Publication Date: 24 October 2024
The Blurb
Enter Black Gables and meet the world’s most sinister teachers and their pets!
When Rosella starts a new school in the eerie town of Black Gables, where crows croak menacingly and pale faces appear in the water of the lake, she knows that something is terribly wrong. Under the watchful eye of her new headmaster, Mr Edge, whose unsettling presence and appearance hint at something dark lingering beneath the surface of both the town and the school, Rosella must unravel the mystery of Black Gables before it’s too late!
The Review
Black Gables is a deliciously dark and haunting read that is perfect for anyone who enjoy gothic tales with a supernatural twist. Eibhlis masterfully balances an unsettling atmosphere with an engaging mystery, creating a story that left me chilled to the bone.
Eibhlis immediately sets a dark tone, with vivid descriptions of the Black Gables school and the mysterious town surrounding it. The gables themselves, standing like skeletal remnants of a long-forgotten workhouse, serve as a symbol of the decayed and haunted atmosphere that pervades the story, and form a small part of the landscape that feels alive with ghostly whispers, strange creatures, and unnatural happenings. The wind, the crows, and the strange colours of the lake all combine to evoke a world in which the natural and the supernatural bleed into one another, casting a shadow over everything Rosella experiences.
Mr. Edge, the sinister head teacher, is a masterfully crafted villain. His chilling demeanour and the suggestion that he may be working with the strange lake creatures provide an ominous undercurrent to the story. The tension Eibhlis creates here is palpable, and if you’re anything like me, will find yourself both frightened and fascinated by the many mysteries surrounding Mr. Edge and the ghoulish lake. My cushion of comfort was very much needed as I was swept deeper into the secrets of Black Gables.
The Guest Post by Eibhlis Carcione: Inspiration For Some of the Creepy Pets
The inspiration for the pets came to me after I created the teachers.
I thought sinister pets would suit them perfectly as they aren’t engaging with the students in their classes. Instead they pour all their love and affection on their pets. I want these pets to mirror the worst of their owners’ personalities.
Mr Edge’s pet Mr Nibbles is a skunk-like creature, the size of a rat. It even has a special cushion where it’s groomed. It shares the same likes and dislikes as its owner.
Ms Bugly’s wicked and grotesque cat Ms Snow has a gold lead and is constantly pampered. It hisses at the students who Ms Bugly doesn’t like. Once, when I was in Italy, I saw someone walking a cat on a lead and the image stayed with me.
Ms Rocks carries her pet crow Cordelia around the school in a rusty cage. She sometimes does yard duty with the crow perched on her shoulder, glaring at the children.
Sinister animals and pets feature in some of my favourite books. My two favourite are Nagini, Voldermort’s venomous snake in Harry Potter and Mrs Coulter’s golden monkey in His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.
Ms Snow: “She’s like no cat I’ve ever seen. She’s more like a scruffy wicked porcupine. Between the fluffy tufts of fur along her back are spiky hairs sharper than needles and bald patches. Her eyes are metallic-green like the beetles I’ve seen on the surface of the lake and she flecks her tail like a rattlesnake.”
Huge thanks to Eibhlis for scaring the pants off me and leaving me with absolutely no nails, and for her fabulous guest post, and to Everything With Words for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. Do make sure you check out all of the other stops!
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