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Fellow Creatures
Shannon Bell is a nobody. But she can act.
So when she's accepted into one of London's most elite drama schools, it feels like her chance at a life that's far from her drab home town.
There, Shannon meets dazzling, wealthy, beautiful Victoria. The two become inseparable, Victoria the shining centre of Shannon's new world.
And suddenly, Shannon is no longer a nobody. Instead, she's on the inside, part of Victoria's exclusive set of promising young somethings. They spend their days competing for roles, and their nights vying for each other's affections.
But when Victoria's privilege begins to single her out from her peers, Shannon finds their friendship - and her jealousy - spinning out of control, with fatal consequences.
So when she's accepted into one of London's most elite drama schools, it feels like her chance at a life that's far from her drab home town.
There, Shannon meets dazzling, wealthy, beautiful Victoria. The two become inseparable, Victoria the shining centre of Shannon's new world.
And suddenly, Shannon is no longer a nobody. Instead, she's on the inside, part of Victoria's exclusive set of promising young somethings. They spend their days competing for roles, and their nights vying for each other's affections.
But when Victoria's privilege begins to single her out from her peers, Shannon finds their friendship - and her jealousy - spinning out of control, with fatal consequences.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 25, 2026
(4.5) Oh, this is a juicy, moreish, devour-it-as-fast-as-you-can book. It’s a classic setup: a character study about an ordinary student’s obsessive, psychosexual relationship with a wealthier, more glamorous, and extremely fickle classmate. The publishers are comparing it, inevitably, to Saltburn; for me,
And He Shall Appear
and
Social Creature
spring to mind as obvious comparisons (and of course all of these are drawing from the Talented Mr Ripley playbook). Emma Lowther’s version transposes the action to a London drama school, a pressure-cooker environment where everyone is already pretending to be some amped-up version of themselves.
As with so many of these types of stories, class is a factor here, but Lowther’s approach is a good example of how such stories are (in general, I think) moving towards a slightly more nuanced interpretation of the theme. Shannon isn’t the only ‘outsider’ in her friendship group, and the terms of her acceptance are governed by her obsession-object Victoria’s capriciousness more than anything else. Speaking of which, Lowther is very good at writing people you want to recoil from: a scene where Victoria berates everyone is so awful I was wincing away from the book, and Shannon gets into an ill-judged relationship that’s honestly nauseating to read about.
For all its drama, the plot is played refreshingly straight, which meant I found myself wrongfooted in unusual ways, expecting twists that never came. This works in the book’s favour – in fact, the one twist I had anticipated is one the book could have done without, slightly crossing the line from entertaining drama into implausibility. For the most part, Fellow Creatures doesn’t need narrative curveballs, because the Shannon-Victoria friendship/rivalry/amour fou is enough of a delicious feast on its own. Four and a half bright green stars.
I received an advance review copy of Fellow Creatures from the publisher through NetGalley.
As with so many of these types of stories, class is a factor here, but Lowther’s approach is a good example of how such stories are (in general, I think) moving towards a slightly more nuanced interpretation of the theme. Shannon isn’t the only ‘outsider’ in her friendship group, and the terms of her acceptance are governed by her obsession-object Victoria’s capriciousness more than anything else. Speaking of which, Lowther is very good at writing people you want to recoil from: a scene where Victoria berates everyone is so awful I was wincing away from the book, and Shannon gets into an ill-judged relationship that’s honestly nauseating to read about.
For all its drama, the plot is played refreshingly straight, which meant I found myself wrongfooted in unusual ways, expecting twists that never came. This works in the book’s favour – in fact, the one twist I had anticipated is one the book could have done without, slightly crossing the line from entertaining drama into implausibility. For the most part, Fellow Creatures doesn’t need narrative curveballs, because the Shannon-Victoria friendship/rivalry/amour fou is enough of a delicious feast on its own. Four and a half bright green stars.
I received an advance review copy of Fellow Creatures from the publisher through NetGalley.
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Want to Read
June 23, 2026͙͘͡★ pre-release .ᐟ
this was pitched to me as a sapphic if we were villains. GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY
this was pitched to me as a sapphic if we were villains. GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY
July 27, 2026
3.5
This was a nice surprise, a mix between The Secret History and When We Were Villains, two books that I did not like. Somehow though, Fellow Creatures managed to pull me softly into the story, phrase by phrase until I was mesmerized with the characters.
This was a story about toxic friendships, obsessing over perfection, fixating on a colleague until hell breaks loose.
What I absolutely loved was the writing. I was eating up every single word and it was so so slow. This rarely happens, for me to enjoy a slow story with little to no action about college students learning how to act while being consumed also by their private lives and traumas. What a fabulous dark academia story.
It is marketed as a thriller I think, or a mystery. And while there is definitely something wrong with our main character, I found the story to be more literary fiction with troubled, unhinged characters (yes, multiple). It could have been a thriller with a more dark ending after all that foreshadowing, but it was not.
I can only give it 3.5 stars because it was definitely longer that needed to be, especially in the middle, the "incident" was too mild and the ending disappointing for me. But still a GOOD read!
This was a nice surprise, a mix between The Secret History and When We Were Villains, two books that I did not like. Somehow though, Fellow Creatures managed to pull me softly into the story, phrase by phrase until I was mesmerized with the characters.
This was a story about toxic friendships, obsessing over perfection, fixating on a colleague until hell breaks loose.
What I absolutely loved was the writing. I was eating up every single word and it was so so slow. This rarely happens, for me to enjoy a slow story with little to no action about college students learning how to act while being consumed also by their private lives and traumas. What a fabulous dark academia story.
It is marketed as a thriller I think, or a mystery. And while there is definitely something wrong with our main character, I found the story to be more literary fiction with troubled, unhinged characters (yes, multiple). It could have been a thriller with a more dark ending after all that foreshadowing, but it was not.
I can only give it 3.5 stars because it was definitely longer that needed to be, especially in the middle, the "incident" was too mild and the ending disappointing for me. But still a GOOD read!
July 25, 2026
A surprisingly great debut!
May 27, 2026
ARC review thanks to NetGalley
There’s something deeply unsettling about Fellow Creatures in the best possible way. Emma Lowther writes obsession, class envy, and social performance with such sharp precision that I absolutely flew through this book. It feels like the literary baby of Saltburn and The Talented Mr. Ripley — all simmering tension, blurred morality, and that intoxicating desire to be loved, admired, and maybe even consumed by someone wealthier, prettier, or more fascinating than you.
The atmosphere is what really sold me. There’s this creeping sense of dread under every interaction, where even the most mundane conversations feel loaded with manipulation and performance. Like Saltburn, it captures that voyeuristic fascination with privilege and belonging; like Ripley, it understands how identity can become slippery when admiration turns into obsession. I kept waiting for everything to implode, and that anticipation made it impossible to put down.
I also loved how emotionally messy the characters were. Nobody feels entirely trustworthy, but they’re all compelling enough that you can’t stop watching them self-destruct. Lowther doesn’t handhold the reader either she lets the discomfort sit there, which made the story feel even more immersive.
My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the pacing dipped slightly in the middle for me, and I wanted the ending to push just a little further into the darkness it was hinting at. But overall, this was stylish, tense, and quietly disturbing in a way that really worked for me.
If you enjoy stories about obsession, class dynamics, performative intimacy, and morally questionable people making terrible decisions, this absolutely delivers.
There’s something deeply unsettling about Fellow Creatures in the best possible way. Emma Lowther writes obsession, class envy, and social performance with such sharp precision that I absolutely flew through this book. It feels like the literary baby of Saltburn and The Talented Mr. Ripley — all simmering tension, blurred morality, and that intoxicating desire to be loved, admired, and maybe even consumed by someone wealthier, prettier, or more fascinating than you.
The atmosphere is what really sold me. There’s this creeping sense of dread under every interaction, where even the most mundane conversations feel loaded with manipulation and performance. Like Saltburn, it captures that voyeuristic fascination with privilege and belonging; like Ripley, it understands how identity can become slippery when admiration turns into obsession. I kept waiting for everything to implode, and that anticipation made it impossible to put down.
I also loved how emotionally messy the characters were. Nobody feels entirely trustworthy, but they’re all compelling enough that you can’t stop watching them self-destruct. Lowther doesn’t handhold the reader either she lets the discomfort sit there, which made the story feel even more immersive.
My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the pacing dipped slightly in the middle for me, and I wanted the ending to push just a little further into the darkness it was hinting at. But overall, this was stylish, tense, and quietly disturbing in a way that really worked for me.
If you enjoy stories about obsession, class dynamics, performative intimacy, and morally questionable people making terrible decisions, this absolutely delivers.
June 23, 2026
This book was like if The Secret History was set in an elitist drama school, where Richard was obsessed with Bunny in a way that bordered both jealousy and attraction. And make them female.
What Shannon felt towards Victoria can only be described as a psychosexual obsession. Even though it is undeniable that Shannon had many mental illnesses, Victoria was also incredibly selfish and dismissive of both Shannon’s feelings and needs. At a certain point, it was almost like Shannon’s increasing annoyance of Victoria was mirroring my own. I could write an essay on how shitty of a friend Victoria was, and I wouldn’t even need to bring up their sexual relationship because there just wouldn’t be enough room—It would need its own essay.
Besides me hating Victoria, the plot twist at the end actually altered my brain. It took me so long to figure out what was happening, and for a second I was convinced I’d forgotten how to read—truly thought the author had forgotten character’s names. Just as I had calmed myself down, I read the epilogue…and I wanted to scream. Seeing the outcome of one particular character (who I hated more than Victoria) actually made me sick. The fact he ended up with that job after what happened disgusts me.
3.5/5 ⭐️
What Shannon felt towards Victoria can only be described as a psychosexual obsession. Even though it is undeniable that Shannon had many mental illnesses, Victoria was also incredibly selfish and dismissive of both Shannon’s feelings and needs. At a certain point, it was almost like Shannon’s increasing annoyance of Victoria was mirroring my own. I could write an essay on how shitty of a friend Victoria was, and I wouldn’t even need to bring up their sexual relationship because there just wouldn’t be enough room—It would need its own essay.
Besides me hating Victoria, the plot twist at the end actually altered my brain. It took me so long to figure out what was happening, and for a second I was convinced I’d forgotten how to read—truly thought the author had forgotten character’s names. Just as I had calmed myself down, I read the epilogue…and I wanted to scream. Seeing the outcome of one particular character (who I hated more than Victoria) actually made me sick. The fact he ended up with that job after what happened disgusts me.
3.5/5 ⭐️
May 28, 2026
*thank you to netgalley & quercus books for the advance copy*
5/5
anything that’s described as being similar to saltburn has my immediate attention. i personally would describe fellow creatures as the love child of saltburn & mean girls.
emma lowther’s debut novel follows shannon, a quiet, kind of shy, weird girl through her tumultuous time at a london drama school & her infatuation with her best friend, victoria.
i devoured this book, its well written, wildly addictive & unputdownable - a must holiday pool-side read.
5/5
anything that’s described as being similar to saltburn has my immediate attention. i personally would describe fellow creatures as the love child of saltburn & mean girls.
emma lowther’s debut novel follows shannon, a quiet, kind of shy, weird girl through her tumultuous time at a london drama school & her infatuation with her best friend, victoria.
i devoured this book, its well written, wildly addictive & unputdownable - a must holiday pool-side read.
May 16, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was really compelling. I read it all in one sitting! Most of the characters really aren’t that likeable but you want to keep reading because of it. Victoria in particular is a bit of a nightmare a lot of the time.
Shannon is an intriguing character and I liked seeing what she was thinking and how she was understanding what was happening around her.
I liked the setting of the London drama school I think it was unique and not something I’d read before. I also really liked the description of Yorkshire and the moors as a contrast to London.
I think this book does a very good job of showing the class dynamics in England and how class impacts your whole life. The carelessness from Victoria when considering class and how she interacts with her friends and the world around her, especially Shannon, is a pretty accurate representation of the out of touch girls at university. What best shows this is when Victoria says:
“I know that I’m like *middle class* - upper middle class or whatever, I don’t even know any more. Class is such an outdated concept, don’t you think?”
Completely out of touch and playing around in Shannon’s face whilst simultaneously asking Shannon to help her accurately portray someone like Shannon.
This book reminded me at points of The Secret History, which is always great.
This was really compelling. I read it all in one sitting! Most of the characters really aren’t that likeable but you want to keep reading because of it. Victoria in particular is a bit of a nightmare a lot of the time.
Shannon is an intriguing character and I liked seeing what she was thinking and how she was understanding what was happening around her.
I liked the setting of the London drama school I think it was unique and not something I’d read before. I also really liked the description of Yorkshire and the moors as a contrast to London.
I think this book does a very good job of showing the class dynamics in England and how class impacts your whole life. The carelessness from Victoria when considering class and how she interacts with her friends and the world around her, especially Shannon, is a pretty accurate representation of the out of touch girls at university. What best shows this is when Victoria says:
“I know that I’m like *middle class* - upper middle class or whatever, I don’t even know any more. Class is such an outdated concept, don’t you think?”
Completely out of touch and playing around in Shannon’s face whilst simultaneously asking Shannon to help her accurately portray someone like Shannon.
This book reminded me at points of The Secret History, which is always great.
January 7, 2026
A dazzling debut. This tale of obsession leaked off the page and burrowed deep within me. Beautifully written, perfectly plotted and utterly addictive. Everything you’d want from dark academia & more x
July 27, 2026
thriller and horror hn is officially BACK because apparently reading fantasy after fantasy after fantasy was slowly taking me out 😭
there is obviously nothing wrong with fantasy because the genre is massive and there are so many different stories under it , but after reading it almost nonstop lately , i was starting to feel exhausted. then i dnfed the unicorn hunters and immediately knew i needed a complete change of scenery before i accidentally entered the worst reading slump of my life.
thankfully , the timing could not have been more perfect because my first ever Illumicrate MindSight box arrived with fellow creatures inside. i went into this almost completely blind and started it immediately because thrillers and horror have always been my comfort genres. give me a murder , a mystery or a group of deeply suspicious people making terrible decisions and suddenly i am in my element trying to solve everything before the characters do.
this book is just under 400 pages and i absolutely flew through it. i have been studying for exams , travelling home from college , spending time with family and friends , packing and dealing with all the usual chaos that comes with a semester ending , but every time i had even a little bit of free time , i immediately picked this back up. i was constantly thinking about it whenever i was not reading , which honestly reminded me how much i missed this entire genre.
all i really knew before starting was what MindSight included in the reveal: deeply toxic relationships , sapphic yearning , obsession and an elite london drama school. then i saw the comparison to if we were villains and obviously i was seated because that is another book i really loved.
fellow creatures follows a quiet drama student who becomes completely obsessed with another girl at her school , and from there , everything slowly becomes messier , darker and increasingly uncomfortable. the book opens by telling us that someone has died , so i spent a huge part of the story thinking i knew exactly where it was going. especially because of the if we were villains comparison , i expected it to follow a very specific path after the death , but it ended up moving in a completely different direction that i genuinely did not see coming.
i really loved watching everything gradually unravel. the relationships were toxic in the most fascinating way , everyone was carrying around their own jealousy and insecurity , and the tension kept getting worse while i was sitting there trying to figure out how badly this could possibly end. apparently the answer was very badly because these characters seriously needed therapy and literally soooo much distance from each other.
the drama school setting also worked so well for me because i actually did drama when i was younger. i am not studying theater now and obviously my life has moved in a completely different direction , but i genuinely think being a theater kid never fully leaves you. unfortunately , the need to perform and the dramatic tendencies remain somewhere inside forever. my friends already call me dramatic anyway , so maybe nothing has actually changed.
because of that , i could understand a lot of the intensity these characters carried. theater spaces can create such close relationships because everyone is constantly performing together , competing for roles and seeking approval , and this book takes all of that emotion and pushes it somewhere much darker. i will always eat up stories about dramatic teenagers making questionable decisions , especially when there is obsession and murder involved.
this was such a strong debut from emma lowther and i am definitely interested in seeing what she writes next. it was exactly the breath of fresh air i needed after spending so long buried in fantasy , and it has made me even more excited about finally joining MindSight. honestly , if i had to cancel every subscription and only keep two , it would probably be MindSight and Evernight because crime thrillers and horror are just where i feel most at home.
this is also my final book of july , and i genuinely could not have chosen a better way to close out the month. now i just need to survive my exams so i can enter august with more time to read , relax and return fully to my natural habitat of reading.
4 stars ✨
there is obviously nothing wrong with fantasy because the genre is massive and there are so many different stories under it , but after reading it almost nonstop lately , i was starting to feel exhausted. then i dnfed the unicorn hunters and immediately knew i needed a complete change of scenery before i accidentally entered the worst reading slump of my life.
thankfully , the timing could not have been more perfect because my first ever Illumicrate MindSight box arrived with fellow creatures inside. i went into this almost completely blind and started it immediately because thrillers and horror have always been my comfort genres. give me a murder , a mystery or a group of deeply suspicious people making terrible decisions and suddenly i am in my element trying to solve everything before the characters do.
this book is just under 400 pages and i absolutely flew through it. i have been studying for exams , travelling home from college , spending time with family and friends , packing and dealing with all the usual chaos that comes with a semester ending , but every time i had even a little bit of free time , i immediately picked this back up. i was constantly thinking about it whenever i was not reading , which honestly reminded me how much i missed this entire genre.
all i really knew before starting was what MindSight included in the reveal: deeply toxic relationships , sapphic yearning , obsession and an elite london drama school. then i saw the comparison to if we were villains and obviously i was seated because that is another book i really loved.
fellow creatures follows a quiet drama student who becomes completely obsessed with another girl at her school , and from there , everything slowly becomes messier , darker and increasingly uncomfortable. the book opens by telling us that someone has died , so i spent a huge part of the story thinking i knew exactly where it was going. especially because of the if we were villains comparison , i expected it to follow a very specific path after the death , but it ended up moving in a completely different direction that i genuinely did not see coming.
i really loved watching everything gradually unravel. the relationships were toxic in the most fascinating way , everyone was carrying around their own jealousy and insecurity , and the tension kept getting worse while i was sitting there trying to figure out how badly this could possibly end. apparently the answer was very badly because these characters seriously needed therapy and literally soooo much distance from each other.
the drama school setting also worked so well for me because i actually did drama when i was younger. i am not studying theater now and obviously my life has moved in a completely different direction , but i genuinely think being a theater kid never fully leaves you. unfortunately , the need to perform and the dramatic tendencies remain somewhere inside forever. my friends already call me dramatic anyway , so maybe nothing has actually changed.
because of that , i could understand a lot of the intensity these characters carried. theater spaces can create such close relationships because everyone is constantly performing together , competing for roles and seeking approval , and this book takes all of that emotion and pushes it somewhere much darker. i will always eat up stories about dramatic teenagers making questionable decisions , especially when there is obsession and murder involved.
this was such a strong debut from emma lowther and i am definitely interested in seeing what she writes next. it was exactly the breath of fresh air i needed after spending so long buried in fantasy , and it has made me even more excited about finally joining MindSight. honestly , if i had to cancel every subscription and only keep two , it would probably be MindSight and Evernight because crime thrillers and horror are just where i feel most at home.
this is also my final book of july , and i genuinely could not have chosen a better way to close out the month. now i just need to survive my exams so i can enter august with more time to read , relax and return fully to my natural habitat of reading.
4 stars ✨
July 27, 2026
Consider my Red Rising hangover officially cured!!! 💜
Fellow Creatures was such an unexpectedly fun read. Somebody needs to turn this into an HBO series because I would binge-watch the entire thing in a weekend.
This isn’t the type of book I usually gravitate towards. It’s a contemporary psychological drama, with no fantasy or supernatural elements, and yet I was completely hooked from beginning to end.
At its heart, this is a story about identity: about the need to be seen, the danger of defining yourself through other people’s approval, and what happens when your sense of self begins to feel threatened by someone who seems effortlessly better than you.
The setting, a prestigious drama school in London, is the perfect backdrop for those ideas. The world of acting, performance, ambition, and competition naturally blurs the line between who people really are and the roles they play, and the novel takes full advantage of that. Everything feels incredibly intentional.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the writing itself. The chapters are short, which gives the story a wonderful sense of momentum, and I constantly found myself thinking, just one more chapter. The prose also has an almost theatrical quality to it. At times it genuinely felt like I was watching a play unfold rather than reading a novel, and that stylistic choice fits the setting perfectly.
The real star of the novel, however, is its character work.
These are wonderfully layered, psychologically complex characters who constantly challenge your perception of them. Throughout the book I kept changing my mind about who I could trust, who I should sympathize with, and who the real “villain” of the story was. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, the novel shifted my perspective just enough to make me question everything again.
One thing I particularly appreciated is that, despite figuring out most of the major twists fairly early on, my enjoyment never diminished. This wasn’t the kind of story where the surprise itself was the point. Instead, knowing (or suspecting) where things were heading simply made me even more eager to see how everything would unfold. And then the book delivered one final revelation that completely reframed everything that came before it. Looking back, all the pieces had been there from the beginning, and yet I still didn’t put them together until the very end.
That’s the kind of twist I love.
This is, as far as I know, Emma Loewther’s debut novel, and I’ll absolutely be reading whatever she writes next. Her storytelling is incredibly confident, but it’s her understanding of character psychology what I enjoyed the most me the most.
If you like psychologically driven stories with morally messy characters and an atmosphere that slowly becomes darker and more unsettling, I can’t recommend this enough. It also reminded me quite a bit of Krystal Sutherland’s novels, not because the stories are similar, but because they share that same addictive quality where you can’t stop turning pages as you slowly realize something is deeply, deeply wrong beneath the surface.
This was an absolute treat, one that’s going to stay with me for a very long time.
Highly recommended.
Fellow Creatures was such an unexpectedly fun read. Somebody needs to turn this into an HBO series because I would binge-watch the entire thing in a weekend.
This isn’t the type of book I usually gravitate towards. It’s a contemporary psychological drama, with no fantasy or supernatural elements, and yet I was completely hooked from beginning to end.
At its heart, this is a story about identity: about the need to be seen, the danger of defining yourself through other people’s approval, and what happens when your sense of self begins to feel threatened by someone who seems effortlessly better than you.
The setting, a prestigious drama school in London, is the perfect backdrop for those ideas. The world of acting, performance, ambition, and competition naturally blurs the line between who people really are and the roles they play, and the novel takes full advantage of that. Everything feels incredibly intentional.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the writing itself. The chapters are short, which gives the story a wonderful sense of momentum, and I constantly found myself thinking, just one more chapter. The prose also has an almost theatrical quality to it. At times it genuinely felt like I was watching a play unfold rather than reading a novel, and that stylistic choice fits the setting perfectly.
The real star of the novel, however, is its character work.
These are wonderfully layered, psychologically complex characters who constantly challenge your perception of them. Throughout the book I kept changing my mind about who I could trust, who I should sympathize with, and who the real “villain” of the story was. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, the novel shifted my perspective just enough to make me question everything again.
One thing I particularly appreciated is that, despite figuring out most of the major twists fairly early on, my enjoyment never diminished. This wasn’t the kind of story where the surprise itself was the point. Instead, knowing (or suspecting) where things were heading simply made me even more eager to see how everything would unfold. And then the book delivered one final revelation that completely reframed everything that came before it. Looking back, all the pieces had been there from the beginning, and yet I still didn’t put them together until the very end.
That’s the kind of twist I love.
This is, as far as I know, Emma Loewther’s debut novel, and I’ll absolutely be reading whatever she writes next. Her storytelling is incredibly confident, but it’s her understanding of character psychology what I enjoyed the most me the most.
If you like psychologically driven stories with morally messy characters and an atmosphere that slowly becomes darker and more unsettling, I can’t recommend this enough. It also reminded me quite a bit of Krystal Sutherland’s novels, not because the stories are similar, but because they share that same addictive quality where you can’t stop turning pages as you slowly realize something is deeply, deeply wrong beneath the surface.
This was an absolute treat, one that’s going to stay with me for a very long time.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Fellow Creatures follows Shannon Bell who is a nobody from the North of England. Shannon is a good actress and gets accepted into an elite drama school in London. This gives Shannon a chance to come out of her shell and experience a life completely different to what she lived before in Yorkshire. At the drama school, Shannon meets Victoria who is very wealthy and she brings Shannon into her world. Shannon stops being a nobody due to her connection with Victoria and she enjoys being part of Victoria’s circle. Victoria’s wealth and privilege means she doesn’t need to be at the drama school and she starts to get roles that her peers have no chance of getting. Shannon is intoxicated by Victoria but her jealousy is getting out of control and there is only room for one lead actress in these breakout roles.
I really enjoyed this book and I am impressed with this author’s skill. I had zero expectations for this book and I found it to be so compelling from start to finish. The writing of this book is strong and the characters were nuanced especially Shannon and Victoria. I found it easy to relate to Shannon as I am from the North of England too. Shannon is placed in a world completely different to what she has experienced before and she quickly gets swept up in Victoria. Victoria blows very hot and cold with Shannon and Shannon never knows where she stands with her. This book has sapphic undertones and Victoria leads Shannon on with Shannon wondering if Victoria wants to be with her. There is a dark twist at the end which I really enjoyed. This book is much more literary than mystery/thriller and I will be recommending this. I’m so glad I took a chance on this book and I read it in one day because I was having such a good time with this. Parts of this reminded me of Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason. That book has a completely different story to this but the main characters are similar as they are intoxicated by someone and struggle with their place in the world. This is also similar to If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio due to the drama setting.
Fellow Creatures follows Shannon Bell who is a nobody from the North of England. Shannon is a good actress and gets accepted into an elite drama school in London. This gives Shannon a chance to come out of her shell and experience a life completely different to what she lived before in Yorkshire. At the drama school, Shannon meets Victoria who is very wealthy and she brings Shannon into her world. Shannon stops being a nobody due to her connection with Victoria and she enjoys being part of Victoria’s circle. Victoria’s wealth and privilege means she doesn’t need to be at the drama school and she starts to get roles that her peers have no chance of getting. Shannon is intoxicated by Victoria but her jealousy is getting out of control and there is only room for one lead actress in these breakout roles.
I really enjoyed this book and I am impressed with this author’s skill. I had zero expectations for this book and I found it to be so compelling from start to finish. The writing of this book is strong and the characters were nuanced especially Shannon and Victoria. I found it easy to relate to Shannon as I am from the North of England too. Shannon is placed in a world completely different to what she has experienced before and she quickly gets swept up in Victoria. Victoria blows very hot and cold with Shannon and Shannon never knows where she stands with her. This book has sapphic undertones and Victoria leads Shannon on with Shannon wondering if Victoria wants to be with her. There is a dark twist at the end which I really enjoyed. This book is much more literary than mystery/thriller and I will be recommending this. I’m so glad I took a chance on this book and I read it in one day because I was having such a good time with this. Parts of this reminded me of Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason. That book has a completely different story to this but the main characters are similar as they are intoxicated by someone and struggle with their place in the world. This is also similar to If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio due to the drama setting.
July 14, 2026
Very strong 4/5 for me!
The vibes in the book were great. I feel like it would hit me harder if I read this on a rainy autumn day, but was still quite dark and haunting nevertheless.
The characters were interesting but I wish they were less shallow than they have been.
The pacing is alright, but the middle felt a bit longer than it should have been in my opinion.
The drama itself was great. I did not like this book as much as “If We Were Villains”, but it still held well with the drama school, obsession and the twist in the end!
The vibes in the book were great. I feel like it would hit me harder if I read this on a rainy autumn day, but was still quite dark and haunting nevertheless.
The characters were interesting but I wish they were less shallow than they have been.
The pacing is alright, but the middle felt a bit longer than it should have been in my opinion.
The drama itself was great. I did not like this book as much as “If We Were Villains”, but it still held well with the drama school, obsession and the twist in the end!
July 12, 2026
This book was SO good, I ate it up! I had never heard of it before I received a beautiful special edition in my Illumicrate Mindsight box, and I'm so happy I did. Fellow Creatures has one of those plots / group of characters that's like a train wreck you can't look away from. I absolutely loved the setting of this book (a drama school in London) and the various themes. This book felt like a mix of The Secret History and Obsession (yes, the new horror movie). If you're a fan of either of those things, or Dark Academia in general, I think you'll like this book. The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star for me is it didn't quite stick the landing at the end. Especially the epilogue. I just found myself confused.
Emma Lowther is definitely a talented author I'll be keeping an eye on!
Emma Lowther is definitely a talented author I'll be keeping an eye on!
July 11, 2026
If you liked If We Were Villains not just for the Shakespeare (but like a bit of the bard)
Or rooted for any of the unlikeable characters in A Secret History (so any character)
Or just wanted a younger, Sapphic, British version of dark academia/psychological twisty angst.
Here is dinner.
Or rooted for any of the unlikeable characters in A Secret History (so any character)
Or just wanted a younger, Sapphic, British version of dark academia/psychological twisty angst.
Here is dinner.
July 18, 2026
What a brilliant read. I can’t wait to read more
July 13, 2026
Such a good read! Helped me out of a reading slump!
An easy to read book that keeps you hooked from page 1.
I was so invested in the lives of Shannon and Victoria that they felt like real people even though I have never been to drama school and have no idea about the comings and goings of drama school and life there after.
Definitely found an auto buy author in Emma Lowther!
Glad I got a beautiful special edition as a trophy!
An easy to read book that keeps you hooked from page 1.
I was so invested in the lives of Shannon and Victoria that they felt like real people even though I have never been to drama school and have no idea about the comings and goings of drama school and life there after.
Definitely found an auto buy author in Emma Lowther!
Glad I got a beautiful special edition as a trophy!
July 13, 2026
4.5 stars
This was great! Highly entertaining, easily readable. I liked the characters, even the ones I didn't like.
It's her debut novel, which is awesome. I look forward to her next one and will definitely keep an eye out :)
This was great! Highly entertaining, easily readable. I liked the characters, even the ones I didn't like.
It's her debut novel, which is awesome. I look forward to her next one and will definitely keep an eye out :)
July 5, 2026
(4.5) Fellow Creatures completely pulled me in.
What initially intrigued me was the drama school setting, which felt immersive and refreshingly different. As the story unfolded, I found myself becoming more and more absorbed in the narrator’s world. Looking back, I think that’s one of the book’s greatest strengths: the narrative quietly narrows your focus until you start questioning not only the people around the narrator, but the narrator herself. I particularly enjoyed how the novel explores identity, obsession, ambition, and the roles people perform both on and off the stage. Even when I thought I had an idea of where the story was heading, the ending still managed to surprise me with how far it went.
I’m still torn between 4 and 5 stars, but it’s a book I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
What initially intrigued me was the drama school setting, which felt immersive and refreshingly different. As the story unfolded, I found myself becoming more and more absorbed in the narrator’s world. Looking back, I think that’s one of the book’s greatest strengths: the narrative quietly narrows your focus until you start questioning not only the people around the narrator, but the narrator herself. I particularly enjoyed how the novel explores identity, obsession, ambition, and the roles people perform both on and off the stage. Even when I thought I had an idea of where the story was heading, the ending still managed to surprise me with how far it went.
I’m still torn between 4 and 5 stars, but it’s a book I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
July 4, 2026
5 ⭐️
Wow! This was so much better than I expected it to be. Dark (almost Dark Academia but not quite, just enough similarities for me to be completely in love), so well written, packs an emotional punch.
The story kept me on my toes the whole book but it's truly the stellar work on the characters that makes this one a new favorite.
Shannon and Victoria, as well as all the other secondary characters were expertly written. They felt so fleshed out to the point were I felt like I knew them (as in encountered the same archetypes in real life). It was so easy to hate them but they always had too much humanity for us to so. They are so layered and complex and extremely flawed. So HUMAN!!!
This is as story about hate and love, obsession, self worth and the grey boundaries between good and evil.
I will be CLOSELY following this author's future work!!
Wow! This was so much better than I expected it to be. Dark (almost Dark Academia but not quite, just enough similarities for me to be completely in love), so well written, packs an emotional punch.
The story kept me on my toes the whole book but it's truly the stellar work on the characters that makes this one a new favorite.
Shannon and Victoria, as well as all the other secondary characters were expertly written. They felt so fleshed out to the point were I felt like I knew them (as in encountered the same archetypes in real life). It was so easy to hate them but they always had too much humanity for us to so. They are so layered and complex and extremely flawed. So HUMAN!!!
This is as story about hate and love, obsession, self worth and the grey boundaries between good and evil.
I will be CLOSELY following this author's future work!!
June 30, 2026
Honestly so entertaining
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
I devoured this in the span of 24 hours because it’s just that gripping and readable.
At its core, Fellow Creatures is a cautionary tale against the lengths obsession will take you, even if, at face value, that obsession seems to pay off.
Shannon, our protagonist, is 18 years old and just about to start 3 years at a prestigious London drama school. From the very beginning, the first-person narration drips with subtle self-deprecation and the unfortunate need to impress as she irreversible enters the orbit of Victoria, a fellow student and the object of Shannon’s evolving infatuation.
What follows is an exploration of a complex and toxic friendship, with Shannon always feeling several steps behind Victoria. It was so incredibly interesting to follow along with Shannon’s narrative voice, because it’s obvious she loathes and loves Victoria in equal measure and can never quite allow herself to champion one feeling over the other. She constantly compares herself to Victoria, bristles at throwaway comments Victoria makes that are intended to hurt, and even preens when she is sometimes compared to Victoria (not a positive comparison, fyi). Shannon presents herself as a tangled tapestry of despising the way Victoria treats her and craving nothing but her attention.
The friendship group revolving around this pair were also thoroughly engaging, and each battled their own various issues as they ploughed their way through the same 3-year stint of drama school. Jolly, for example, as a young gay man fears being typecast and fears for his future as an actor. Stefano, misogynist at heart and not very likable, constantly feels judged and looked down upon by his friends. Obi, kind and thoughtful, engages in a seemingly fraught relationship with Victoria at the same time as trying to keep the peace within the group.
And at the centre of it all, causing conflict where none need exist, is the Mean Girl herself. Victoria’s cruelty was always subtle, always skirting that nebulous edge where Shannon wonders if she’s misreading the situation. Maybe she’s overthinking things. Maybe Victoria didn’t mean it that way. Maybe hounding Stefano into a blazing row was because Victoria was drunk, and not because she just loves causing chaos and upset.
And this is where Victoria is such a masterful character. Her actions can be reasoned away, even if we as the reader understand that her every action and word is deliberate. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and she does it so well. The whole time, you’re rooting for Shannon to come to her senses and sever the toxic friendship, even if at the same time you want the torment to continue to see just what Victoria will say or do next.
Overall, I loved this book. It touches upon the unfair expectations education places on young people at the same time as gorily dissecting the catastrophic bonds that form between these stressed, harried individuals.
Thank you to the publisher for my early reader copy.
At its core, Fellow Creatures is a cautionary tale against the lengths obsession will take you, even if, at face value, that obsession seems to pay off.
Shannon, our protagonist, is 18 years old and just about to start 3 years at a prestigious London drama school. From the very beginning, the first-person narration drips with subtle self-deprecation and the unfortunate need to impress as she irreversible enters the orbit of Victoria, a fellow student and the object of Shannon’s evolving infatuation.
What follows is an exploration of a complex and toxic friendship, with Shannon always feeling several steps behind Victoria. It was so incredibly interesting to follow along with Shannon’s narrative voice, because it’s obvious she loathes and loves Victoria in equal measure and can never quite allow herself to champion one feeling over the other. She constantly compares herself to Victoria, bristles at throwaway comments Victoria makes that are intended to hurt, and even preens when she is sometimes compared to Victoria (not a positive comparison, fyi). Shannon presents herself as a tangled tapestry of despising the way Victoria treats her and craving nothing but her attention.
The friendship group revolving around this pair were also thoroughly engaging, and each battled their own various issues as they ploughed their way through the same 3-year stint of drama school. Jolly, for example, as a young gay man fears being typecast and fears for his future as an actor. Stefano, misogynist at heart and not very likable, constantly feels judged and looked down upon by his friends. Obi, kind and thoughtful, engages in a seemingly fraught relationship with Victoria at the same time as trying to keep the peace within the group.
And at the centre of it all, causing conflict where none need exist, is the Mean Girl herself. Victoria’s cruelty was always subtle, always skirting that nebulous edge where Shannon wonders if she’s misreading the situation. Maybe she’s overthinking things. Maybe Victoria didn’t mean it that way. Maybe hounding Stefano into a blazing row was because Victoria was drunk, and not because she just loves causing chaos and upset.
And this is where Victoria is such a masterful character. Her actions can be reasoned away, even if we as the reader understand that her every action and word is deliberate. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and she does it so well. The whole time, you’re rooting for Shannon to come to her senses and sever the toxic friendship, even if at the same time you want the torment to continue to see just what Victoria will say or do next.
Overall, I loved this book. It touches upon the unfair expectations education places on young people at the same time as gorily dissecting the catastrophic bonds that form between these stressed, harried individuals.
Thank you to the publisher for my early reader copy.
July 14, 2026
I was so excited to get this book from a subscription box I recently joined. It promised to have dark academia vibes, complex relationships and a suspenseful plot. Sometimes with these subscriptions, books get built up and don’t live up to the hype. Thankfully, that was not the case here. This was such a fun read! I found myself devouring the book because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
I am not very familiar with drama or theater schools, but I was still drawn in and found myself quickly turning the pages to find out how the auditions and rehearsals were going to pan out with the intense and intimidating teachers. I feel the author did a good job of explaining how that world works and what it is like on the inside for aspiring actors.
The relationships were tough to read in a good way. I think she did an amazing job showing how some friendships around that time in life unfold. So much so that I found myself looking back at my own past and frenemies situations. Unfortunately, we don’t always pick the healthiest people to be around. It seems as if we gravitate towards the “queen bee” because we are a little intoxicated by their brashness, but also because we feel we might be safer on the inside of their circle as opposed to keeping our distance and risk being on the outs with them. If only we could be a little bolder and have those difficult conversations about our own fears and wants, then we could avoid most of the snarky comments and passive aggressive behaviors that cause so much anguish and resentment. That definitely was not all that was going on with the main character, Shannon, in this book though.
She had other things that happened in her past that certainly shaped how she navigated her way through acting, school, and her relationships with the other characters. I knew there was going to be something about her past that was a little dark, but like some other reviewers mentioned, I was not expecting that twist at the end. I thought it was a really clever ending and it definitely explained everything and revealed why things ended up the way they did for her. This is a book I want to reread knowing the ending/Shannon's backstory to see how that reframes the story and events the second time through.
If I had one criticism it would be that this book could use a trigger warning for the one part that occurs with her disgusting boyfriend in Rome.
Other than that, I would definitely recommend this book. It has an immersive world that I got hooked into, well written characters and a thought provoking plot. Can’t wait to read what this author writes next.
I am not very familiar with drama or theater schools, but I was still drawn in and found myself quickly turning the pages to find out how the auditions and rehearsals were going to pan out with the intense and intimidating teachers. I feel the author did a good job of explaining how that world works and what it is like on the inside for aspiring actors.
The relationships were tough to read in a good way. I think she did an amazing job showing how some friendships around that time in life unfold. So much so that I found myself looking back at my own past and frenemies situations. Unfortunately, we don’t always pick the healthiest people to be around. It seems as if we gravitate towards the “queen bee” because we are a little intoxicated by their brashness, but also because we feel we might be safer on the inside of their circle as opposed to keeping our distance and risk being on the outs with them. If only we could be a little bolder and have those difficult conversations about our own fears and wants, then we could avoid most of the snarky comments and passive aggressive behaviors that cause so much anguish and resentment. That definitely was not all that was going on with the main character, Shannon, in this book though.
She had other things that happened in her past that certainly shaped how she navigated her way through acting, school, and her relationships with the other characters. I knew there was going to be something about her past that was a little dark, but like some other reviewers mentioned, I was not expecting that twist at the end. I thought it was a really clever ending and it definitely explained everything and revealed why things ended up the way they did for her. This is a book I want to reread knowing the ending/Shannon's backstory to see how that reframes the story and events the second time through.
If I had one criticism it would be that this book could use a trigger warning for the one part that occurs with her disgusting boyfriend in Rome.
Other than that, I would definitely recommend this book. It has an immersive world that I got hooked into, well written characters and a thought provoking plot. Can’t wait to read what this author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
’Love makes us do mad and terrible things’
Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn meets Mona Awad’s All’s Well in Fellow Creatures - a story of desire, envy-fuelled infatuation, and the gruelling world of theatre. We follow Shannon Bell, a working-class northerner who begins an acting degree in London, all with the hope of finally becoming seen. There she meets Victoria - beautiful, charismatic, talented and wealthy - and quickly becomes caught up in the whirlwind of her life. But as friendship turns to obsession, and obsession turns to jealousy, it becomes clear that the stage might not have enough space for the two of them.
Fellow Creatures fits a very distinct niche of academic rivalry that I just adore - two talented women fighting to make their mark on the world, all while working through their own fractured relationship with one another. It’s a premise that I am drawn to instantly, perhaps due to my own fascination with careers I will never compete for a place in, like acting, law, medicine, or music. The competitiveness of these professions seems to draw out the best or the utter worst in people, and there is nothing more entertaining, in my opinion.
Lowther did an utterly fantastic job at crafting such a layered, distinct, and tense relationship between Victoria and Shannon, one that was so well-written that it dominated every aspect of the story. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the page, I was just so caught up in the charged atmosphere that seemed to fill the pages of this book. Both characters had unique and fascinating personalities and backgrounds, made even more impactful due to their innate differences, and similarities, with one another. Class and privilege play a central role to the narrative, and they are tackled with respect and nuance - the conversation around Victoria’s ‘prestigious’ upbringing, compared to her peers lower-class childhoods, was brilliant.
Overall, Fellow Creatures gets 4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5/5 stars for Goodreads and Netgalley. A truly captivating debut, that I won’t be forgetting about any time soon.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn meets Mona Awad’s All’s Well in Fellow Creatures - a story of desire, envy-fuelled infatuation, and the gruelling world of theatre. We follow Shannon Bell, a working-class northerner who begins an acting degree in London, all with the hope of finally becoming seen. There she meets Victoria - beautiful, charismatic, talented and wealthy - and quickly becomes caught up in the whirlwind of her life. But as friendship turns to obsession, and obsession turns to jealousy, it becomes clear that the stage might not have enough space for the two of them.
Fellow Creatures fits a very distinct niche of academic rivalry that I just adore - two talented women fighting to make their mark on the world, all while working through their own fractured relationship with one another. It’s a premise that I am drawn to instantly, perhaps due to my own fascination with careers I will never compete for a place in, like acting, law, medicine, or music. The competitiveness of these professions seems to draw out the best or the utter worst in people, and there is nothing more entertaining, in my opinion.
Lowther did an utterly fantastic job at crafting such a layered, distinct, and tense relationship between Victoria and Shannon, one that was so well-written that it dominated every aspect of the story. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the page, I was just so caught up in the charged atmosphere that seemed to fill the pages of this book. Both characters had unique and fascinating personalities and backgrounds, made even more impactful due to their innate differences, and similarities, with one another. Class and privilege play a central role to the narrative, and they are tackled with respect and nuance - the conversation around Victoria’s ‘prestigious’ upbringing, compared to her peers lower-class childhoods, was brilliant.
Overall, Fellow Creatures gets 4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5/5 stars for Goodreads and Netgalley. A truly captivating debut, that I won’t be forgetting about any time soon.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
June 29, 2026
I devoured this book in one sitting - I loved the prose, the complexity of the characters and their relationships with each other, the atmosphere and slow-build rising sense of dread throughout.
The plot was the right mix of dread and light, although the general vibe was darker than I realised, and I felt like the ending generally wrapped up the story quite nicely in a realistic way.
There was a certain odious character whom I found myself waiting for karma to catch up with, and was gutted at their ending - not to take away from the story as it felt intentional to show how good things can still happen to terrible people, especially in that industry.
I agree with a similar review that the plot-twist towards the end was so subtle that I thought I had misread the sentence, and I'm still stewing on what it meant and how it affected the whole of the plot looking back - definitely a reason to go back and re-read with it in mind.
Some minor criticisms - there were random Americanisms that took me out of the story at times - 'closet', 'sneakers'. I counted four times a quotation mark or full-stop was missing, but I understand that it's almost impossible to have a perfectly-edited book where nothing is missed.
Also, having wrapped up the story, I felt like I still never really found out why Victoria did the things she did to Shannon specifically? You find out a bit about her past, but that still didn't justify or give reason to some of the more egregious things she did to Shannon.
Still, the story and prose kept me gripped enough to read the entire thing in one day, and gave me a lot to think about long after finishing, which is the number one thing I look for when reading a story.
Overall, 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I loved this author's writing and will certainly be picking up her next book!
The plot was the right mix of dread and light, although the general vibe was darker than I realised, and I felt like the ending generally wrapped up the story quite nicely in a realistic way.
There was a certain odious character whom I found myself waiting for karma to catch up with, and was gutted at their ending - not to take away from the story as it felt intentional to show how good things can still happen to terrible people, especially in that industry.
I agree with a similar review that the plot-twist towards the end was so subtle that I thought I had misread the sentence, and I'm still stewing on what it meant and how it affected the whole of the plot looking back - definitely a reason to go back and re-read with it in mind.
Some minor criticisms - there were random Americanisms that took me out of the story at times - 'closet', 'sneakers'. I counted four times a quotation mark or full-stop was missing, but I understand that it's almost impossible to have a perfectly-edited book where nothing is missed.
Also, having wrapped up the story, I felt like I still never really found out why Victoria did the things she did to Shannon specifically? You find out a bit about her past, but that still didn't justify or give reason to some of the more egregious things she did to Shannon.
Still, the story and prose kept me gripped enough to read the entire thing in one day, and gave me a lot to think about long after finishing, which is the number one thing I look for when reading a story.
Overall, 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I loved this author's writing and will certainly be picking up her next book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fellow Creatures is a dazzlingly dark story about jealousy, desire, and the obsessive need to fit in. Shannon is eerie and concerning, Victoria is the perfect picture of a privileged drama student with a sprinkling of 'mean girl needs to put others down to feel good about herself.' At their elite drama school, they engage in a toxic push-and-pull that leads Shannon down a dark road. Fans of complex characters with complex feelings will adore this read!
I finished it in roughly six hours, enthralled by where the story was going, by the characters and dynamics. Most of all, I was hooked by the theme of self-identity – or lack thereof. Each character is moulded by a distinct lack of belonging or connection. Emma Lowther's writing draws you in and keeps you there for hours, leaving you with a sinking dread that follows long after you've finished. A must-read debut!
However, I wished that this story went a bit further!! I wish it pushed a little bit more, was a bit darker, really got into the nitty gritty of Shannon and Victoria specifically. I wanted more obsession, more gore, more arguments, more everything. Quite frankly, I'd take more book. It was a fantastic read, but I just wanted more.
Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I finished it in roughly six hours, enthralled by where the story was going, by the characters and dynamics. Most of all, I was hooked by the theme of self-identity – or lack thereof. Each character is moulded by a distinct lack of belonging or connection. Emma Lowther's writing draws you in and keeps you there for hours, leaving you with a sinking dread that follows long after you've finished. A must-read debut!
However, I wished that this story went a bit further!! I wish it pushed a little bit more, was a bit darker, really got into the nitty gritty of Shannon and Victoria specifically. I wanted more obsession, more gore, more arguments, more everything. Quite frankly, I'd take more book. It was a fantastic read, but I just wanted more.
Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Literary fiction is not my usual genre, but I was instantly intrigued by this one when I learned that it's a sub pick in one of my boxes. And I'm so glad I gave it a chance, because what a fantastic debut!
Admittedly, I don't know too much about the reality of drama schools, but I immensely enjoyed that setting for this book with the ruthless competition and academic rivalry, especially combined with the complex cast of characters.
So much toxicity and obsession, I found it both disturbing and weirdly addicting! I knew things were going to go terribly wrong, but I had no idea how or when, so I simply couldn't look away.
There weren't really any points in the story where I knew for sure who to trust or who had Shannon's best interest at heart and who was faking it. Victoria was the hardest to read, what a masterfully crafted character.
Fair warning, it is a very dark story where multiple characters are subject to verbal bullying and have mental health issues.
Overall, I thought the ending was a very fitting conclusion, and if the trigger warnings don't deter you, I do think Fellow Creatures will blow you away too.
Thank you to Quercus, NetGalley and the author for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
Admittedly, I don't know too much about the reality of drama schools, but I immensely enjoyed that setting for this book with the ruthless competition and academic rivalry, especially combined with the complex cast of characters.
So much toxicity and obsession, I found it both disturbing and weirdly addicting! I knew things were going to go terribly wrong, but I had no idea how or when, so I simply couldn't look away.
There weren't really any points in the story where I knew for sure who to trust or who had Shannon's best interest at heart and who was faking it. Victoria was the hardest to read, what a masterfully crafted character.
Fair warning, it is a very dark story where multiple characters are subject to verbal bullying and have mental health issues.
Overall, I thought the ending was a very fitting conclusion, and if the trigger warnings don't deter you, I do think Fellow Creatures will blow you away too.
Thank you to Quercus, NetGalley and the author for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This debut novel revolves around the ever-popular academic setting, in this case, a prestigious drama school. Shannon Bell leaves her comfortable home in the North of England for London, looking to reinvent herself and meets a new group of friends. There is Obi, Jolly and Stefano, and central to the novel is the glamorous Victoria. From the moment Shannon meets her, she is entranced by the confident, wealthy and beautiful Victoria.
Using a drama school works well, as there is competition, criticism and jealousy. The desire for a better part, the rivalry to get a coveted audition or the attention of an agent, allows the author to explore the different relationships within the group. They revolve around Victoria, both obsessed by her and yet aware of her often callous behaviour. She is a disruptive and divisive force, causing jealousy as they vie for her attention.
I found this an enjoyable read, although I felt it lacked that something that would have pushed it into a five-star read for me. Still, a solid enough debut and ideal for anyone who enjoys an academic setting. I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Using a drama school works well, as there is competition, criticism and jealousy. The desire for a better part, the rivalry to get a coveted audition or the attention of an agent, allows the author to explore the different relationships within the group. They revolve around Victoria, both obsessed by her and yet aware of her often callous behaviour. She is a disruptive and divisive force, causing jealousy as they vie for her attention.
I found this an enjoyable read, although I felt it lacked that something that would have pushed it into a five-star read for me. Still, a solid enough debut and ideal for anyone who enjoys an academic setting. I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fellow Creatures is a promising debut, perfect for fans of They Never Learn and If We Were Villains. I was immediately hooked on the writing, which was pretty but also quick to absorb, making it hard to put the book down. While I was immediately hooked, I did struggle at times in the middle, because the characters didn't always feel super interesting to me so they didn't always hold my attention. The ending made up for that for the most part, and I loved how the prologue and final act came together. In fact, I would have liked the final act to have been fleshed out a little more, because it did feel rushed at times, whereas the middle part felt slow at times. Overall, I did enjoy this!
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