😀 😀 😀 😀 🙂
Morgan was a beautiful young man but a terrible incident has left him so horribly disfigured he can no longer face the world. So he stays holed up in the house his grandfather built while his sister runs the family business that keeps them both wealthy. The only person Morgan lets see him is his housekeeper, Engel. But one day Engel finds a baby left outside the house. The two of them agree not to tell the authorities and so the child becomes part of the household. Shortly after, another child arrives, then another, until before long there are seven of them… and more keep coming. No-one knows where they’re coming from and the children never say, but Morgan is becoming convinced that these children have the power to appear and disappear at will. And soon it seems as if they’ve come for a purpose…
This book is brilliantly written. Mostly it’s in the third person and past tense, though there is a first person section when Morgan tells the story of his past. It reads like a kind of corrupted fairytale, perhaps Beauty and the Beast, and reminded me strongly of Shirley Jackson’s similar corruption of the old witch stories in We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Not because of any similarity in story, but because of the unsettling tone of horror lurking beneath a seemingly bright surface.

Creepy, isn’t she?
The house is filled with books and strange curiosities Morgan’s grandfather sent back from his many travels abroad, and the children seem fascinated by these, as if they hope to learn some secret from them. The children are unnaturally well-behaved, even the babies, and unlike adults can accept Morgan’s disfigurement without being repulsed or pitying him. When one of the children becomes ill, the local doctor pays a visit and befriends Morgan, telling him a little of the world outside Morgan’s walls. It’s through this that the reader gets an indication that something terrible has happened to the world – something hugely destructive that has left people in fear and caused the rich to retreat behind heavily guarded walls.
I’m not going to say any more about the story since the not knowing is most of what creates the tension and rising apprehension. There are parts that are truly shocking and the writing is of such quality as to create some images that stay long after the last page has been turned. There are strong shades of John Wyndham here – I was reminded not only of The Midwich Cuckoos, but also of Chocky and The Chrysalids to a degree. Again, that’s not to imply any lack of originality – Lambert takes similar themes as Wyndham but treats them quite differently. It’s unclear whether these children’s purpose is to do good or evil in the world – there is a driven amorality about them. They are here to do what they must do and that’s all. Should they be loved? Or feared? Is it sci-fi? Horror? Fantasy? Lit-fic? Yes, to all of the above. It’s the first book for a long time that has had me gasping aloud in shock…

Lambert does not tie it all up neatly in the end – he leaves it beautifully vague allowing the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks. As a result, I expect it will be a different story for each reader – I was very aware that I was ‘writing’ my own interpretation of events under the author’s subtle guidance. After the horrors, is there any kind of redemption? Perhaps, perhaps not – it’s one that left me pondering and I still haven’t completely decided. Don’t let the horrors or the sci-fi elements put you off. This is a great read that packs a lot into its relatively short length of 224 pages – one of the most imaginative and original books I’ve read in a while. Highly recommended – I shall be looking out for more from this author.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Scribner.
Oh, this does sound alluring!
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It is! And short…
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Oh that sounds sooooo cool, you know! Imagine if that happened to you, with all the children showing up, haha.
And that doll is very creepy. Goodness. Ugh. *hides eyes*
And I’m digging where Mr. Charles posed. Good choice, I say.
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*laughs* The whole story would have been a flop, since I’d have been on the phone to the authorities first thing! And if that didn’t stop them coming, I’d have moved!
Isn’t it? And yet not the creepiest thing in the book… *shudders*
He looks like a pleasant chap, doesn’t he? Which is surprising, considering…
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*laughing* Yes, but the phone would’ve had to be dead, see, for it to work. That’s what would’ve happened. Moved? That’s just cheating, I tell you!
What is the creepiest thing?
His mind is a deadly place.
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Well, OK, I won’t cheat. I’ll pack them up and post them on to you instead… you can teach them how to wear robes and sing duets…
The bit where he grabs hold and pulls… *gasps and faints*
Utterly! The sweet-looking ones are always the worst… *looks suspiciously at the Professor*
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Wear robes? I don’t wear robes, madam! I’d form them into some sort of very cool army, mind you.
Of? Grabs hold of what, dadblameit?!
I’m not sweet! I’m a horrid thing.
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Oh, you do! I’ve seen you in your tartan robe preparing your porridge – och, aye! Hoots, mon, ye’re nearly Scottish!
*laughs annoyingly* You’ll just have to read it, I’m afraid! It’s on your TBR…
Oh, that’s right! I forgot!
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I’m not sure who that chap is that you saw, but it can’t be me, of course. I’m more normal. I don’t bang into things.
*gets a few water balloons*
Cant’s see how you could.
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*chuckles* Good try, McProf! Anyway, being Scottish is normal… isn’t it?
*gets a giant pin*
My brain has become addled by prolonged exposure to Punchiliciousness…
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Well, not over here, I fear. I’m about as un-Scottish as one can get, I fear.
Cheater!
*laughs* Good excuse, I suppose.
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Yes, but we’ll keep working on it! Just say “It’s a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht” three times a day an’ ye’ll be aricht, ye ken.
*smug face* I won!
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*laughs helplessly* I can’t even pronounce that!
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Get Schwarzy to do it then…
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Now that is a book I would find interesting. Rats. It’s not at the library.
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It’s just been released so maybe it’ll turn up soon. I suspect it might be going to be a bestseller…
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This sounds fab! Stop reviewing excellent books I immediately want to read, please. it is playing havoc with my sensibilities. Haven’t you got any rubbish books to tell us about? It’s going on the list. The list that is now nearly novel-length itself. *sigh*
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Can’t – I’m on a run at the moment! However by next week I should be back to rubbish books… well, semi-rubbish anyway! But (I’m really sorry) I do think you might enjoy this one… 😉
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Haha! I think I would love this one. If I leave increasingly angry comments please do not be offended 😀 But – very much looking forward to the semi-rubbish ones coming up!!
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Haha! That’s the way I feel every time I trawl the blogosphere – it’s like one vast conspiracy to drive me off the edge of the TBR cliff! There should be a law against it…
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I shall write to someone about it. .. anyone…
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Oh, this really does sound intriguing, FictionFan! I’m not usually one for horror (with a few exceptions), and limited in my taste for sci-fi. But this doesn’t really sound as though it fits in any one category very neatly. And the story itself sounds compelling. Hmm…..
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Yes, I think the quality of the writing kind of lifts it above simple genre definition – a bit like I feel about Shirley Jackson. Though there are undoubtedly a couple of pretty horrific bits in this. But he doesn’t dwell on the gory details, if you know what I mean…
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You have left me so curious about this book. It better be at the library, or I will be sorely tempted to break my book-buying ban. Can you tell me whether any of the babies get abused, or will that be a spoiler? (If yes, then I don’t want to know.)
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Hmm – not anything that we would normally think of as abuse – no sexual abuse or beating them. But (trying hard not to get too deeply into spoilers territory) it’s safe to say there are one or two fairly horrific scenes, one of which does involve the children – but then, are they children in the sense that we know them? *cue spooky music*
I hate scenes of child abuse too, but this was OK for me in that sense…
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Thanks for the info. If this book was OK for you with regard to any child abuse, then I think I’ll be OK as well.
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If you do get a chance to read it, I hope you enjoy it! It’s so much better written than a lot of horror – thought-provoking as well as spine-tingling… 🙂
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What makes the main character and servant decide not to tell anyone about the first baby? Such a strange decision!
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Intriguing, isn’t it? Let’s just say it’s one of the first indications that life beyond Morgan’s walls might not quite be the world as we know it… 😉
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Sounds good. Can’t remember who said it, but it’s people who scare me, not monsters.
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True – though sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference!
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Me again. After I went off, I realised that I had read one of Lambert’s earlier ones “Any Human Face” – a slightly creepy arty, detective story – recommended.
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Ah, thank you – I shall look that one up! He’s definitely a writer worth investiagting further…
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Well, this one sounds terribly interesting…and just a bit on the creepy side (though not nearly as creepy as that wax model!!) Thanks for an excellent review — doggone it, another one to add to my TBR!!
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Ooh, it is as creepy as the wax model – in fact even creepier sometimes! And horrific occasionally – don’t say you haven’t been warned! But it’s done so well, it’s worth it… 😀
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This sounds super-interesting. My TBR list is already insanely long, but I’m adding this anyway 🙂
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Ha! The good thing about TBRs is that they can expand infinitely! 😉 If you do get a chance to read this one, I hope you enjoyt it!
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I’ve heard of this book! So glad to read your review! Now I want to read the book!
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I’ve got a feeling this one might be one we’ll all be hearing about this year! I suspect you might enjoy this one, L Marie – it seems like your kinda thing, I think… 🙂
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Great review, FF. You’ve certainly piqued my curiosity. Where’s Lambert from, BTW?
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Thanks, Angela! 🙂 Originally England, though I understand he lives in Italy now. The book doesn’t really specify where it’s set, as far as I remember, but it feels like England – only not quite as we know it…
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Oh my! This sounds terrifying even from your description, and as you know I’m not easily spooked. Despite (or maybe because of) that I really want to know more!
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Theer are a couple of scenes in it that genuinely made me gasp out loud, and that will stay with me. It’s not that he goes into graphic detail – in fact, it’s what he doesn’t say that makes it so effective…
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Wow, sounds right up my alley. I’ll have to check it out! 😀
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Yes! It does sound like one you’d enjoy – I hope you do… 😀
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This has also been added to the list (up to 61 now, quite a few of your recommendations on there). The waist on that model is strange without having to see her insides.
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Hurrah! 61?!? So much room on there for more – I shall keep working on it! 😉 I know – and those hips do nothing for her. I’m guessing she was designed by a man…
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I bet you’re right. A man’s ideal woman from whatever year…
I should thank you, rather than complain about the list. Nothing makes me happier than a good book.
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You’re welcome! Personally I think all book reviews should be banned till I get my TBR down to 61 though…
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Ooh sounds too scary to me but v interesting!
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It’s not too gory or gruesome, but there are a couple of parts which are pretty disturbing – though fortunately not the kind of disturbing that usually happens to kids in books at the moment. It is very good though…
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Oooh, I’m sold! Going on the TBR. Thanks for a great review 🤗
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Ooh, good! It’s getting fairly mixed reviews so I think it’s maybe a love it/hate it book. Hopefully you’ll love it!
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[…] I was alerted to this wonderfully satisfying and strange read by Fiction Fan. You can read her great review with unsettling graphics here […]
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