Girls of Dark Divine

Occasionally, a debut novel comes along which is so cleverly imagined, beautifully written and compulsively readable that it's hard to believe it's a first novel at all. Girls of Dark Divine definitely fits this bill. With a distinctly Phantom of the Opera feel, this is glamorous, dark Gothic fantasy with a stunningly contemporary twist.

Emberlyn, a ballet dancer controlled by an evil Puppet Master and cursed to perform until she turns to dust, decides to fight back to regain her freedom and to set her marionette sisters free but has some difficult choices and sacrifices to make along the way. The Puppet Master is a truly vile and evil villain; smart, manipulative and calculating, exerting his control over the hauntingly beautiful female marionettes under his spell, both on and off the stage, often through physical violence.

As lead dancer and favourite of the Puppet Master, Emberlyn is a complex, credible, compelling protagonist, thoughtful and determined. We travel her journey with her. Each dancer is carefully drawn, a personality in her own right not just part of the troupe.

The atmosphere is haunting and, at times, downright creepy, the plotting superb. The chapters are divided into three Acts, each perfectly paced, ratcheting up the tension and emotion until the final curtain falls, whilst also allowing the reader time and space. This pause is important, given the darkness of the underlying themes.

Girls of Dark Divine is essentially the story of an abusive relationship; there are scenes of manipulation, trafficking and gaslighting and some unexpectedly gory moments, too. A Note from the Author at the start reminds the reader, 'be kind to yourself, know that it is okay to walk away if you need to'.

The Gothic elements, enhanced by the theatrical setting and captured in the intricately drawn maps at the start, complement the darkness of the themes perfectly but also provide some emotional distance so that the heavy themes never feel overwhelming. This is, ultimately, a hopeful book in praise of the power of sisterhood and the resilience of the human spirit.

English teachers will love it as an atmospheric introduction to the gothic novel, Dance and Drama teachers will recommend it for its theatricality, book clubbers will rage against the uncomfortable themes of male control and manipulation but adore the deliciously creepy dark romantasy vibe.

EV Woods is definitely a writer to watch. Those who like their books inspired by the musicals will also enjoy A Little In Love by Susan Fletcher, which reimagines the back story of Eponine from Les Miserables. A Grave Inheritance by Felicity Epps is another highly original Gothic murder mystery weaving together themes of sisterhood and friendship with some spooky seances thrown in for good measure. Laura Stevens is well worth recommending to those who enjoy feminist horror-thriller-romance reimaginings of classic stories.

384 pages / Reviewed by Eileen Armstrong, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+