eleven11's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hunter_strickland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a good way to end my 2022 reading challenge. Beautiful
hannahwhoreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I'm 100% not smart enough for this book but it was still so good
rjoberfoell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Oliver Marks has been released from prison after serving a 10 year sentence for a murder he may or have not have committed. The detective who put him there is retiring and wants the whole story. Following the unraveling of a group of 7 students in an intensive Shakespearean theatre arts program, fictional roles and circumstances mirror real life as things devolve into tragedy.
Excuse me, WHAT. I am utterly shellshocked by this story. With beautiful writing that smashed my psyche into a million pieces, M.L. Rio has written one of the leading works in dark academia. Like genre-defining, sucks you in so fast you feel like you've teleported, so intense you might throw up, type of book.
Reading the book from the perspective of Oliver makes watching what happened at Dellecher so incredibly difficult. It's like a car crash, you just can't look away. Seeing this group of deeply entwined people face such a dark twist of fate and then all of the fallout that succeeds it was a trip. Every time I thought things couldn't get worse, they did.
As a former, albeit casual, theatre kid, this story perfectly encapsulate the addictiveness and rush of performance. Even if you aren't a Shakespeare fanatic (e.g. me), this story is so incredibly engaging you can't help but enjoy the ride. That said, seeing the parallels between the plays they perform and the characters themselves was particularly devastating.
Seeing how this entire story played out, from each morally grey character to dramatic twist (again and again) to an ending that had me completely distraught. This one's going to stick with me for awhile.
(I'm writing this review several days after finishing and I'm getting emotional just thinking about it).
To wrap things up, here's a quote that ripped me in two:
“In that one brief moment, I actually wondered it ‘okay’ or something like it might still be possible. But that is how a tragedy like ours or King Lear breaks your heart - by making you believe that the ending might still be happy, until the very last minute.”
Excuse me, WHAT. I am utterly shellshocked by this story. With beautiful writing that smashed my psyche into a million pieces, M.L. Rio has written one of the leading works in dark academia. Like genre-defining, sucks you in so fast you feel like you've teleported, so intense you might throw up, type of book.
Reading the book from the perspective of Oliver makes watching what happened at Dellecher so incredibly difficult. It's like a car crash, you just can't look away. Seeing this group of deeply entwined people face such a dark twist of fate and then all of the fallout that succeeds it was a trip. Every time I thought things couldn't get worse, they did.
As a former, albeit casual, theatre kid, this story perfectly encapsulate the addictiveness and rush of performance. Even if you aren't a Shakespeare fanatic (e.g. me), this story is so incredibly engaging you can't help but enjoy the ride. That said, seeing the parallels between the plays they perform and the characters themselves was particularly devastating.
Seeing how this entire story played out, from each morally grey character to dramatic twist (again and again) to an ending that had me completely distraught. This one's going to stick with me for awhile.
(I'm writing this review several days after finishing and I'm getting emotional just thinking about it).
To wrap things up, here's a quote that ripped me in two:
“In that one brief moment, I actually wondered it ‘okay’ or something like it might still be possible. But that is how a tragedy like ours or King Lear breaks your heart - by making you believe that the ending might still be happy, until the very last minute.”
seantordecillas's review against another edition
4.0
i liked the first half more than the latter half but overall a fun read. i was so frustrated with the build up and then final decision of oliver taking the fall ): i was so mad but it’s whatever. i enjoyed reading all the shakespeare mixed with the drama of the main characters.
dalame's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
cartooncryptids's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
militarycorecunt's review against another edition
5.0
tore me apart, rearranged me again, then finally scattered me into tiny bits and pieces
also the superior ending is that James is dead, even if it's the most heart wrenching idea
also the superior ending is that James is dead, even if it's the most heart wrenching idea