I'm grateful to have been able to read this sampler. I feel like the premise is interesting, though it wasn't enough to get fully immersed into the story. I feel like it has the potential to be really interesting, depending on the execution.

While some of the writing is gorgeous, by the end of the sampler I felt that I wouldn't be able to read the full length of the book (which I think tops 600 pages). I need to be more strongly attached to the world and characters to commit to anything that long!

Thank you to NetGalley for offering me this eARC. Unfortunately I didn’t gel well with the writing style on this one, though as it was a sampler it could be that it would have started to flow better for me over a longer form. The premise is very interesting, and whilst I found the writing style a little unwieldy, it certainly piqued curiosity enough that I certainly would have continued reading to see if I could gel better with the writing.

I think if you can get on board with the authors style, and you like umbrella academy, this might be one for you.

An interesting premise. This book seems to be a good fit for those who love shows like Umbrella Academy and Stranger Things.
The writing is interesting, but somewhat unwieldy in places.
The sample wasn't long enough for me to create an emotional connection with the characters, although it did an adequate job of worldbuilding.

Whilst the premise was good, the execution just didn't get there. It's much longer than it needs to be, scenes and the entire book in my opinion.

I really struggled to get/get on with any characters

3*

This is a great sample which is completely intense from the beginning and I now have to go buy the book!

Eliza is on the run from her abuser, who she has killed, and finds an orphaned baby with a remarkable talent. She raises the baby as her own until she leaves in order to protecting her boy, Marlowe. Alice and Coukter work for an organisation collecting orphaned children with special abilities. There is also a darker force searching for the children for presumably wicked things. Really looking forward to continuing this.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to sample this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley and Bloomsbury for giving me this eARC. Unfortunately the heavy and tension-free writing style did not work for me. From first impressions neither the very unfortunate characters, Elize and Marlowe, nor the atmospheric setting impressed me.

Thank you very much to netgalley and the publisher for this sample. The writing style wasn't for me personally but I'm sure lots of people will really enjoy this book!

Thankyou for the chance to read the first 5 chapters. This book has reeled me in and i will for sure be purchasing the full novel!