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danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, and Body shaming
foxo_cube's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Right, so, first, I will say that I do think Rio is a talented writer: she has a huge vocabulary and knows how to use it. Her love of Shakespeare shines through - something I don't have in common with her, but which I can't help but appreciate. Inexplicably, she has a real knack for writing convincing, yet incredibly elegant, sexual tension, which I know is terribly specific, but what can I say? I rarely come across sexual tension in books that I find draws me in like that. The framed narrative is done really well, and the Acts and Scenes as chapter divisions is a cute touch. These reasons are why I give the book the stars I have given it.
Unfortunately, a talent for sentence construction does not always come with a talent for storytelling. The characters are flat and while I think what she's going for is a cool concept, it just didn't do it for me. I love a good descent into madness and blurring of the lines between reality and imagination, but I feel it necessitates a greater depth of character to work than what we're given.
This is my main issue with the book: we have seven main characters, and maaaybe seven personality traits between them.
We have Richard, who is aggressive. Meredith is sexy. Alexander is gay (vaguely implied to be bi at one point) and smokes weed. Nobody gives a shit about Filippa. James... exists. Wren also exists, but barely. And Oliver is into James, and also sort of Meredith, but only really because she is, as we have established, very sexy. All of them quote Shakespeare at any time, any place, even those that are grossly inappropriate moments to quote one's favourite media. Thing is, these characters just aren't very likeable. I know what it's like to have interests that are niche and which I absolutely breathe, and I've always hovered on the lower end of any social hierarchy, yet even I felt an overwhelming urge to bully these people. It took half the book for me to remember who was who aside from Meredith and Richard because they have the strongest personalities (and because I have a Caterpie on Pokemon Go called Meredith and my grandad's called Richard).
That the characters are so flat ruined the plot because nobody really has any motivation behind their actions. Oliver's into Meredith because she's sexy. Richard starts committing random acts of violence and it's implied it's because he's mad about a casting decision and everyone aside from Meredith is surprisingly unbothered
A nitpicky thing that shouldn't bother me, but absolutely did, was that this is an arts school that's incredibly prestigious and well-known for the high quality of its alumni and the shows put on by the students are really popular. That's all good, whatever. But this group of fourth-years - these people who have survived the culling of students that happens every academic year - because they can't stop harming each other or kissing each other or whatever when they're meant to be performing a play. And yeah, I know it's meant to be because they're so into their roles or whatever, but the lack of professionalism should have been trained out of them at that point, surely? I mean, you'd think the reputation of the university would at least be marred for some time after the second scandalous loss of control on the actors' part during a performance in half an academic year, but it's never mentioned. I'm not enough of a romantic for this, am I?
Even more insignificant nitpick: this school has no costume degree. There's a costumers' department, but who are they? Do they outsource them? Their set design is in-house, made by students studying set design, but the costumers are like the wallpaper - a given. Unless they're meant to be the art students? Ugh, art (assuming it's fine art, because it's never specified) and costume design are different enough disciplines, let alone costume <i>making</i>. That's a whole additional skillset.
Okay, back to a piece of criticism I have that's actually relevant. So, Meredith's sexy, right? And she and Oliver start sleeping together
Honestly, the way women are written in general is a bit iffy. It's not like the men are especially fleshed out, but Oliver seems to see women as slightly strange, foreign creatures. It's one of those things where maybe that's how Rio thinks men see women, and she's trying to convey this as one of Oliver's flaws, but if so, it has so little bearing on the story in any way that it seems more like the author's bias than the character's. Women with eating disorders, confirmed or implied, are described oddly viciously.
I think the last thing that I'll mention is the inexplicable "gateway drug" story arc. Alexander smokes weed all the time and gives the other characters spliffs from time to time. I'm not exactly experienced when it comes to consuming intoxicating substances, particularly illegal ones, but even to me, the way it's spoken about is rather... quaint. Very "Teehee, Alexander's always a little stoned, but from time to time, even we partake in a little puff!". But then, out of nowhere, Alexander's on the cocaine! I mean, honestly, bunch of kids in a posh twat art school, I'm surprised they aren't all on the stuff. There's a little falling-out between Oliver and Alexander which just doesn't really go anywhere until Alexander gives him the spiked spliff, and then, later on again, overdoses on something. Was it deliberate? Was it an accident? We don't find out and nobody seems interested to know. It's just sort of put in there and then Alexander's like "No more illegal substances for me!" and that's the end of that. I suppose Alexander's drug storyline facilitates Oliver's equally narratively-unimportant rape, and, like Wren's mental breakdown (which also doesn't really go anywhere), shows that Alexander's not doing too well.
This certainly has been one of the most frustrating books I've read in a long time, which is a shame. The concept is great and it's so clearly a labour of love, but I found it predictable and dull and just couldn't bring myself to like it.
Moderate: Alcohol, Gore, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide and Grief
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Pretentious, dramatic and passionate theatre kids who bring to life shakespearean plays both in ans offstage, are a tangled mess of emotions and riddles while also being quite flat characters. I liked the writing, it was fitting for the theme and atmosphere. I loved some passages and use of the plays throughout the story to obscure and bring light to the characters' feelings. I enjoyed the drama and the story. I had my doubts about dark academia books but this one made it for me and now I know I yearn for more books with theatre actors as protagonists being unhinged and frustrating. I also liked the references to some motifs in Shakespeare's plays (ghosts, lies, blood, guilt, madness). As a Shakespeare enthusiastic, especially his tragedies and villains, I am content.
The parts that mostly bother me are for example, what exactly did send Alexander spiraling into overdose? Was it the guilt in all cases? Did Richard haunt them so bad as a ghost like in Macbeth? Did Wren knew all along it was James? I needed to see them descend into madness more.
At some point I truly thought I was being lied by the internet and my own biased analysis, which always searches for some homoerotic subtext, because HELL the moments between Oliver and James were sparse. Those weren't even crumbs, I was holding the ship with a thread and both eyes closed, going by instinct. So yeah, the slow-burn was way too much, as it didn't deliver the relief you would expect after so many "heteronormative looking" scenes (idk how to describe it bc the book had me doubting my bisexual suspicions and then rooting for a poly relationship between Oliver Meredith and James). (What do you mean a botherly kiss that is not quite brotherly? but yeah, only one brief kiss, nothing else, no more scenes between them that hint at their feelings before or after halloween. I am not even asking for a love confession or any grand gesture, but more subtle scenes between them, more tension... idk i went insane, i am in pain but i also apprecite how complicated their relationship is, as they were best friends, brothers, partners in crime, lovers, enemies...). Or more about the internal turmoil they had going on realizing they are queer, which we barely got because they didn't want to think about it... I wanted to see how they come to terms with their sexuality, the guilt and love they felt (this specially)!!!
I probably forget many things I want to say but frankly I have been reading 3h non-stop and cried at the ending, so cut me some slack.
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual violence, Classism, Misogyny, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
kaylamoran's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Grief, Drug use, Alcohol, Blood, and Death
Minor: Sexism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
persephonefoxx's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The dark academia genre has wormed its way into my soul and it can stay there. I read this book in a day. A day! Do you know how long it has been since I consumed a full novel within a mere 24 hour period? A while, I assure you.
I should have read this book sooner and I wish that I could read it again for the first time already. The characters and their relationships were an absolutely highlight, I truly echo Alexander’s statement of not knowing if I wanted to kiss or kill them as I read through their personal brand of tragedy.
Words fail me, and suffice to say I loved this book. The playbook formatting was truly a cherry on top.
And I must say, characters caught at the homo fork in the road contemplating whether or not to veer down the path of cide or sexual has to be one of my favourite genres.
Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Drug use, Murder, Death, and Body shaming
Moderate: Addiction and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
frogknitting's review against another edition
1.5
I really, really wanted to try to give this book a chance, but from the beginning I couldn't stop thinking about The Secret History. This is like the Kidz Bop version of it: a book that takes the basic structure of it but lacks the depth. It was entirely too long and yet it didn't have nearly the amount of time to go into what it needed to to succeed.
Though Richard isn't necessarily a carbon copy of Bunny, he takes his worst elements (as well as Henry's worst traits) and makes that his personality. No redeeming qualities, whereas I think Bunny had some? (I'm going to be honest, it's been a LONG time since I read TSH) At least, he was a lot better fleshed out. All of the characters in this were wholly one-dimensional, just being introduced at the beginning by name (all seven of them, by the way, so you have to fully know these people as well as
I genuinely want to write this review without consistently mentioning The Secret History, but I feel it's impossible. The draw of it is that it takes real moral questions and grapples with them, not letting plot rule it, but rather, letting the characters' musings take over. I know that's a personal preference of mine, but this was very much a show not tell book, where you simply were told what was happening and had to go with it.
The other characters: I have gripes with them because of how poorly written they are. Yes, it's the memory of a man ten years later, and yes, they're definitely not supposed to be good people, but there was really no need for a lot of it.
There's just a lot in this book, and none of it is developed particularly well. The consistent Shakespeare quotes were annoying, I agree, although I think near the beginning they were used more sparingly and better. It seemed scrambled together, meaning to meet a deadline, and there were no explanations for many of their actions beyond 1. plot convenience or 2. black mold. 1.5 stars because, as much as I've complained, the prose in the first half wasn't horrible and seemed pretty standard for YA, making it not a complete burden to get through.
Graphic: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexism, and Addiction
Moderate: Eating disorder
the_annia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Addiction, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Grief, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
recycled_personalities's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Addiction, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
mar's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, Drug abuse, Sexism, Addiction, Body shaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Transphobia, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Eating disorder
_piercingwords_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story feels very real, on an emotional rather than logical level. The structure is a nice touch and fitting for the Shakespeare centered story. There's a lot to be analysed, a lot of foreshadowing and parallels to the plays alluded to in the book;
definitely a book you need to read in depth to really be able to appreciate the thought put into it, I will have to read it again, more thoroughly and with the knowledge of everything happening.
In the end, it is a love story, in a twisted, untraditional way.
It left me with a few questions unanswered but I couldn't put it down, the tension high until the last page and I do recommend it, especially to Shakespeare lovers.
Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Vomit, Outing, Bullying, Body shaming, Misogyny, Grief, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, and Addiction