I was intrigued by this package when it arrived. The book sounded promising and I am happy to report that this was a belter of a book. I devoured it one Sunday and found myself craving to be back between the pages when real life called me away. I found myself invested in Heverbridge, the lines of ancestry, elements of history and landscapes of Bloodstone Island.
Rosie Frost has lost her mum and within hours is on a helicopter bound for Heverbridge School, a place she has never heard of. She has been given a special case and very few details over her mum’s death or the reasons for attending an incredibly remote, yet fancy boarding school. When she arrives, it is not a big welcome but a sad start when mean girl Ottilie locks her in a haunted gallery where portraits of famous women stare down. When the ghost of Anne Boleyn appears that night, Rosie finds some boldness to discover more about her new home.
When the Falcon Queen Games are announced, Rosie uses them as a reason to learn more about her special case, the deputy head Hemlock and the chance to set a new rule for the school. What she doesn’t know is just how challenging life will become at Heverbridge. She is constantly being knocked, bullied and treated unfairly but she shows true strength of character and slowly discovers the truths of the matters around her.
There are plots afoot to mine for some “green” energy which will impact the entire island. There are people plotting against Rosie and there are the normal high school events that shock students and make them run crying to their rooms. On top of all this, Rosie is grieving the loss of her mum most of all.
Powerfully written and with great messages at its heart, I would be keen to see this develop into a series. Think of it as part Disney’s Descendants and part Harry Potter. Rosie Frost will find a home with many readers this year.
My Shelves Are Full 