Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin

11 reviews

clichemarker's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.25

This book isn't perfect, but holy shit is it good

A mix between Heather's and I spit on your Grave. The assault is never shown in graphic detail. I appreciate that. Too many times, in this type of story, they focus on the wrong parts. I'm glad she stuck to the vengeance, using their words against them. Showing their lack of guilt and remorse 
 I think she could have gone harder with the kills, but they were still pretty good.

The identity of the dazzle smile boy was pretty obvious throughout the book

 I think the whole novel was presented and handled well, it was almost therapeutic in a twisted sense 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, and Blood

Moderate: Rape and Bullying

amygraceanderson's review

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

Please check triggers before you read this book, it deals with sexual assault (off page) suicide attempts and PTSD to name but a few. 

I’m a sucker for a good female rage story, I’m also a sucker for sapphic unrequited love and brutal revenge plots that show hell hath no fury! 

This is a retelling centering loosely the characters and plot of Macbeth by Shakespeare. One of my favourite of Shakespeare's  women features in this play. It follows the story of Jade (our lady Macbeth) and her three friends (the witches) as they plot the take down of 4 boys who assaulted her at a party. The plot also follows the descent into madness for the central figures, the liberation of oppressed women within the orbit of these boys and just downright badassery throughout. 

The references to Shakespeare’s work are seamlessly interwoven into the story with mild quotations and showcasing the power of the women within the play rather than their roles as support for their male counterparts or as corruptive forces to the men in charge. 

I enjoyed the representation within the book and how the many aspects of womanhood, victim, and survivor were showcased. Including the character of Piper who acts as the enabler of atrocities to save herself. The conversations centred around privilege and rape culture I felt was incredibly powerful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Classism

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Bullying, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Deadnaming

ghostlyprince's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Child death, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Drug use, and Hate crime

grrrlbrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this - it had just enough Macbeth references to be satisfying for someone who knows the play, without completely losing someone who doesn’t. I love a female revenge plot and especially loved seeing it transferred to the YA setting du jour, private school. I appreciated that Capin really leaned into how unhinged Shakespeare plots often are.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Sexual content and Drug use

Minor: Transphobia, Bullying, and Adult/minor relationship

bendersreads's review

challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Self harm, Bullying, and Misogyny

Minor: Transphobia

kaplanlk0086's review

dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt

Minor: Transphobia, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

kylajaynebooks's review

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

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

2.0

I would’ve loved this if I read it in high school but it just missed the mark for me. Still a “fun” (I know that’s not the right word) read but I could’ve gone without it 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Murder, and Sexual assault

heytherekaity's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Deadnaming, and Transphobia

betweentheshelves's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

First of all, the cover for this book doesn't at all represent the story. At least, in my opinion. I actually put off reading this book for so long because I didn't like the cover. It deserves a better cover!

This is a loose retelling of Macbeth, as Elle and her coven target the golden boys from Saint Andrews after Elle is raped. I'm all for a revenge story, and I would relate this to something like Sadie by Courtney Summers or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. However, I wanted more from the character development side. Elle doesn't change a whole lot throughout the book, and her coven doesn't change a whole lot either. Adding more of this would have made the story even stronger.

There is good representation in this book, though. One of Elle's best friends is trans, and her coven is pretty diverse, racially. The plot is fast-paced, and if you read for plot, this will definitely be one for you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Deadnaming, Bullying, and Transphobia

dominikag's review

dark inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Self harm

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Bullying, Deadnaming, and Transphobia