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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Fayman Preparatory School by Van Kell begins with Tom Marley, Annie Beltane, and Gary Eden formally committing to overseeing student placement under Mrs. Thatcher’s board at Fayman Preparatory School, while children Marie, Anya, Hiro, Silvia, Joel, and Dacre are relocated from the Peridge home to a secluded house, where they organize daily life. Ms. Beanie appears, unpredictably directing the group to prepare for enrollment at Fayman, issuing cryptic warnings about the school’s influence and how critical it is for their futures. Through hidden passages at Fayman, Michael Bannister and Mrs. Thatcher formalize contracts and discuss the oversight of students. Michael’s backstory unfolds with his marriage and exploitation of an heiress, solidifying his bond with Thatcher. Meanwhile, the students endure a school year of unusual events, control, and anxiety, where exam failure means being forced into summer school under even more structured supervision.
Fayman Preparatory School by Van Kell is unique in the sheer volume of storylines and subplots in the ambitious When We Love The Least Of These series. Kell clearly juxtaposes the vulnerability of children of special abilities and the adults, particularly Michael, Thatcher, and Gary, who have a horrible history of manipulation and abuse that inevitably ends in tragedy. The backstories coincide with readers getting to know Marie, Anya, Hiro, Silvia, Joel, and Dacre in a school full of secrets, demanding routines, and the imposition of strict rules. There are supernatural elements, and Kell's skill as a writer is evident when leaning into the students’ attempts to adapt and support one another. The world-building is exceptional, from forests to secret chambers, and the ending, despite being a cliffhanger, has a shocking twist that left me fully invested in what is to come. Recommended.
