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amygraceanderson's review
- 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
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.
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
heytherekaity's review
- 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
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
- 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
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!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Deadnaming, Bullying, and Transphobia