Friday, 24 January 2025

Children of the Night by M. A. Bennett


You've heard of Jekyll and Hyde, you've heard of the Invisible Man, but have you heard of Bran Castle? Eve, Griffin, Hal and Ren are whisked away to Transylvania, to the supposed home of Dracula himself. Lured there by a desire to understand more about their true natures, our foursome are instead plunged into the midst of a deadly mystery.

Children are going missing, townspeople are being brutally killed and a suspicious stranger keeps appearing from the shadows. Meanwhile, Ren is trapped in Bran Castle, where his fate lies in the hands of a strange - yet oddly familiar - host.

With terrifying twists and turns around every corner, can the group uncover the answers they seek, or will this be the end of the Young Gothics?

The first book in this series came out last summer, and the second is already due. It's really hard to review this without spoiling either book, and these are books you really want to go into unspoiled, so I'm going to talk more about the tone than the plot!

The creepy, horror-movie feel of the first book continues in this one, as the Young Gothics learn more about themselves, their history and their abilities. MA clearly has a deep love for the classics of horror fiction which shines through every page of this read. I learned some things about the classics I hadn't known before!

Don't start with this book - it won't make sense without the first one - but if you're looking for a thrilling, horror read with some historical notes and clever twists, this is the series for you. Can't wait for the third one!


Book recommendation: Try The Diviners by Libba Bray. It combines a historical setting with supernatural mystery, as well as a group of teens uncovering dark secrets. It has a similar eerie vibe and thrilling atmosphere with complex characters facing dangers tied to their own abilities.

TV recommendation: For a similar mix of horror, thrills and teen antics, try Stranger Things. The teens there face all kinds of mysteries and horror drawn from history and folklore.



Children of the Night publishes on the 13th of February, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.

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