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The Flower and The Serpent
NOMINATED FOR AN AUSTRALIA SHADOW AWARD 2019
Mysterious disappearances, a battle for the spotlight and terrifying nightmares. It’s just another day at Beacon Hill High School.
Auditions for Macbeth are over, and on the bus ride home, a mysterious driver gives sixteen-year-old Violet and her friends’ three strange
One of the girls will shine like a star.
One will invite darkness into her breast.
One will depart forever.
Please, how cliché. Besides, Violet clearly knows that she’s the star.
But when she isn’t cast as Lady Macbeth and strange things begin to unfold, and the eerie predictions begin to come true, Violet can’t help to wonder which one will apply to her.
Determined to be the one that will shine like a star, Violet will do whatever it takes to get the leading role – no matter the horrifying consequence.
Modern day Shakespeare meets supernatural mystery with this nail-biting young adult horror by Madeleine D’Este.
Mysterious disappearances, a battle for the spotlight and terrifying nightmares. It’s just another day at Beacon Hill High School.
Auditions for Macbeth are over, and on the bus ride home, a mysterious driver gives sixteen-year-old Violet and her friends’ three strange
One of the girls will shine like a star.
One will invite darkness into her breast.
One will depart forever.
Please, how cliché. Besides, Violet clearly knows that she’s the star.
But when she isn’t cast as Lady Macbeth and strange things begin to unfold, and the eerie predictions begin to come true, Violet can’t help to wonder which one will apply to her.
Determined to be the one that will shine like a star, Violet will do whatever it takes to get the leading role – no matter the horrifying consequence.
Modern day Shakespeare meets supernatural mystery with this nail-biting young adult horror by Madeleine D’Este.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2019
11 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine D'Este
14 books39 followersGrowing up in Tasmania, Madeleine now lives in inner city Melbourne surrounded by books. After studying law (and never practising) and travelling the world, Madeleine now lives a double life, immersed in the corporate world by day and writing female-led speculative fiction or podcasting by night.
When not writing, Madeleine enjoys podcasts, knitting, forteana, indie films, kettle bells and coffee as 'black as midnight on a moonless night'.
When not writing, Madeleine enjoys podcasts, knitting, forteana, indie films, kettle bells and coffee as 'black as midnight on a moonless night'.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 6, 2019
CREEPY AND WONDERFUL!
I've just finished reading an ARC of The Flower and the Serpent by Madeleine D'Este and I am still feeling blown away.
The story is set in a high school in Hobart, Tasmania, where a group of students are rehearsing for a production of Macbeth. The dark history of the play is well-known, and D'Este's setting - on school grounds haunted by past evil- plays perfectly against it. Imbued with a sense of creeping menace, the novel is genuinely frightening at times, but the characters are never overshadowed by the horror.
And it is the characters that shine so brightly here. Each has their own voice, their own hopes and fears, their own shadow and light. Every character rings true, from ambitious, driven Violet to shy, self-effacing Lila. Practical Holly and logical Angelika are a delight. And the teacher, Mr Ravenswood, is such a brilliant creation. With every character, D'Este forces the reader to look beyond surface judgements, to the true depths of the human heart and soul.
Which is not to say the plot is unimportant. It's a fantastic story, that twists and turns in surprising ways that are never gimmicky. The climax had me on the edge of my chair, and it totally delivered.
Bottom line: if, like me, you love Macbeth, you'll adore this. If you despise Shakespeare and all he stands for, you'll love it anyway.
Trust me.
I've just finished reading an ARC of The Flower and the Serpent by Madeleine D'Este and I am still feeling blown away.
The story is set in a high school in Hobart, Tasmania, where a group of students are rehearsing for a production of Macbeth. The dark history of the play is well-known, and D'Este's setting - on school grounds haunted by past evil- plays perfectly against it. Imbued with a sense of creeping menace, the novel is genuinely frightening at times, but the characters are never overshadowed by the horror.
And it is the characters that shine so brightly here. Each has their own voice, their own hopes and fears, their own shadow and light. Every character rings true, from ambitious, driven Violet to shy, self-effacing Lila. Practical Holly and logical Angelika are a delight. And the teacher, Mr Ravenswood, is such a brilliant creation. With every character, D'Este forces the reader to look beyond surface judgements, to the true depths of the human heart and soul.
Which is not to say the plot is unimportant. It's a fantastic story, that twists and turns in surprising ways that are never gimmicky. The climax had me on the edge of my chair, and it totally delivered.
Bottom line: if, like me, you love Macbeth, you'll adore this. If you despise Shakespeare and all he stands for, you'll love it anyway.
Trust me.
November 4, 2019
I was fortunate to receive an advanced review copy of this work.
The Flower and the Serpent, by Madeline D’Este, is adult-friendly YA fiction straddling the line between horror and supernatural mystery. The year is 1992, Beacon Hill is a small community in Tasmania with a tortured past, and three young women, Violet, Holly, and Lila, are about to be swept up by their high’s schools production of Macbeth.
Many of the Scottish Play’s key themes, such as betrayal, revenge, witchcraft, and unbridled ambition, are mirrored in D’Este tale. I’m not going to count that as spoiler, it’s what we’d expect from a good writer. What deserves note is the deft and delightful way in which that mirroring is achieved.
[APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE FOR CONVOLUTED WORDING TO AVOID A SPOILER] Early in the story, a prophesy is given regarding three different fates which will befall the girls, without naming which girl will end in which way. As canny readers, we know it will not be the most obvious parings. But, to D’Este’s enormous credit she keeps us guessing who and how until the reveal occurs. When it comes, it was well but subtly seeded the entire way.
Like Macbeth, this is a story driven by personalities. Despite the supernatural elements, in many ways this is a psychological thriller, with action directed by the characters’ internal monologues and external actions. As we discover, none of the main characters’ motivations are exactly what they first seem.
Also like the Scottish Play, The Flower and the Serpent has a memorable supporting cast. Special standouts for me are Mr. Ravenswood, the archetypal drama teacher everyone loves to hate and Angelika the pretty, popular, and superficially superficial (not a typo) girl who others underestimate at their peril.
This was a fascinating read for me because The Flower and the Serpent is a strange blend of things I usually read (supernatural mystery, historical fiction, stories making Meta use of Shakespeare) with things I don’t usually read (YA). The emphasis on psychological aspects as well as D’Este’s comfortability with walking in darkness make the story accessible to readers who do not normally include YA on their reading lists. (In the interest of full disclosure, its 1992 setting, the year I was a senior in high school, may give it a nostalgic appeal for me. While my experience was in a university town north of Dallas rather than small Tasmanian community, much of the high school experience seems depressingly universal).
If I have one lament about the story, it is that we are only given hints regarding the fascinating and macabre history of Beacon Hill. Perhaps this is deliberate on D’Este’s part and we will see more of this Tasmanian Twin-Peaks-meets-Dunwich in the future.
A final note, it is not necessary to review Macbeth before reading The Flower and the Serpent but it may enrich the experience. I kept my copy to one side as I read and referred to it as needed.
Readers with a wide range of backgrounds and interests will find resonance with this darkly seductive tale of revenge, regret, and, ultimately, redemption.
The Flower and the Serpent, by Madeline D’Este, is adult-friendly YA fiction straddling the line between horror and supernatural mystery. The year is 1992, Beacon Hill is a small community in Tasmania with a tortured past, and three young women, Violet, Holly, and Lila, are about to be swept up by their high’s schools production of Macbeth.
Many of the Scottish Play’s key themes, such as betrayal, revenge, witchcraft, and unbridled ambition, are mirrored in D’Este tale. I’m not going to count that as spoiler, it’s what we’d expect from a good writer. What deserves note is the deft and delightful way in which that mirroring is achieved.
[APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE FOR CONVOLUTED WORDING TO AVOID A SPOILER] Early in the story, a prophesy is given regarding three different fates which will befall the girls, without naming which girl will end in which way. As canny readers, we know it will not be the most obvious parings. But, to D’Este’s enormous credit she keeps us guessing who and how until the reveal occurs. When it comes, it was well but subtly seeded the entire way.
Like Macbeth, this is a story driven by personalities. Despite the supernatural elements, in many ways this is a psychological thriller, with action directed by the characters’ internal monologues and external actions. As we discover, none of the main characters’ motivations are exactly what they first seem.
Also like the Scottish Play, The Flower and the Serpent has a memorable supporting cast. Special standouts for me are Mr. Ravenswood, the archetypal drama teacher everyone loves to hate and Angelika the pretty, popular, and superficially superficial (not a typo) girl who others underestimate at their peril.
This was a fascinating read for me because The Flower and the Serpent is a strange blend of things I usually read (supernatural mystery, historical fiction, stories making Meta use of Shakespeare) with things I don’t usually read (YA). The emphasis on psychological aspects as well as D’Este’s comfortability with walking in darkness make the story accessible to readers who do not normally include YA on their reading lists. (In the interest of full disclosure, its 1992 setting, the year I was a senior in high school, may give it a nostalgic appeal for me. While my experience was in a university town north of Dallas rather than small Tasmanian community, much of the high school experience seems depressingly universal).
If I have one lament about the story, it is that we are only given hints regarding the fascinating and macabre history of Beacon Hill. Perhaps this is deliberate on D’Este’s part and we will see more of this Tasmanian Twin-Peaks-meets-Dunwich in the future.
A final note, it is not necessary to review Macbeth before reading The Flower and the Serpent but it may enrich the experience. I kept my copy to one side as I read and referred to it as needed.
Readers with a wide range of backgrounds and interests will find resonance with this darkly seductive tale of revenge, regret, and, ultimately, redemption.
January 17, 2020
This supernatural horror story takes place in an Australian high school which has been the site of gruesome dark deeds. It's the school holidays and the place is deserted and oozes menace. Drama students have gathered there to rehearse Macbeth, a play as cursed as the school itself. As the story progresses, prophecies, betrayals, witchcraft and ruthless ambition emerge, cleverly mirroring the themes of Macbeth.
Set in the ‘90’s, the novel has a nostalgic retro feel to it. The many switching points of view felt a bit fragmented at first, but worked well once I was better acquainted with the characters. The ending was as satisfyingly horrific as the genre promises. In this Macbeth meets Stranger Things story the surprising juxtaposition of elements made for a twisty and terrifying tale.
Set in the ‘90’s, the novel has a nostalgic retro feel to it. The many switching points of view felt a bit fragmented at first, but worked well once I was better acquainted with the characters. The ending was as satisfyingly horrific as the genre promises. In this Macbeth meets Stranger Things story the surprising juxtaposition of elements made for a twisty and terrifying tale.
September 16, 2020
The Flower and The Serpent is a young adult dark mystery with elements of horror. The story focuses on a group of teens who are about to put on a production of Macbeth. The production is being led by an ambitious teacher, Mr. Ravenswood, and the lead role of Lady Macbeth is being eyed by the young and also ambitious Violet. Violet, however, does not get the part. She does not even get the role of understudy. Instead, she is cast as one of the Three Witches. But now Violet will do whatever it takes to be the star of the show.
The "curse" surrounding Macbeth is at full force in this book. Ominous, dark, and creepy things seem to surround this renowned Shakespearean play. But just what is going on? Is Violet a dangerous psycho? Are there spirits haunting the play? Or does the the land on which the high school, Beacon Hill High, have its own story and dark, disturbing past that is coming forward?
This book is told via multiple perspectives and it is always clear what POV we are experiencing the story. There are two "unknown" POVs, though. Someone is writing to a journal. Who? And someone, or some THING, is calling itself the darkness. As the story unfolds we get answers behind these mysterious POVs. I was confused at first, but it all made sense in the end.
I enjoyed this story and the petty rivalry between classmates. I loved the history and the supernatural aspect involved. I will be reading more from Madeleine D'Este! 3.5 stars!
The "curse" surrounding Macbeth is at full force in this book. Ominous, dark, and creepy things seem to surround this renowned Shakespearean play. But just what is going on? Is Violet a dangerous psycho? Are there spirits haunting the play? Or does the the land on which the high school, Beacon Hill High, have its own story and dark, disturbing past that is coming forward?
This book is told via multiple perspectives and it is always clear what POV we are experiencing the story. There are two "unknown" POVs, though. Someone is writing to a journal. Who? And someone, or some THING, is calling itself the darkness. As the story unfolds we get answers behind these mysterious POVs. I was confused at first, but it all made sense in the end.
I enjoyed this story and the petty rivalry between classmates. I loved the history and the supernatural aspect involved. I will be reading more from Madeleine D'Este! 3.5 stars!
November 28, 2019
The Flower and The Serpent is told through the different viewpoints of teenager Violet, her friends, their drama teacher, and a dark entity that haunts the Tasmanian town of Beacon Hill. It infiltrates the group of teenagers as they are preparing to put on a production of Macbeth, causing havoc and keeping the reader guessing until the reveal on the night of the play's final rehearsal. The mystery builds throughout the story, and the author does a great job of putting the reader into the minds of the characters and of capturing the nostalgic feel of the '90s based story. It reads like something that would have been on shelves back then, but still fits comfortably on modern bookshelves as a good YA story for those who like a little darkness and creepiness mixed with their teenage angst.
November 24, 2019
Review originally posted on A Keyboard and an Open Mind 25 November 2019:
Confession: I don’t really know Macbeth that well. I don’t really like Shakespeare’s tragedies. And that probably affected by enjoyment of this book. (Someone give me a romcom set around a production of Much Ado About Nothing, please!)
Well, then, Emily, if that’s the case, why did you put your hand up for an ARC of a book about a group of teenagers staging Macbeth?
Well, because while I might have been more into musicals, I was the theatre nerd at school. And I’m honestly surprised haunted theatre stories aren’t more of a thing – that was up my alley, too. I love theatre ghost lore. Also the cover is gorgeous.
Madeleine D’Este definitely does creepy well. There’s a seance scene in her novella Evangeline and the Spiritualist that creeped me out completely and that was why that was my favourite of the Evangeline stories. And there are equivalent spooky scenes in this one, too. There are some scenes in this book where characters find themselves alone in the theatre or elsewhere in the school, hearing voices or having chairs pelted at their heads by invisible hands.
The characters certainly had their moments (one of my GoodReads updates was ‘Whoa, Ravenswood, you need to calm down!” and another was “Actors like Violet make me glad I’m only ever in the chorus – no one’s going to want to hurt me for my part”). But for the most part I never really felt like the characters leapt off the page… some of the other reviews have referred to parallels between these characters and those in Macbeth, and perhaps if I had been able to spot those parallels, there would have been some added depth to the characters that I was missing.
My reading experience mostly depends on how invested I am in the characters, but the writing and plotting are both very good, and I think the right reader will definitely enjoy this.
(Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.)
This review is part of my 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge. Click here for more information.
Confession: I don’t really know Macbeth that well. I don’t really like Shakespeare’s tragedies. And that probably affected by enjoyment of this book. (Someone give me a romcom set around a production of Much Ado About Nothing, please!)
Well, then, Emily, if that’s the case, why did you put your hand up for an ARC of a book about a group of teenagers staging Macbeth?
Well, because while I might have been more into musicals, I was the theatre nerd at school. And I’m honestly surprised haunted theatre stories aren’t more of a thing – that was up my alley, too. I love theatre ghost lore. Also the cover is gorgeous.
Madeleine D’Este definitely does creepy well. There’s a seance scene in her novella Evangeline and the Spiritualist that creeped me out completely and that was why that was my favourite of the Evangeline stories. And there are equivalent spooky scenes in this one, too. There are some scenes in this book where characters find themselves alone in the theatre or elsewhere in the school, hearing voices or having chairs pelted at their heads by invisible hands.
The characters certainly had their moments (one of my GoodReads updates was ‘Whoa, Ravenswood, you need to calm down!” and another was “Actors like Violet make me glad I’m only ever in the chorus – no one’s going to want to hurt me for my part”). But for the most part I never really felt like the characters leapt off the page… some of the other reviews have referred to parallels between these characters and those in Macbeth, and perhaps if I had been able to spot those parallels, there would have been some added depth to the characters that I was missing.
My reading experience mostly depends on how invested I am in the characters, but the writing and plotting are both very good, and I think the right reader will definitely enjoy this.
(Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.)
This review is part of my 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge. Click here for more information.
May 25, 2022
This was much more grimdark than the high school YA horror I expected from the title and blurb. And all the better for it. Nothing like a little terror happening to a bunch of teenagers to pass the time!
The Tasmanian locale, dreary weather and spooky myths set the stage for plenty of misery and mayhem. D'Este is a great writer and has ingeniously wound a complex tale around the events of a few days as an odd group of teenagers and teachers gather to put on a play that has its own spooky history. The semi-deserted school setting is a great backdrop for some classic horror tropes and D'Este doesn't disappoint.
The story explores multiple flawed characters as the author exposes the darker side of human nature, spurred on in this instance with a little supernatural help. The characters were all a bit detestable and it did get a little frustrating that I couldn't find anyone I really wanted to barrack for. I wanted to shake a few of them - or give them detention - which suggests that the author knows how to write annoying, troubled, and arrogant teenagers well.
I only loosely know the story of Macbeth, but D'Este ties in brief explanations so you still feel in the know. I'm sure there were more subtle parts that would mean more to Shakespeare afficionados. Having said that, this is a great story. Think twice about letting your child do a holiday drama program in a haunted school!
And thank you to the author for the ARC copy.
The Tasmanian locale, dreary weather and spooky myths set the stage for plenty of misery and mayhem. D'Este is a great writer and has ingeniously wound a complex tale around the events of a few days as an odd group of teenagers and teachers gather to put on a play that has its own spooky history. The semi-deserted school setting is a great backdrop for some classic horror tropes and D'Este doesn't disappoint.
The story explores multiple flawed characters as the author exposes the darker side of human nature, spurred on in this instance with a little supernatural help. The characters were all a bit detestable and it did get a little frustrating that I couldn't find anyone I really wanted to barrack for. I wanted to shake a few of them - or give them detention - which suggests that the author knows how to write annoying, troubled, and arrogant teenagers well.
I only loosely know the story of Macbeth, but D'Este ties in brief explanations so you still feel in the know. I'm sure there were more subtle parts that would mean more to Shakespeare afficionados. Having said that, this is a great story. Think twice about letting your child do a holiday drama program in a haunted school!
And thank you to the author for the ARC copy.
February 24, 2020
Creepy high school horror set in Tasmania. The bleak, spooky atmosphere in this story is amazing. I could practically feel the rain drizzling, and the mist closing in. With a performance of Macbeth, and a mysterious cult set as the background to this story, you know you are in for some high level shivers and D'Este doesn't disappoint!
November 6, 2019
The Flower and the Serpent (2019) by Madeleine D'Este is an excellent young adult thriller. Three girls head into a production of Macbeth directed by the inexperienced new drama teacher at the school. The production is being done over the winter school holidays in June in Hobart when the days are short. The school is located on a site long associated with dark events.
The book has elements of Stranger Things with fine character development and kids that feel like real kids. The plot moves quickly and it's definitely a page turner. The way the stories of the three girls are intertwined also works really well.
The Flower and the Serpent is a really good read that nicely combines a nicely different setting with great characters and a well paced fast moving plot. It's definitely worth checking out.
The book has elements of Stranger Things with fine character development and kids that feel like real kids. The plot moves quickly and it's definitely a page turner. The way the stories of the three girls are intertwined also works really well.
The Flower and the Serpent is a really good read that nicely combines a nicely different setting with great characters and a well paced fast moving plot. It's definitely worth checking out.
December 14, 2019
The Flower and the Serpent takes me back to the days of intense adolescent relationships, where anything seems possible, even the supernatural. The dark setting and relatable characters drew me into this intriguing and often frightening story that took me on unexpected roads right up until the final climax.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews