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soobooksalot's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A Nest Of Snakes was not always an easy book to read. Yet I can start by saying I solidly enjoyed it, though enjoy feels like the wrong word given the subject matter.
Thank you to author Deborah Levison for the eARC for review, and for bringing my attention to her novel!
I became fully invested in this story of Brendan Cortland, whose story we are told in the early 80s and present-day. From the first page, we know Brendan is a tortured soul.
He and other students suffered horrible bullying and sexual abuse at the hands of those in positions of trust at the elite Torburton Hall Academy for Boys.
There are monsters in every corner.
But A Nest Of Snakes is ultimately a story of redemption and healing.
It's heavy subject matter and yet I absolutely couldn't put it down - the characters felt so real and there was so much tension throughout Brendan's journey. I was especially invested in the courtroom portion in the second half.
This is a difficult read but such an important one. Levison's author's note at the end was especially eye-opening.
Recommended!
Thank you to author Deborah Levison for the eARC for review, and for bringing my attention to her novel!
I became fully invested in this story of Brendan Cortland, whose story we are told in the early 80s and present-day. From the first page, we know Brendan is a tortured soul.
He and other students suffered horrible bullying and sexual abuse at the hands of those in positions of trust at the elite Torburton Hall Academy for Boys.
There are monsters in every corner.
But A Nest Of Snakes is ultimately a story of redemption and healing.
It's heavy subject matter and yet I absolutely couldn't put it down - the characters felt so real and there was so much tension throughout Brendan's journey. I was especially invested in the courtroom portion in the second half.
This is a difficult read but such an important one. Levison's author's note at the end was especially eye-opening.
Recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Child death, Bullying, Death, Pedophilia, Drug use, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Mental illness
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