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bookishwithwine's review against another edition
3.0
Have you ever seen The Craft? It’s a movie from 1996 about a new girl who falls in line with a trio of outcasts teenage girls who practice witchcraft.
I could not get the movie out of my head while reading this book. There are so many similarities, but the one thing that does set the movie and this book apart is murder.
There was something off about Violet’s character. She just didn’t seem to care. She survived the car accident that killed her little sister and her dad, but she didn’t seem to be bothered by it. Her mom on the other hand become a basket case and didn’t really keep track of her daughter except to enroll her in the academy.
Right when Violet met Robin, Grace and Alex you knew she was going to be drawn into whatever they were doing. They said she had an uncanny resemblance to missing student Emily. Emily and Robin had been best friends before she vanished, and Violet did not want her found. She was Robin’s best friend now, and if they did find her it would ruin everything. Creepy clingy anyone?!
I found this book hard to follow. The parts in the book where I wanted more of an explanation there wasn’t one. Other parts where they didn’t need to explain more, it dragged on.
The only thing I was really curious about with this book is finding out what happened to Emily. You will find out, and it’s not the direction I was going, but it was a nice little twist.
I could not get the movie out of my head while reading this book. There are so many similarities, but the one thing that does set the movie and this book apart is murder.
There was something off about Violet’s character. She just didn’t seem to care. She survived the car accident that killed her little sister and her dad, but she didn’t seem to be bothered by it. Her mom on the other hand become a basket case and didn’t really keep track of her daughter except to enroll her in the academy.
Right when Violet met Robin, Grace and Alex you knew she was going to be drawn into whatever they were doing. They said she had an uncanny resemblance to missing student Emily. Emily and Robin had been best friends before she vanished, and Violet did not want her found. She was Robin’s best friend now, and if they did find her it would ruin everything. Creepy clingy anyone?!
I found this book hard to follow. The parts in the book where I wanted more of an explanation there wasn’t one. Other parts where they didn’t need to explain more, it dragged on.
The only thing I was really curious about with this book is finding out what happened to Emily. You will find out, and it’s not the direction I was going, but it was a nice little twist.
someonetookit's review against another edition
4.0
OK so I will keep this short and sweet. The Furies is a masterpiece that if it isnt The Craft fanfic, its most definitely has a very strong resemblance in places to one of my favourite movies of all time and well and truly fills the shoes of a well crafted homage.
Each character has its place in the tried and tested group of four strong teens who make up the headlining cast in this one. The the snobby one, the new girl, the weirdo and the tagger along who has an opinion but is just a little sheeple.
The pace stays relatively fast in the majority of places, only slowing down for artistic effect.
If you are a person who does not condone underage drinking, drug use and illegal behaviour, this novel may not be for you. Also of note is a lowkey rape (its not graphic, its more a plot device), inappropriate behaviour towards a minor and animal sacrifice.
Overall its a well written exploration of teenage angst and the perils of interfering in business that doesnt concern you.
If you want to read more of my thoughts, you can find them at #thefuries by Katie Lowe is the perfect exploration into teenage angst and the problems that can arise when you meddle with the wrong peoples business.
It felt like an homage to one of my favourite 90's movies and I would def read it again
if you want to read more of my thoughts, you can find them at https://someonetookit.wordpress.com/2019/11/03/the-furies-katie-lowe/
Each character has its place in the tried and tested group of four strong teens who make up the headlining cast in this one. The the snobby one, the new girl, the weirdo and the tagger along who has an opinion but is just a little sheeple.
The pace stays relatively fast in the majority of places, only slowing down for artistic effect.
If you are a person who does not condone underage drinking, drug use and illegal behaviour, this novel may not be for you. Also of note is a lowkey rape (its not graphic, its more a plot device), inappropriate behaviour towards a minor and animal sacrifice.
Overall its a well written exploration of teenage angst and the perils of interfering in business that doesnt concern you.
If you want to read more of my thoughts, you can find them at #thefuries by Katie Lowe is the perfect exploration into teenage angst and the problems that can arise when you meddle with the wrong peoples business.
It felt like an homage to one of my favourite 90's movies and I would def read it again
if you want to read more of my thoughts, you can find them at https://someonetookit.wordpress.com/2019/11/03/the-furies-katie-lowe/
ella026's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced reading copy from HaperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
The Furies satisfied my craving for witchy lesbians and secret clubs with the cool art teacher. My favourite parts of this book were the lectures said cool art teacher (Annabel). They delved into obscures but fascinating women from history like Artemisia Gentieschi and the story behind her powerful painting of Judith Slaying Holofernes. The structure of the narrative was quite interesting too, with it being written by Violet the protagonist when she is older and now a teacher at the school. The older Violet’s commentary can be quite funny at times and also adds a level of ambiguity. Even in the years after the events at the school Violet still struggles to make sense of what happened and if certain forces were really in effect.
Overall I really enjoyed the beautiful writing that some might find a tad overdone but I’ve always been a sucker for flowery prose, and the sinister atmosphere entrenched throughout the novel. The Furies is perfect for fans of The Craft, The Moth Diaries and The Secret History.
The Furies satisfied my craving for witchy lesbians and secret clubs with the cool art teacher. My favourite parts of this book were the lectures said cool art teacher (Annabel). They delved into obscures but fascinating women from history like Artemisia Gentieschi and the story behind her powerful painting of Judith Slaying Holofernes. The structure of the narrative was quite interesting too, with it being written by Violet the protagonist when she is older and now a teacher at the school. The older Violet’s commentary can be quite funny at times and also adds a level of ambiguity. Even in the years after the events at the school Violet still struggles to make sense of what happened and if certain forces were really in effect.
Overall I really enjoyed the beautiful writing that some might find a tad overdone but I’ve always been a sucker for flowery prose, and the sinister atmosphere entrenched throughout the novel. The Furies is perfect for fans of The Craft, The Moth Diaries and The Secret History.
grace_ezri's review against another edition
3.75
This book started out a bit cheesy and reading very young. But as the book progressed I got more and more invested. I absolutely loved the magical aspect to it. The complex female friendships were so fascinating to read about and I'm drawn to books with that theme. Although the main character seemed a bit blah she didn't have much of a personality and remained generic throughout. What was happening to her was fascinating she wasn't. Ultimately a fun read but nothing that a huge impact on me good or bad.
madisonbell_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
hecatesaconitum's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
zooloo1983's review against another edition
2.0
I think this is the lowest rating I have ever given for a book. So much so that I am not putting this on my blog. I am so disappointed with this book and had it not been for the fact I had to read this, I would have DNF it.
This had so much promise, the promise of witchcraft and magic and THE CRAFT!! So many comparisons, but I can't fathom why.
None of this worked for me even when it kicked off at the end I had no idea why it was kicking off. It all felt very disjointed, and I got lost multiple times in the audiobook.
I had no idea who has done what and why it was done and I don't know if I even believe what I was told. Even the bits I was excited to read about, like the witches and their history didn't work, it just plodded along a little bit slowly and just a bit dull.
I felt all the girls did was get drunk and take drugs, which I don't care if they were doing something more. The secret group etc, none of it was utilised and I am just really sad this fell flat for me.
Oh well, on to the next book
This had so much promise, the promise of witchcraft and magic and THE CRAFT!! So many comparisons, but I can't fathom why.
None of this worked for me even when it kicked off at the end I had no idea why it was kicking off. It all felt very disjointed, and I got lost multiple times in the audiobook.
I had no idea who has done what and why it was done and I don't know if I even believe what I was told. Even the bits I was excited to read about, like the witches and their history didn't work, it just plodded along a little bit slowly and just a bit dull.
I felt all the girls did was get drunk and take drugs, which I don't care if they were doing something more. The secret group etc, none of it was utilised and I am just really sad this fell flat for me.
Oh well, on to the next book
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.