Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

11 reviews

rhythmofryn's review

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SpoilerJane’s cousin Edwin exposing himself to Jane was way too much for me. I know this is a dark retelling of Jane Eyre but child abuse hits different than fictional murders to me.

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abinthebooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A 19th century serial killer who girlbossed a little to close to the sun, the elusive man who stole her childhood home but actually turns out to be hot asf and funny too (but he’s definitely hiding something in them cellars…), his really cute ward who loves horses and said girlboss actually likes, and the really charming butler who’s a little sus but is so nice to girlboss she doesn’t care. Combined with an abusive aunt, a shitty boarding school, and some queer-baiting, you get Jane Steele!

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My Gothic Book Playlist

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aiyam's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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atamano's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


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calamitywindpetal's review

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adventurous funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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cyanide_latte's review against another edition

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This wasn't catching my mood and I just don't have the patience right now for this narrative or the author's writing style. It isn't bad, per se, I just don't have it in me to keep going with it at this point in time.

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whitedaylilies's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a fun story. Nothing terribly deep or investing but just a good time! Great if you love Jane Eyre retelling a for sure, with some pretty lovable characters!

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directorpurry's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

While I would not quite call Jane Eyre a good romp, this retelling certainly is. It's weird and ridiculous and inventive and hilarious and absolutely wonderful. (Subsequent updates to this review will be added at the bottom.)

For anyone frustrated by Miss Eyre's often passive or submissive nature, perhaps Miss Steele will be more your style. She kills those who wrong her, at any rate! Faye also managed to take the best parts of Rochester and make them rather more charming and much more endearing in Charles Thornfield's form.
Despite the non historical nature of it, Jane is quite free to do as she pleases, galavanting about London, writing, or picking her own way through the world. Unlike in many romantic novels contemporary to the original publication of Jane Eyre (which is a book I love, just to be clear), it is quite obvious Jane is throwing herself happily into this, not begrudgingly or because of monetary necessity. She is her own woman and her own character who will do as she pleases - much to the joy of the readers.

Also, to my great delight, this novel tackled non-westernism in such a loving light. Although the Thornfield household is Indian and much distrusted or disliked by the English, no slurs are thrown about and the household is treated with love and respect through the narrative.
And I won't spoil it, but there's at least one lesbian/bisexual character and another who I feel in my heart is definitely asexual.

I absolutely recommend this book to everyone. It was such a great time to read, and it even kept my spirits up while I stressed and struggled before taking the GRE. (I did well, in case you're curious. No need to take it again!) If it makes you want to read it any more, I would be happy to thank this book, at least in a small part, for my success.

EDIT: Read #2
I've now read this book for a SECOND time in less than 8 months and added it to my Top 10 list. I'm also adding a content warning, because I do that now. It's kind of a long one, but please don't be put off - everything is handled SO tastefully
CW: Suicide (mentioned), child abuse/neglect, spousal abuse, miscarriage, sexual assault/harassment, assault of a minor

Now that I've read Jane Eyre more recently as well, I applaud Faye for the highly impressive way she managed to capture and subdue the pacing of the original novel.

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evamill's review

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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annamariemapes's review

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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