By Paula Limbaugh
Gated II: Ravenhill Academy by Matt Drabble is the sequel to Tolan Christian. The story picks up again ten years after Tolan was defeated and thought dead in the first book, Gated.
Sara Jane or SJ Now known as Sarah, she is a teacher at Ravenhill Academy in the north of England. After six years at the academy, Sarah is finally starting to settle in. She has a bit of a flirtation with a colleague, Stuart, and a growing friendship with another teacher, Jemima.
Alas, good things come with bad things. One day, a new student from the United States, 13-year-old Joshua, arrived at school, and that’s when the strange things started. At first, we noticed little things, like the unruly kids in the class giving in to Joshua. The other students began to see Joshua as a leader, even though he was one of the younger kids. And Joshua, he was a little too polite, a little too sensible.
The Christmas holidays have arrived and most of the staff and students have gone home. As those who have gone home leave, a big snowstorm is coming. Thirteen students, the principal, Sarah, and a handful of staff remain. Now the fun begins! Strange deaths, students behaving strangely, like zombies; Sarah begins to feel the fear coming upon her. Caretaker Maurice, whose family has been with Ravenhill since the beginning, is afraid of the change in atmosphere. Isolated by the snowstorm, with no way to escape what is coming.
Finally, Tolan Christian emerges as Joshua. Ten years after his death, he is ready to resurrect and exact revenge. Sarah knows he has been defeated before, and now she must find his weakness and defeat him again before it’s too late!
If you’ve read Gated and liked it, then I know you’ll enjoy this book too. The ending leaves us with the beginning of the third book, which I’m sure is what you were looking for!
Order yours here.
score:4/5
