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A review by stitchsaddiction
The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'd seen The Society for Soulless Girls be described as a Jekyll and Hyde retelling so I was immediately curious. That book has had a hold on me since I was a pre-teen and I've always hoped for something to have that same grass on me. With the promise that there would be the gothic elements that come from books of that era, alongside supernatural? I curled up with a steaming cuppa and dove in.
Carvell Academy is wonderfully described and there's a sinister feeling that is both alluring and unsettling about the school that will indeed draw the reader in as we alongside our main protagonist Lottie seek out the truth amongst the secrets and lies that surround the reasoning for the school's closure. Lottie is a breath of fresh air in the unsettling darkness of the world we're in and I do like how resilient she is in the face of so much adversity and how she's the polar opposite to Alice, her roommate and resident goth of the school. Both girls have a history that has them both victims in different ways and their desire to survive all that's thrust upon them and it's what also keeps them going. I think many readers will be split in their loyalty to one or another but I confess to loving them both, but Alice does seem like she'd be quite at home as a member of The Addams Family.
The atmospherics throughout the book will keep you on edge, and there's that feeling you get watching horror movies that have you feeling very unsettled as you wait for something else to go wrong Laura Steven successfully keeps the suspense going throughout The Society for Soulless Girls. (Something that often has me very anxious as I'm not happy to be frightened and despise horror movies!)
What unfortunately let the book down to me is despite excellent characters and the wonderful, vivid and classically gothic setting. Was the plot of the mystery itself, not the way it was woven but how the pacing went. At times I felt as if it was dragging on too long and I was becoming disenchanted at other times; then as it was brought together it made me feel a little frustrated and wanting… more. (Not quite sure what it would be but that unsettled feeling you get when you know something isn't right but the why isn't evident.)
I still think this is a really good book, and I love how descriptive and beautifully written this book was. I think my issue was how excited I was at the prospect of a firm favourite getting a new look and it didn't quite match my somewhat high expectations.
Carvell Academy is wonderfully described and there's a sinister feeling that is both alluring and unsettling about the school that will indeed draw the reader in as we alongside our main protagonist Lottie seek out the truth amongst the secrets and lies that surround the reasoning for the school's closure. Lottie is a breath of fresh air in the unsettling darkness of the world we're in and I do like how resilient she is in the face of so much adversity and how she's the polar opposite to Alice, her roommate and resident goth of the school. Both girls have a history that has them both victims in different ways and their desire to survive all that's thrust upon them and it's what also keeps them going. I think many readers will be split in their loyalty to one or another but I confess to loving them both, but Alice does seem like she'd be quite at home as a member of The Addams Family.
The atmospherics throughout the book will keep you on edge, and there's that feeling you get watching horror movies that have you feeling very unsettled as you wait for something else to go wrong Laura Steven successfully keeps the suspense going throughout The Society for Soulless Girls. (Something that often has me very anxious as I'm not happy to be frightened and despise horror movies!)
What unfortunately let the book down to me is despite excellent characters and the wonderful, vivid and classically gothic setting. Was the plot of the mystery itself, not the way it was woven but how the pacing went. At times I felt as if it was dragging on too long and I was becoming disenchanted at other times; then as it was brought together it made me feel a little frustrated and wanting… more. (Not quite sure what it would be but that unsettled feeling you get when you know something isn't right but the why isn't evident.)
I still think this is a really good book, and I love how descriptive and beautifully written this book was. I think my issue was how excited I was at the prospect of a firm favourite getting a new look and it didn't quite match my somewhat high expectations.