The strength of this book is without doubt the atmosphere. From the very beginning there is a dark, gothic feel to it which permeates everything and kept me gripped. 

Unfortunately the plot didn't really work for me, and without going into spoilers, I felt somewhat disappointed by the ending. Ultimately I just don't think I'm the right audience for this kind of story. 

I did like the main character, along with all of the people she meets at Gallant. I also appreciated the disability representation, as the main character is mute and uses sign language. 

The writing took me a little while to get into as I'm not fond of present tense, but it did suit the book. I loved the use of illustrations and how they fit into the overall story. I also have to mention the gorgeous gothic cover on the paperback copy I read, truly stunning.