Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Erica Ridley’s “The Protégée” is a gripping historical thriller set in 19th-century Paris, combining ambition and revenge, all within the dark underbelly of the fashion industry and the class system during this time. With rich historical detail and a morally complex protagonist, this book offers a chilling yet engaging look at what one woman is willing to do to claim her place in a world that has cast her aside.

The story follows eighteen-year-old Angélique, a working-class girl with dreams of designing lavish gowns for Parisian elites. However, after her family is tragically killed in a factory fire, her ambitions shift—she still craves success, but now, she also seeks vengeance. Taking a position as a junior seamstress under Paris’s most renowned modiste, Angélique faces class discrimination, cutthroat competition, and the grueling realities of survival. But she refuses to be held back, and when a contest is announced for the coveted assistant position, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. Even if that means using arsenic-laced fabric to poison those who stand in her way.

Angélique is a fascinating protagonist—morally gray, fiercely determined, and at times, frighteningly single-minded. Her obsession with revenge consumes her, costing her relationships with her sister and her devoted love interest, Domingo, a kindhearted immigrant shoemaker. The romance is present but takes a backseat to Angélique’s burning desire for retribution. Watching her navigate the high-stakes world of Parisian fashion while methodically enacting her revenge is both thrilling and unsettling.

Ridley’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, with vivid descriptions that bring 1800s Paris to life. French phrases are woven into the prose, adding authenticity, though at times without explanation. The book also offers sharp commentary on wealth disparity, exploitation, and privilege—issues that feel just as relevant today as they did then. While the book has been labeled as horror, it leans more toward thriller, with its suspenseful atmosphere and tense, psychological stakes.

The story builds toward a satisfying conclusion, with an unexpected final twist that redefines the true meaning of *protégée*. While some aspects of the plot can feel repetitive, particularly in Angélique’s internal monologue, the book remains engaging throughout. The ending provides a sense of closure, showing Angélique’s gradual shift in priorities once her revenge is complete.

Overall, “The Protégée” is a dark, compelling read, perfect for fans of historical thrillers with a touch of gothic intrigue. It’s Cruella meets The Count of Monte Cristo. Those who enjoy ruthless, ambitious heroines and revenge-driven narratives will find much to love in Ridley’s YA debut.

Erica Ridley is one of my favorite authors and I am a YA librarian so I was super excited to read her YA debut. While I see this book was tagged as horror, I would personally view it as more thriller than horror. There’s some great visceral descriptions, but it really felt more thrilling than scary I would say. I found the plot interesting and I enjoyed that it is very easy to connect some of these evil people with the evil we see in the world today.

Overall I’d say I enjoyed it, and will recommend it to the teens in my library I think would like it.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. I saw the name "Erica Ridley" and that it was YA, so I was excited to read her take on a YA romance since I have enjoyed some of her adult romances. Yeah...this is not that at all. I don't know if it's horror either, although I don't think it's a spoiler to say the end is certainly creepy. I don't even know how to describe this book, but I totally want to talk about it with someone!