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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book was definitely engrossing, but also VERY intense. Which makes sense, as it's written from the perspective of a teenager. I came to feel a bit annoyed by the repeating and overwrought language, but not enough to stop reading. The ending was a pretty big surprise, and definitely good for anyone who is a fan of the boarding school dramas.
According to my 2022 reading list, this is at least my *second* dark academia book of the year and, apparently, this genre is absolutely my jam. There's just something about annoyingly pretentious teenagers, religious crises, borderline cults, and boarding schools that work for me, IDK.
Anyway, in all seriousness, I really did love The World Cannot Give and the experience I had reading it. It's the perfect length, rich with characters, and checks all of the boxes for what I want in a darker feeling read. I'm going to have nightmares featuring Virginia Strauss, so thanks!!!
Anyway, in all seriousness, I really did love The World Cannot Give and the experience I had reading it. It's the perfect length, rich with characters, and checks all of the boxes for what I want in a darker feeling read. I'm going to have nightmares featuring Virginia Strauss, so thanks!!!
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Between 3/3.5 - it's easy to see how students can be in thrall of a "queen bee" type character to the extent of self-harm and harm to others. Schools like the one depicted in the story with years of traditions and mystique add to an unhealthy environment of conformity and reluctance to challenge the status quo - luckily there is at least one person bucking the trend, but perhaps not for the right reasons.
In the end the protagonist gains some perspective and balance in her views of others and herself.
In the end the protagonist gains some perspective and balance in her views of others and herself.
I'm not sure what to say about this book. It's about obsession and religion and repression and when a person becomes a sort of cult leader.
CW: murder, suicide, sexual abuse, manipulation, bullying
CW: murder, suicide, sexual abuse, manipulation, bullying
dark
I’m not sure if this is satire or not but I saw a review say to read it as satire regardless and I have to agree, I think that made it more enjoyable! This will not be for everyone, it was kind of batshit crazy but I was super engaged.
I read Social Creatures and loved it, so I was optimistic about this one. But this was much less effectively queer, much less effectively toxic, and much less compelling. It felt pretentious in an almost parody-ish way, rather than the kind of pretentious you want in dark academia.