Madam

Madam

Phoebe Wynne

Enjoyment: 3.5Quality: 2.5Characters: 2.0Plot: 2.5

A darkly feminist, modern gothic tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines 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.


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  • cathricc
    Dec 25, 2024
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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  • AuroraBiggs
    Apr 22, 2025
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  • bookishfish
    Apr 02, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    The writing was good but the plot was poorly executed. Not the feminist work the author was aiming for. The social commentary was a miss as well. As a woman, I'm tired of reading about the subjegation of women. I see it and experience it enough in real life. 

    Ultimately, I had to DNF at 65ish%

    <spoiler>The mix of real life Jeffrey Epstein Island meets Stepford Wives was not what I was looking for or wanting in a read. This is basically pedophilia even though it dances with the lines of theIlaw. I am not interested in the reimagining of what is essentially teenage sex trafficking for reading entertainment. T</spoiler>

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