Genre: Thriller
Series: Killing November #1
Hardcover, 368 pages
Publication: March 26, 2019 by Knopf BFYR
Source: Personal Library
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It’s a school completely off the grid, hidden by dense forest and surrounded by traps. There’s no electricity, no internet, and an eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes include everything from Knife-Throwing and Poisons to the Art of Deception and Historical Analysis. And all of the students are children of the world’s most elite strategists—training to become assassins, counselors, spies, and master impersonators. Into this world walks November Adley, who quickly discovers that friends are few in a school where personal revelations are discouraged and competition is everything. When another student is murdered, all eyes turn to November, who must figure out exactly how she fits into the school’s bizarre strategy games before she is found guilty of the crime…or becomes the killer’s next victim.
Killing November was a pleasant surprise when it popped up on my radar. I had no clue Mather had a new book out. I read Mather’s first book, How to Hang a Witch and enjoyed it immensely. Still keeping within the YA genre, Mather moved away from the paranormal to thriller with a boarding school full of assassins in the making. Our heroine, November ‘Ember’ woke up in a boarding school in the middle of nowhere, only to find herself with a target on her back. Students and faculties alike had a bone to pick with November and she didn’t have the slightest clue as to why. But things took a turn for the worst when students ended up dead and November was the only common denominator between the murders. With the help of her new roommate, Layla and her twin brother, Ash; they set out to find the murderer before they become the next casualty.
The book started out kind of shaky as the author sets up the characters, motive and stage. I was a couple of chapters in and was not a fan of November. Everyone has their quirks and November’s quirk was announcing aloud the etymology of everyone’s name and breaking down word meaning. Don’t get me wrong, I love etymology but when it was every other sentence or paragraph…it got old, real fast. I almost put the book down for that reason alone, but I trudged along because the overall synopsis was intriguing. And I’m glad I stuck it out because it was a pretty good and entertaining read. Luckily with more pressing concerns, like staying alive, November traded etymology for sleuthing about the campus and dodging flying knives. Small mercies. I also liked learning about the different families and her parent’s Romeo and Juliet-like relationship between the Lion faction and Bear faction.
It was refreshing going into Killing November with little knowledge of the story and no expectations for once. While the book didn’t start out strong it certainly ended strong. I enjoyed it more than I thought. And great news, Killing November is the beginning of a new series! I am excited to see where Mather takes the story next beyond the walls of the school. If you’re a fan of mafias, assassins and boarding schools then I highly recommend making Killing November your next read.
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