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minary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
lorepineiro's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, and Vomit
robinvesper's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Eating disorder
mybeevenme's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really don't know how to rate this, maybe because I normally don't read thriller.
I also didn't really find Felicity that lovable/relatable, because she strikes me as the kind of person I'd avoid in real life because of how she treats others.
I like Ellis tho, a lot actually, but I felt like her portrayal was inconsistent, what could be due to the nature of Felicity being an unreliable narrator.
In general I feel like Felicity as a narrator was a bit too unreliable. don't get me wrong, I like unreliable narrator's, but only to a degree.
All in all if you like thriller and dark academia this definitely might be the book for you.
I also didn't really find Felicity that lovable/relatable, because she strikes me as the kind of person I'd avoid in real life because of how she treats others.
I like Ellis tho, a lot actually, but I felt like her portrayal was inconsistent, what could be due to the nature of Felicity being an unreliable narrator.
In general I feel like Felicity as a narrator was a bit too unreliable. don't get me wrong, I like unreliable narrator's, but only to a degree.
All in all if you like thriller and dark academia this definitely might be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Vomit
monaluffy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yes! A dark academia book with witchy vibes that I LIKED!!!!! I wasn't dissapointed AT ALL, Love to hate this characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror and Emotional abuse
Minor: Eating disorder
mars_ira's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization
dernhelms_bag's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Eating disorder, Racism, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jmross10's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The premise of this book sounded excellent and in the first few chapters it really seems like something epic is going to happen. Then you hit the halfway point and you start to wonder what the plot actually is. The problem being, that’s around the point you stop caring.
At 3/4 the way through I guessed the ending and probably would have DNF’d if I hadn’t been curious enough to see if I was right. I was, for the record, but it was so anticlimactic that being right wasn’t even satisfying. I wish I’d read something else instead.
To me, this reads as more of a domestic thriller (that just happened to be in a school) than it does dark academia (I know opinions on what this actually entails vary). The plot was familiar in that I basically read the same thing earlier this year and Lee didn’t add anything to it that made it feel new or worthwhile.
I wish Lee had leaned into the Supernatural aspect more because the story of the witches and the mystery surrounding their murders would have been a far more interesting than what we actually get.
At 3/4 the way through I guessed the ending and probably would have DNF’d if I hadn’t been curious enough to see if I was right. I was, for the record, but it was so anticlimactic that being right wasn’t even satisfying. I wish I’d read something else instead.
To me, this reads as more of a domestic thriller (that just happened to be in a school) than it does dark academia (I know opinions on what this actually entails vary). The plot was familiar in that I basically read the same thing earlier this year and Lee didn’t add anything to it that made it feel new or worthwhile.
I wish Lee had leaned into the Supernatural aspect more because the story of the witches and the mystery surrounding their murders would have been a far more interesting than what we actually get.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
_teoeo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Don't know what to think about this book. At first I loved it and some parts I still love. Although the middle part of the book is a bit boring, (because it feels like nothing happens) I like the poetic writing and the mentioning of feminism and witchcraft and all this stuff.
The ending is what confuses and frustrates me the most. It's totally different from the rest of the book and the last 100 pages felt like I'm reading not the same book anymore but another one with a completely different story.
But I still like the first 250 pages and the style of writing so the book is still 3 out of 5 stars for me.
The ending is what confuses and frustrates me the most. It's totally different from the rest of the book and the last 100 pages felt like I'm reading not the same book anymore but another one with a completely different story.
But I still like the first 250 pages and the style of writing so the book is still 3 out of 5 stars for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Racism
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was received this eProof for free from Titan Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year, but while I thoroughly enjoyed it in the end, I had mixed feelings as I was reading. But having finished the book, it really was fantastic!
What I want to start off saying is that this isn't fantasy or horror, or an amalgamation of the two. I came for the witches and the ghosts and the mysterious historic deaths, when they're actually not the real focus of the story at all. They play a part, but they're not what this story is about. It's about obsession, ambition, mental illness, and toxic relationships. This is contemporary, and it's a thriller. The description above compares A Lesson in Vengeance with The Craft, which just isn't right at all. What I'm about to say next kind of crosses into spoiler territory, so I'm putting it under a spoiler tags. But you should know that what I discuss is that there's something I think readers should know before they even start the story. In my opinion, you should read the below, but I leave the choice up to you.
This story wouldn't be the story it is if Felicity didn't have a mental illness. It simply wouldn't exist. And I feel very strongly that stories about mental illness should clearly say so in the blurb/description. The way this story is told, it took the majority of the book to figure out whether this book <i>was</i> about witches and ghosts or about mental health. I'm all for unreliable narrators, but I'm generally not a fan of asking myself, "Is this real or is this delusion?" without knowing prior if the character has delusions or not. I'm not against stories that explore mental illness like this, where the character with a mental illness is thinking or seeing things that aren't real, but I believe we should know going into the story. I would prefer the fact that Felicity has psychotic depression was in the blurb.
Saying all that, I did really enjoy it! The history of the Dalloway Five and Dalloway School's occult past, though secondary, was really fascinating, and I can completely understand Felicity's interest. A school where there may have been witches? I definitely would have wanted to attend! And with the school having a secret society coven, whose real purpose is to create connections between wealthy society people who can help each other out in the future, with it's rituals, you can understand Felicity's growing attraction to all things occult. She dabbles in real witchcraft (as opposed to the fantasy kind) herself, with crystals and candles, herbs and tarot cards, and while it's only a small part of the story, as someone who practices witchcraft, I appreciated it's inclusion, and the obvious research that went into it. But Felicity's attraction didn't last, as she believes it's related to her girlfriend Alex's death in an accident last year. Felicity and Alex performed a seance with a spirit board in order to contact the spirit of Margery Lemont, the daughter of the school's founder and the leader of the coven back then, who was buried alive. But Alex shut it down when Felicity started freaking out, and the seance wasn't closed properly. Felicity believes Margery Lemont's spirit wasn't released, and as such, killed Alex. That's the history. Felicity is now back at Dalloway School to retake her senior year, after her grief over Alex's death and her fear over Margery meant she needed to be hospitalised in a mental health facility. She is adamant she will turn her back on everything to do with magic and occult, because of what it does to her, but it won't seem to let her out of it's grasp. And Ellis Haley, Pulitzer prize winning teenage author, who has started at the school, is writing a new novel based on the Dalloway Five, and wants Felicity's help to because of her knowledge.
And so starts the relationship that is key to the story. Despite still grieving for Alex, and the guilt she feels over her death, Felicity is drawn to Ellis for reasons she can't quite explain. It goes beyond ordinary attraction. There is a pull she can't ignore, even though she doesn't even really like her at first. I didn't warm to Ellis at all. Initially, I thought she was standoffish, aloof and superior. As the story progressed, we see she can be really rude and selfish; she was the prodigy author and must be the center of attention, while also trying to appear above it all. Other students follow in her wake, starstruck by her celebrity, and Ellis uses this to her advantage, subtly controlling and influencing people. It's ordinary dick behaviour, but she's not like that all the time, not with Felicity. Even so, I felt there was something off about her. She made me feel uncomfortable, and the more I read, the more and more concerned I became. But as before, prior to Alex's death, Felicity gets in too deep, can't see the wood for the trees, and clings to Ellis like she's the only thing keeping her head above water.
While still not entirely sure what was going on, I became angry. There were some things I was certain about, and one was that Felicity and Ellis' relationship was toxic. Ellis' behaviour becomes increasingly questionable and shocking, and I was desperate for someone to see, someone to help. The tension grows, and it was just so uncomfortable to read. But it was like a car crash, I couldn't look away. I had to know what would happen next, where exactly this story would lead, though I couldn't imagine it would be anything good.
The last twenty percent of the book was truly epic, and hit me like a sucker punch. There was twist after twist, and the story got so much darker than I was ever expecting! It left my jaw on the floor, and I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was horrifying, but also incredible storytelling. When you look back over the story, you can see the subtle hints, the markers of the direction the story was heading in. It blew my mind, and I was left feeling completely unmoored, and wondering what the hell I just read. Honestly, it's the kind of story I know I will be thinking about for a very long time, that has left me with a deliciously unsettling feeling. While the stories themselves are nothing alike, I am reminded very much of how Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth left me feeling, awestruck and stunned, and the undeniable knowledge that I has just read something incredible. I am absolutely positive this is going to be a contender for one of my favourite reads of the year.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year, but while I thoroughly enjoyed it in the end, I had mixed feelings as I was reading. But having finished the book, it really was fantastic!
What I want to start off saying is that this isn't fantasy or horror, or an amalgamation of the two. I came for the witches and the ghosts and the mysterious historic deaths, when they're actually not the real focus of the story at all. They play a part, but they're not what this story is about. It's about obsession, ambition, mental illness, and toxic relationships. This is contemporary, and it's a thriller. The description above compares A Lesson in Vengeance with The Craft, which just isn't right at all. What I'm about to say next kind of crosses into spoiler territory, so I'm putting it under a spoiler tags. But you should know that what I discuss is that there's something I think readers should know before they even start the story. In my opinion, you should read the below, but I leave the choice up to you.
Saying all that, I did really enjoy it! The history of the Dalloway Five and Dalloway School's occult past, though secondary, was really fascinating, and I can completely understand Felicity's interest. A school where there may have been witches? I definitely would have wanted to attend! And with the school having a secret society coven, whose real purpose is to create connections between wealthy society people who can help each other out in the future, with it's rituals, you can understand Felicity's growing attraction to all things occult. She dabbles in real witchcraft (as opposed to the fantasy kind) herself, with crystals and candles, herbs and tarot cards, and while it's only a small part of the story, as someone who practices witchcraft, I appreciated it's inclusion, and the obvious research that went into it. But Felicity's attraction didn't last, as she believes it's related to her girlfriend Alex's death in an accident last year. Felicity and Alex performed a seance with a spirit board in order to contact the spirit of Margery Lemont, the daughter of the school's founder and the leader of the coven back then, who was buried alive. But Alex shut it down when Felicity started freaking out, and the seance wasn't closed properly. Felicity believes Margery Lemont's spirit wasn't released, and as such, killed Alex. That's the history. Felicity is now back at Dalloway School to retake her senior year, after her grief over Alex's death and her fear over Margery meant she needed to be hospitalised in a mental health facility. She is adamant she will turn her back on everything to do with magic and occult, because of what it does to her, but it won't seem to let her out of it's grasp. And Ellis Haley, Pulitzer prize winning teenage author, who has started at the school, is writing a new novel based on the Dalloway Five, and wants Felicity's help to because of her knowledge.
And so starts the relationship that is key to the story. Despite still grieving for Alex, and the guilt she feels over her death, Felicity is drawn to Ellis for reasons she can't quite explain. It goes beyond ordinary attraction. There is a pull she can't ignore, even though she doesn't even really like her at first. I didn't warm to Ellis at all. Initially, I thought she was standoffish, aloof and superior. As the story progressed, we see she can be really rude and selfish; she was the prodigy author and must be the center of attention, while also trying to appear above it all. Other students follow in her wake, starstruck by her celebrity, and Ellis uses this to her advantage, subtly controlling and influencing people. It's ordinary dick behaviour, but she's not like that all the time, not with Felicity. Even so, I felt there was something off about her. She made me feel uncomfortable, and the more I read, the more and more concerned I became. But as before, prior to Alex's death, Felicity gets in too deep, can't see the wood for the trees, and clings to Ellis like she's the only thing keeping her head above water.
While still not entirely sure what was going on, I became angry. There were some things I was certain about, and one was that Felicity and Ellis' relationship was toxic. Ellis' behaviour becomes increasingly questionable and shocking, and I was desperate for someone to see, someone to help. The tension grows, and it was just so uncomfortable to read. But it was like a car crash, I couldn't look away. I had to know what would happen next, where exactly this story would lead, though I couldn't imagine it would be anything good.
The last twenty percent of the book was truly epic, and hit me like a sucker punch. There was twist after twist, and the story got so much darker than I was ever expecting! It left my jaw on the floor, and I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was horrifying, but also incredible storytelling. When you look back over the story, you can see the subtle hints, the markers of the direction the story was heading in. It blew my mind, and I was left feeling completely unmoored, and wondering what the hell I just read. Honestly, it's the kind of story I know I will be thinking about for a very long time, that has left me with a deliciously unsettling feeling. While the stories themselves are nothing alike, I am reminded very much of how Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth left me feeling, awestruck and stunned, and the undeniable knowledge that I has just read something incredible. I am absolutely positive this is going to be a contender for one of my favourite reads of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Vomit
An on-page sex scene (vague), reference to suicide (no actual suicide), references to racist history at a predominantly white institution, psychotic depression, reference to a stay in a mental health facility, child neglect (past/off page), death, and