Excerpt
There isn’t much known about Lakegrave School for Young Women due to its remote location and it being a new school, but it is the only school in the world known for its unique education style—it’s completely self-taught. There are no teachers, just one headmistress. The school only invites the best and brightest women from across the globe to study there for one year before being scouted to go on to their dream careers. This didn’t mean smart in absolutely everything but a genius in our own field.
That is the other unique thing—it also only invites one person per specialist subject.
That’s why Rowan and I were lucky enough to be accepted. Rowan is only just old enough to attend at one and twenty years of age; I, on the other hand, have two years on her. Luck was also on our side when we were encouraged to pursue different hobbies instead of the same, otherwise we wouldn’t have been accepted concurrently.
Leading up to the school, I can only make out the tops of the building as the hedge has overgrown so much. It’s as if the place has been neglected over the summer, if not over the years. Such an odd notion for a new educational establishment but, then again, it was something else before.
I reach the main gate and see a crest at the top. In the middle, there is a sprig of lavender and on each side of the shield are bees facing inward. This looks like it’s been cleaned recently.
Couldn’t say the same for the rest of the gate.
It looks like it once was black, but it is brown now due to the rust. I don’t want to touch it, so I nudge it open with my elbow and shut it again once I’m in.
It’s called a school, but it would be better off compared to a castle, just like every other boarding school that exists. The windows stretch tall and look like they are modelled after a church. Although it is a fairly new build, its appearance is like it has been designed as old-fashioned on purpose, fitting in with something from the 1600s rather than the 1800s. And it almost looks like it’s falling apart, the brickwork cracked and turning the walls into a darker colour rather than its usual sand. It is preposterously big for a school that doesn’t admit too many students. There is definitely some sort of beauty to the building but for some reason, even in the daytime, it appears a little ominous—as if the place is lifeless. It seems as though the garden has overtaken everything as greenery and moss is growing alongside the building. To the west of the school there are some greenhouses and to the east of the school is a church.
The ground crunches as I walk up to the building. There is a huge fountain which is bordered by the driveway on either side but appears not to work, and a huge statue coming out from the middle of it. I’m not that knowledgeable about Greek gods but I know it’s Aphrodite.
It seems fitting to have her standing guard over us.
I pause by the front door, already hearing voices coming from within, so I grip my violin case tighter and push the double doors inwards—letting them shut me away for the next year.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with . . . Lauren Carter . . .
LIGHTNING ROUND
What genre do you read?
Primarily horror but also fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and non-fiction.
What genre do you write?
Only horror, currently, but a mixture of sub-genres of horror (supernatural, gothic, dark academia, historical etc.)
What was the first book you fell in love with?
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and, to this day, it’s still my favourite book of all time.
What was a book you said you would never pick up again?
The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. It’s not a bad book at all and I’ll probably own it for the rest of my life but it is horrific and a very hard read.
Which fiction character do you love?
Will from Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat. He’s a very complex character, who has a very interesting storyline and his character development is captivating. Eagerly waiting book three. I think it might break me.
Which fiction character do you love to hate?
Richard from The Secret History by Donna Tartt – he’s very interesting and also not interesting. An ordinary character who gets mixed up in an extraordinary story. Which, I guess, that’s the point.
Which fiction character do you hate?
Just because I recently re-read The Hunger Games books…Gale. I don’t even know his last name, it’s not even worth remembering. But Gale.
What beverage do you drink while reading?
A hot chocolate is the ultimate drink to have while reading (especially during Autumn and Winter).
What do you snack on while reading?
Crisps. Which sounds messy but they’re just the best. Proper crisps are a good choice. Now I’m hungry…
Have you always enjoyed reading?
No, actually – I did read as a kid, but not often and I didn’t love to do it. It wasn’t until I went to university that I became a book hoarder and began reading every so often. Nowadays, I read between 15-25 books a month, sometimes less, sometimes more. And I own around 700 books…
Thank you Reign Reeves Pearson for participating in the Lightning Round. Your work is appreciated.
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