Genres
Description
'A tall, wiry boy in a wolf mask stepped up to Blanka, and another figure in a dark-green priest's robe and an iron mask stood beside him. How long had these two been lurking in the forest?' A gripping thriller with a blend of fantasy, history and an intriguing mystery.
Publication
Allen & Unwin Children's Books (2008), 216 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member wiremonkey
Bianca, a troubled, intelligent sixteen year old girl, has a feeling that somebody doesn't want her to continue her studies at the Europa International School. On her first night, the school's mysterious society of the Wolves abandon her in the dark grounds of the school. She finally makes her way
In the days that follow she is haunted by the image of the dead woman. As well, she is being singled out by the Wolves as persona non grata. Convinced that the Wolves have something to do with the murder, she is determined to find the killer before he or she finds her.
Set in Germany on the edge of the dark forest and enhanced by the gruesome images of a medieval witch trial, Blazon has all the elements of a good gothic mystery. However, the substance is not there. Bianca's surly attitude and inability to trust anyone is explained in a peremptory and unsatisfactory fashion. Jan, the other charity student, is fertile ground that is never cultivated. He is a thief that ends up in a prestigious boarding school, yet this is never explained properly. Johan, the mysterious blond boy on a motorcycle is also never given enough history, although his story is integral to the unravelling of the plot. And Caitlin, the nice roomate, remains just that- nice despite Bianca's unreasonable suspicions.
To put it in a nutshell, Blazon's got the bones of a good gothic mystery but but no flesh.
An additional purchase.
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back to the main building when she stumbles on a dead body. In the days that follow she is haunted by the image of the dead woman. As well, she is being singled out by the Wolves as persona non grata. Convinced that the Wolves have something to do with the murder, she is determined to find the killer before he or she finds her.
Set in Germany on the edge of the dark forest and enhanced by the gruesome images of a medieval witch trial, Blazon has all the elements of a good gothic mystery. However, the substance is not there. Bianca's surly attitude and inability to trust anyone is explained in a peremptory and unsatisfactory fashion. Jan, the other charity student, is fertile ground that is never cultivated. He is a thief that ends up in a prestigious boarding school, yet this is never explained properly. Johan, the mysterious blond boy on a motorcycle is also never given enough history, although his story is integral to the unravelling of the plot. And Caitlin, the nice roomate, remains just that- nice despite Bianca's unreasonable suspicions.
To put it in a nutshell, Blazon's got the bones of a good gothic mystery but but no flesh.
An additional purchase.
Show Less
LibraryThing member chibimajo
Translated from German. Story about a girl who gets accepted into a boarding school and then becomes harrassed by the exclusive club from the school. Also becomes embroiled in a mystery when she finds a dead body in the library. Had high hopes for this book, but perhaps the translation was off. The
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writing was very dry and there were several flaws that made reading it less enjoyable. Show Less
Language
Original language
German
ISBN
1741753902 / 9781741753905