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Review: Ghost Wall

Ghost Wall Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This darkly poignant and compelling novella draws you in from the first pages and holds you to the very end.

The tale of Sylvie and her summer's experience with her family and small group of university student's opens her not only to the experience of iron age living but to the devastating climax of her time living as an iron age villager.

There are trigger warnings for violence in this book however, these are delicately handled and Sarah Moss had an almost lyrical way of writing that both draws you in to the surroundings and it's modern connection to times now past.

At times Sylvie is portrayed as just a teenager desperately seeking normality and yet at times darkly mirrors the demise of an iron age sacrifice.

This book is so far one of the best books of my year and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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