Sarah Singleton is a writer for adults and teenagers whose books tend towards the Gothic. The Amethyst Child, her fourth YA novel, is something of an exception to this, though still tackling dark subject matter. It takes place in the height of a hot, lazy summer, and there are no supernatural or fantastical elements. Instead, it focuses on a very real fear: joining a cult.
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Helen Oyeyemi wrote her debut novel The Icarus Girl aged 18, while she was studying for her A-levels. To complete a novel at that age is an achievement alone, but for it to be this assured and confident is even more so. She explores complex, difficult topics in more depth than I’ve read in some novels by authors much older than her, showing wisdom beyond her years. While it has faults, it nevertheless shows an imaginative and talented young mind who would go on to have a successful writing career.
Sequels can be a tricky business, especially if the original work is one as iconic and well-regarded as The Shining. They have to walk a tightrope between living up to the original and being a distinct story in their own right, and it’s a difficult balance to achieve. Fortunately, Stephen King brings his A-game to Doctor Sleep, and in doing so creates a compelling, suspenseful novel that brings the story of The Shining to a satisfying conclusion.
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Atticus Book ReviewsBook reviews and reading recommendations written by volunteers and friends of the shop! |
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