You know that book that you listen to/ read and within 10 seconds you immediately know it’s a winner? You know you’re going to be hooked and you won’t be able to stop thinking about it? Yeah, this is that book!

It took me a while to warm to the characters as I got to know them, they slowly started to grow on me. I think. They both kept flicking from ‘I like them’ to ‘ugh not sure now’ and then back to like again. Especially Alice who is battling her demons and often overcome with anger and really dark thoughts. It was a clever entwining into the plot overall but it certainly didn’t endear me to her character!

I feel in love with the authors style of writing though and it was such an easy book to slip into. It was an effortless read (or listen in my case as I had an audiobook copy which was great. The narration made for enjoyable and easy listening). I think I flew through it in near a day!

It went to places I wasn’t expecting and was strangely compelling and the need for answers definitely consumed. The plot slowly started to unravel and this dark Jekyll & Hyde style plot was an amazing and interesting take on this well known tale!

I went into this story hoping to find something like Truly Devious and A lesson in Vengeance and whilst yes, I definitely found that, I didn't love this because of my hatred for the characters. They were insufferable throughout the story and it completely ruined everything I was enjoying about the storyline. I did enjoy the concept of the mystery, definitely fun and unique and I loved the inclusion of rituals but with stories such as these, characters are so important and I just couldn't gel with either POV no matter how hard I tried.

The audiobook is great, I enjoyed my listening experience. The narrator was good and clear, good pacing and I think consuming a mystery like this via audiobook is the best way for it.

This a dark fantasy, with humorous touches, for older YA. The audio version has two narrators who capture the two female leads perfectly. Alice has major anger control issues and Lottie is determined to get to the bottom of deaths at Carvell. Can these young women find a way to trust each other and solve the mystery? Read this slick, fantasy murder/love story and find out. Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Ok. I do not fit the demographic for ya, that bothers me none, I’ve 3 daughters 21,15 and 9 so I’m always looking out for recommendations for them.

Disregard completely my age bracket because I absolutely loved this, I couldn’t leave it alone. It’s beautifully written, wordy, sharp and whip smart. This is a book set in the 90’s that I wish had been around in the 90’s.

The narration is beautifully done by both va’s a few mispronunciations that’d normally irk me, but that doesn’t take away from any of it.

An academic love story of the dark determined hate filled girl colliding with the sporty jolly eternal sunshine girl, that’ll never work right? Wrong!

Laced with religion, politics, feminism and the occult with a slap around the face of the patriarchy if not quite a total takedown. Oh, and a suspicious little cat called Salem.

I hate giving spoilers, so I’m really struggling to enthuse how much I loved it without giving it away, but if you love a cleverly written spooky tale. This is for you. I’d give more stars if I could.

#Jorecommends

I received an arc of this title in return for an honest review, with thanks to NetGalley and the publishers.

**Listened to audio book**

I really like Laura Steven as a writer, she is incredibly original and imaginative and this new book from her is no exception.
The book has the popular trope at the moment of dark academia. The world created is super exciting and the characters are so vivid.
I must admit there were times when the pacing felt a bit slow, and I took my mind off the ball so therefore missed out certain plot points.

The narrators were good, but I think it would have been better if there was more of a contrast between the two narrators - I don't think they were different enough.

Overall I enjoyed this book - it's not my fav from Laura Steven but I think the YA audience will lap this up!!

On the surface this is a dark academia book with supernatural horror elements but it’s so much more. It examines society’s attitudes towards female rage, and the way that women have been mistreated and abused because of this for ingress of years.
There are sapphic relationships, first love, and enemies to lovers plot lines which were written very well and the chemistry between the characters was very good.
The horror is at times quite unnerving and the characters are quite flawed although they do have redeeming qualities. As very young university students they are at times frustrating in the way they behave but it was also quiet believable in that respect.
I listened to the audiobook and I liked that each of the protagonists had a different voice actor that was very distinct. This made it a lot more enjoyable to listen to I think.