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A review by mhmrose
Estella's Revenge by Barbara Havelocke
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I'll admit, Great Expectations isn't my favourite Dicken novel, but reading Barbara Havelocke's novel has me wanting to re-read it with a different perspective. The enigmatic Miss Havisham becomes the cruel dictator over Estella's childhood shaping her into the woman who fears feeling love.
Taking place over two timelines, the story seamlessly moves between Estella's younger years and her marriage to the insufferable and violent Bentley Drummle. Estella's Revenge explores the toxicity of relationships that destroy Estella's perspective on the world around her, turning men into the ruin of the world (which, in this novel, you can understand with so many horrible men in it).
Havelocke's letter at the end of her novel changed how I saw Estella's Revenge; 'Listen to two people describe an event and they are never identical. [...] This book is no different. It is not a retelling of Great Expectations'. With this change of perspective, I re-read with new eyes and I found myself loving Estella's Revenge more. Seeing this as more than a retelling shows Havelocke's novel in a new light and makes it clear that this is a must-read for those who want a different perspective on a tale that has more to it than what meets the eye.
Estella's Revenge is a beautiful reimagining of Dicken's classic novel and is a must-read for those who want to see it from Estella's perspective.
Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Taking place over two timelines, the story seamlessly moves between Estella's younger years and her marriage to the insufferable and violent Bentley Drummle. Estella's Revenge explores the toxicity of relationships that destroy Estella's perspective on the world around her, turning men into the ruin of the world (which, in this novel, you can understand with so many horrible men in it).
Havelocke's letter at the end of her novel changed how I saw Estella's Revenge; 'Listen to two people describe an event and they are never identical. [...] This book is no different. It is not a retelling of Great Expectations'. With this change of perspective, I re-read with new eyes and I found myself loving Estella's Revenge more. Seeing this as more than a retelling shows Havelocke's novel in a new light and makes it clear that this is a must-read for those who want a different perspective on a tale that has more to it than what meets the eye.
Estella's Revenge is a beautiful reimagining of Dicken's classic novel and is a must-read for those who want to see it from Estella's perspective.
Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.