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ameliameels's review against another edition
3.0
This was...interesting. The main character, Violet, attends a prestigious all-girls high school and becomes friends with Alex, Grace and Robin. The previous year, before Violet, Emily Frost had been a part of this group, and had disappeared, the body remaining unfound. Violet strikingly resembles Emily, an attribute that serves as the primary reason Robin brings her into the group in the first place. Lowe follows the girls through a year at their school as they uncover secrets regarding Emily Frost's murder, hidden horrors of their own, and what haunts their school, Elm Hollow. The four girls are also involved in a secret society lead by their aesthetics teacher, Annabel, who educates the girls on the school's occult history, as well as women in the arts and philosophy.
The writing in this book was wonderful, beautifully crafted and poignant, making this wonderfully atmospheric and true to the dark academia genre. Phrases that especially caught my attention were:
"Over the course of the week, those of us in the practical classes had filled the space, until it was impossible to leave the room without a coating of pink and blue chalk on our uniforms. Our hands left pastel prints in homage across the school: library books with green thumbs, peach palms around a test tube, blue lips printed on coffee cups and one another's cheeks. The lesson, I suppose (Annabel, the art tutor, rarely leading us to an obvious conclusion - or any conclusion at all), was that the artist leaves her mark on everything she touches." pg. 23
"It seems impossible, now, to imagine an intensity so feverish, such delirium. Perhaps that's a symptom of getting older. One's feelings wear down, no longer sparkling so keenly. Still, when I think of Robin, of those early days when our friendship was new and unfamiliar, I feel a swell deep within my chest, an echo of those heady days, when we ducked into a rain-battered fish-and-chip shop and shared a single cone as we walked along the promenade, laughing at the withered old women and screaming kids, who seemed so stupid, so beneath us, so deserving of our contempt. When we smoked rolled-up cigarettes and stubbed them out in the sand, the detritus of summer - cans, fools' emeralds made from broken bottles - shifting beneath our feet. When we drink sickly sweet alcopops from glass bottles, breaking the caps on the metal backs of graffitied bus seats. Every breath, every moment, possessed with an illusion of glamor, of filthy decadence, purely because it was ours, we two our own radical world, a star collapsing inward and bursting, gorgeous, in the dark." pg. 44
It was writing like this that kept me reading, and what Annabel taught the girls. This book fell flat in every other aspect. The main character, Violet, was extremely underdeveloped, and I was left frustrated with how easily she was manipulated and mistreated by the other girls. The other characters as well seemed to be mere props, especially Alex and Grace. These two girls are in a romantic relationship together throughout the novel, and while it is barely acknowledged, this detail only seems to serve as an excuse to leave them in the background of the book. They merely serve as place holders. Grace also has a physically abusive father, an aspect of the book that serves no purpose other than to add secret drama to the girl's group (Grace refuses to let the other girls do anything about her situation, and they don't). Similarly, Violet is neglected by her traumatized mother after her father and sister die in a car accident, another detail that only seems as an excuse to let Violet get away with anything and everything she does in this book. These seemed like cop outs on the writer's part, not wanting to deal with these aspects of the character's lives. All around, while the girls do come together to seek revenge when one of them is wronged, all four are incredibly cruel to one another, making their friendship far from believable. Nicky, a side character, is enemies with Robin, something that is stated multiple times but never elaborated on. It's clear the girls hate each other, but the why is never discussed, making things even more confusing.
All in all, if you're looking for a spooky, atmospheric read, this is a good choice. I kept reading for the writing alone. However, if strong characters are important to you, I suggest finding another book. The author tries to portray them as strong women, but instead they come off as being fractured, damaged girls who don't know how to handle their anger. I was disappointed.
The writing in this book was wonderful, beautifully crafted and poignant, making this wonderfully atmospheric and true to the dark academia genre. Phrases that especially caught my attention were:
"Over the course of the week, those of us in the practical classes had filled the space, until it was impossible to leave the room without a coating of pink and blue chalk on our uniforms. Our hands left pastel prints in homage across the school: library books with green thumbs, peach palms around a test tube, blue lips printed on coffee cups and one another's cheeks. The lesson, I suppose (Annabel, the art tutor, rarely leading us to an obvious conclusion - or any conclusion at all), was that the artist leaves her mark on everything she touches." pg. 23
"It seems impossible, now, to imagine an intensity so feverish, such delirium. Perhaps that's a symptom of getting older. One's feelings wear down, no longer sparkling so keenly. Still, when I think of Robin, of those early days when our friendship was new and unfamiliar, I feel a swell deep within my chest, an echo of those heady days, when we ducked into a rain-battered fish-and-chip shop and shared a single cone as we walked along the promenade, laughing at the withered old women and screaming kids, who seemed so stupid, so beneath us, so deserving of our contempt. When we smoked rolled-up cigarettes and stubbed them out in the sand, the detritus of summer - cans, fools' emeralds made from broken bottles - shifting beneath our feet. When we drink sickly sweet alcopops from glass bottles, breaking the caps on the metal backs of graffitied bus seats. Every breath, every moment, possessed with an illusion of glamor, of filthy decadence, purely because it was ours, we two our own radical world, a star collapsing inward and bursting, gorgeous, in the dark." pg. 44
It was writing like this that kept me reading, and what Annabel taught the girls. This book fell flat in every other aspect. The main character, Violet, was extremely underdeveloped, and I was left frustrated with how easily she was manipulated and mistreated by the other girls. The other characters as well seemed to be mere props, especially Alex and Grace. These two girls are in a romantic relationship together throughout the novel, and while it is barely acknowledged, this detail only seems to serve as an excuse to leave them in the background of the book. They merely serve as place holders. Grace also has a physically abusive father, an aspect of the book that serves no purpose other than to add secret drama to the girl's group (Grace refuses to let the other girls do anything about her situation, and they don't). Similarly, Violet is neglected by her traumatized mother after her father and sister die in a car accident, another detail that only seems as an excuse to let Violet get away with anything and everything she does in this book. These seemed like cop outs on the writer's part, not wanting to deal with these aspects of the character's lives. All around, while the girls do come together to seek revenge when one of them is wronged, all four are incredibly cruel to one another, making their friendship far from believable. Nicky, a side character, is enemies with Robin, something that is stated multiple times but never elaborated on. It's clear the girls hate each other, but the why is never discussed, making things even more confusing.
All in all, if you're looking for a spooky, atmospheric read, this is a good choice. I kept reading for the writing alone. However, if strong characters are important to you, I suggest finding another book. The author tries to portray them as strong women, but instead they come off as being fractured, damaged girls who don't know how to handle their anger. I was disappointed.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
1.0
"Keep your secrets, poppet; keep them close. Let our will be your fate."
I think I knew from the first chapter, this book was just not for me. I didn't care for the narrator. She wasn't terribly likable, which is not necessarily something I need, but I didn't enjoy reading her POV. She was thoroughly unpleasant. I also think the writing style was.....bogged down with information that just seemed to distract me, bore me or make me roll my eyes. I wish I'd liked this more but it just wasn't for me.
I think I knew from the first chapter, this book was just not for me. I didn't care for the narrator. She wasn't terribly likable, which is not necessarily something I need, but I didn't enjoy reading her POV. She was thoroughly unpleasant. I also think the writing style was.....bogged down with information that just seemed to distract me, bore me or make me roll my eyes. I wish I'd liked this more but it just wasn't for me.
imalwayswright's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars.
Um... what did I just read? I was genuinely looking forward to this book but I think two stars is being generous. The writing confuses me more than anything and I would go as far to say the writing is just bad. Bits and pieces are decent but descriptions are mind boggling. I had to reread more than I would prefer to figure out what was being talked about or whom was talking. The idea and the Craft vibe was intriguing but skip this book.
Um... what did I just read? I was genuinely looking forward to this book but I think two stars is being generous. The writing confuses me more than anything and I would go as far to say the writing is just bad. Bits and pieces are decent but descriptions are mind boggling. I had to reread more than I would prefer to figure out what was being talked about or whom was talking. The idea and the Craft vibe was intriguing but skip this book.
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
3.0
This novel didn't seem all that original to me but instead read like a YA version of The Secret History. That's not necessarily a bad thing depending on what you're looking for. If you like reading about toxic female friendships, nasty teens and boarding schools, this is for you.
emilybryk's review against another edition
2.0
"Hey, here is an idea: teenage boarding school WITCHES, yo!"
There. That's the best part of the book, because basically the rest is unkept promises.
There. That's the best part of the book, because basically the rest is unkept promises.
jazzlibrariansbookcase's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
libraryofcalliope's review against another edition
3.0
The Furies is a Dark Academia novel. A genre that fascinates me. This did deviate a little from the standards of the genre in the ambiguity of the existence of the furies whereas usually novels like these demonstrate how the blame lies in human hands no matter their appeals to classical gods and goddesses which is a message I like from Dark Academia and I think this novel would have benefited from. The story follows a girl, Violet, starting an elite girls school for her A Levels (they call them A Levels but an Aesthetics A Level does not exist and neither does most of the classes she takes. It also seems to use an American version of what universities look for, I admit this broke my suspension of disbelief, I’d have preferred her qualifications to be nameless). Once there she meets Robin, a controlling domineering girl that makes Violet feel special. She introduces her to her friends and eventually she joins the secret extra classes on Female Rage run by Annabel the typical enigmatic teacher you expect from the genre. The strengths of this novel lies in the complex relationship between Violet and Robin and the mysteries that underline it (before Violet started the school, Robin’s best friend Emily disappeared and she and Violet look somewhat alike). But sometimes this came at the expense of other characters. Grace and Alex, the other members of the main foursome gang, get barely any development. We know they’re in a relationship, that Alex is rich and she stands up to Robin and Grace’s dad is abusive but that’s kinda it? I would have loved more detail and time given to them. Maybe a change in perspective for a chapter? Also a lot of questions were not answered. We never find out really what happened to Emily (mainly we get theories?) which is the driving force for most of the novel. Lowe did use the motif of the furies really well though. The furies were female mythical beings that persecuted men who’d done wrong (namely Orestes from The Orestia) and I loved the focus on female rage in this novel. I just wanted more.
outi's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
katiehealey's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn’t get into this book. I found all of the characters annoying and had no one to root for. The writer created an interesting plot but I just never got invested in the characters unfortunately.
heather425's review against another edition
4.0
Katie Lowe's writing is beautiful and this story keeps you engaged. Violet suffers a major tragedy and ends up at an all girl's private school. She hopes to make a new start and ends up becoming part of a special group obsessed with the occult. Comprised of Violet and three other girls this reminded me of the movie The Craft. If you are into YA teen angst and stories of witch craft this is a book you should check out!