At the beginning of Demons of Ghent, Veerle, still recovering from the trauma of Silent Saturday and the death of her mother, is living with a distant father she hardly knows and his pregnant partner. She is fully aware that she is the cuckoo in the nest, inhabiting the bedroom which should have been the nursery, an unwanted addition to a family she really wants no part of. She has also left behind her home and her friends and has to attend a new school to finish her diploma.
Veerle is gradually getting back her strength and confidence to climb again and through this she meets Bram, a university student who introduces her to the rooftop landscapes of Ghent. But Ghent too has its secrets and a spate of deaths attributed to suicide lead some to blame the legendary Demons of Ghent. But what is their connection with the the menacing stalker, Veerle encounters?
Demons of Ghent is a compelling read. I loved Silent Saturday but, if anything, the narrative of the second in the Forbidden Spaces Trilogy is even more assured by a writer who is well into her stride. The originality of the subject makes Demons of Ghent a winner but Helen Grant also confronts the age-old problems of "blended" families, teenage love and angst, fitting in to a new school and so on with confidence. Strong characterisation and beautiful writing together with some quite terrifying scenes leading to the dramatic climax makes this book an absolute must for teens and adults alike.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Published by Corgi Books, The Demons of Ghent: Forbidden Spaces Trilogy: Book Two (Forbidden Spaces Trilogy 2)