“She has wondered, of course, who it was, back when it had bones and skin. The eye hovers, higher than her own, and once she caught the edge of a bonnet, the fraying hem of a skirt, and thought, perhaps, it was a matron. Not that it matters. Now, it is only a ghoul, lurking at her back.”

Olivia is sixteen, alone and without the feeling of a real home. Without a father or a mother she grew up at Merilance School for Girls. Suddenly she receives a letter from her uncle she never heard of before. He summons her to the House Gallant but soon discovers her family is full of secrets.

This was my first read by V.E. Schwab and this didn’t disappoint. I loved the prosaic writing style. Words combined with each other that matches sound wise but also make such beautiful rhythm. This gothic story is ominous, haunting and mysterious which results in a continuous eerie feeling. Ghouls are lurking and something’s off but what? Well, Schwab takes her time to tell you that story. But just that slow pacing results in a tangible world with even more fleshed out characters. All in all I really loved this. It was like a savory meal combined with a sweet bun. And if you ask me that’s a perfect blend. I would recommend this to everyone who likes slow paced books with a gothic and creepy vibe.