kpeerman1's review against another edition
3.0
****3.5 stars
Y'all,
This story was cute. It was an interesting spin on the idea of Jane Eyre, even written in the tongue of an old classic. I feel like the Clarke story line was a little pointless, but no less captivating. I would definitely recommend if you are someone who thinks the heroines in Austen novels are sarcastic and funny.
Y'all,
This story was cute. It was an interesting spin on the idea of Jane Eyre, even written in the tongue of an old classic. I feel like the Clarke story line was a little pointless, but no less captivating. I would definitely recommend if you are someone who thinks the heroines in Austen novels are sarcastic and funny.
mariandiepb's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cilie's review against another edition
4.0
Very entertaining and well written. Fairly high-paced, but you do get to now the main characters, and end up routing for the murderous Jane. Really liked how she references Jane Eyre, not only in the whiting and plot but directly at Jane Eyre is har favorite book.
heatherinjapan's review against another edition
Doesn't hold my interest despite having lots of things happening.
katreadsalot's review
5.0
Truly loved this book. It was beautifully written, fun to read, with a main character impossible not to root for. This is not my usual genre, but so good. After reading the first 200 pages, I couldn’t put it down.
“You cannot know what it means, reader, to have thought yourself despised for your unworthiness for a period of years - to have supposed your very nature poison, and your friend to have this abandoned you - and to learn thereafter that you were loved not too little but too well.”
“You cannot know what it means, reader, to have thought yourself despised for your unworthiness for a period of years - to have supposed your very nature poison, and your friend to have this abandoned you - and to learn thereafter that you were loved not too little but too well.”
craftsbury's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nicolemhill's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 really. I do prefer Faye's reimagining of the Holmes canon, but this homage to Jane Eyre was delightful almost from start to finish. (The end went a little off the rails, but Jane Steele is charming enough to hold things together.)
megancrews's review
Jane Eyre is not the most charming of classic literary heroines. Readers who love her are die-hard fans, and readers who don’t are baffled that she has fans at all. Lindsay Faye’s new book Jane Steele breathes fresh life into this complex classic character. While Faye’s heroine loves Bronte’s classic novel, and even faces some similar experiences as the original Jane, her response to these circumstances makes her a heroine modern readers will swoon for, regardless of how they may have felt about her namesake. While Faye may borrow a few plot points from Bronte, this is not a retelling of Jane Eyre.
Jane Steele is orphaned, and left in the care of an aunt who seems to despise her. Jane is sent to a horrendous boarding school where girls are starved and humiliated. While Eyre accepted these trials as part of her lot, Steele takes matters into her own hands. She begins her story by telling us “Of all my many murders, committed for love and for better reasons, the first was the most important." This Jane is a kind of vigilante, righting the wrongs of society.
After abruptly leaving Lowan Bridge School, then surviving and even thriving in some of London’s less savory streets, she finds a governess position at a large estate owned by Mr. Charles Thornfield. At Highgate House, she finds an intriguing cast of characters. Thornfield, now home in England after years serving in the Punjab, seems to be harboring secrets. His entire household, including his charming young ward are all Sikhs, and in this exotic and strange new household Jane feels more at home than she ever has before.
This newfound happiness is jeopardized when she finds herself falling in love with her employer, even as she tries to hide her own unsavory past. And, can she say for certain she will never murder again?
Jane Steele is orphaned, and left in the care of an aunt who seems to despise her. Jane is sent to a horrendous boarding school where girls are starved and humiliated. While Eyre accepted these trials as part of her lot, Steele takes matters into her own hands. She begins her story by telling us “Of all my many murders, committed for love and for better reasons, the first was the most important." This Jane is a kind of vigilante, righting the wrongs of society.
After abruptly leaving Lowan Bridge School, then surviving and even thriving in some of London’s less savory streets, she finds a governess position at a large estate owned by Mr. Charles Thornfield. At Highgate House, she finds an intriguing cast of characters. Thornfield, now home in England after years serving in the Punjab, seems to be harboring secrets. His entire household, including his charming young ward are all Sikhs, and in this exotic and strange new household Jane feels more at home than she ever has before.
This newfound happiness is jeopardized when she finds herself falling in love with her employer, even as she tries to hide her own unsavory past. And, can she say for certain she will never murder again?
rhythmofryn's review against another edition
Spoiler
Jane’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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Self harm
kcalle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25