1945. War has ended, but for sisters Flora and Isobel the struggles still continue. They’ve lost their father and had their home destroyed in a bombing raid, and now they must go to live with their aunt and her awful husband Mr Godfrey in their ancestral home, Splint Hall.
From the moment of their arrival it seems that this is a place shrouded in mysteries and secrets. Who are the strange men who arrive with packages at night? What is the source of the strange blue sparks coming from the ground? And why do the locals seem to hate their family so much? As the girls begin to unearth an ancient myth and family secret, the adventure of a lifetime begins.
If you're looking for a proper adventure story for your confident reader, this is the one. Set just after World War II ends, this beautifully written story follows two young sisters as they move in with their aunt and uncle and discover that there are secrets and mysteries in their new home.
I was expecting something like the Secret Garden or maybe the Famous Five; plucky children discovering a mystery, but a normal mystery, so to speak. Instead the story veered suddenly into fantasy, in a way I wasn't expecting at all but made perfect sense when I looked back at it! It was really clever and imaginative, and the second part of the novel had me on the edge of my seat as I read.
The novel did well at showing the lingering effects of the war on a whole generation, as well. (BE AWARE there is a flashback to an air raid and a near hit by a bomb.) It's not a topic that's often touched on in quite this way, and I found it interesting to read.
Overall this is a really interesting, fun, tense read and I highly recommend it. I'd love to read more set in this world!
The Secret of Splint Hall publishes on the 3rd of March, 2022. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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