Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Una lección de tinta y venganza by Victoria Lee

190 reviews

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Felicity Morrow is back at Dalloway a year after the tragic accident that caused her best friend's death. It's a new year at the elite school and a new set of students are housed with her at the very demanded Godwin house, among creaking floorboards and tilting bookshelves. Among them is Ellis Haley, young prodigy writer who attracts people like nectar for bees. Ellis is working on her next novel, about the Dalloway witches, a group of five students who died in the 1800s at Dalloway, whom Felicity was studying when tragedy struck. As one tries to make it all a thing of the past and the other is desperate to dig it out, ghosts are never far.
This book ticked all the dark academia boxes, one by one. Meticulously. As much as I loved all the references, and was glad to get most of them, it did feel a little too conspicuous. Like the author was presenting each one and saying ‘See? We're on the same wavelength!’.
That being said, again, there was much to love about this book. From the unreliable narrator to the mystery and the vibes. I loved how the beginning and the end unfolded, shining light on the characters’ tortuous psychology. My favourite part was perhaps how blurred the line was between reality and magic. Yet I came out a bit frustrated. I think I wish the themes had been explored that little bit deeper. But it's really to find a fault because this novel was perfectly enjoyable. I can also blame the stratospheric hype this book came with.
Rep: lesbian MC.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Death

Moderate: Animal death and Murder

ahntologies's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

iphigeniad's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A psychological thriller in sheep's clothing. Went into this one expecting actual ghosts and magic, and it was a wild ride. Big plot twist - I agree the third act felt rushed, and I would have liked to spend more time with Leonie and Kajal, the only characters of color in the book. Other than that, wow, this was a knockout punch of a mindfuck. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Animal death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide

sylexlibris's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Death, Grief, Murder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

gmat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Grief and Suicidal thoughts

jesliwen's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

holy shit the last hundred pages of this book is CRAZY and the best part,, but some of the representation is questionable and honestly i was confused often. so basically lesbian dark academia but i have no idea what’s going on half the time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism

solarel's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

At some points in this book I thought I was able to predict what would come next but I was always proven wrong. It kept me in a state of shock at every step with plot twists and reveals. 

With the subject of high school girls, it makes sense that it read like a YA. At some points it felt like it was almost pretentiously trying to be adult, but that’s also on theme. The prose felt like it was trying too hard at times to be dark and edgy, but overall the vibes were very spooky academic. 

Definitely a page turner. I enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Gun violence, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Grief, Murder, Outing, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Body horror, Animal death, Blood, Grief, and Murder

itzbrianna's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A Lesson in Vengeance is definitely dark queer academia with descriptions that will leave you haunted much like Felicity is during her time at Dalloway. While the descriptions of certain things were cheesy and even cringy are times, Victoria Lee still did a great job making you second guest whether or not the ghosts were real. 

As someone who indulges in mystery and true crime a lot, the little details piled up and supported my guess on how I thought this would end. Follow your instincts. 

What I wish for was a better climax. The climax seemed matter of fact and lacked luster to me. It wasn’t the what as I enjoyed that parallel of the story. But it was the steps leading to the how that failed to provide the ultimate umph you are hoping for as you read a story like this. I’m trying to not spoil it….


If you enjoy slow angst romance, haunted boarding schools, and mysterious new students then this is the read for you. A Lesson in Vengeance will leave you riddled and wondering whose the real villain of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Death

klpage's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

Such a good read for autumn and spooky season! This is the kind of dark academia I like! Witchy, dark magic, a bit of a psychological twist thrown in with the characters too. 

Loved it! Definitely recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Vomit, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Death, and Drug use