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A review by kaabtik
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The beginning was pretty slow and the constant switching of POVs made it muddled in the beginning.
However, I was completely engrossed by the end! Definitely took me a while to warm up to the book as it isn't exactly a topic I lean towards but it was a great read.
Discussion in The Dead Muses Society Bookclub:
finished it this just before dinner!
initially i did not enjoy the beginning half as the constant switching of POVs really threw me off as the chapters were short and very little was happening that felt warranted to switch POVs. many a time i would find myself reading carly's chapters in scarlett's inner voice - which, upon finishing, is an excellent way of hinting of the two people being one all along.
the red herring of the two girls that scarlett saw during halloween almost made me throw away the theory but the reveal made it satisfying imo. the end endeared me to the three women - though it would have been interesting to see a trio POV of scarlett, carly, and mina just so we could get to know mina better and how she was a narrative foil to carly's allison - which upon reflection makes the final murder a full circle of carly's freshman year and first kill:
scarlett shedding her identity as the beloved yet strict professor at gormon - just as she shed carly, her timid self, when she was a freshman in order to confront bash
bash and stright being the object of scarlett and carly's bloodlust - only to escape death by a hairsbreadth.
wes and jasper — her supposed love interests, the former a snake lying in wait with a silver tongue and very dark intentions, while the latter baring his fangs the moment they met.
mina and allison — those she had truly cared about, while allison ran upon the discovery of scarlett's true self, mina welcomed it - encouraged it, even.
mikayla i suppose represents the carly that first committed a murder - whether or not she follows the same footsteps as scarlett... well that's up to her. overall it was quite enjoyable and writing out my ideas here really made me realize i picked this book apart more than i should have.
However, I was completely engrossed by the end! Definitely took me a while to warm up to the book as it isn't exactly a topic I lean towards but it was a great read.
Discussion in The Dead Muses Society Bookclub:
initially i did not enjoy the beginning half as the constant switching of POVs really threw me off as the chapters were short and very little was happening that felt warranted to switch POVs. many a time i would find myself reading carly's chapters in scarlett's inner voice - which, upon finishing, is an excellent way of hinting of the two people being one all along.
the red herring of the two girls that scarlett saw during halloween almost made me throw away the theory but the reveal made it satisfying imo. the end endeared me to the three women - though it would have been interesting to see a trio POV of scarlett, carly, and mina just so we could get to know mina better and how she was a narrative foil to carly's allison - which upon reflection makes the final murder a full circle of carly's freshman year and first kill:
scarlett shedding her identity as the beloved yet strict professor at gormon - just as she shed carly, her timid self, when she was a freshman in order to confront bash
bash and stright being the object of scarlett and carly's bloodlust - only to escape death by a hairsbreadth.
wes and jasper — her supposed love interests, the former a snake lying in wait with a silver tongue and very dark intentions, while the latter baring his fangs the moment they met.
mina and allison — those she had truly cared about, while allison ran upon the discovery of scarlett's true self, mina welcomed it - encouraged it, even.
mikayla i suppose represents the carly that first committed a murder - whether or not she follows the same footsteps as scarlett... well that's up to her. overall it was quite enjoyable and writing out my ideas here really made me realize i picked this book apart more than i should have.