If you’re a fan of the recent film version, Riggs’ debut novel is a must-read. His engaging writing transports you into his gothic and fantastical world, combining imagery and expression to make it difficult to put down. The voice of the protagonist, 16-year-old Jacob Portman, is full of personality and is relatable to anyone who has struggled finding a place to belong. It’s one of those books that you can read over and over, and always find some part of the puzzle you hadn’t noticed before. Riggs brilliantly entwines mystery, horror and thriller into one, making the readers’ heartbeats almost as fast as Jacob’s, while the slower-paced scenes allow time to catch your breath and gather your thoughts.
As a warning, this book it not for the faint-hearted; the imagery is quite graphic and grotesque at times, so if horror isn’t your thing, I would avoid reading this book. However, it makes a wonderful coming-of-age story, and Riggs makes a point of showing what young people are capable of in a world where adults can’t always be depended on. The book is given an added charm by the inclusion of the macabre antique photos that inspired Riggs; they give the book an enticingly haunting atmosphere and add to the believability of the story. The fact that the photos really exist gives a certain gravity to the characters, placing them in the real world.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is an inspiring and exhilarating read that deals with the protagonist’s experience with grief, and it’s also a wake-up call to the things children must come to terms with to grow up. Amongst the suspense and horror there are some truly heart-wrenching scenes that really make you feel for the characters and make you root for their success. It’s a fantastic beginning to a series that will continuously leave you wanting more. If you enjoy books with a darker side and some truly peculiar characters, and if you don’t mind a few nightmares, this is the perfect book for you.
The Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs is available for sale here!
Stalking Jack the Ripper is a gripping, fast-paced novel written by first-time author Kerri Maniscalco. The novel follows Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a young woman apprenticing with her Uncle in a mortuary deep within the alleyways and public houses in 1800s London. Wadsworth is soon caught up in a dangerous set of mass murderers as a …
Eliza Henry Jones’ P is for Pearl is a sweet piece of summer escapism. Set in a quiet beach town in Tasmania, complete with romance and hints of mystery, it’s an easy way to pass the time over the summer holidays, sitting out in the sun with a drink in hand. The reader is dropped [...]
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein is a fast-paced psychological thriller with a distinct Australian flavour. One for those with a morbid curiosity, this novel is rife with dark themes and mind games, leaving you itching to uncover all of its secrets. Tash Carmody is confronted with her past when the ghosts of her childhood reappear …
Melissa Keil’s The Secret Science of Magic is a unique and compelling twist on the typical romance novel. Shift away from the typical “quirky” star-crossed lover archetypes, Keil has created the kind of relatable and complex character that exist in real life, but rarely ever play a starring role in the media. Sophia is so …
The Wishing Spell follows twin siblings Alex and Conner Bailey, who grew up with fairy tales read to them by their grandmother. But when Alex and Conner are magically transported inside their grandmother’s fairy tale treasury, they will be thrust into a world where all their fairy tale characters are extremely real. The two will …
Eoin Colfer’s bestselling middle-grade adventure mystery novels chronicle the lives of twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl. In the first Artemis Fowl novel, we meet our eponymous character, who is more devious and clever than most adults. The novel follows Fowl after he attempts to catch a fairy in order to obtain gold for ransom. His main motive …
Book Review – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
As a warning, this book it not for the faint-hearted; the imagery is quite graphic and grotesque at times, so if horror isn’t your thing, I would avoid reading this book. However, it makes a wonderful coming-of-age story, and Riggs makes a point of showing what young people are capable of in a world where adults can’t always be depended on.
The book is given an added charm by the inclusion of the macabre antique photos that inspired Riggs; they give the book an enticingly haunting atmosphere and add to the believability of the story. The fact that the photos really exist gives a certain gravity to the characters, placing them in the real world.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is an inspiring and exhilarating read that deals with the protagonist’s experience with grief, and it’s also a wake-up call to the things children must come to terms with to grow up. Amongst the suspense and horror there are some truly heart-wrenching scenes that really make you feel for the characters and make you root for their success. It’s a fantastic beginning to a series that will continuously leave you wanting more. If you enjoy books with a darker side and some truly peculiar characters, and if you don’t mind a few nightmares, this is the perfect book for you.
The Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs is available for sale here!
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