This book was totally unexpected. It was suspenseful and exciting. The characters were devious.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was expecting this book to be more creepy and Gothic, and it did let me down a little. Although I did really enjoy finding out the 'secret' that everyone at the school was keeping, it wasn't as good as I thought it would be, and most of the book up to the point of Rose discovering the secret was somewhat bland, with strange character interactions and lots of mundane descriptions. However, I did enjoy the story and liked Rose a lot as a main character!

This was unsettling, atmospheric, claustrophobic and creepily old fashioned and I loved it! I stayed up until the wee hours to find out whether Rose would endure her new life or break free.
Hope school is supposedly the beacon for what is great and good in private boarding schools for girls. But the reality is far removed and Rose, the new Classics teacher, finds herself stuck in an ever decreasing circle. The stars of the book are definitely the girls whose self assured nature and blunt opinions make you fear and pity them in equal measure. Rose is probably the least likable character to me, she seems so weak and incapable of taking control of anything. Her outbursts throughout the book, while necessary to move the story on, got more and more irritating to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed the idea of old fashioned 'ideals' still existing in modern society and how insidious the whole concept of the perfect wife and societal lady actually is.
Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for my ARC. This is my honest review..

When this book was described as Stepford Wives meets Secret History, i thought maybe this was a bit of an exaggeration. BOY, was I wrong. This book is gothic fiction at its finest. Creepy students and teachers. They're ways were putting women's liberation, back years. Rose Christie, a 26 year old Classics teacher, was so happy to get the job at this prestigious all girl school,
Caldonbrae, in Scotland. It only took her a few weeks to figure out things, just weren't quite right here. She just couldn't quite put her finger on it. Things weren't quite as they seemed at Caldonbrae. And Rose was determined to find out what was going on.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read Madam.

Definitely cleansing my palette with Madam after some of the questionable thrillers I've read taking place in schools. Madam is exceptional at using the school setting to both make it eerie and use the protagonist's own classics lessons as foreshadowing.


Rose is very rootable in the sense of how bold she is. While she is trying to maintain a job at this extremely prestigious and secretive school, she is outspoken and ready to take a stand. While it may not come across that way when you start reading, her character does grow in a very satisfactory way. In one that was new and intimidated by this huge boarding school and "mean girls", to one who is ready to plant seeds of doubt and prepared to make an escape.

I like the themes and questions that Wynne brings up, which I do like having a somewhat concrete type of moral or answer when the book ends. While it could've been a little shorter, this would be a great read for those who want a strong new iteration of the creepy school trope.

🌻 REVIEW 🌻 Madam

It’s been a hot minute y’all, but I’m back! I recently finished Madam....

Synopsis:

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.”

Review:

This book is sinister and atmospheric. It reads like a gothic tale where you know something strange is happening in a picturesque setting, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. Caldonbrae Hall seems like the dream school, but it doesn’t take long for Rose to catch on to the sense that something very wrong is happening at this school. This school is not what you think, a very interesting feminist tale about the rights of women to be independent and choose their own path. Fans of Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale will find a similar echo in this story.

I liked this book, but it wouldn’t make my top list for the year. I don’t feel like there were many twists or surprises as I would have hoped, but not a bad read.

⭐️ Pub Day: May 18, 2021 ⭐️

Thank you @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the ARC!

🌻🌻🌻/5




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A disturbingly haunted and very dark story of a young new teacher hired to work at an all girl’s boarding school in Scotland. I was pulled in right from the mysterious introduction. I did find myself skipping over the references to the Greek mythology but was otherwise captivated until the book’s conclusion.

A chilling, gothic, feminist tale of just what could be going on behind the closed doors of elite boarding schools. The horror built with relentless pace. I devoured this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Madam by Phoebe Wynne.

I just could not get into this book. It had a lot of promise, and it looks like others have enjoyed it, so maybe it's a me problem, but ugh.

My biggest ordeal was that I never really quite knew what was going on, the whole novel felt like one, completely tangled and sweaty, fever dream. Nothing really made much sense, it was disjointed, it was shrill, it was silly, it wasn't believable, and I just couldn't do it.

Rose Christie is a teacher who has accepted a position at Caldonbrae Hall. It is the kind of job many teachers dream of obtaining. A job at such a prestigious boarding school this early in her career is almost too good to be true. If she is successful, her options for future employment and career advancement will be numerous. But why exactly was Rose chosen as the first new faculty member in over ten years?
When she arrives, the teachers and students are not at all what she expected. The faculty doesn’t seem to have time to assist her in understanding her new role, and the students are aghast when Rose actually expects them to learn. The girls who graduate are known for the quality education they receive, and Rose is truly perplexed when her students are uninterested in learning anything. Why was Rose even hired if not for her ability to teach? As more and more secrets are revealed, Rose has to decide whether she will accept what Caldonbrae Hall provides, or if she has the strength to try and find a way out for herself and the girls.
A Gothic tale that delves into some uncomfortable subject matter. The first half seemed a little slow, but by the second half, I understood what the author had been leading to, and I was engrossed. I really enjoyed when Rose was teaching the girls about the strong woman portrayed in Greek mythology. Madam is a debut novel and the author created a dark tale with a heck of an ending.

In the rocky Scottish cliffs, Caldonbrae boarding school educates the female elite. New Classics teacher Rose is recruited to this prestigious school, but she quickly learns that something is amiss. The school tops the rankings each year, but none of her students seem to care about learning Latin. Instead, they mock and tease her, saying that the school's secrets have yet to be revealed to her. As Rose tries to put together the pieces of this Gothic puzzle, she begins to realize the horrors around her are deeper than she could have ever imagined.

I found myself eagerly turning the pages of this book - I love a good academic drama. Wynne spins a lovely Gothic tale - the isolated setting, foreboding atmosphere, and secrecy give the novel a creepy and haunting tone. I loved that Rose was a Latin teacher - her exploration of feminist stories from mythology added value to the story. I don't want to say too much about the plot, but I thought it unwound at a nice pace, slower at the beginning, with the drama notched up towards the end. I really enjoyed losing myself in the dystopic world of Caldonbrae, watching Jane fight for the girls in her charge.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really fascinating book! Close to a thriller, but I would classify it as a drama. Madam tells the story of Rose, a Latin teacher who gets offered the job of a lifetime at an exclusive girls’ boarding school. Once she arrives, she feels uneasy as there are secrets being deliberately kept from her. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that because of Rose’s interest in Latin and Roman culture, each section of the book began with an excerpt of a myth in Latin and then translated into English. Rose is an interesting protagonist and I felt for her, navigating a new situation and life is never easy. I was not expecting the huge event near the end of the book, but I think the other “twists” were pretty easy to figure out. There were many clues along the way. I would rate this a 9/10, but for this scale, I will round up.

A dark, haunting story of Rose Christie hired to teach Classics at Caldonbrae Hall a prestigious boarding school for girls poised on the craggy cliffs of Scotland. For Rose she can hardly believe her luck at this first posting. Her mother in ill health urges her to take the position and soon she finds herself headed to the stormy Scottish coast. But from the onset something doesn’t seem right. It’s obvious from dubious comments that her predecessor left under strange circumstances; her carefully designed study plans are scoffed at by both students and fellow faculty members; the Headmaster seems to be ducking scheduled meetings with her and it doesn’t take long for Rose to feel she is in over her head.
There is a definite Gothic feel for this book. To the point it is very hard to imagine this taking place in the early 1990’s. It creates an odd juxtaposition. At times it seems a bit implausible that the girls, the students themselves seem to have so much control. A bit overly long but still a good read. The author skillfully weaves stories of the classical heroines into the mystery surrounding Rose’s students, what type of culture these girls are really being trained for and what is the real intent of this illustrious old boarding school.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my comments.

I must confess that this book was a horrible start for me on several accounts. Not only was it dragging, for a lack of better word, I couldn’t make sense of what was going on with the people at this school. It was as if Rose stepped into the twilight zone. The movements and the speech of the characters were not natural. The dialogue was clunky and the conversations between the characters were confusing at times. Nothing was making sense but something was telling me to push on.

I kept reading and my frustrations grew. To my dismay, I couldn’t relate to any of the characters nor did I sympathize with them. I was about to give up on the story and almost half way through, there was a change…

The story takes a turn to an interesting development and I began to see the reasoning of the oddness of the story in the first half of the book. As I read on, I must say that I still didn’t care for any of the characters or their situation. But I was pleased the dialogue had improve somewhat and I didn’t feel so disoriented!

If there ever was a character you wanted to grab and shake and yell, “What is wrong with you? Wake up and snap-out of it!” It would be Rose. When she first arrived at the school, everything started off wrong for her and her lack of gumption made things worse for her. I would not portray her as a heroine. While she saw the horrible things going on around her, and at times spoke up, she just wasn’t strong enough to handle anything! I believe you will find interesting who the true, “Heroines” are.

I would also like to point out that in the second half of the book, there are two disturbing scenes that might be too sensitive for some readers. While I understand the context was important to drive the plot, I could have done without it. It made me feel extremely uneasy.

I give this story three stars solely on the reason that the school’s purpose makes for a relevant story but creepy read and the setting has all the right elements of a Gothic tale.

Stephanie Hopkins

'Madam" by Phoebe Wynne is a piece of women's gothic fiction in its purest and most dazzling form, guaranteed to inspire awe and horror in those who dare to delve through its pages. Wynne creates a slow rising build of tension, creating an atmosphere of unsettling discomfort that hangs like a damp mist in this chilling thriller.

For the first time in over a decade, Caldonbrae Hall has opened its doors to a new teacher, a 26-year-old Classics teacher named Rose Christie. To work at an elite all-girls boarding school above the Scottish Cliffs in an isolated, remote area with beautiful landscapes (that are a little dreary at times) seems like a dream come true. Except, Rose is overwhelmed by her sense of alienation. She bumbles through conversations with her staff who are all referred to as Madam or Sir and her students tend to be crass and inattentive at best. The longer Rose spends at Caldonbrae Hall, the more she begins to question the curriculum, the girl's behavior, their inability to think for themselves, and the general secretive atmosphere of the school and staff who seem to know more than they dare to let on. When some of the mysteries surrounding the school and its inner workings begin to unravel, Rose fears her acceptance of her job was a great mistake and one she won't be able to undo.

"Madam" is powerful, violent, nauseatingly disturbing, and horrifying. It is a novel that presents themes of strong and resilient women from Ancient Greek myths who become important figures of women who sought to break free from their oppressive aggressors and in present times are seen as idols of hope, courage, and bravery. Wynne's writing is beautiful, sinister, lustful, and hauntingly alluring in its delivery. "Madam" is a story that will be hard to forget once it's read and impossible to put down when begun.

While the pacing of the first half of the novel felt mundane and slow in action, the latter half made me appreciate the build-up to the main tensions and underlying themes presented in the narrative. I loved the author's decision to draw on the popular women figures from Greek myths to heighten and intensify some of the other themes and ideas running throughout the narrative. Wynne's special attention to detail, scenery, and delicate weaving of mysteries and secrets was thoroughly delightful and chilling. This is definitely a book to be on the lookout for, but I will warn readers that it does broach some serious and disturbing subject matter that can be difficult to read. The expected publication date for this novel is May 18, 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free e-arc of "Madam" by Phoebe Wynne in exchange for an honest review.

Madam was an interesting book, one that I would probably not picked out on my own. I was provided with the Advanced Reader's Copy by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins when a young teacher, Rose, is offered a position at a prestigious school for girls in Scotland. She is thrilled by the offer since it means that she can support her ailing mother. Rose begins teaching Classics at the school but she is not given much training or information about her position. The girls call the female teachers Madam, which is where the title comes in. Rose is curious about the last Latin teacher but no one will discuss it. The school does not seem interested in the Classics curriculum and the students are less than attentive to her classes. In addition, the school is located in an extremely isolated location and she is virtually trapped there. Rose is very unhappy there but feels that she must stay because the school is paying for her Mother's care at an expensive nursing home. There are many secrets at the school and we discover them along with Rose.

I enjoyed the book. An interesting element was the insertion of classical mythology chapters that mirrored what Rose was teaching her students. It held my interest as we moved through the secrets to the exciting conclusion.

Rose Christie is a 26 year-old Classics teacher hired at the 150 year-old Caldonbrae Hall, a remotely located girl’s school high above the Scottish cliffs. Rose is shocked and honored that she’s been hired to this prestigious position, but it doesn’t take long for her to discover that under the elitist facade there is a dark side. Soon she’s wondering what part she’s playing in this disfunction. MADAM grabbed me by the throat and I couldn’t stop reading. The dark gothic setting totally creeped me out. I find Phoebe Wynne’s characters compelling and created with many layers. I was completely caught off guard by the ending. MADAM will make you think of Margaret Atwood’s THE HANDMAID’S TALE. It will be published next year. Order it early on line or at your favorite local independent bookstore. MADAM will be one of 2021’s blockbusters.

DNF. This was way too slow moving. I lost interest at 25 percent. Really before that, but that's how far I was able to push myself.

If you are looking to read something different from the norm, I suggest “Madam” a gothic novel with a unique spin. In this novel, Rose Christie, a classics teacher, is offered a job opportunity at an upscale girls' school in Scotland. I have always had a weakness for novels about boarding schools and by coincidence, I read this novel right before Halloween, which was oddly appropriate.

Yet, naturally, Rose discovers nothing as it seems as she discovers that the school has it own rules for how it teaches and disciplines its student body. An outsider looking in, Rose has difficulty fitting in and worries about the girls who seem to be devoid of any independent thinking.

This is a spooky tale that I don’t recommend reading without a few extra lights on. Parts are tedious, but generally, the story moves at a spell-bound pace. Three and a half stars.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an opportunity to read this novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 18, 2021
Caldonbrae Hall has stood sentry on the cliffs of Scotland and for 150 years it has served as the most prestigious and elite boarding school in the country. When young and inexperienced Rose Christie is given the oppourtunity to work at Caldonbrae, she jumps at the chance. Working at such an elite school has its advantages, as Rose discovers, when her ailing mother’s nursing care is provided for by the school’s administration and all Rose has to do is commit to teaching at Caldronbrae. But as the year goes on, Rose begins to see the darker side to Caldronbrae, and its real purpose for the female students within its walls. However, Rose also knows the danger that comes from speaking out, to both herself and her mother, after hearing whispers about what happened to the teacher who came before her. Will Rose risk everything to save her students from their future?
“Madam” is the debut title by author, Phoebe Wynne. Set high atop the cliffs of Scotland, Caldonbrae Hall immediately brings a sense of foreboding and secrecy, all told through Wynne’s descriptive language. The plot is well-developed, and the novel itself has a good flow. I immediately connected with Rose and wanted her to succeed, rooting for her as she battles the “establishment”.
This novel takes place in the 90s although I feel that the time frame does not suit the story. “Madam” reads more as a 1960s or 70s story with the limited technology and feminist ideals of that time. I felt a real disconnect to the time period, and taking place in the 90s really did not seem to have any important distinction in the novel (the setting is so secluded, that the story could have taken place in any time period).
Going in, I wanted a paranormal or spooky factor hiding behind the walls of Caldonbrae. I expected ghosts, or secrets long-dead, or even some out-there science-fiction component, but what I did not expect was the dark feminist tale that I got in “Madam”.
I enjoyed most of the characters and I definitely enjoyed the Scotland setting, although the boarding school component is certainly not a unique concept. This novel had a little bit of a “Mona Lisa Smile” aspect to it (which is not a bad thing), mixed with “The Stepford Wives”. Well-written (especially for a debut author) with some rallying feminism and powerful characters, “Madam” is an enjoyable, yet dark, tale. And that ending? Holy cow. Well done, Wynne! I am intrigued.