3.5 stars

Darkness lies at the heart of this tale, hidden in the depths of historic Caldonbrae where there is more to this illustrious institution than meets the eye.

Madam was a tale of two halves for me, the first I found a little slow, the threat of something secret kept me reading alongside the Roman & Greek stories that were dotted throughout, but I did want a little more pace & drama. The second half of the book, as the secrets are revealed, was much more exciting & I definitely enjoyed it a lot more. It was easy to picture the school & it's surrounds from the descriptions which helped bring Caldonbrae to life. I particularly loved Rose's relationship with the fourth girls & I think that, alongside the classics segments, are where the authors experience really shone through.

I have attempted this book a couple of times, but it is unfortunately a DNF.

I will purchase a hard copy and try reading this as sometimes I find I get into a book in a hardcopy

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

I love a good gothic novel, and the setting of this one - at a boarding school in remote Scotland - was just perfect for the horrors that were uncovered as we moved through the book. The early nineties setting is unusual for a book like this, and at times it felt like it could easily be historical fiction rather than only being set thirty years ago. It’s an interesting premise given how communication has evolved to be something that surrounds us 24-hours a day. Not having access to email or mobile phones increases the claustrophobic atmosphere of the book.

Rose is a brilliant protagonist and I found myself wanting to cry out and warn her about what was happening as it was slowly uncovered to us as readers. Not all of the characters are very likeable, but maybe that’s not always necessary in novels that are written to make us think about the world around us - I find myself pondering over characters I don’t like and wondering about their behaviour more than I do with the likeable ones.

Ultimately feminist, thought provoking and powerful, this is an enjoyable book that will make you look at society in a different way.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When classics teacher Rose Christie lands the role of Department Head at prestigious Caldonbrae Hall, the private boarding school for girls on the coast of Scotland, she thinks all her dreams have come true. For over 150 years the education institution has prepared young women for womanhood, coaching them in the various skills required to succeed in society. As the first new member of staff in over a decade, Rose feels honoured to be employed by such an illustrious organisation. But whisperings about what actually happened to her predecessor, and an insight into Caldonbrae's real teachings, leave her isolated and detached, and at odds with the shadowy establishment.

I really wanted to like Madam, the debut novel by Phoebe Wynne. The central character, Rose, is earnest and morally sound, and I shared many of her left-wing and socialist views. It is set in the early 90s; exactly why this period I'm not sure. Perhaps to avoid the use of mobile phones, as their presence might have created difficult plot points to overcome? Who knows. There's a strong sense of the gothic to the synopsis, and I had expected something of a Rebecca-vibe, but sadly these elements were lacking. I did enjoy the female characters from Greek studies and their stories, although the manner in which they were integrated into the narrative felt rather contrived. Most of the characters are very unpleasant, so much so that there was little suspense generated by their actions. It just felt like a long battle against a regime that was overtly conservative and backward thinking. The theme was tackled far more successfully in Peter Weir's 1989 film Dead Poet's Society, only that was about the railing against the oppression of individuality. As it was set in the 1950s it felt appropriate to that time; this novel tackles the oppression of feminism, but the 1990s setting makes the theme seem hardly radical. The writing is workmanlike and unspectacular - nothing wrong with that - but did little to propel the story in the absence of an interesting plot. I can't say I enjoyed this novel; sadly it felt like a chore and - whilst I agree with the sentiments of the central character (and, presumably, the author) - it was not enough to make for a satisfying read.

A story set in a boarding school featuring themes of Greek mythology? Oh boy, you know that I was super keen to read this book!!

Madam tells a story about Rose, a young Classics teacher who has recently accepted a position as head of Classics at Caldonbrae Hall, a rather mysterious girl's boarding school that is known for being exceptionally prestigious - though much else about it remains a mystery.

This could've been fantastic. It had everything that I enjoy and some troubling themes, yet it ended up being a bit dull. Everything felt too drawn out which dissipated any shred of suspense that had been created. It would've worked better if it was faster-paced. However, I LOVED the boarding school setting. The author wrote the environment really well and I found myself picturing the classrooms as the story happened. Greek mythology is something that II\ve recently become interested in, so I really enjoyed how it was incorporated into the story.

I'd say that this book was a perfect 3-star read. Enjoyable enough but lacking the suspense that I'd expect given the nature of the story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

How to describe this? Creepy Victorian Mallory Towers! From the start the atmosphere builds. Even the insistence of being called Madame was spine tingling. Really enjoyed this and look forward to more by this writer.

2.5 stars - Rose is delighted when she’s offered a job teaching classics at an exclusive, rather isolated school on the Scottish coast. But it wasn’t at all what she expected! This is a very claustrophobic, menacing story. Apart from some political digs about the 90’s, it very much feels like something much older and it’s like stepping into Jane Austen’s world with all important “connections”. Anyone who is interested in classics will enjoy the interludes. For me far too much classroom time which could have been shortened and the book would have been better for it. Rose was irritating, one minute subservient and the next all fired up. Didn’t take to her at all so didn’t care what she did or what happened. The idea for this book was interesting and I did manage to get to the end!

The setting of this book was the absolute shining star! The creepy and gothic boarding school in the Scottish moors was the perfect backdrop for a creepy thriller.

Unfortunately, I had high hopes for this one, but it ended up being a little disappointing. I really did not vibe with Rose.

I gave this three stars because I read it to the end and I wanted to see how it finished but I can’t say I enjoyed it. It has great atmosphere but builds so slowly and I think it’s too long. The story itself is a confusing one. Rose, is the main character and it’s set in the early 90s. A young teacher she gets a job as the head of classics at a very elite girls boarding school, Caldonbrae Hall. From the start it’s clear there’s more going on than academic education. The whole place seems to be in a time warp, holding up values from at least a century earlier down to the girls clothing. And the teachers are called Sir or Madam, no names are used. Then for me it becomes totally illogical. I get the concept (the upper classes and other powerful men want to use their daughters marriages for alliance, more power and wealth of course) but do they really want their wives and daughters to be subservient handmaidens? It all made little sense to me.

I am a massive fan of books/ films about boarding schools, probably stemming from my days reading Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers novels! Oh, and Harry Potter of course.
This was such an odd one, and I have to say it, extremely annoying to read. The characters with no backbone, the offensive ideals... I'm not sure what the author was trying to achieve, but I find it so hard to like a book where I'm huffing and puffing at it!
After seeing the reviews, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I wanted to really love this! The blurb sounded like my perfect kind of book!! And it started so promisingly that I was instantly taken with the setting and the mystery goings on in this illustrious school! I wanted to know more!! And quickly!!

BUT, then I started to fall out of love with some of the characters and found myself shouting at the book and situations that were playing out! I wanted the main character to get a grip, but she kept playing along despite what was going on! And as for the bratty girls she was teaching...... entitled and indulged little madams!!

The link with the classics were a really interesting twist and I would have liked maybe more of those playing out. I found myself wondering why they hired her in the first place as she was the first 'outsider' brought in for a number of years. And her outlook on life differed extremely from the rules and regulations of Caldonbrae Hall, an all girls boarding school where the young girls are brought up to do their duty! There are strange goings on, and asking questions about the past isn't encouraged whatsoever.... what exactly are they trying to hide?!

I wanted more of the darkness, more of the feisty attitude of a feminist teacher wanting to shake things up but unfortunately it fell short for me.

The setup was enjoyable enough but the denouement is predictable and telegraphed. I did not give this book a full review but I highlighted it on my site.

This didn't quite work for me as I failed to connect with the main character, Rose. However, hopefully another reader will be invested in the story and appreciate what I didn't.

I have had this book on my bookshelf since it was released and on the basis of the Margaret Atwood similarities and the modern gothic feminist tale i was intrigued.

I am not sure it meets the gothic criteria, in terms of the dark landscape and building perhaps it did, but not in terms of the characters and story. The protagonist Rose is a little infuriating, and you have to wonder if her suspicions were as strong early on why didnt she run for the hills? As Rose discovers the educational syllabus isnt the traditional subject based syllabus expected in schools, girls are being educated to become perfect wives and they are educated in everything it takes to become a "good wife". It is almost cult like the way the girls believe that this is their future and they dont question the fact that they could have an alternative future.

It is not just men that oversee the school, there are the mysterious secretaries and a number of other dark females who are in the background, and a potential lesbian relationship, all are repressed and adhere to the strict rules of the school.

The story simmers along with the aid of the lesson plans of the various classical women in history who for various reasons in fighting their cause all die or kill their own children, and generally meet an unhappy ending. The book opens with news of the fire but we dont know how Rose has fared in all of this. Its a good read, not perhaps meeting the highest expectations, but gripping, dark, with some dark themes of control, feminism, with strong classical female women thrown in. A good read.

A windswept, isolated boarding school and Greek mythology. A mysterious disappearance and taciturn students. Everything about Madam calls to me, but there was a lot that I just couldn't get on board with here.

The first issue to tackle is perhaps the writing. Especially at the beginning, I found it to be overwrought and pretentious. I don't know if this was a deliberate plot on the authors part to set this scene of a snobby school with obnoxious students, but it just felt a bit off in tone for me. The writing does get easier as the story progresses but it is a struggle at the start.

My main issue is with the plot itself. What starts our as this intriguing mystery over a missing teacher quickly devolves into a story of corruption and gaslighting. And child abuse. Although you can see this aspect of the plot coming a mile off, it still made me feel very uncomfortable when certain scenes played out. Scenes that feel almost gratuitous after an incredibly slow plot where nothing else happens.

I also could not stand Rose. She's incredibly naive to the point of stupidity. I'm not surprised her students hated her. I hated her. I just could not gel with her at all, and had no emotional attachment at all, and this meant I really didn't care about what happened in the story.

So much potential but this one is definitely not for me.

This book has literally been everywhere! Popping up all over booktube, and bookstagram so I’m really pleased I was able to read this before all the hype started as I felt privileged to have read it before the masses. An absolute page Turner that I couldn’t read fast enough,

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for this book.

I was so intrigued by the premise of this book- Rose is employed at a boarding school for girls in 1990s Scotland. Something about boarding school novels always intrigued me but I unfortunately couldn't get into this one and stay immersed. The views and behaviors of certain characters felt anachronistic, almost outdated? So I kept getting taken away from the atmosphere and plot, distracted. It was a little hard to finish as well.

It was pretty clear from the start that I was not going to like this book, although I can see the appeal for many. The plot was slow and felt slightly hysterical and overplayed so much that I only managed about a quarter of it before giving up.

Sadly did not love this book. The story promised a gothic, feminist novel but it didn't quite hit these marks. There were some secondary characters that weren't needed and too much repetition for me. But the cover is stunning.