Name: Madam
ISBN: 9781529408720

Phoebe Wynne

Madam

Phoebe Wynne's Madam is a riveting, modern gothic debut with shades of The Secret History, The Stepford Wives, and a dash of Circe, set at a secretive all girls’ boarding school perched on a craggy Scottish peninsula. They want our silence... They want our obedience... Let them see our fire burn For 150 years, high above rocky Scottish cliffs, Caldonbrae Hall has sat untouched, a beacon of excellence in an old ancestral castle. A boarding school for girls, it promises that the young women lucky enough to be admitted will emerge “resilient and ready to serve society.” Into its illustrious midst steps Rose Christie: a 26-year-old Classics teacher, Caldonbrae’s new head of the department, and the first hire for the school in over a decade. At first, Rose is overwhelmed to be invited into this institution, whose prestige is unrivaled. But she quickly discovers that behind the school’s elitist veneer lies an impenetrable, starkly traditional culture that she struggles to reconcile with her modernist beliefs--not to mention her commitment to educating “girls for the future.” It also doesn’t take long for Rose to suspect that there’s more to the secret circumstances surrounding the abrupt departure of her predecessor--a woman whose ghost lingers everywhere--than anyone is willing to let on. In her search for this mysterious former teacher, Rose instead uncovers the darkness that beats at the heart of Caldonbrae, forcing her to confront the true extent of the school’s nefarious purpose, and her own role in perpetuating it. A darkly feminist tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines, Madam will keep readers engrossed until the breathtaking conclusion.

A Novel

The premise of this book sounded like a promising dark academia novel with an atmospheric setting, the later was the only thing that turned out to be true. As you become more and more of aware of what is happening in this book, the plot becomes more and more frustrating. The main character is totally flat and passive, and incredibly frustrating. The crux of the plot is deliberately frustrating, but had a very unsatisfying conclusion that made it all very much not worthwhile. Overall, really disappointing, I only kept going out of intrigue to see how it ended and I’m not quite sure it was worth it. 

Beth Bartholomew

a little stepford wives a little donna tartt if she wrote a female protagonist, but overall a funky gothic scottish early 90s story centering around a all girls british school and a lot of classic references. some of the twists were a little eh but overall very good 

Clara Gauthier

Rachel ✨

Steffi

3.5! I didn’t realize that I would have to read about so much Greek and Latin stories so my eyes kind of glossed over when they popped up. I understand that they aided in pushing the story forwards. So yeah, it was a solid book with some appalling behaviors

Imie Kent-Muller

A gothic atmospheric boarding school + Margaret Atwood feminist punch + classicist teacher who showcases tragic women in myth + mystery woven into the story = an absolute imie book. Seriously - Madam by Phoebe Wynne is absolutely stunning. Thank you quercus for sending me a copy. I devoured it!

The story focuses on a young classics teacher, Rose, who gets offered the position of head of classics at a prestigious, elite all girls school in Scotland. No one knows much about the school, and she’s the first person to be hired in over a decade, but it’s too good of an opportunity for Rose to pass up. Once she gets there, she begins to unravel the mystery of the school and it’s purpose. She also begins to learn what happened to the last head of classics...

This story is filled with brooding atmosphere, but a punchy addictive plot. I devoured the story in an afternoon having to know the secrets of the school (which let me tell you - they’re dark). The feminist focus on the story is really interesting, especially how Wynne uses female tragic figures of the classical world like Medea, Dido, Medusa, Boudicca and others to hone in her points. You all know I’m obsessed with books which use classics cleverly and this is the prime example!

The story is about consent and what makes someone complicit in a horrific situation. I loved seeing all the different characters and how Rose viewed them as she begun to uncover more of the truth. I loved Rose’s turmoil. I loved hearing the girls points of views. The teachers were also fascinating to understand.

If you like a book filled with atmosphere, is utterly addictive read, and makes you think then I highly recommend Madam. I want to give it all the stars, but goodreads would only let me give 5 so there we go. This genre-bending book is a high must read for everyone in 2021. Just brilliant.

Kayla 

I didn’t really know what to expect out of this book. I kept reading just to figure out what the big event would be but honestly I should have stopped way sooner.

Rose is a very annoying character. I found her emotional reactions mixed up. For some events when she probably should have spoke up or said something she was incredibly passive and at other times when it was obvious she should keep it to herself for a bit she was so aggressive and and careless. Like read the room girl! 

There was an issue with one of the students and like she literally had no sympathy for the poor girl until they used one of the “punishments” on her. It was odd because Rose is supposed to be a feminist and a modern woman who cares about LBGT rights and mental health but she seemed very passive about it when it was happening until it was too late.

Okay so aside from the main character there were some major issues I had with this book. One is that the author kept using “the Asian girls” over and over again until finally about halfway we learn that they are actually Japanese. Like why not just say that from the start? 

I found that the author made all of the characters who identified as LGBTQ evil or bad. It was very strange and did not sit well with me. Meanwhile the main character was sympathetic towards the straight male teacher who in my mind was not a victim at all and yet was portrayed as “a victim of the system”. I’m sorry what? No he is an adult and what he did was truly wrong. 

There was unnecessary disturbing scenes with adults and the students. Please be warned about teacher/Student relationships and pedophilia. 

It was all around a no for me.

'Rebecca meets The Secret History. Gloriously dark, gloriously gothic' SARA COLLINS, Costa First Novel Award-winning author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton For 150 years, Caldonbrae Hall has loomed high above the Scottish cliffs as a beacon of excellence in the ancestral castle of Lord William Hope. A boarding school for girls, it promises that its pupils will emerge 'resilient and ready to serve society'. Into its illustrious midst steps Rose Christie, a 26-year-old Classics teacher and new head of department. Rose is overwhelmed by the institution: its arcane traditions, unrivalled prestige, and terrifyingly cool, vindictive students. Her classroom becomes her haven, where the stories of fearless women from ancient Greek and Roman history ignite the curiosity of the girls she teaches and, unknowingly, the suspicions of the powers that be. But as Rose uncovers the darkness that beats at the very heart of Caldonbrae, the lines between myth and reality grow ever more blurred. It will be up to Rose - and the fierce young women she has come to love - to find a way to escape the fate the school has in store for them, before it is too late. Perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood and Madeline Miller, Madam is a darkly feminist tale with an electrifying cast of heroines you won't soon forget.

Joanna Rosenwink 

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When young classics teacher Rose is headhunted for a Senior teaching position at an exclusive boarding school for girls she cannot believe her luck. Soon it appears that things may not be quite as they seem and maybe it wasn’t the good fortune she’d thought.

Reminiscent of the Handmaid’s Tale, Madam is full of suspense and a brooding atmosphere which made this book impossible for me to put down. Interspersed with snippets of classic mythology as Rose teaches them to her classes, this gave an added depth to the story which I loved.

Perfect for fans of dark academia, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Power and The Vow.

Michelle Miller

Isabelle Kalway

Michelle Johnson

Jessica 

A riveting, modern gothic debut with shades of The Secret History, The Stepford Wives, and a dash of Circe, set at a secretive all girls’ boarding school perched on a craggy Scottish peninsula.

Madam

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