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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Rabbit Club is a dark academia story laced with literature references and covered in a thick, unsettling cloud.
I was really excited to read this story as I love dark academia, especially the Dead Poet's Society. I appreciated that over the course of the story, the many characters that were introduced were then shown why they were introduced and the part they play in the narrative. I often get frustrated when characters are in the story but serve no purpose, but that wasn't the case here. Even the arc with his father culminated in a good ending for what it was building to.
I admit I appreciate that the twist was laid out so plainly after it was revealed, and that Emma came into the narrative to explain the breakdown as a more reliable narrator. I saw the twist coming about halfway through the book, but it was still interesting to see what played out and how. The references to Alice in Wonderland (for Alister) were well-done, and I am glad we came full circle on it.
My main issue with the book was that I didn't really understand the Rabbit Club. That is due to the narrator's limited knowledge of its interworkings, but for being the namesake of the book I wanted more insight into it. Why was it so exclusive? How did you progress through the ranks? Why was it such a desirable club? I just personally didn't feel like I saw enough of the society through the path of this book.
I thought the narration was well-done - swapping between accents to show different characters was immensely helpful and really helped with immersion into the story.
All-in-all, I liked the story. It wasn't quite what I expected based on the description, but it was still a good story that kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was really excited to read this story as I love dark academia, especially the Dead Poet's Society. I appreciated that over the course of the story, the many characters that were introduced were then shown why they were introduced and the part they play in the narrative. I often get frustrated when characters are in the story but serve no purpose, but that wasn't the case here. Even the arc with his father culminated in a good ending for what it was building to.
I admit I appreciate that the twist was laid out so plainly after it was revealed, and that Emma came into the narrative to explain the breakdown as a more reliable narrator. I saw the twist coming about halfway through the book, but it was still interesting to see what played out and how. The references to Alice in Wonderland (for Alister) were well-done, and I am glad we came full circle on it.
My main issue with the book was that I didn't really understand the Rabbit Club. That is due to the narrator's limited knowledge of its interworkings, but for being the namesake of the book I wanted more insight into it. Why was it so exclusive? How did you progress through the ranks? Why was it such a desirable club? I just personally didn't feel like I saw enough of the society through the path of this book.
I thought the narration was well-done - swapping between accents to show different characters was immensely helpful and really helped with immersion into the story.
All-in-all, I liked the story. It wasn't quite what I expected based on the description, but it was still a good story that kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
Boooooo. Dragged on way too long , even for a dark academia book. I did not care for the twists, either.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a Nerd's dream! So many twists and turns. Tons of literary Easter Eggs, dropped inside of a engaging deep dive into the power of relationships and human conncetion. A new addition to my top all-time favorites. I will return to read this again and again.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Secret History mixed with Saltburn, but still its own thing with a satisfying ending.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
many thanks to htp hive for my gifted physical galley #hiveinfluencer
i am still so conflicted on my thoughts for this book. i spent most of my reading time confused and i'm not sure if that was intended or not. the dual timeline povs felt a bit meta and i think i would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't as manic. i really enjoyed the premise and wanted more out of the rabbit club. i loved act II, the pacing was really good and i finally got to uncover all the seeds that were planted but the momentum didn't carry through into act III
it came across as wanting to be super literary but it ultimately felt more like a watered down version of The Secret History and If We Were Villains. i think this would be a good pick for someone newer to dark academia/gothic novels or someone that enjoys an almost paranormal aspect to its suspense
i am still so conflicted on my thoughts for this book. i spent most of my reading time confused and i'm not sure if that was intended or not. the dual timeline povs felt a bit meta and i think i would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't as manic. i really enjoyed the premise and wanted more out of the rabbit club. i loved act II, the pacing was really good and i finally got to uncover all the seeds that were planted but the momentum didn't carry through into act III
it came across as wanting to be super literary but it ultimately felt more like a watered down version of The Secret History and If We Were Villains. i think this would be a good pick for someone newer to dark academia/gothic novels or someone that enjoys an almost paranormal aspect to its suspense
Everyone keeps talking about a good twist and I'm sure it's great but the story so far is very slow and I've lost patience.
I don't particularly care about the characters one way or the other. I find the dual timelines fine enough but I don't feel like we are moving towards something.
I don't particularly care about the characters one way or the other. I find the dual timelines fine enough but I don't feel like we are moving towards something.
Ali is an American who has been accepted to Oxford to study literature, but he has a hidden motive for traveling so far. His estranged rock star father lives close by and he is hoping to connect with the myth of a man who abandoned him and his mom at 18 months old. As he arrives to Oxford, he not only starts to unravel his fatherβs history but is also steeped into one of the historic collegeβs secret societies.
The narrator did a great job. I loved the back and forth between the two voices of the two characters.
My issue with this book was that the first almost 40% drug on and I was finding myself becoming distracted. I was very close to DNFing the book multiple times.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin audio for this ARC!
The narrator did a great job. I loved the back and forth between the two voices of the two characters.
My issue with this book was that the first almost 40% drug on and I was finding myself becoming distracted. I was very close to DNFing the book multiple times.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin audio for this ARC!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so thrilled when my sister-in-law sent me π»π―π¬ πΉπ¨π©π©π°π» πͺπ³πΌπ© ππ πͺππππππππππ π±. πππππ, from @hanoversquarepress & out July 8th. I was then thrilled to receive the #gifted audio from @htpbooks_audio via @netgalley and the combination was divine with Jeremy Arthur, Will Watt, & Imogen Church narrating.
This is a dark academia, gothic suspense told in such a teasing method that had me trying to put it together to no avail.
Ali McCain is off to Oxford to study English Literature, and also hopes to meet his father, a British Rock star who abandoned him as a tot. He uses this "clout" to gain a spot in the secret society, the Saracens, despite the warnings of his new friends.
Despite where I thought I saw this one going, I was hooked in the atmosphere and waiting with bated breath for what would surely be a different direction. I was rewarded with this patience as the tale went down a dark and twisted path. I love that rug pulled moment.
The characters were well formed by this disorienting point, and I lost all sense of where it would land. This is one of the best feelings I've had reading a suspense, and how it all did come together was brilliant and unique. The final page left me a bit breathless as it was satisfyingly loose. The references to Brides Head Revisited, King Lear, and Alice in Wonderland were a mix of fever dream deliciousness.
I love audio, as you may well know, but I must say I needed the print to keep up. There were some interesting perspectives telling the story and it helped to keep track, though I loved the voices!
I definitely recommend this excellent addition to the genre to fans who can allow the author to peel the layers in their own time and ways. I loved it.
βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈπ«
This is a dark academia, gothic suspense told in such a teasing method that had me trying to put it together to no avail.
Ali McCain is off to Oxford to study English Literature, and also hopes to meet his father, a British Rock star who abandoned him as a tot. He uses this "clout" to gain a spot in the secret society, the Saracens, despite the warnings of his new friends.
Despite where I thought I saw this one going, I was hooked in the atmosphere and waiting with bated breath for what would surely be a different direction. I was rewarded with this patience as the tale went down a dark and twisted path. I love that rug pulled moment.
The characters were well formed by this disorienting point, and I lost all sense of where it would land. This is one of the best feelings I've had reading a suspense, and how it all did come together was brilliant and unique. The final page left me a bit breathless as it was satisfyingly loose. The references to Brides Head Revisited, King Lear, and Alice in Wonderland were a mix of fever dream deliciousness.
I love audio, as you may well know, but I must say I needed the print to keep up. There were some interesting perspectives telling the story and it helped to keep track, though I loved the voices!
I definitely recommend this excellent addition to the genre to fans who can allow the author to peel the layers in their own time and ways. I loved it.
βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈπ«