Greyfriars Reformatory by Frazer Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Flametree Press for a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! I really appreciate the opportunity! If this book sounds interesting to you, it is out now!
Emily, who suffers from a dissociative disorder, has arrived once again at Greyfriars Reformatory, an experimental reform facility for troubled girls. Only, she doesn’t remember her previous visit. Strangeness abounds from the off, with too many inmates, a closed off bell tower, and a Principal who seems completely apathetic to the girls. Soon tragedy strikes, and Emily must figure out what is happening before it is too late.
I really can’t say too much about this book without spoiling everything. I know I have been saying that a lot lately, and it probably seems like a cop out, but I’ve been reading a lot of bizarre horror lately, so please forgive me! There are some fascinating elements that really drove the story toward its conclusion.
Let’s start, as always, with the characters. Our main character is Emily. She is a bit of a distant character who, initially at least, sort of goes with the flow without making too much of a splash or trying to make any impact. This is tied in with her dissociative disorder. I would like to say here that I am not familiar enough with the disorder to make any judgements on if it is represented well. And, when we discover the origin of it late in the story, it may create some frustration for readers who do suffer from it.
Emily’s fellow inmates are a strange mix of complex and stereotypically type cast. You have the queen bee, the tough girl, the victim, and so on. While you are certainly familiar with these characters, they do have more to them than you might initially expect, which makes the predictable moments with them more unique.
Principal Quick I feel is the standout character here. She too falls into a role, that of the stern caretaker. But as you continue to read you find out that she is so much more than this staple of fiction.
Greyfriars Reformatory is an interesting setting. While it didn’t feel creepy to me, the out of place clock tower adds some character to it. I also love how isolated the reformatory is, which adds a great sense of unease and danger.
There was a lot going on in this book, but it manages to keep its balance. Rather than being overwhelming, it served to ensure that there was always a new mystery to solve. So, while aspects of the haunting feel predictable and easy to figure out, especially if you read a lot of horror, there were other mysterious happenings working to keep you on your toes.
I came away from Greyfriars Reformatory with a racing brain and overall satisfaction with how things unfolded, especially during the final chapter. If you enjoy your ghosts with a side of bizarre, then I certainly would recommend this to you.
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