The Furies

Author/Guide: Katie Lowe

Why a Booktrail?

1998: A girl is found dead at school. Could this be linked to the town’s past in witch trials?

ISBN: 978-0008288976
Genre: Fiction, Folklore

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What you need to know before your trail

In 1998, a sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on school property, dressed in white and posed on a swing

After an accident involving her Dad and sister, Violet joins Elm Hollow Academy, a private girls school in a quiet coastal town, which has an unpleasant history as the site of famous 17th century witch trials. Violet quickly finds herself invited to become the fourth member of an advanced study group, alongside Robin, Grace, and Alex – led by their charismatic art teacher, Annabel.

While Annabel claims her classes aren’t related to ancient rites and rituals – warning the girls off the topic, describing it as little more than mythology – the girls start to believe that magic is real, and that they can harness it.

But when the body of a former member of the society – Robin’s best friend, with whom Violet shares an uncanny resemblance – is found dead on campus nine months after she disappeared, Violet begins to wonder whether she can trust her friends, teachers, or even herself.

Locations

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Travel Guide

Travel BookTrail style to Salem, MA

Whilst not exactly the location in the book (this is vague and the school is ficitonal) there is a sense that it could be somewhere near Salem as this is infamous for being the site of the Witchtrials of 1692.

Most of the action takes place in and around the fictional school and this is a hot bed of teenage angst, rivalry and more. The idea that the witchtrials and the essence of that time could somehow be influencing the behaviour of the girls now is freaky.

The best place to go to discover more about the real witch trials is of course Salem, MA. There is not a whole lot of witchery goings on in the book.