Loved this! So good, so exciting, so gripping and great story. Can't wait to read more by this author - absolutely brilliant.

“Light a fire they can’t put out”

OMG! I really just don’t know where to begin with this review. I generally try not to research any reviews by my fellow readers until I have finished reading a book for myself and having now done that, I realise just how divided opinion is about both the storyline and writing style. For me personally, the only slight disappointment, if you can call it that, is the length of the book, which might have been a little overdone, although I’m not sure it would have had such a comprehensive outcome, or had such a horrific impact, had it been rushed or condensed any further. With the stakes getting higher by the minute, I really needed to read and digest, every word, nuance and inference, whilst making sure that I hadn’t missed the tiniest detail of the visual action, where every syllable spoken, every snide look given, every innocuous movement taken, was so important in the overall scheme of things.

Apart from that, this story did the job the author no doubt set out to do, with the reactions it engendered and the feelings it evoked – At least I do hope that was the case, as I was really taken on what seemed to be a uniquely individual journey, which I didn’t want to take when I realised even a small part of what was going on, definitely didn’t want to finish because I was quite frankly scared of how it all might end, but was powerless to stop!

In fact, at one stage I did begin to wonder if some part of this novel was indeed based on fact! As far-fetched as this may seem, given the multitude of scandals and atrocities of abuse and exploitation, both physical and mental, which have been uncovered in so many esteemed institutions over recent years and released as information into the public domain, highlighting similar events which took place over the course of past decades, including the 1990s, when this storyline is set, I wouldn’t have been at all surprised. This storyline was perhaps made more nauseating by the fact that many of the parents were also complicit in events, along with the adult teaching staff, although why that should astonish me even more, I have no idea!

Anyway, I digress!

The opening lines of the prologue set the expected outcome in no uncertain words, leaving me in no doubt that everything before that was going to be a boiling pot of disturbingly intense emotions and events. The storyline was a real slow-burner, which set the scene and ramped up the tension at almost every turn. But that ending wasn’t the killer I had thought it would be, as there was more beyond, but I just couldn’t think about that, I was too shell-shocked to comprehend the final outcome, which I was only able to sit and digest the consequences of fully, after I had closed the final page. I certainly never saw it coming and I am left wondering if the overtly feminist overtones of this catastrophic endgame might have gone just a little too far and totally overstepped the mark for me. There surely has to come a time in any war waged, when the end cannot justify the means!! Perhaps Rose is more of her mother’s daughter than she realises, or has she just been pushed beyond the limits of all sane and logical reasoning? Although, with all the chapter opening vignettes featuring strong female characters from classical literature, which Rose includes as part of many lessons for her classes, I’m wondering also just how complicit she is in the ultimate turn of events, however unwittingly.

This multi-layered, well structured, lugubrious storyline, was never going to have any lighter moments of heart and humour, this was intense Gothic Noir all the way, and for me personally evoked real overtones of a Daphne du Maurier piece. The air was constantly crackling with tension, the atmosphere was dark, brooding and highly textured.

Skilfully, maturely and assuredly written, with great depth and range, by an author who is clearly unafraid to tackle difficult subjects, this gripping and disturbing storyline, is desperately intense, highly perceptive, sickeningly rich in detail and achingly raw. The physical landscape, whilst also fictional, which meant I couldn’t relate to it in quite the same way as if I had been able to physically research the area for myself, is still well described and defined, whilst this monolithic fortress takes only prisoners. No-one escapes this life sentence, at least not with body, soul and mind intact!

Phoebe has created an entire cast of complex characters who are entirely reprehensible, completely untrustworthy and definitely not investable on any level, as Rose herself quickly discovers. They are all brain-washed, emotionally challenged and place themselves willingly at the mercy of the ‘money making machine’, for whom feelings, sympathy, empathy and any form of humanitarian engagement with either their peers or the children in their care, is way outside of their emotional psyche. Once you are in the ‘care system’ of Caldonbrae Hall, you can’t escape its clutches.

As a powerful, debut work of fiction from a new author, the future bodes well for Phoebe, although I am almost dreading what storyline she might possibly have in store for us next!

The story centres around Caldonbrae Hall, a fictional (I really hope) all girls boarding school on the Scottish coast. It’s set in the 90s. It doesn’t really feel like there’s a reason for this as the school itself is very isolated so it isn’t really impacted by what is happening in the rest of the world - maybe just because it feels less plausible that this kind of place exists in 2021?

Rose is a young teacher who is a couple of years post qualified and is approached directly by the staff at Caldonbrae to be the first new member of staff for a few decades. Rose doesn’t seem to be very surprised that she has personally been approached by this incredibly prestigious private school. Rose also identifies as a feminist and clearly feels that she has very inclusive values, and yet has no qualms about teaching at one of the countries most elite and exclusive private school which I think is interesting.

The book is described as a modern gothic tale and it certainly wanders in the direction, but I don’t feel like it ever got to a real gothic place. The descriptions of the building, teachers and scenery could have gone further.

Some of the dialogue reads as unnatural like it is written rather than something that would be spoken. We don’t really get any insight as to what anyone other than Rose is thinking - I think it could have been really great to hear more about the backgrounds of some of the other characters, especially the really villainous ones like the headmaster and deputy.

Having said that I really couldn’t put this book down. I just wanted to keep reading. I5 has such an eerie, creepy feel and you kind of know what’s going on but also don’t at all until the very end. I thought the ending was especially good and really thought provoking. There were no easy answers in this book. Apart from a couple of the children everyone was a little bit monstrous with a huge nature/nurture dichotomy going on. Also, the vignettes of mythological women were really interesting and well written. I would have read a book of those alone for sure. I thought this was a really innovative plot idea and I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks to NetGalley for my free copy.

Madam truly did ignite a fire in me, it was a beautiful and poignant story focusing on what it means to be a young woman. Despite being set in the 90s, it had this weird sense of Victoriana about it that would draw you in completely and snap you back to the 90s suddenly - both immersive and jarring, and completely excellently executed,

I adored the focus on strong Classical women, teaching stories with relevance to the modern today through women in history and literature. It completely reinvigorated my love of Classics, as well as sparking a feminist fire in my heart on behalf of the young women in the story.

The actual book and plot was beautiful and shocking and impactful, but mostly, this book had a truly profound impact on me as a young female classicist. I will carry this book with me in my heart, it reminded me to educate other young women and stand up for them. To uphold the values I believe in, and remember the lessons taught to us by classical women. Thank you to Phoebe Wynne for writing this book, it's exactly what I needed.

Madam starts with Rose, a young woman in her twenties, leaving her home town and travelling up to rural Scotland to start her new position as the head of the Classics department at Caldonbrae Hall, a prestigious all girls school for the wealthiest of Britains families. The first few chapters of the story are slow and a little bit dreary as Phoebe Wynne recounts the sorrows of Rose’s life, the reasons for her move, the struggles of her ill mother, and the long, arduous journey up to the school. These first few chapters are why I haven’t given this book 5 stars. They almost lost me.

But I implore you to keep going.

Once Rose reaches the castle, settles in, meets her colleagues and students, this story changes for the better. The pace doesn’t necessarily pick up, but that isn’t a problem, because now the atmospheric writing and scenes as dark as the weather outside the castle are full of strange interactions with other staff members, off remarks by students, unanswered questions from Rose that start building a picture of what this story is about. It’s about secrets, traditions, rules and formalities, and I so drawn into the plot, the setting, the dark corridors and gloomy classrooms, the black skies threatening storms, the wild waves on the shore. I was with Rose, aghast, curious, godsmacked.

This book definitely has likenesses to The Handmaid’s Tale, but I would also say Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young, but with an adult audience in mind rather than a YA one.

There is no doubt that this book is dark, it’s unbelievable in places, but Phoebe Wynne makes you believe in the context of this castle, that this is how it is. Unfortunately, a lot of the Classic’s stuff went straight over my head, and I did skip some of the sections about Gods and Goddesses because I’m just not that interesting in that kind of thing. But I don’t think skipping those bits took away from the rest of the book, and I was still able to follow the bits of history that were sprinkled into the plot, and their meaning and reference in relation to the rest of the book. And I absolutely loved it. The way details are revealed and the feeling of the castle that seeps into the writing is just marvellous and I enjoyed reading this so much!

Madam is out now in the UK and out in May in the US, so you can follow the links below to either buy or pre-order your copy, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I will definitely be on the lookout for future novels by Phoebe Wynne in the future, and hope she delivers more of this gothic, mysterious goodness that I enjoyed so much here!

Rose Christie takes up the role of Classics teacher at Coldonbrae Hall, an imposing girls' school set on Scottish cliffs. She finds it hard to make sense of the rules and expectations, and also the mystery of what happened to her predecessor. A dark and feminist tale, highly original and very readable.

CW: mention of abortion, grooming, rape, racism, suicide

In Madam, we follow Rose Christie as she starts her new job as a Classics teacher at the 150-year-old Caldonbrae Hall, an elite boarding school for girls that promises its students will emerge as the cream of the crop, ready to be a boon to society.

The traditions are arcane, the students are frighteningly self-assured, and Rose's love of sharing historical tales of powerful women are garnering the wrong kind of attention. As Rose discovers what really makes Caldonbrae tick, it becomes increasingly apparent that the only way to avoid the fates the school has planned for her, and her girls, will be to save them herself.

What I Liked:
- dark academia but not from the student's POV!
- dark academia but not YA!
- gothic horror but set in the 90s!!!!
- plenty of lore into Greek and Roman tales!
- eat the rich!

What I Didn't Like:
- the pacing was off now and then - although I didn't struggle, I was definitely more bored in some places than others. The classes felt quite repetitive.
- there are a LOT of characters to keep track of

Overall this was a moody, atmospheric, easily-read gothic horror/thriller. I loved the school and its disgusting underbelly, I loved the girls gaining their baby feminist perspectives. Weird, dark, and unsettling throughout - it kept my attention throughout and I'd definitely recommend it.

Big thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Quercus Books for the ARC. This one's available to buy now!

Very creepy story about a prestigious private girl's school which is not what it seems. With echoes of The Handmaid's Tale this book kept me wanting to read more.
Our protagonist, Rose, is the new teacher and a rare outsider as the school usually chooses it's own pupils to go on to become staff. She realises that she is not at a normal school and starts questioning just what is going on. At times I wanted to shout at her and tell her to get out and tell the authorities what is happening!
Well worth reading. A cross between Mallory Towers and a dystopian nightmare!

Caldonbrae Hall is a prestigious private school for girls, educating daughters of the British elite to become resilient women “ready to serve society”. Rose Christie is a young Classics teacher, sought out to be head of department at the remote Scottish school. Out of her depth in an unfamiliar world, Rose battles between her need to impress in order to pay for her mother’s medical care, and her responsibility to the girls in her classes. Her modern feminist ideals clash with the strict traditions of Caldonbrae, and the longer she lives and works there, the more she realises the power and darkness behind its exemplary reputation.

Madam is described as a gothic novel, and to some extent this fits, but if this is the main reason someone picks up this book they may be disappointed. I enjoyed the setting high on cliffs in remote Scotland. The locals don’t like to have anything to do with Caldonbrae, and the location, miles from the nearest village and gated to prevent even teachers taking an unapproved trip, adds to the trapped isolation. As an outsider, Rose is well placed to notice everything wrong with the school. There are some dramatic gothic scenes throughout, and moments of eerie threat during Rose’s first weeks in her role. But the further into the book I read, the less I found this eeriness carried. As the true nature of the school became clearer, the tension stemmed more from misogyny and the compliance of teachers, students and parents to traditions so dated that it became unbelievable. I found the feeling of dread and the subtle sinister spell cast in the first chapters, broken. There was still tension in the hopelessness of the situation for Rose and her students, but by this point Madam had morphed into a different kind of book. I preferred the first half more than the second for this reason.

Though the isolated setting aids the school’s detachment from the modern world, it was still hard to believe the book is set in 1992. I kept waiting to be surprised, and returned to the gothic atmosphere. However, I did need to know the outcome, and for that reason the book was a quick read. Those who enjoy dystopian type fiction might enjoy this more than I did. I had similar feelings to Madam as I did to Vox by Christina Dalcher, so readers who enjoyed this might fare better.

I love mythology, so the embedded tales of Ancient Greek and Roman women were a highlight. Rose discusses the stories with her classes, which is interesting for those who want more depth or context. These tales are timed to mirror realities of the school and the rebellion against misogyny. Empowering her students through lessons on strong women of history and myths, Rose wonders if she could do more to help girls brainwashed by the institution.

Madam is a book that I wish I loved more, but it was still an interesting read and got me feeling angry at times. Rose and the students are certainly trapped by a system there seems no way out of. The callousness (or refusal to confront traditions through fear or denial), of many of the characters sets up for an interesting story in the ecosystem of an isolated boarding school. This book was shaping up to be a great read, but for me it became a bit too obvious, the sexism and elitism too exaggerated. It is though, a solid read.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy, which I have reviewed based on my own opinion.

Ok so I did enjoy this book, but would it be a book that I’d pick up and reread? No its not. The story is based in Scotland during the 1990’s. Where there are no mobile phones and the only way of communication is via letters or a landline/pay phone. Except this school for girls is run as though they are living in the 1800’s. Where women had no say or choice in how their lives would work out. When women were classed as men’s belongings and anything that they had like money or property became their husbands to do as he wished.

Rose Christie a 26 year old classics teacher is offered a job as head of department at a private all girls school.

Caldonbrae Hall which is situated in a remote part of Scotland, is the ancestral castle of Lord William Hope. The founder had lots of daughters that he needed to marry off. So the school was his way of preparing other young girls like his daughters for a life of servitude. Where the most elite students end up marrying important men like the head of state, barons, high ranking judges etc.

Rose finds it hard to settle in to her new role. Where all of the female staff are called Madam and the male staff are called Sir. There is to be no familiarity with the students. She also finds the older students very hard to teach as they just aren’t interested. However she does have some luck with a small group of younger girls she teaches, as they want to know more about the strong and fierce women in Greek and Roman myths.

Even with this small victory Rose still feels uneasy, as though there is something more sinister going on at the school that she isn’t privy too. When she does find out the true reality of what goes on in the school she is horrified. Then strange and threatening letters start to appear in her flat. Rose starts feeling more and more trapped as she has no way of leaving the school grounds. She has no escape.

Then things are made worse when the headmaster and the schools governors threaten Rose. Saying she’ll never getting another job of any kind and if that wasn’t bad enough, they also make threats against her mother. As they try to make Rose compliant to their way of things.

Will Rose ever be able to help save these young girls and herself from their grips and influence? As the school has deep pockets along with prominent people who can do their bidding.

Phoebe Wynne has written a stunning debut novel. From the very beginning it is unsettling, chilling and original. I thought it was breathtakingly good.
On a windswept peninsula somewhere north of Edinburgh stands Caldonbrae Hall. It is a school for girls of the rich and famous. Rose Christie is the first new teacher appointed in over a decade. Gradually she will learn the dark secrets of the place.
The plot is emotionally intense, intellectually satisfying and absolutely gripping.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC

A Gothic mystery full of atmospheric, gloomy world-building, with fantastic mythology reference and an insidious aura

A dark, gothic horror set in an isolated private girls' school in the coast of Scotland.

I found the first half of the book to be frustrating as I wanted answers and the protag was repeatedly left in the dark. Once the dark truth of the school was revealed, the story continued to be deeply compelling right until the end.

This is definitely a book that I look forward to reading again and will likely enjoy it even more as I will be able to pick up on the hints sprinkled throughout the book as to the true nature of the school.

I also really enjoyed the clips of classical literature and the clever parallels that could be drawn to the story.

Brilliant premise for a novel, with a sturdy second half, but the first 50% was tedious...very little in the way of plot, foreshadowing or stylish writing. I enjoyed the vignettes of. Greek females, however am left disappointed by the failure to deliver on the potential of this book.
A more accurate description would be Rebecca meets Mean Girls via The Stepford Wives.

I was excited to read this based on the synopsis that compared it to Rebecca and the Secret History - both books I loved loved loved reading. This book however is not at all like those books. I do love a good gothic boarding school tale but I really couldn’t get into the story. I disliked Rose a lot and was kinda bored after a while with the story. The dialogue was very stilted and weird...I had to keep reminding myself that the book is set in modern times and not the 1800s. As a feminist, I took offense to a lot of the themes and scenes in the books. First of all, why why why have these girls call everyone Madam? It took me immediately to the negative connotations of the word. There were other things I disliked about the book but I pretty much checked out as I was reading it. I wish it had been written differently in a way that kept my interest better. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book to give an honest review.

I usually shy away from reviewing books that I have really not enjoyed, but in the spirit of balance, and my credibility as a blogger, I couldn’t go without putting Madam in my round up. I eventually made it through the whole book with a fair few stops and starts, and wanted a second opinion, so saying nothing about its contents, I passed it on to Mama Raven for a little look see. Mama Raven unceremoniously tossed it at page 100 with a few choice words. A picture is emerging isn’t it? First of all this is being compared with Rebecca and The Handmaid’s Tale, two of the finest books in the canon of world literature. It’s also being touted as marvellously Gothic fiction. Um. No. The writing is simplistic and cliched, and the plot overly gratuitous probably in an effort to shock and stand out and tick off a few political correctness boxes. The main character is weak, the other characters are pretty one dimensional, and the book is about 50 pages too long. I did enjoy the little inserts about the classical female figures and their fates at the hands of horrible men and gods, but even this was not enough to change my overall opinion of the book. A boarding school drama that left me, well, bored. Disappointing…

Well this is such a creepy dark and thoroughly Gothic story that had me gripped and intrigued throughout.
It tells the story of Rose, the young classics teacher who is the first new teacher to be employed at Caldonbrae School, an exclusive private school in Scotland where all of the female teachers are referred to as Madam.
Things however are not what they seem. The last head of classics has left mysteriously and the girls seem unusual, on edge and thoroughly disinclined to learn. Rumours abound and there is a palpable sense of danger throughout.
Comparisons have been made to Daphne du Maurier and I can certainly understand how Rose might be compared to the second Mrs de Winter. It certainly gripped me. Just be careful though because there are several trigger warnings.

This was an odd story. I can see where the comparisons to 'Rebecca' and 'The Secret History' are made, but it really doesn't fit with either one of those. With the latter being one of my favourite books, the only comparison I could tell was that classical references were made in both. For a story that requires a level of tension and grip to keep the pages turning, its pacing wasn't brilliant and I found myself getting bored in the chapters upon chapters of set-up. The premise itself was certainly interesting and for the first couple of chapters, the book is entertaining and intriguing. But after that...it struggles.
I almost certainly could have done with a few more edits, a little more tightening of the text. But, there will be an audience for this. It's just not me.

This is a very very strange story, one that I have to admit, I didn’t really enjoy. Its going to be a total marmite book for sure. I couldn’t really get to grips with why Rose reacted as she did in the situations she was faced with and it felt completely anachronistic for it to be set in the 1990s. I suppose I just didn’t really “get” it.

While I appreciate that this is not at all a fault with the book, I also have a huge problem with how it has been marketed. The hashtag and one of the tag lines associated with it completely destroys any sense of suspense that might have been created by the narration. If you’re planning to read it I would suggest going into it completely blind. Although you may wish to know that there are many many trigger warnings.

A classically gothic tale with a modern feminist bent.

Rose, a young classics teacher, is the first new hire at Caldonbrae in over a decade. Caldonbrae, a honored and selective all women's boarding school in Scotland, is fiercely proud of its traditions and is not eager to update them. It promises its graduates will emerge refined young women, "resilient and ready to serve society." Rose, a very modern women, is excited about the prestigious opportunity, but is unsettled about the school's more archaic mores.

The students are also skeptical of Rose, and the presence of her predecessor -- a woman who left the institution under mysterious circumstances--seems to linger over her classroom. As Rose uncovers more about the women and the girls in her class, she begins to believe the staff and students of Caldonbrae may be hiding a dark secret.

Acclaimed as The Secret History meets Rebecca, this haunting mystery eloquently revitalizes gothic literature while commenting on modern issues of feminism, sex, and class. Perfect for lovers of the "dark academia" subgenre.