Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin

5 reviews

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

robynnnx's review

dark fast-paced

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

3.0

i don’t even understand what i’ve just read. i’m not sure i enjoyed it and yet i couldn’t stop reading, so i’m conflicted. i understand the reasons behind why Jade did everything she did and i give her the credit for the lengths she was willing to go but… it was so extreme. i just don’t think i got it like i was supposed to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder

vgdavies03's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

azrah786's review

3.5

[This review can also be found on my BLOG]

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

On her 16th birthday Elizabeth Jade Khanjara and her 3 best friends set out to party the night away however, her night doesn't go as planned. Drink spiked, body bruised and memory hazed - Elle plots to get revenge on those who attacked her. In a world where people with "dazzling smiles" and well-lined pockets can get away with anything and everything, Elle isn't going to let them.

Foul is Fair is a modern-day teen retelling of Macbeth that doesn't pull its punches. I’ll straight up say that this book is DARK and very violent. I’d advise checking out the content warnings on the author’s website before picking it up as there are some very triggering and graphic scenes.

The lead protagonist is just as, or do I say even more ruthless and zealous than her Shakespearean equivalent, Lady Macbeth. Hell bent on her quest for vengeance, she in no way makes herself a likeable character. I usually find myself struggling to stay invested in a story when this is the case but I was keen to see this book through to the end. 

"In the mirror I’m something from a 2AM movie about Catholic schoolgirl vampires. Revenge-black hair, short and sharp; a face that says she’ll pull you to the dark side and you’ll love every second of it."

Capin’s writing was definitely what I enjoyed the most. The pros for the most part had a poetic and Shakespearean-esque feel to it, adding just enough melodrama to both enhance the setting and fit the protagonist’s voice. The short snappy chapters meant the timeline of the story more or less matched that of the play. As someone who studied Macbeth back at school the various parallels and references to the original were great to follow. Though I also liked how the 3 witches were given the roles of the 3 best friends in this version, ever loyal and ever protective of their power-hungry queen.

"We laugh again, but there's something in it that isn't a laugh at all - something like a scream instead, hollow and full. It dies but the echo doesn't."

Now this book has some pretty unrealistic elements so won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. However, what deserves credit is how within the narrative Capin very honestly sheds light on issues such as sexual assault and rape culture and the impacts they can have.

All in all this was a unique story and I feel it would do well if adapted for the screen.
Final Rating - 3.5/5 Stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Death, Suicide, Bullying, Transphobia, and Drug abuse