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A review by relysiathekraken
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.0
As a vibe, this book is delectable. Witchcraft and murder and mystery, all dressed up in Glenn plaid, it is a fun ode to dark academia (The book’s commitment to dark academia occasionally even oversteps into farce, like the fact that this cast of teenage girls is so dedicated to their vintage aesthetic that none of them will use cellphones or laptops.)
As a thriller, however, it feels a bit messy and underbaked. It’s certainly not the first of its genre to lean on the trope of the unreliable narrator, but the way it’s carried out seems to obscure the facts of the story almost to the point of lying to the audience. And while I love the idea of the history of witchcraft that haunts this story, it feels only half executed, making its inclusion more confusing than fun.
As a thriller, however, it feels a bit messy and underbaked. It’s certainly not the first of its genre to lean on the trope of the unreliable narrator, but the way it’s carried out seems to obscure the facts of the story almost to the point of lying to the audience. And while I love the idea of the history of witchcraft that haunts this story, it feels only half executed, making its inclusion more confusing than fun.