Novels set in the hothouse environment of schools are irresistible: THE FURIES is set against that canvas, but never quite catches fire, alas, the way A SECRET HISTORY does. Fascinating premise...which strays into weirdness.

Readers will spend much of the book trying to understand why this was set in 1998 (I know I did, because there's nothing that would not have fit in to 2018) but at the end it becomes clear why. It could be seen as a version of <i>The Secret History</i> story, or perhaps the more recent <i>Bunny</i>, but for the YA set, but that part doesn't work as well. Every time Annabelle started lecturing it made the story drag some, and those lectures didn't seem to move the story as much forward as they could or should have. Violet herself is a bit flat as a character, somewhat passive due to the grief she's feeling over her sister and father's death; even in the middle of a real action sequence she feels removed and not particularly alive. It is also worth noting that this is set in England at a sixth form college, which explains some of the differences between what US readers would understand and how the school is set up.

eARC provided by publisher.

I received this book as an e-galley from netgalley. I really enjoyed this supernatural teen thriller. The prose was pretty without being too flowery or cumbersome, the characters were unique and well rounded, and the suspense and timing were perfect. That being said, it was a really messed up, disturbing story full of violence, murder, and black magic all mixed up with teenage angst. I thought it was done well, intense without being too over the top.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a very weird book and I had a difficult time getting into it. It centers around a girl found dead on school property and a set of girls that are just strange. The concept was good, but I struggled getting through this

I really enjoy the way that Lowe writes. Her sentences are beautifully descriptive without being pretentious. I always adore these coming of age stories with private schools and a little bit of magic. I will absolutely be buying this book when it releases. I've been recommending it a lot already!

Elm Hollow Academy is an all-girls school in a boring town by the coast with a rather dark past. Witch trials in the 17th century and one supposedly hung from a tree on campus. Theories abound about the school and the odd things that happen there.

Violet is sixteen and has already had her fair share of tragedy and loss. She is that character on the fringe. Even she isn't sure she belongs here. Or anywhere.

The talk of the school when Violet arrives is the mysterious disappearance of Emily Frost. Said disappearance means there is an opening in a study group with their instructor, Annabelle. Mysterious Annabelle. She teaches the girls about the Furies and how they took revenge on the men who wronged them.

Only these girls aren't taking notes, they are taking action and Violet is drawn into something deadly and it could get her killed. Not knowing who to trust, she trusts herself.

There are plenty of books dealing with angst-ridden teenaged girls at schools. This had less to do with popularity and boys and more to do with witchcraft. 

It was really wordy and the middle got a bit old quickly. The end was unexpected and rather disappointing I thought.

NetGalley/ October 8th, 2019 by St. Martin's Press

I generally do not like the “mean girl” type of book at all. It took me a while to get into this one, but then I started to enjoy it. I liked the spookiness and creepiness of the school and the seaside town. The ending was perfect.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really, really wanted to read this book! Loved the idea! But, it is a hard to get into book. I read about 50% of it before giving up. I just couldn’t get into it. Sorry

It’s about a new girl at school and 2 very different groups of girls. She is so eager to want to be a part of a group, but seems to fail. I just didn’t get it.

A good read, entertaining and surprisingly gripping. I liked the writing style and thought the story overall flowed really well.

I really thought that I would enjoy this book more but at one point I almost gave up because I just couldn't stomach it. This book is about a bunch of attention starved brats who essentially think that because of the special program that they are chosen for, that they are witches able to call upon the furies. It really is reminiscent of The Craft, but that movie had a better storyline. Really disappointed with this one.

The Furies is a book about a young girl named Violet who is enrolled in an elite private school and becomes a part of a clique of what I could only describe as "mean girls". The characters are well developed by the writer. This book is quite a bit different from the normal thrillers I read. I think that this book will really appeal to those who like a YA book since the characters are in high school. The book opens with a scene of a dead teenage girl, dressed in white and posed on a swing and authorities don't know what her cause of death is. You won't find out who the girl is until the end of the book because the protagonist Violet is recounting her days at Elm Hollow. This book took me just a little bit to read and I did find myself having to re-read a few sections that I didn't quite understand or should i say retain. I liked the book overall but I'm not a big fan of "mean girls". I found the clique leader Robin to be highly annoying and Violet seemed just to worship the ground she walked on. The girls partake in a bit of witchcraft/rituals to call the Furies to right wrongs that were done against them. I give this book 3.5 stars.

Imagine the 90s movie The Craft and The Witch Elm by Tana French had a baby...except it's too long with too much teen angst, delivered in a strangely non-nonstalgic adult voice.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I think I might have liked this more than most because I am nearly the same age as the characters in the book and the concept reminded me of a '90s-early '00s teen movie. That said, it was a fun read about a serious topic, the death of a teenage girl. Will they choose witchcraft? What should they do? The setting and plot was tailor-made for me.

3 for neutral. Was very excited to get my hands on this book, but could never get into it enough to enjoy or finish. Being I’m such a moody reader, it is very likely me, and will update if able to finish at a later date.

A unique novel that would most definitely appeal to readers who enjoy dark themes, magic, Greek history, and witchcraft. Like “The Craft” for young adults.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36392972

This one had me stumped. There was too much about ti I didn't like especially some of the characters. Maybe it reminded me too much of other similar books.

Reading The Furies alternately made me thankful for being the Mom to boys and remembering all the high school girl drama. Thankfully my high school girl drama paled in comparison to the drama I read in The Furies. This was a compelling read and would like to read more from Lowe.

Violet has been through a tragic experience of losing her father and sister in a brutal car accident. Her mother has withdrawn from the world, unable to cope with the loss. When the opportunity arises for Violet to attend a rather exclusive girls’ school, she jumps at it. At this point, what has she got to lose?

The Furies opens with a scene of a dead teenage girl, dressed in white and posed on a swing. The authorities never find a cause of death. At this point we are not told who the girl is, or who is recounting the story. But it is a eerie beginning to a story about female friendship, peer pressure, and the volatility of being on the verge of adulthood. Told over the course of one academic year, and barely into the next, The Furies will captivate you with it’s lyrical prose and haunting images.

I was bewitched by this first novel by Katie Lowe. Bewitched being the appropriate term with its themes of witchcraft. The Elm Hollow Academy, set in a coastal town of England, has a long history of witches. The friendship between Vi, Robin, Alex and Grace is a typical one for teenage girls. Four teenage girls who believe they have the power to do anything and the inexperience to try. Add in a secret society and you have the makings of the perfect teenage tale in the tradition of The Heathers or The Craft. I did not want to put this book down. Every character is so well crafted, so well written, that you can almost see them. The story does not disappoint, it is beautiful in its descriptions. I cannot wait for the next novel by Katie Lowe.

4.5 stars on Goodreads


This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com close to publication date.

The protagonist of this book has had what must be the most difficult year for a young girl imaginable -- a year ago she was in a car accident with her father and younger sister. Dad dies instantly; her sister hangs on for several days and then dies. She was uninjured. She basically takes the next year off, goes in for finals, and still does quite well. Since she needs her A levels (this is set in England) and the trucking company responsible for the accident has dumped a load of money on the remaining members of the family (mother and daughter), she is sent as a day student to what I, as an American, assume to be a rather posh school for girls. This is a fascinating examination of group mentality and, since it is seen through the lens of someone just coming on the scene, particularly interesting. Heartily recommend this one!

This was an interesting book that took me a little bit to get into. The characters are interesting but I just couldn't see where it was going. I pushed on an discovered that the characters though flawed where just teenage girls that thought themselves magical. They believed they could call the furries to right wrongs that were done against them.