A wonderful first novel which is both fast-paced and beautifully written. The description of South East Asia is vivid and compelling (it was a particular pleasure to be transported to the sticky heat and tropical vegetation during some cold grey English days), the plot is deft and engaging and the characters are convincing and memorable. A novel to remember. I'm very much looking forward to the next one.
This is a well-written novel which is also a wonderfully Gothic thriller, complete with shadowy corridors, spooky mirrors and vulnerable, isolated children. The narrator is Florence, a young girl who is immensely likeable and engaging. One of the hallmarks of this novel is the peculiar, idiosyncratic language she has developed for herself and which pervades the book. One of the central questions too is how reliable she is as a narrator - is she right to be terrified of her "evil" new Governness with supernatural powers - or is she misreading the whole situation? It takes us the course of the novel to decide. Well-crafted and well-written as well as a fast paced ride.
