Published by Chicken House, 2024.

The Island at the Edge of Night is hands down the best book I’ve read all year. And I read a lot of good books. It is atmospheric, incredibly tense and deliciously gothic.

Abandoned at a boarding school on a wild and remote Scottish island, Faye Fitzgerald discovers that she and the other pupils have been sent there for doing something wicked. But what is it that Faye has done? She might be bold enough to uncover the sinister mysteries of the island, but has she the courage to face a secret deep within herself?

From the very first page, there is immediate intrigue and the hint that something sinister has happened. The plot is suspenseful and full of twists and turns. It’s incredibly exciting and, at times, pretty scary. There really is no let-up. I was gripped.

The theme of darkness – literal and metaphorical – is quickly established. It’s hinted at in the book’s title and revealed in the story’s setting: the black and grey colour palette of winter, the dull grey of the sea and the sky. It’s a landscape of dark rocks and bleak moors beneath the shadow of the island’s mountain, known as The Knife. Faye notices how days on the island feel unnaturally short – as if they are always at the edge of night.

There’s also the darkness associated with evil. The boarding school is a place of hard labour, silence and isolation. It is punitive and oppressive. The children are locked in their rooms or cells, subdued with sedatives, and treated like prisoners. Dr Lighter and Nurse Violet, the husband and wife who run the school, are sadistic and cruel.

By contrast, another of the book’s themes is nature and the magic of the natural world. Faye has an incredibly strong connection to nature and to trees in particular. She lived in the forest with her father until she was six and she loves the wild. It gives her a sense of freedom. The book makes use of the imagery of crackling, golden threads connecting nature and all living things and binding Faye to this natural world. It’s as if she has a physical connection to nature and has its magic coursing through her veins.

I also loved the cast of characters. I liked Faye and Filiberto’s bravery and resourcefulness, as well as their interactions with each other and how once-silent Faye is drawn out of herself. I especially enjoyed Boudicca’s fire and spirit and her open defiance.

The Island at the Edge of Night is a wonderful blend of gothic mystery and magical realism. It’s a book I devoured and one which will stay with me for a long time.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 10+

Thank you to Chicken House for sending me a copy of this book to review.