I think it went a little deeper than that. I did on the whole find it quite slow and the ending I thought incredibly sad. If you’re a fan of happily ever afters you’ll be in for a bit of disappointment with this book.

It didn’t help that I read through some reviews when I was part way through the book and someone gave away what I thought was quite a vital piece of information. It kind of spoiled part of the book for me because I knew what was coming, when really it should have been as much of a shock to the reader as it was to Romilly. I wouldn’t do that, if you want to know you’ll have to read it. I got half-way through then broke off and read another couple of books before I took up reading it again. I’m not entirely sure I’d have made it to the end if I’d read it all in one go.

There aren’t many characters in the book and the story revolves mainly around Romilly who doesn’t go to school and doesn’t really get out much. She spends most of her time at home and wandering the surrounding area which I did find quite claustrophobic, but then we’re all in that boat right now aren’t we.

The book starts out with Romilly aged 10 and moves on through her childhood spent living with her Dad. Her mum makes intermittent appearances but on the whole its just Romilly and her artist/author Dad. He writes a series of books featuring illustrations of Romilly, their home and Romilly’s cat. The books suggest that there are clues within the stories and especially the illustrations, which may indicate the location of treasure hidden around the family home. Romilly does befriend a girl of a similar age to her called Stacey. A rather wild child who I was never that keen on. She seemed to be quite controlling of Romilly.

The very ending I didn’t really understand. It lost me, leaving me with some unanswered questions. But that’s OK, I like endings to books where you’re not quite sure what that ending actually is, it’s left open to a certain extent for the reader to make their own interpretation perhaps? Or perhaps it’s just me and I didn’t ‘get’ it. Like I said at the beginning of this review, it was very sad at the end and it certainly made me think about life. That you should live each day as it comes and make the most of it because you never know when it can so suddenly change and turn on its head.

I’m glad I finished it, it was perhaps a little slow but the revelations in the last part make for a very emotional read.

*Review to be posted to blog a week before publication. Review posted to GoodReads now.

Romilly Kemp lives with her eccentric father Tobias in a rundown house in the countryside.
Her mother is an intermittent, unstable presence.
Her relationship with her father is harmonious; she knows she's loved.
He keeps her off school without educating her, she has no friends except for wild village child Stacey (they become close for a while), and they have no money.
Romilly's father writes a children's book with Romilly, and her cat 'Monty' the main characters, and it, along with its sequels, become a hit. They become wealthy.
Many readers of the book think the beautiful illustrations in the stories are part of a treasure hunt that leads to a prize and descend on Romilly, her father and the house searching for the award.
Romilly is the only one who can decipher the clues hidden in the books, and it leads her too sinister, devastating truths locked within its pages.
Changes come for the Kemps when Tobias develops dementia, and his behaviour becomes increasingly strange, Romilly struggles as he deteriorates.

I did not particularly enjoy this story; it touches on many challenging topics, relationships, child death, neglect, dementia, self-harm, but masters none. I almost gave up reading it.

Slow, laborious and tbh not really a book that I would have continued to read, had I not to give a review after reading, what can I say a book about a father writing a book through art using his daughter as the storyline.

Not for me I am afraid.

Whilst initially intrigued by the blurb and the beautiful cover design, I was left underwhelmed when I finally completed this book. I just didn’t feel that affinity with the book in the way that other readers have mentioned.

I felt it took too long to pick up the pace and get me engrossed in life at Briar View. However the clues in the illustrated books of her father were ingenious and I think I was truly more interested in those children’s’ books than of the wider story.

What a wonderful book. Compelling, memorising and so beautifully written. I knew by the time I was halfway through page one that I was going to love it. It's all about childhood, father daughter relationship and hidden treasure, with the true treasure being not money or riches but the treasure found deep inside.
Polly Crosbys descriptive power is awesome, her words filled with such power and beauty, light and darkness and I will treasure the experience of having read this book for a long time.

Romilly’s childhood is an isolated one as she lives with her father, an artist. She becomes his muse and a mystery unfolds which imbues a more sinister tone which kept me reading until the final page.. I found this story to be endearing, compelling and I will definitely be reading more by Polly Crosby in the future. Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advance review copy.

The illustrated child is a beautifully written atmospheric novel about a young girl called Romilly who lives in a ramshackle home with her eccentric father, she has a wonderful relationship with her father but when he starts drawing her for a book their life’s change forever.
The story really envelops you and leaves you really caring about Romilly and it was almost a shame to say goodbye to her at the end.

The publishers blurb for this book really drew me in but while it is an interesting concept, there are bits that made me think “really?”
Romilly and her father, a struggling artist, live by themselves in an old, ramshackle mansion in the midddle of nowhere. He paints amazing pictures and then turns some of them into a book about Romilly full of clues about a hidden treasure. Suddenly they are famous and their lives change to a certain extent. This is a book about madness and despair and finding your way though a maze of half truths and loneliness.
I almost gave up reading it at a couple of points but persevered to the end where It all makes sense. Still have those “really?” questions though.
Probably a good book for discussing with a book club!

A mystery book about grief, loss and childhood. It is a about a young girl (Romilly Kemp) who is living in the countryside with her father, an artist who gains fame for both of them when he immortalizes her in in a series of illustrated books. The books take on a life of their own when reaers start to believe t they also contain clues to some treasure.

Beneath all of that is the story of child growing up, separated from her mother who seems to have had mental beakdown, and someone trying to discover herself and make friends in an isolated place.

I liked the book and was engaged with Romilly's story even if some of the stories developments did not come as a surprise to me. Indeed it felt more like children's book for the most part (this is not a criticism).

Reviewed from Netgalley ARC proof copy.

A slow moving story about a young girl and her father who move to an old house.
The father is an artist and is writing an book full of pictures of his daughter and her kitten.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it starts off as a whimsical tale about a father and daughter moving to a big old house in the country. The daughter becomes the muse for the father's painting which are turned into children's books. There the mystery begins. People believe the books are hiding a secret, treasure to be found. There are twists and turns, tears and laughter. A bittersweet story that kept me intrigued.

Whatever you do, avoid reading anything about this book before you read it! (Possibly too late if you're here reading this but I did try at least!)

An utterly magical read, inspired by Kit William's Masquerade, this dreamy book is unique, creating a special bubble between Romilly and her father. He paints books and she is the star of them. They live together in a creaky old house and that is all I am going to tell you.

Do all you can to get your hands on this this twisting, shimmering, mystery within a mystery. Enjoy the mastery of the storytelling and emerge breathless at the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ebook.

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, it's beautifully written and mesmerising. It's a book everyone should read at least once. I will definitely buy this book on publication day. It's a future classic.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

Beautifully imagined story with memorable characters. The writing is exquisite, the details about the paintings are especially good. The story draws out, keeping the reader enchanted. This is a book that almost demands to be reread, to be savoured chapter by chapter instead of the big gulp of reading it for the first time, seeing where the story leads. Amazingly assured; I loved it!

What a enchanting debut, such innocence. Beautifully written, magical story. The characters will stay with you long after you finish reading this.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader however this story intrigued me. I absolutely loved it, truly one of the best books I have read. I am extremely pleased and grateful to both for opening up my mind to something totally different.

I seem to have noticed a buzz around ‘The Illustrated Child’ for a while and therefore was desperate to get my hands on one of the gorgeous proofs I saw on literary Twitter. I wasn’t that lucky, but I did get approved for a Netgalley ecopy and settled down to read it this weekend, the first book of 5 I have put aside for my literal staycation. I thought I was getting a charming, whimsical coming of age story, but The Illustrated Child, although full of whimsy and charm, is a lot darker than that.

Romilly Kemp lives with her father in a large, ramshackle house in the middle of the countryside. They have no other family, no friends apart from the occasional appearance of home-schooled, wild village child Stacey who comes and goes on a whim, and no money, until her father writes a children’s book starring Romilly and her beloved cat and it, along with its sequels, becomes a hit. Readers are convinced there are clues int the clever, detailed illustrations and Romilly finds herself famous, always nine and naïve, as treasure hunters besiege her house, desperate to figure out the mystery. But what if there is no treasure? What if the clues are for Romilly alone, when she’s ready to figure them out?

Clever and lushly written, the Illustrated Child is a sad, melancholy book, Romilly neglected, if loved, by the people who are supposed to take care of her. Her mother is an intermittent, unstable presence, her father allows her hair to matt, keeps her off school but doesn’t educate her, fills their fields with dangerous inventions. Left to herself, Romilly grows up shy and fey and naïve, as her world crumbles around her.

Inspired by the excitement caused by Kit Williams Masquerade in the 1980s, the Illustrated Child is imaginative, rich and original, at times desperately sad and always beguiling.

Review
The book starts with 9 year old Romilly Kemp living with only her artist father for company in a rambling ancient farmhouse called Braër.

The house is in disrepair and there is not enough money for food so Romilly’s father, Tobias, comes up with the idea of publishing a book featuring Romilly and her kitten, Monty. However, the beautifully drawn pictures also contain clues to a treasure hunt.

In the meantime, a lonely Romilly meets Stacey, a little girl of a similar age and they become close friends for a while.

Things change for the Kemps as Tobias develops dementia and Romilly struggles to care for him as he deteriorates.

Romilly is able to solve the clues which have caused lots of interest over the years from treasure seekers.

The book started off on a fairly gentle note but it was actually quite harrowing in places with some parts that were hard to read. I felt sorry that a young girl was in such a situation. However, in reality, would this have happened? Especially given the publicity surrounding the family.

I did enjoy the book and rate it 3 stars 🌟🌟🌟

Thanks
Thank you to the author and publishers HQ for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an independent review.

Another reviewer called this a strange and intriguing read. I couldn't agree more. It follows the story of the child, Romilly, as she progresses through adulthood. Beautifully written. I was lost in places but the pure joy of the written word dragged me along to the surprising conclusion. A modern-day classic in the making.

This is a fascinating tale., always keeping you off balance, delaying revealing information so you only join up the last dots on the last page.