The novel follows a group of students, selected to join an exclusive writing workshop. When secrets unravel and tensions rise, the students begin to realise nothing is as it seems.
Centred at The Moss, an isolated estate where the storytelling workshop takes place, the characters explore themes of power, manipulation and pressure.
Meredith Graffam is an eccentric director, writer and actress and serves as the student’s mentor. Her character portrays the influence of power and highlights the imbalance she holds over the students.
Effy Green is a central character in the novel, alongside Arlo Ellis-Noon, both ambitious participants throughout the workshop, who, along with the others, are manipulated by Graffam.
Issac carries a legacy throughout the book, faced with the pressure to live up to his family expectations and Ness, an overlooked wallflower, struggles with belonging. Throughout the novel, the characters confront their past traumas and question what they believe is true.
The Moss is cut off from the outside world, with no phones, internet or escape, creating a sense of helplessness. The setting is prestigious but also haunting, with its old-world, intellectual charm adding to the emotional isolation and dark academia vibe of the story. This eerie setting also leads to the dark psychological games played within the moss and the pressure to live up to the standards of being chosen for the course. At The Moss, truth and fiction melt together and reality distorts, with the dangerous allure of the place and isolation from the outside world leaving the characters feeling a creepy sense of dread.
The introspective writing style and shifting perspectives create emotional tension throughout the novel. Dark academia tones run throughout the layered structure, and the psychologically driven narrative builds suspense. The slow reveals keep you guessing, with the central mystery developing throughout the novel. As secrets come out in the second half, the truth breaks down, with the effective writing style creating the best kind of novel.
Reading this novel was a pleasure, albeit a little disturbing. The dark academia setting and hierarchical dynamics between Meredith and the students build dramatic mystery throughout the novel. The writing style is haunting but poetic, and the novel provides great insights into identity, particularly how you see yourself and how you want others to see you. This gorgeously written psychological thriller is perfect for those looking for a dark mystery with eccentric characters and many plot twists.
Title: When We Were Monsters
Author: Jennifer Niven
Publisher: Penguin, $19.99
Publication Date: 2 September 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241772492
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction
