What do you think?
Rate this book
Cambridge Gothic #1
College of Shadows
Cambridge is home to the brightest minds… and the deadliest monsters.
Working-class rugby player Nick feels out of place at university. The hallowed halls of Cambridge seem impossibly huge and far beyond the Mansfield of his youth. But Nick has much more than fitting in to fear when he's attacked by a creature straight out of his worst nightmares…
Emotionally scarred by the sudden death of her parents, Annabel buries her feelings deep in her studies. But after barely surviving a freak accident, the shy girl begins to fear she’s cursed. And when her new friends nearly fall prey to a monstrous beast that shouldn't exist, she's terrified that her bad luck could bring their demise.
As Nick and Annabel plan to trap the creature, they stumble upon a long-held Cambridge secret. And the otherworldly truth is less pass-fail than do-or-die.
Can Nick and Annabel banish the beast before freshers’ week becomes their last?
College of Shadows is the engrossing first novel in the Cambridge Gothic YA urban fantasy series. If you like haunted heroes, unspeakable horrors, and parallel worlds, then you'll love Mark Wells's atmospheric tale.
Buy College of Shadows to watch heroes school the supernatural today!
Working-class rugby player Nick feels out of place at university. The hallowed halls of Cambridge seem impossibly huge and far beyond the Mansfield of his youth. But Nick has much more than fitting in to fear when he's attacked by a creature straight out of his worst nightmares…
Emotionally scarred by the sudden death of her parents, Annabel buries her feelings deep in her studies. But after barely surviving a freak accident, the shy girl begins to fear she’s cursed. And when her new friends nearly fall prey to a monstrous beast that shouldn't exist, she's terrified that her bad luck could bring their demise.
As Nick and Annabel plan to trap the creature, they stumble upon a long-held Cambridge secret. And the otherworldly truth is less pass-fail than do-or-die.
Can Nick and Annabel banish the beast before freshers’ week becomes their last?
College of Shadows is the engrossing first novel in the Cambridge Gothic YA urban fantasy series. If you like haunted heroes, unspeakable horrors, and parallel worlds, then you'll love Mark Wells's atmospheric tale.
Buy College of Shadows to watch heroes school the supernatural today!
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2019
244 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
About the author
Mark Wells
3 books45 followersOnce upon a time, a young law student of St John's College Cambridge could be found sneaking out of the University Library and wandering into Heffers bookshop on Trinity Street. There he lost himself in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings. Many years later, older but not necessarily wiser, that same former student started spinning tales of fantasy in a university already steeped in myth and legend. And so began Cambridge Gothic.
After years of working in an office and dreaming about becoming a writer, I can't tell you how much it means to see my words in print. So far, the reviews for College of Shadows and Gate of Shadows have been incredibly positive. The third book in the trilogy, Legacy of the Shadows, will be launched in April 2023. I can't thank readers enough for their support and encouragement. Knowing how many people are looking forward to the next book in the series inspires me to keep writing every day.
As for the setting, I always felt that Cambridge would make the perfect backdrop for the fantasy stories I wanted to tell. In my books, I have kept the locations as true to life as possible, and readers tell me they think of the city as one of the characters in the story. I'm thrilled that is the case. Cambridge is a unique place with all sorts of quirks and mannerisms for those willing to see. Even after all these years, I still find it full of surprises, and I try to share these with you whenever possible.
Given the authentic setting, readers often ask if the characters are based on real people. All are creations of my imagination, though I've undoubtedly been influenced by people I've encountered over the years. So beware next time you see me in a coffee shop, peering over my Flat White at the other patrons. I may well be looking for a new character for my next book!
If you want to hear more about the series, my latest news, or exclusive offers, why not subscribe to my newsletter? I send each subscriber a free copy of Cambridge Shadows, a collection of five short stories set in the mysterious world of Cambridge Gothic. I also include the Prologue to the first full-length novel in the series, College of Shadows. Just go to www.marknwells.com.
That's it from me. If you have any suggestions about characters, settings, or plotlines for future books, please feel free to get in touch through my website or social media. I always reply when people contact me, and every comment is valuable, no matter how small.
I hope you enjoy the series. It's Cambridge, but not as you know it...
After years of working in an office and dreaming about becoming a writer, I can't tell you how much it means to see my words in print. So far, the reviews for College of Shadows and Gate of Shadows have been incredibly positive. The third book in the trilogy, Legacy of the Shadows, will be launched in April 2023. I can't thank readers enough for their support and encouragement. Knowing how many people are looking forward to the next book in the series inspires me to keep writing every day.
As for the setting, I always felt that Cambridge would make the perfect backdrop for the fantasy stories I wanted to tell. In my books, I have kept the locations as true to life as possible, and readers tell me they think of the city as one of the characters in the story. I'm thrilled that is the case. Cambridge is a unique place with all sorts of quirks and mannerisms for those willing to see. Even after all these years, I still find it full of surprises, and I try to share these with you whenever possible.
Given the authentic setting, readers often ask if the characters are based on real people. All are creations of my imagination, though I've undoubtedly been influenced by people I've encountered over the years. So beware next time you see me in a coffee shop, peering over my Flat White at the other patrons. I may well be looking for a new character for my next book!
If you want to hear more about the series, my latest news, or exclusive offers, why not subscribe to my newsletter? I send each subscriber a free copy of Cambridge Shadows, a collection of five short stories set in the mysterious world of Cambridge Gothic. I also include the Prologue to the first full-length novel in the series, College of Shadows. Just go to www.marknwells.com.
That's it from me. If you have any suggestions about characters, settings, or plotlines for future books, please feel free to get in touch through my website or social media. I always reply when people contact me, and every comment is valuable, no matter how small.
I hope you enjoy the series. It's Cambridge, but not as you know it...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 7, 2021
College of Shadows
(Cambridge Gothic #1)
by Mark Wells
No character development that pleased me. Slow start. There are beasts which I was definitely on their side. If they hurried and ate the boring characters the story would be over.
2 1/2 stars.
(Cambridge Gothic #1)
by Mark Wells
No character development that pleased me. Slow start. There are beasts which I was definitely on their side. If they hurried and ate the boring characters the story would be over.
2 1/2 stars.
May 1, 2022
I wanted to read something set in Cambridge and wander down memory lane as I went to University there many moons ago. A search revealed plenty of books about spies - Britain’s most notorious KBG agents came from there - but I fancied something different to that and this book caught my eye. I don’t read the genre often but the book is great fun, and the detail about Cambridge and student life there reminded me of much I had forgotten.
Cambridge is the perfect place for gothic horror - the centre is crammed with historic buildings and alleyways, and the author makes you feel like you are really there. I remember going to a showing of ’The Omen’ late one night in another college and, spooked by the movie, running back after midnight through the dark, deserted streets to my college!
If you read the book be sure to visit the author’s website which has a map and photos of the main locations.
Cambridge is the perfect place for gothic horror - the centre is crammed with historic buildings and alleyways, and the author makes you feel like you are really there. I remember going to a showing of ’The Omen’ late one night in another college and, spooked by the movie, running back after midnight through the dark, deserted streets to my college!
If you read the book be sure to visit the author’s website which has a map and photos of the main locations.
August 3, 2023
The damsels cry in the corner while the men sort things out. Blergh.
April 23, 2019
Great read
A debut novel, this book happens in real world UK with some science fiction tendencies. The book follows a group of students at Cambridge/Saint johns college as they try to figure out what’s really going bump in the night. Detailing is on point and the author even shares maps on Facebook so you can follow where everything is happening in the real world. A great read for someone who loves fantasy but isn’t completely involved in the science fiction worlds!
The epilogue alone will have you gasping for more!
A debut novel, this book happens in real world UK with some science fiction tendencies. The book follows a group of students at Cambridge/Saint johns college as they try to figure out what’s really going bump in the night. Detailing is on point and the author even shares maps on Facebook so you can follow where everything is happening in the real world. A great read for someone who loves fantasy but isn’t completely involved in the science fiction worlds!
The epilogue alone will have you gasping for more!
July 29, 2021
There is some interesting aspects to this book: The concept is pretty interesting and intersectional from a genre standpoint. There’s a lot of knowledge about Cambridge as a place being conveyed, some of which I found fascinating (if true).
The rest feels a bit too commercial fiction to me, though. The pacing feels really slow, especially when coupled with serviceable but uninteresting prose. The characters are fine, but there’s no development that feels substantive or substantial. Overall, I’d describe it as just kind of bland, with large Show Don’t Tell problems, despite some compelling elements to the story.
I think that had the craft been more refined it could have been a story with a lot more vibrancy.
The rest feels a bit too commercial fiction to me, though. The pacing feels really slow, especially when coupled with serviceable but uninteresting prose. The characters are fine, but there’s no development that feels substantive or substantial. Overall, I’d describe it as just kind of bland, with large Show Don’t Tell problems, despite some compelling elements to the story.
I think that had the craft been more refined it could have been a story with a lot more vibrancy.
October 4, 2023
A while ago I was in one of Mark Wellses TikTok lives, and from that live I have won his 3th book in the Cambridge Gothic series; Legacy of Shadows. Now, I won’t read a later book in a series just willy-nilly, unless you can read it as a standalone. So, I’ve bought book 1, College of Shadows, and book 2, Gate of Shadows to read first.
College of Shadows is the debut novel by Mark Wells, and it’s an urban fantasy, but it also has some sci-fi to it. The story is set in Cambridge University.
From the start of the book I was amazed by all the wonderful places within Cambridge that the author takes you and describes them. I’ve actually looked up quite a few to see how accurate they were and how they’d look for real!
We have some well-written and nicely introduced characters. The storylines connect well through and into each other. I love the build-up for Anabel and Nick, although maybe a little slow to my liking. Giles loves his climbing, and I love his witty remarks. Oh, and Ravi, Professor Gupta, I think I like him, or do I?
The story itself was a little on the slower pace, could have been a bit more pastpaced. But it was very engaging and entertaining.
I do love the British terminology that is used in this book. Not something I usually read a lot of, but very nice!
The final chapters were gripping, and I got through them very fast, And then that cliffhanger! Did not see that coming at all!!
It is a great debut novel, and I rate this 4⭐. Definitely will be reading the rest of the series!
College of Shadows is the debut novel by Mark Wells, and it’s an urban fantasy, but it also has some sci-fi to it. The story is set in Cambridge University.
From the start of the book I was amazed by all the wonderful places within Cambridge that the author takes you and describes them. I’ve actually looked up quite a few to see how accurate they were and how they’d look for real!
We have some well-written and nicely introduced characters. The storylines connect well through and into each other. I love the build-up for Anabel and Nick, although maybe a little slow to my liking. Giles loves his climbing, and I love his witty remarks. Oh, and Ravi, Professor Gupta, I think I like him, or do I?
The story itself was a little on the slower pace, could have been a bit more pastpaced. But it was very engaging and entertaining.
I do love the British terminology that is used in this book. Not something I usually read a lot of, but very nice!
The final chapters were gripping, and I got through them very fast, And then that cliffhanger! Did not see that coming at all!!
It is a great debut novel, and I rate this 4⭐. Definitely will be reading the rest of the series!
September 7, 2023
I listened to this on audiobook and enjoyed the story and the narration very much. If you like college/university academia tales with weird happenings, and a sci fi vibe this is for you. The setting, Cambridge is beautifully portrayed. This alone was a huge draw for me as I used to live in Cambridge and I write about the city too! I'd say the beginning of the story is slower, filling in the details of the characters but the narrative gets more exciting as it progresses. It ticks a lot of the boxes for me being a fantasy/mystery/young people type of story. Mark Wells certainly has an imaginative mind!
A definite recommendation from me to those who like fantasy/mystery stories set in academic settings.
I look forward to listening to more tales from Mark Wells.
A definite recommendation from me to those who like fantasy/mystery stories set in academic settings.
I look forward to listening to more tales from Mark Wells.
February 6, 2022
This was so much more of a creepy slow burn that I expected, but I enjoyed all the slow reveals. The tone of the novel begins like a dark academia thriller, and part of the building tension is the slow introduction of the supernatural elements. It leaves you wondering whether or not this is a fantastical universe or if our characters are just imagining things. I liked that this story didn't hinge on the "is it real?" narrator type-story, or on a big twist or reveal which I found refreshing since I think far too many books of this type rely on a "surprise" twist.
September 6, 2024
2.5
Finally it's over.
The writing and the plot aren't that bad, esp the plot, in someone else's hands it has a lot of potential. But it's very clear that this is written by an old man romanticising his old college days, and he should probably try talking to a teenager before the next time he tries to write one. They talk as if they're from last century. No teenager calls themselves "girl" in their head or says "heavens help us". Speaking of girls, this book did not pass the Bechdel Test. The women do nothing but think about the men, lust for the men (after knowing them for 5 minutes), worry about the men, and cry. The plot takes place in less than 2 weeks but it should've happened across an entire term, for if the characters had a chance to actually get to know each other then the interactions wouldn't have felt so forced. Also, why is Nick said to be the main character when out of all the characters he gets the least amount of POV? So much for working class representation.
Finally it's over.
The writing and the plot aren't that bad, esp the plot, in someone else's hands it has a lot of potential. But it's very clear that this is written by an old man romanticising his old college days, and he should probably try talking to a teenager before the next time he tries to write one. They talk as if they're from last century. No teenager calls themselves "girl" in their head or says "heavens help us". Speaking of girls, this book did not pass the Bechdel Test. The women do nothing but think about the men, lust for the men (after knowing them for 5 minutes), worry about the men, and cry. The plot takes place in less than 2 weeks but it should've happened across an entire term, for if the characters had a chance to actually get to know each other then the interactions wouldn't have felt so forced. Also, why is Nick said to be the main character when out of all the characters he gets the least amount of POV? So much for working class representation.
August 4, 2022
An imaginative and unusual young adult book set in the real world of Cambridge which then introduces a fantasy / scifi scenario. I loved the description and evocation of the Cambridge college setting; the author pays so much loving attention to the detail here. I will admit I tried to follow the locations by looking at the maps and virtual tours he links to on his website but in the end felt it better to just follow his descriptions with my imagination.
Of all his characters, I felt the intrepid, headstrong and risk-taking Giles shines out the most. I loved the accounts of his night-climbing expeditions and could not help reflecting on how this dangerous activity gives its adherents a superb knowledge of the architectural features of the college buildings!
The premises of the story was intriguing and the monster fascinating; a highly original idea. for my own taste I felt I would have preferred the entire story to be taken from the main viewpoint of the professor but understand the author needed to take students as his central characters, as this is a young adult book.
I only discovered this author on Tiktok so that shows how powerful tiktok videos can be in winning new readers! Mark Wells' video tours of Cambridge are wonderful and he has certainly whetted my appetite to visit Cambridge and explore it in the not too distant future.
Of all his characters, I felt the intrepid, headstrong and risk-taking Giles shines out the most. I loved the accounts of his night-climbing expeditions and could not help reflecting on how this dangerous activity gives its adherents a superb knowledge of the architectural features of the college buildings!
The premises of the story was intriguing and the monster fascinating; a highly original idea. for my own taste I felt I would have preferred the entire story to be taken from the main viewpoint of the professor but understand the author needed to take students as his central characters, as this is a young adult book.
I only discovered this author on Tiktok so that shows how powerful tiktok videos can be in winning new readers! Mark Wells' video tours of Cambridge are wonderful and he has certainly whetted my appetite to visit Cambridge and explore it in the not too distant future.
May 31, 2019
4.5 ★
What a great read! Diverse and likeable cast of characters, engaging mystery, well-paced plot, fun setting. This was not what I was expecting at all, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! And that epilogue definitely left me with a lot of questions that I would like answering in the next book, please and thank you!
What a great read! Diverse and likeable cast of characters, engaging mystery, well-paced plot, fun setting. This was not what I was expecting at all, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! And that epilogue definitely left me with a lot of questions that I would like answering in the next book, please and thank you!
February 15, 2021
Not what I expected, but was happily surprised!
This is a brilliantly written and very entertaining story. Diverse characters blend well in this suspenseful and action filled tale. Not too gory, no graphic sex or language, so it's appropriate for most anyone who appreciates a good story.
This is a brilliantly written and very entertaining story. Diverse characters blend well in this suspenseful and action filled tale. Not too gory, no graphic sex or language, so it's appropriate for most anyone who appreciates a good story.
February 20, 2022
Extremely Enjoyable
A truly delightful read.
As you get to know the different characters, You begin to root for them.
I found myself laughing and worrying about the different characters and what there fates maybe.
I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the college.
The world building in this is amazing.
I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
A truly delightful read.
As you get to know the different characters, You begin to root for them.
I found myself laughing and worrying about the different characters and what there fates maybe.
I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the college.
The world building in this is amazing.
I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
September 23, 2023
Humanoid altered
A riveting and enthralling tale of monsters from a parallel universe . Rock climber Giles loves to climb all over the forbidden landscapes of Cambridge z university but something is able to climb on high with Giles and it does not need ropes it comes with a massive pair of wings.
A riveting and enthralling tale of monsters from a parallel universe . Rock climber Giles loves to climb all over the forbidden landscapes of Cambridge z university but something is able to climb on high with Giles and it does not need ropes it comes with a massive pair of wings.
December 4, 2019
Wow what a great story! I'm a fan of fantasy and really enjoy UK fantasy for the gothic overtones. Probably a big reason I loved the Harry Potter Series. It feels timeless. While this is set in a modern day college environment (cell phones and Facebook references) you still get that other worldly feeling of the old gothic college that I'm entirely unfamiliar with living in California and that creates a bigger appeal for me. The narrator was brilliant as well. Incidentally American, Davey pulls off accents seemingly flawlessly. With a British novel of this nature, having those accents feel authentic is really important and he did the American accents flawless too LOL.
When the story unfolds and we're introduced to the first set of characters, I DID have a sensation of wanting a British dictionary. There were many instances where I had to take a guess or look up a term to confirm the meaning. Much of the campus descriptions of architectural features were familiar but some of the character roles were not (like bedder, Porter etc) That aside, I DID hop on Google Maps and took a virtual tour of some of the key landmarks in the story and it made a bit more sense and helped a lot in suspending disbelief. The college became real and the characters as if they were real students attending university.
The characters were well developed as was the subtext into their interpersonal interactions. Young people navigating the murky waters of social dynamics without the cringy teen angst and tedious dialogue usually found in YA novels. Honestly this did NOT feel like a YA novel and I say that in a good way. There wasn't anything inappropriate for the audience but it didn't feel like the author was holding back for the sake of age appropriateness. There was a few curse words (totally fine for me) and again, that lent it to being ideal for a broader audience.
Annabel and Nick, kids from totally different backgrounds and life circumstances, come together accidentally and become fast friends. There's a naivety about both of them that makes you as the audience a little frustrated because of the tension it creates but its a necessary part of the story. We bounce back and forth between them and a few other sets of characters; Giles and his climbing pals, Rochel, a foreign woman looking for her missing brother, a few key service staff members on campus, a few subplot students and a few important professors. We also do a bit of non-linear timeline jumps with a few professors but unless you're not paying attention, its pretty easy to determine when we're reminiscing a past event and when we're present day.
At first there seems to be complete story wrap up at the end but then there's some plot twists thrown in there to leave plenty of room for the next installment of the Cambridge Gothic series to unfold. Honestly, knowing this is a debut story, it was a pleasure to listen. The author feels experienced and well versed and doesn't go overboard with padding or fluff. He adds just the right amount of detail. A strong storyline coupled with complex character development, Wells has a true talent for captivating storytelling.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
When the story unfolds and we're introduced to the first set of characters, I DID have a sensation of wanting a British dictionary. There were many instances where I had to take a guess or look up a term to confirm the meaning. Much of the campus descriptions of architectural features were familiar but some of the character roles were not (like bedder, Porter etc) That aside, I DID hop on Google Maps and took a virtual tour of some of the key landmarks in the story and it made a bit more sense and helped a lot in suspending disbelief. The college became real and the characters as if they were real students attending university.
The characters were well developed as was the subtext into their interpersonal interactions. Young people navigating the murky waters of social dynamics without the cringy teen angst and tedious dialogue usually found in YA novels. Honestly this did NOT feel like a YA novel and I say that in a good way. There wasn't anything inappropriate for the audience but it didn't feel like the author was holding back for the sake of age appropriateness. There was a few curse words (totally fine for me) and again, that lent it to being ideal for a broader audience.
Annabel and Nick, kids from totally different backgrounds and life circumstances, come together accidentally and become fast friends. There's a naivety about both of them that makes you as the audience a little frustrated because of the tension it creates but its a necessary part of the story. We bounce back and forth between them and a few other sets of characters; Giles and his climbing pals, Rochel, a foreign woman looking for her missing brother, a few key service staff members on campus, a few subplot students and a few important professors. We also do a bit of non-linear timeline jumps with a few professors but unless you're not paying attention, its pretty easy to determine when we're reminiscing a past event and when we're present day.
At first there seems to be complete story wrap up at the end but then there's some plot twists thrown in there to leave plenty of room for the next installment of the Cambridge Gothic series to unfold. Honestly, knowing this is a debut story, it was a pleasure to listen. The author feels experienced and well versed and doesn't go overboard with padding or fluff. He adds just the right amount of detail. A strong storyline coupled with complex character development, Wells has a true talent for captivating storytelling.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 22, 2022
Loved this book, set in Cambridge University during Freshers. The masters and tutors are getting to know their new pupils, and the new students are getting to know each other and all the traditions that go with attending such an old university.
Nick and Annabel meet when they first arrive together, Annabel is with her Grandmother and she asks Nick to help her and Annabel with her luggage and their friendship grows from there, getting to know each other and their way around.
They, as freshers do, end up in the University Bar and meet up with the charismatic daredevil Giles and his two friends who are second year students. They sort of take Annabel and Nick under their wing.
Fun is had, as students do, then suddenly strage things start happening, first of all Nick notices that a huge statue that was in the Master's garden has disappeared, his friends think he is imagining this as they hadn't noticed it being there in the first place. Then one of the waiters from the dining room goes missing when walking home after midnight.
People are reporting seeing a massive eagle type creature in the shadows at night. One of the professors Ravi starts to put things together along with his colleague Robert. Some years ago in the 60's they were doing research into quatum physics and discovered a portal to a parallel universe. Robert becomes involved with a cagey businessman who is hugely funding parts of the University but what is he getting in return? Ravi investigates and Robert ends up dead, to all intents and purposes he took his own life by jumping from the window of his room high up in the University.
Thing take a sinister turn and the book becomes really exciting, I was in bed and kept thinking just the next chapter I have to find out what happens here, well one more chapter ended up being several and at 2.45am I had to turn out the light and try to sleep. at 7.30 the next morning I was awake and finishing the book. Yes it was that good, a real page turner as the saying goes.
Nick and Annabel meet when they first arrive together, Annabel is with her Grandmother and she asks Nick to help her and Annabel with her luggage and their friendship grows from there, getting to know each other and their way around.
They, as freshers do, end up in the University Bar and meet up with the charismatic daredevil Giles and his two friends who are second year students. They sort of take Annabel and Nick under their wing.
Fun is had, as students do, then suddenly strage things start happening, first of all Nick notices that a huge statue that was in the Master's garden has disappeared, his friends think he is imagining this as they hadn't noticed it being there in the first place. Then one of the waiters from the dining room goes missing when walking home after midnight.
People are reporting seeing a massive eagle type creature in the shadows at night. One of the professors Ravi starts to put things together along with his colleague Robert. Some years ago in the 60's they were doing research into quatum physics and discovered a portal to a parallel universe. Robert becomes involved with a cagey businessman who is hugely funding parts of the University but what is he getting in return? Ravi investigates and Robert ends up dead, to all intents and purposes he took his own life by jumping from the window of his room high up in the University.
Thing take a sinister turn and the book becomes really exciting, I was in bed and kept thinking just the next chapter I have to find out what happens here, well one more chapter ended up being several and at 2.45am I had to turn out the light and try to sleep. at 7.30 the next morning I was awake and finishing the book. Yes it was that good, a real page turner as the saying goes.
April 22, 2022
This is the first of many, and most surprisingly, this is my BooktTok Made Me Do It book.
This is also my first urban fantasy and an impulse one click after only discovering this author a couple of days ago.
I was held captive throughout and enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story. A lot of mystery/suspense with a gripping and bone-chilling plot.
I enjoyed Mark Wells’ storytelling immensely- the setting was so visual, tangible even as we experience this story through multiple POVs in the Cambridge University setting- I will never think of Cambridge university the same after this book.
The narration by this narrator was fantastic as he captured a range of accents that made each character feel unique and true to themselves.
An audiobook well deserving of an Audible credit.
Now onto book two.
4.5 GOTHIC STARS
This is also my first urban fantasy and an impulse one click after only discovering this author a couple of days ago.
I was held captive throughout and enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story. A lot of mystery/suspense with a gripping and bone-chilling plot.
I enjoyed Mark Wells’ storytelling immensely- the setting was so visual, tangible even as we experience this story through multiple POVs in the Cambridge University setting- I will never think of Cambridge university the same after this book.
The narration by this narrator was fantastic as he captured a range of accents that made each character feel unique and true to themselves.
An audiobook well deserving of an Audible credit.
Now onto book two.
4.5 GOTHIC STARS
June 30, 2022
Mark Wells should work for the Cambridge Tourist Board as I’ve booked a long weekend in Cambridge solely on the back of reading College of Shadows. The obvious love he has for the city shines through in every carefully worded description that conjures a mental image of the gothic spires and back streets steeped in history. That’s the backdrop for a story that unfolds slowly, gathering pace until the last section is a runaway train. If you’re after a book that explodes out of the gate and sprints to the finish line, this isn’t it; but if you’re after a book with characters that make you invested in them, make you empathise with them, then this may be the book for you. I got to the point where I wanted to lock two of the characters (Nick and Annabel) into a room until they stopped pussyfooting and told each other how they felt, instead of doing the tippytappy attraction dance hoping the other would make the move first. Giles and Ravi are the other two main characters. Giles’s interactions with his friends felt real, whilst Ravi’s doddery old professor with a shady past shines through. The plot itself of a portal between worlds and what comes through is well crafted, the scheming of Ravi’s friend in reopening it to introduce danger both within and without. The story is well resolved within the book, with enough scope to open out this world for many more stories to come. I didn’t like the reasoning of Ravi for keeping the portal a secret, I prefer a faster start to a story, and the twist at the very end felt tacked on without sufficient breadcrumbs, but they are extremely minor quibbles and I would recommend the book.
April 23, 2022
A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read!
I found this author/book on tiktok and was immediately intrigued by the premise of this series. And I was not disappointed! Mark Wells’s prose took me in and made me feel at home in a world (Cambridge) I’ve never visited prior to this (in reality or book form). The story is chock full of mystery, adventure, fantasy and dare i say, a dash of science fiction. The characters are all well formed and portrayed. I enjoyed this story immensely and can’t wait to dive into what else this author has to offer.
I found this author/book on tiktok and was immediately intrigued by the premise of this series. And I was not disappointed! Mark Wells’s prose took me in and made me feel at home in a world (Cambridge) I’ve never visited prior to this (in reality or book form). The story is chock full of mystery, adventure, fantasy and dare i say, a dash of science fiction. The characters are all well formed and portrayed. I enjoyed this story immensely and can’t wait to dive into what else this author has to offer.
July 8, 2022
This was a great read. I love a good dark academia book and this was right up that alley. It was very Lovecraftian, with an unknown horror lurking in the depths of Cambridge. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have already started book two.
July 5, 2024
mildly enjoyable
June 13, 2020
New fantasy on the block
Nice to see Cambridge receiving some attention! In this new fantasy set amongst the gothic environs of the University city. The story benefits from the personal experience of university life in the city. The characters are nicely developed, and the plot moves quickly. Not a book you can put down to read later ! I look forward to reading the sequel.
Nice to see Cambridge receiving some attention! In this new fantasy set amongst the gothic environs of the University city. The story benefits from the personal experience of university life in the city. The characters are nicely developed, and the plot moves quickly. Not a book you can put down to read later ! I look forward to reading the sequel.
March 31, 2022
Amazing book! I fell in love with the characters and immersive descriptions. I felt like I was there! Unique plot, like a cross between Harry Potter and Doctor Who.
August 15, 2022
Brilliant, just brilliant
I picked up this book because it was set in Cambridge, my hometown. There was so much extra in this book: the layout description of Cambridge, the reference to the Cambridge Night Climbers, who thrive in 2022 it seems, and a decent dose of gothic horror.
The story is excellent, and so very real. The cliffhanger, not usually a favourite of mine was just right. As I said, just brilliant?
I picked up this book because it was set in Cambridge, my hometown. There was so much extra in this book: the layout description of Cambridge, the reference to the Cambridge Night Climbers, who thrive in 2022 it seems, and a decent dose of gothic horror.
The story is excellent, and so very real. The cliffhanger, not usually a favourite of mine was just right. As I said, just brilliant?
January 12, 2022
This was such a fun read! Very exciting
April 10, 2019
A pacy, entertaining read. I like the way Mark Wells weaves the two young, contemporary protagonists into the old fabric of a Cambridge College. Anyone who's been to this university city will recognise many of its unique landmarks.
May 23, 2021
I love slice of life. I also love gothic mysteries. I love character development. I hate characters wool-gathering every chance they get.
I read 152 pages. That's 34%. That's over 1/3 of the book. He had just barely introduced the characters, let alone the mystery. There were lovely hints of the gothic mystery. But they were only hints. I was so hopeful, because I haven't read a good gothic mystery in forever, so I broke a rule. A rule that I've mostly followed since I saw it and went "that's perfect!" Most books start out slow, but there are too many books to waste time on books you don't enjoy, so take 100 and subtract your age and you have the amount of pages you should give the book to grab you. I am not negative years old. I gave it more than twice what I should've.
So while you know what Nick's mom looks like, his brother's appearance, his brother's bully situation, his brother's personality, his father's personality, his father's work situation, Nick's own social life and how his friends abandoned him when he got into university, what his room looks like, the fact that he has only two ties, why he has those two ties, why he chose to bring the one instead of the other, that he can't find suits and his mom comes in and does it for him, etc etc etc. The mystery has barely been touched on. He sees what he thinks is a statue, but is definitely a monster. He gets attacked by something that rends long tears in the back of his scholarly robes. Coolio. More of this, please? You do not get more of this...
You see someone who's not slated as being a main character, but is a secondary character. Waking up in his little room. Thinking about why he prefers that room. You learn about his social life, his academic life, his closest friends, what his personality is like, what his eating habits are like, but not how he fits into anything. I'm pretty sure he's one of the main characters of the second book. So, kudos for introducing him now, but this amount of detail and him (all of them...) Thinking about himself and his life and blah blah blah. So boring.
You also learn that Annabel's entire family died in a car crash a few months before. That her grandma is really worried about her. That they took a train and then taxi, and the taxi is still waiting and running at least 10-15 minutes after they got there. That her grandma watched Nick for ten minutes and then requested he help her both find her granddaughter and with luggage, because she wants to matchmake. That Annabel's family is basically the polar opposite of Nick's. They jet-setted around the world. She was born in Hong Kong. Something about birthday parties. That's actually where I stopped reading, because I was over 1/3 of the way through the book and I knew all the background of all the characters, and didn't care, and could figure out the "gothic mystery" part super easily.
Basically...mind you I have not read the rest or read spoilers, so I'm just guessing here. Two of the characters you learn way too much about are two old professors who've been there for 50ish years. You learn that they discovered a portal to either another planet or other planets. But there were monsters. So they swore to never go back. Obviously one of them broke his promise, and there are monsters again.
I'm so tired of ruminating characters ruminating about themselves and their lives as the way to get their backstory. But also, where's the gothic? Where's the mystery? Very well hidden. The prologue had me so hopeful, but I should've known, what with the character's ruminating about his background, that that would be a thing throughout the book. I give up. Uncle! I don't even care about finding out if I'm correct about anything, or how things end. I'm just done.
I read 152 pages. That's 34%. That's over 1/3 of the book. He had just barely introduced the characters, let alone the mystery. There were lovely hints of the gothic mystery. But they were only hints. I was so hopeful, because I haven't read a good gothic mystery in forever, so I broke a rule. A rule that I've mostly followed since I saw it and went "that's perfect!" Most books start out slow, but there are too many books to waste time on books you don't enjoy, so take 100 and subtract your age and you have the amount of pages you should give the book to grab you. I am not negative years old. I gave it more than twice what I should've.
So while you know what Nick's mom looks like, his brother's appearance, his brother's bully situation, his brother's personality, his father's personality, his father's work situation, Nick's own social life and how his friends abandoned him when he got into university, what his room looks like, the fact that he has only two ties, why he has those two ties, why he chose to bring the one instead of the other, that he can't find suits and his mom comes in and does it for him, etc etc etc. The mystery has barely been touched on. He sees what he thinks is a statue, but is definitely a monster. He gets attacked by something that rends long tears in the back of his scholarly robes. Coolio. More of this, please? You do not get more of this...
You see someone who's not slated as being a main character, but is a secondary character. Waking up in his little room. Thinking about why he prefers that room. You learn about his social life, his academic life, his closest friends, what his personality is like, what his eating habits are like, but not how he fits into anything. I'm pretty sure he's one of the main characters of the second book. So, kudos for introducing him now, but this amount of detail and him (all of them...) Thinking about himself and his life and blah blah blah. So boring.
You also learn that Annabel's entire family died in a car crash a few months before. That her grandma is really worried about her. That they took a train and then taxi, and the taxi is still waiting and running at least 10-15 minutes after they got there. That her grandma watched Nick for ten minutes and then requested he help her both find her granddaughter and with luggage, because she wants to matchmake. That Annabel's family is basically the polar opposite of Nick's. They jet-setted around the world. She was born in Hong Kong. Something about birthday parties. That's actually where I stopped reading, because I was over 1/3 of the way through the book and I knew all the background of all the characters, and didn't care, and could figure out the "gothic mystery" part super easily.
Basically...mind you I have not read the rest or read spoilers, so I'm just guessing here. Two of the characters you learn way too much about are two old professors who've been there for 50ish years. You learn that they discovered a portal to either another planet or other planets. But there were monsters. So they swore to never go back. Obviously one of them broke his promise, and there are monsters again.
I'm so tired of ruminating characters ruminating about themselves and their lives as the way to get their backstory. But also, where's the gothic? Where's the mystery? Very well hidden. The prologue had me so hopeful, but I should've known, what with the character's ruminating about his background, that that would be a thing throughout the book. I give up. Uncle! I don't even care about finding out if I'm correct about anything, or how things end. I'm just done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
I read and liked this wonderful book a while ago and felt that not writing a review was an oversight on my part. Better late than never, though.
The story is quite intriguing, especially considering the fact that this book is only the beginning of the adventure.
I was prepared to set off on a fantasy journey; however, I found myself surrounded by Cambridge staff and students settling in and, though it seemed a little confusing at the beginning , in fact it was just brilliant!! The whole story setting and characters are illustrated by the author in a detailed, when necessary, and lively way that makes you feel you are one of the freshers.
Mystery, suspense, unpredictable twists and turns, monsters, the unique atmosphere of Cambridge and the sweetest and heartwarming persona of Ravi, make this book one of my favourite reads of the year.
The story is quite intriguing, especially considering the fact that this book is only the beginning of the adventure.
I was prepared to set off on a fantasy journey; however, I found myself surrounded by Cambridge staff and students settling in and, though it seemed a little confusing at the beginning , in fact it was just brilliant!! The whole story setting and characters are illustrated by the author in a detailed, when necessary, and lively way that makes you feel you are one of the freshers.
Mystery, suspense, unpredictable twists and turns, monsters, the unique atmosphere of Cambridge and the sweetest and heartwarming persona of Ravi, make this book one of my favourite reads of the year.
August 17, 2022
Not much story and far too long. The first three-quarters of the book is a series of scenes designed to give you an idea of what it's like to be a first-year student at Cambridge, strung loosely together by a pretty simple mystery. After the prologue, I'm not kidding, almost nothing happens until Chapter 11. Then the last fifty pages pack in almost all the action and some unusually reckless and unnecessary heroics.
The other reviews are not wrong about the characters; they go through very little development (and only in the final chapter) or none at all, and they do not act or talk naturally (or even what "naturally" means in a fantasy horror novel). Nonetheless you're introduced to six or seven of them, with detailed descriptions of their environments and backstory, before anything actually happens; one of the slowest books I've ever read. Descriptions, dialogue, and scenes drag on and on and on, even near the climax when every so often one of the characters will say, "We have very little time left!" and then they have another unnecessarily long conversation. Add in a villain who looks exactly like a villain (complete with widow's peak), a "strong" woman who makes a nice entrance and then goes on to fulfill a series of stereotypes, and a monster who would have been dealt with more interestingly by Doctor Who, and I ended up skimming the last two-thirds of it.
The other reviews are not wrong about the characters; they go through very little development (and only in the final chapter) or none at all, and they do not act or talk naturally (or even what "naturally" means in a fantasy horror novel). Nonetheless you're introduced to six or seven of them, with detailed descriptions of their environments and backstory, before anything actually happens; one of the slowest books I've ever read. Descriptions, dialogue, and scenes drag on and on and on, even near the climax when every so often one of the characters will say, "We have very little time left!" and then they have another unnecessarily long conversation. Add in a villain who looks exactly like a villain (complete with widow's peak), a "strong" woman who makes a nice entrance and then goes on to fulfill a series of stereotypes, and a monster who would have been dealt with more interestingly by Doctor Who, and I ended up skimming the last two-thirds of it.
January 21, 2021
EDIT 2021 I have re-read this in preparation for the sequel which I'm now reading. On re-reading, this nonstop action novel seemed to have matured and be even better than first time round. A cracking read.
R
3.5 stars really. A well-written romp round Cambridge with a cast of great characters, old and young, and mysteries aplenty. Hair-raising adventures, love interests, intellectual challenges. I liked this and await what will indubitably be numerous sequels with impatience.
R
3.5 stars really. A well-written romp round Cambridge with a cast of great characters, old and young, and mysteries aplenty. Hair-raising adventures, love interests, intellectual challenges. I liked this and await what will indubitably be numerous sequels with impatience.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews