The Furies

By: Katie Lowe

Narrated by: Olivia Dowd

You’d kill to be one of them.

1998. A 16-year-old girl is found dead on school property, dressed in white and posed on a swing. No known cause of death.

Four girls know what happened.

And until now they’ve kept their silence.

Violet is returning home, back to the sleepy coastal town which holds so many memories.

In 1998, after a tragic accident claimed the lives of her father and sister, she joins Elm Hollow Academy, a private girls’ school with an unpleasant history of 17th century witch trials.

There she is drawn to Robin, Grace, Alex and their charismatic teacher, Annabel; she is invited to join them in their advanced study group.

There they learn about art, literature and the grisly history of the school. Though Annabel claims her classes aren’t related to ancient rites and rituals, she warns them off the topic, describing it as little more than mythology. However, the more the girls learn, the more they start to believe that magic is real, and that together they can harness it.

But when the body of a former member of the society is found on campus nine months after the she disappeared, fingers are pointed at those closest to her. Leading Violet to wonder whether she can trust her friends, her teachers, or even herself.

©2019 Katie Lowe (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"A spell-binding debut that examines the dark heart of friendship, obsession, and revenge. I was bewitched by Katie Lowe's deliciously chilling storytelling. The Furies is a compulsive and unsettling read, dripping in atmosphere and suspense." (Lucy Clarke, best-selling author of You Let Me In)

"The Furies can be described as Prep meets The Craft, while managing to be a dark, weird creature all of its own. Witches, murder, and teenage girls - this is the book of my dreams. I am obsessed." (Louise O’Neill, best-selling author of Only Ever Yours)

"The Furies is mesmerising, disturbing and completely addictive - it's a brilliant book about the power, vulnerability and rage of teenage girls, and it couldn't feel more timely. Lowe's beautiful prose is thrillingly, chillingly dark, and Violet is the sort of heroine that you want to throw yourself down the rabbit hole with - you know that she's going somewhere terrifying but you have to follow her journey." (Daisy Buchanan, author of The Sisterhood)

Hell no Fury like a Woman Scorned

Katie Lowe made me appreciated what friendship is. The Furies is outstandingly interesting from the first moment I got it courtesy of Book Hooked Box. It's a rather basic plot all too familiar to Mean Girls in my opinion but with a rather compelling depth into it. Violet becomes a version of herself she never imagined thanks to her new sisters and the lessons they privately take. Mysteries rises, magic is blossoming, and you can't look away from it. This book really took my breath away. It's spell draw me into it the moment I opened the first page. It is simply grandeur, sassy and downright terrifying something and not afraid to go and explore those red lines, the limits we are uncomfortable with. The writing although looks rather customary as of any Young Adult but it doesn't do that, Lowe got the sparks in her fingertips and every word made me swoon. It is personal, relate able and downright somber. And adding Olivia Dowd narration to the mix and you got yourself a win. She captures the identity of Violet so well and it's amazing. I highly recommend you take a moment of your time and read this. God I beg you.