Reviews

The Sorrows of Satan Illustrated by Marie Corelli

aerolich's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

guntaschanni's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective slow-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

3.0

nanc_282's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

3.75

A strange book drawing on the Faustus story. It reflects much of the time in which it is set, late Victorian England, but has a lot to say the real value of money. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

cipcem's review against another edition

dark mysterious

4.25

murmiland's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

alfly's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

arushie's review against another edition

2.0

lost potential.
wish there were more gothic or horror elements and less didacticism.

gothicgunslinger's review against another edition

5.0

I can totally see why this was hailed as one of the first bestsellers. It was fascinating, dramatic, and easy to read, even with all the Victorian language. A bit ridiculous in spots, but I love ridiculous, so it's okay. It also has amazingly drawn characters, something I think is often lacking in a lot of the that "high literary classic" genre. The characters of Mavis Clare and of course Lucio Rimanez were especially vivid. It also did a wonderful job of descriptive setting without bogging down the narrative, another pitfall of old timey lit. I could really picture the settings in all their Victorian glory, because Corelli didn't just assume I would know what she was talking about. Living 115 years after the publication of this book, I thank her for her attention to detail. It made the book absolutely come alive for me.

She also hit right upon the idea that seems so lacking in other Faustian works: that pure evil would, logically, be EXTREMELY good-looking. Who's honestly tempted by a hideous thing with horns and grotesque features?

Loved, loved, loved.

suchasuckerforbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

• 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

yasminamusabaeva's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0