Paris. 1794. The city is reeling after the French revolution, as Revolutionists have toppled the monarchy but the Royalists are still fighting back.

The guillotine is constantly busy as citizens get arrested for any infringement, and the crowds still gather to watch for a warped entertainment.

Then there is the Battalion of the Dead. This group of revolutionaries rescue as many people as they can from wrongful imprisonment and a terrible fate.

A new rescue plan finds them hovering over a prison in a hot air balloon. This is the distraction. There are more members inside the prison ready to find and rescue a daughter of a Duke. What they find is a young girl with a metal helmet enclosing her entire head, with only a slit for her eyes. She has been sewn into her clothes too – gloves to shirt, puncturing her wrists as it was done. Who would do this to a young girl?

The plan goes awry but the rescue is successful. Back at one of their safe houses they discover the girl isn’t the Duke’s daughter at all, and the rescue mission wasn’t out of love. This girl is different. Very different. Her eyes are all pupil, no colour but black. Her skin looks bruised until you look closer and realise the bruises are moving across her face. The reason for her gloves to be sewn to her sleeves is soon obvious too.

Is she a monster? No. But she does have powers like nothing they’ve ever dreamed of. The Duke wants her for his own nefarious reasons, but so do others. The Battalion of the Dead make a vow to keep her safe.

Along the way is indecision, powerplays, love shared and betrayal thrown in their face. This is their most dangerous plan yet and they will not escape without the slash of knives, muskets fired and the guillotine raised and ready for one of their team. Will they stay together and can they keep their promise to keep the girl safe?

This team of bandits reminded me of Kaz Brekker and his crew from Six of Crows, though The Battalion of the Dead is not so polished a crew. The mistakes made however, just makes this first book in this trilogy more exciting. The powerplays, surprises and twists kept me turning pages.

The historical setting is richly written, sending me right into the chaos of Paris between two warring factions and the horror of the guillotine waiting for anyone who makes a misstep.

Trust is a currency and is easily spent or lost as a girl deemed a science experiment by some, and the solution to their need for rule by others, is a constant target.

Gripping, action aplenty, historical fiction mixed with science, love and betrayal.

No.2 – Monstrous Design (Out in PB May 2022)

No.3 – Glorious Poison (Out in HB Aug 2022)

Author – Kat Dunn

Age – 12+

(2020, Series, Trilogy, Fantasy, Historical, Action, Team, Guillotine, Chopped off heads, Fire, Electricity, Science Experiment, Prison, Hot Air Balloon Rescue, Gunshots, Knife wounds, Distraction, Promise, Vow, Betrayal, Lies, Love, LGBTQ+, Gay, Paris, France)