Scan barcode
librarianlayla's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Dark and twisting, this dark academia thriller grips you from start to finish.
I struggled to put this book down, it truly is a masterpiece for the mind. Disturbing and luscious all at once. A story within a story that unfolds not like a flower but like broken origami, sharp and crisp.
If you love psychological thrillers dashed with a hint of supernatural in a dark academic setting - then this could be for you!
I struggled to put this book down, it truly is a masterpiece for the mind. Disturbing and luscious all at once. A story within a story that unfolds not like a flower but like broken origami, sharp and crisp.
If you love psychological thrillers dashed with a hint of supernatural in a dark academic setting - then this could be for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Blood, Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Animal death
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Racism, and Confinement
shonaholmes's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just the dark academia fix I needed after If We Were Villains
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was received this eProof for free from Titan Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year, but while I thoroughly enjoyed it in the end, I had mixed feelings as I was reading. But having finished the book, it really was fantastic!
What I want to start off saying is that this isn't fantasy or horror, or an amalgamation of the two. I came for the witches and the ghosts and the mysterious historic deaths, when they're actually not the real focus of the story at all. They play a part, but they're not what this story is about. It's about obsession, ambition, mental illness, and toxic relationships. This is contemporary, and it's a thriller. The description above compares A Lesson in Vengeance with The Craft, which just isn't right at all. What I'm about to say next kind of crosses into spoiler territory, so I'm putting it under a spoiler tags. But you should know that what I discuss is that there's something I think readers should know before they even start the story. In my opinion, you should read the below, but I leave the choice up to you.
This story wouldn't be the story it is if Felicity didn't have a mental illness. It simply wouldn't exist. And I feel very strongly that stories about mental illness should clearly say so in the blurb/description. The way this story is told, it took the majority of the book to figure out whether this book <i>was</i> about witches and ghosts or about mental health. I'm all for unreliable narrators, but I'm generally not a fan of asking myself, "Is this real or is this delusion?" without knowing prior if the character has delusions or not. I'm not against stories that explore mental illness like this, where the character with a mental illness is thinking or seeing things that aren't real, but I believe we should know going into the story. I would prefer the fact that Felicity has psychotic depression was in the blurb.
Saying all that, I did really enjoy it! The history of the Dalloway Five and Dalloway School's occult past, though secondary, was really fascinating, and I can completely understand Felicity's interest. A school where there may have been witches? I definitely would have wanted to attend! And with the school having a secret society coven, whose real purpose is to create connections between wealthy society people who can help each other out in the future, with it's rituals, you can understand Felicity's growing attraction to all things occult. She dabbles in real witchcraft (as opposed to the fantasy kind) herself, with crystals and candles, herbs and tarot cards, and while it's only a small part of the story, as someone who practices witchcraft, I appreciated it's inclusion, and the obvious research that went into it. But Felicity's attraction didn't last, as she believes it's related to her girlfriend Alex's death in an accident last year. Felicity and Alex performed a seance with a spirit board in order to contact the spirit of Margery Lemont, the daughter of the school's founder and the leader of the coven back then, who was buried alive. But Alex shut it down when Felicity started freaking out, and the seance wasn't closed properly. Felicity believes Margery Lemont's spirit wasn't released, and as such, killed Alex. That's the history. Felicity is now back at Dalloway School to retake her senior year, after her grief over Alex's death and her fear over Margery meant she needed to be hospitalised in a mental health facility. She is adamant she will turn her back on everything to do with magic and occult, because of what it does to her, but it won't seem to let her out of it's grasp. And Ellis Haley, Pulitzer prize winning teenage author, who has started at the school, is writing a new novel based on the Dalloway Five, and wants Felicity's help to because of her knowledge.
And so starts the relationship that is key to the story. Despite still grieving for Alex, and the guilt she feels over her death, Felicity is drawn to Ellis for reasons she can't quite explain. It goes beyond ordinary attraction. There is a pull she can't ignore, even though she doesn't even really like her at first. I didn't warm to Ellis at all. Initially, I thought she was standoffish, aloof and superior. As the story progressed, we see she can be really rude and selfish; she was the prodigy author and must be the center of attention, while also trying to appear above it all. Other students follow in her wake, starstruck by her celebrity, and Ellis uses this to her advantage, subtly controlling and influencing people. It's ordinary dick behaviour, but she's not like that all the time, not with Felicity. Even so, I felt there was something off about her. She made me feel uncomfortable, and the more I read, the more and more concerned I became. But as before, prior to Alex's death, Felicity gets in too deep, can't see the wood for the trees, and clings to Ellis like she's the only thing keeping her head above water.
While still not entirely sure what was going on, I became angry. There were some things I was certain about, and one was that Felicity and Ellis' relationship was toxic. Ellis' behaviour becomes increasingly questionable and shocking, and I was desperate for someone to see, someone to help. The tension grows, and it was just so uncomfortable to read. But it was like a car crash, I couldn't look away. I had to know what would happen next, where exactly this story would lead, though I couldn't imagine it would be anything good.
The last twenty percent of the book was truly epic, and hit me like a sucker punch. There was twist after twist, and the story got so much darker than I was ever expecting! It left my jaw on the floor, and I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was horrifying, but also incredible storytelling. When you look back over the story, you can see the subtle hints, the markers of the direction the story was heading in. It blew my mind, and I was left feeling completely unmoored, and wondering what the hell I just read. Honestly, it's the kind of story I know I will be thinking about for a very long time, that has left me with a deliciously unsettling feeling. While the stories themselves are nothing alike, I am reminded very much of how Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth left me feeling, awestruck and stunned, and the undeniable knowledge that I has just read something incredible. I am absolutely positive this is going to be a contender for one of my favourite reads of the year.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year, but while I thoroughly enjoyed it in the end, I had mixed feelings as I was reading. But having finished the book, it really was fantastic!
What I want to start off saying is that this isn't fantasy or horror, or an amalgamation of the two. I came for the witches and the ghosts and the mysterious historic deaths, when they're actually not the real focus of the story at all. They play a part, but they're not what this story is about. It's about obsession, ambition, mental illness, and toxic relationships. This is contemporary, and it's a thriller. The description above compares A Lesson in Vengeance with The Craft, which just isn't right at all. What I'm about to say next kind of crosses into spoiler territory, so I'm putting it under a spoiler tags. But you should know that what I discuss is that there's something I think readers should know before they even start the story. In my opinion, you should read the below, but I leave the choice up to you.
Saying all that, I did really enjoy it! The history of the Dalloway Five and Dalloway School's occult past, though secondary, was really fascinating, and I can completely understand Felicity's interest. A school where there may have been witches? I definitely would have wanted to attend! And with the school having a secret society coven, whose real purpose is to create connections between wealthy society people who can help each other out in the future, with it's rituals, you can understand Felicity's growing attraction to all things occult. She dabbles in real witchcraft (as opposed to the fantasy kind) herself, with crystals and candles, herbs and tarot cards, and while it's only a small part of the story, as someone who practices witchcraft, I appreciated it's inclusion, and the obvious research that went into it. But Felicity's attraction didn't last, as she believes it's related to her girlfriend Alex's death in an accident last year. Felicity and Alex performed a seance with a spirit board in order to contact the spirit of Margery Lemont, the daughter of the school's founder and the leader of the coven back then, who was buried alive. But Alex shut it down when Felicity started freaking out, and the seance wasn't closed properly. Felicity believes Margery Lemont's spirit wasn't released, and as such, killed Alex. That's the history. Felicity is now back at Dalloway School to retake her senior year, after her grief over Alex's death and her fear over Margery meant she needed to be hospitalised in a mental health facility. She is adamant she will turn her back on everything to do with magic and occult, because of what it does to her, but it won't seem to let her out of it's grasp. And Ellis Haley, Pulitzer prize winning teenage author, who has started at the school, is writing a new novel based on the Dalloway Five, and wants Felicity's help to because of her knowledge.
And so starts the relationship that is key to the story. Despite still grieving for Alex, and the guilt she feels over her death, Felicity is drawn to Ellis for reasons she can't quite explain. It goes beyond ordinary attraction. There is a pull she can't ignore, even though she doesn't even really like her at first. I didn't warm to Ellis at all. Initially, I thought she was standoffish, aloof and superior. As the story progressed, we see she can be really rude and selfish; she was the prodigy author and must be the center of attention, while also trying to appear above it all. Other students follow in her wake, starstruck by her celebrity, and Ellis uses this to her advantage, subtly controlling and influencing people. It's ordinary dick behaviour, but she's not like that all the time, not with Felicity. Even so, I felt there was something off about her. She made me feel uncomfortable, and the more I read, the more and more concerned I became. But as before, prior to Alex's death, Felicity gets in too deep, can't see the wood for the trees, and clings to Ellis like she's the only thing keeping her head above water.
While still not entirely sure what was going on, I became angry. There were some things I was certain about, and one was that Felicity and Ellis' relationship was toxic. Ellis' behaviour becomes increasingly questionable and shocking, and I was desperate for someone to see, someone to help. The tension grows, and it was just so uncomfortable to read. But it was like a car crash, I couldn't look away. I had to know what would happen next, where exactly this story would lead, though I couldn't imagine it would be anything good.
The last twenty percent of the book was truly epic, and hit me like a sucker punch. There was twist after twist, and the story got so much darker than I was ever expecting! It left my jaw on the floor, and I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was horrifying, but also incredible storytelling. When you look back over the story, you can see the subtle hints, the markers of the direction the story was heading in. It blew my mind, and I was left feeling completely unmoored, and wondering what the hell I just read. Honestly, it's the kind of story I know I will be thinking about for a very long time, that has left me with a deliciously unsettling feeling. While the stories themselves are nothing alike, I am reminded very much of how Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth left me feeling, awestruck and stunned, and the undeniable knowledge that I has just read something incredible. I am absolutely positive this is going to be a contender for one of my favourite reads of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, Bullying, and Eating disorder
An on-page sex scene (vague), reference to suicide (no actual suicide), references to racist history at a predominantly white institution, psychotic depression, reference to a stay in a mental health facility, child neglect (past/off page), death, andcianarae's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very slow beginning, it takes awhile for something interesting to happen. The writing itself was just alright. I liked the mystery/guessing and the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Drug use, Blood, Alcohol, Animal death, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Addiction
Minor: Racism, Transphobia, Suicide, Alcoholism, Classism, Vomit, Cursing, and Confinement
shannonigans322's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Wow. Just wow. I absolutely devoured this thriller. Let me sell you: Dark academia lesbians, witchy boarding school, mysterious deaths. Even better? There is not a single man in this entire novel, even within the cultural references! Shes and theys to the front, please.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Murder, Mental illness, Death, Grief, and Animal death
leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was the perfect dark academia, witchy, psychological mix that I needed during spooky season. There was just enough mystery that it kept me guessing all the way through, and the dark vibes were everything I want when I read these types of books. It definitely did not shy away from graphic descriptions of deaths and torture. There was also a lot of discussion surrounding mental illness and instability, especially of the main character, Felicity, which of course led to an unreliable narrator.
Of course we can't forget the queer romance as well. In addition to the MC and her dead girlfriend (both lesbians), we have a Black side character and a non-binary side character. While I still would have liked even more diversity, this was a good start.
I would definitely read another book by this author, especially if it were similar in genre.
Of course we can't forget the queer romance as well. In addition to the MC and her dead girlfriend (both lesbians), we have a Black side character and a non-binary side character. While I still would have liked even more diversity, this was a good start.
I would definitely read another book by this author, especially if it were similar in genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cursing, Murder, Animal death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, and Sexual content
Additional TW/CW: grief, tobacco, strangling, hunting/killing animal, delusionsluisereads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Vomit
sarahmreads's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Booktok has raved about this book as a high stakes lesbian dark academia all year long, and it's been pretty high up on my TBR for October. However, I hate to say that this story fell flat for me.
Felicity Morrow is back at the Dalloway School after coping with the death of her girlfriend Alex one year ago. She wants to put the past, both Alex and the mysteries of the Dalloway Five behind her. Enter Ellis Haley, a young published author with a thirst to write her next novel about the Dalloway Five, and she needs Felicity's help.
I'm gonna start with the positives. I like how this story doesn't make you trust yourself. There is always this seed of doubt, from the story being in Felicity's perspective to Ellis' own goals for her writing project. You don't know who to trust, or even if the "magic" associated with the Dalloway Five even exists. You're left completely in the dark at the end, although it kind of insinuates one thing over the other. It adds to the thriller factor of this story.
I also moderately liked the worldbuilding of the story. I couldn't always keep exactly straight who had died in what way, but I liked the dark and pompous air around Dalloway and the school.
Now let's talk characters. I was extremely torn about Felicity. She is an extremely unreliable narrator who already has a habit of lying to herself to forget things, like Alex's death. She's easily persuaded one way or another, like when it comes to the magic spell books inside the library. She even keeps telling herself she'll stop drinking like her mother but fails at that. She's surrounded by tragedy and failure, so how can we even trust her as readers? I didn't like her in that regard. I'm surprised she was not put off by Ellis earlier in the story but I digress.
ELLIS HALEY. I am SO TORN on her. She is the dark academia I wish to embody, straight down to the outfit and the writer aspects. I thought she was fine until halfway through and immediately realized how dark of a path this story was going down. I felt like more could have been done with her character besides what was planned out for her. I just wanted a happy sapphic love story and that was NOT what was given to me.
I will say I liked the LGBTQ+ rep in the story. Why Felicity felt the need to come out even though her and Alex were openly a couple (I thought?) but hey, still proud of her. Also I wish there was a bit more nonbinary rep for a story that was praised for having no male-identifying individuals. Only one character used they/them pronouns and they were a minor character.
The ending also felt kind of deserved but also... not really? I'm still super torn on the ending and how it turned out. Guess that solidifies the fact that this is a stand alone.
A Lesson in Vengeance is a good scary dark academia book for October. Will I be reading it again? Probably not.
Felicity Morrow is back at the Dalloway School after coping with the death of her girlfriend Alex one year ago. She wants to put the past, both Alex and the mysteries of the Dalloway Five behind her. Enter Ellis Haley, a young published author with a thirst to write her next novel about the Dalloway Five, and she needs Felicity's help.
I'm gonna start with the positives. I like how this story doesn't make you trust yourself. There is always this seed of doubt, from the story being in Felicity's perspective to Ellis' own goals for her writing project. You don't know who to trust, or even if the "magic" associated with the Dalloway Five even exists. You're left completely in the dark at the end, although it kind of insinuates one thing over the other. It adds to the thriller factor of this story.
I also moderately liked the worldbuilding of the story. I couldn't always keep exactly straight who had died in what way, but I liked the dark and pompous air around Dalloway and the school.
Now let's talk characters. I was extremely torn about Felicity. She is an extremely unreliable narrator who already has a habit of lying to herself to forget things, like Alex's death. She's easily persuaded one way or another, like when it comes to the magic spell books inside the library. She even keeps telling herself she'll stop drinking like her mother but fails at that. She's surrounded by tragedy and failure, so how can we even trust her as readers? I didn't like her in that regard. I'm surprised she was not put off by Ellis earlier in the story but I digress.
ELLIS HALEY. I am SO TORN on her. She is the dark academia I wish to embody, straight down to the outfit and the writer aspects. I thought she was fine until halfway through and immediately realized how dark of a path this story was going down. I felt like more could have been done with her character besides what was planned out for her. I just wanted a happy sapphic love story and that was NOT what was given to me.
I will say I liked the LGBTQ+ rep in the story. Why Felicity felt the need to come out even though her and Alex were openly a couple (I thought?) but hey, still proud of her. Also I wish there was a bit more nonbinary rep for a story that was praised for having no male-identifying individuals. Only one character used they/them pronouns and they were a minor character.
The ending also felt kind of deserved but also... not really? I'm still super torn on the ending and how it turned out. Guess that solidifies the fact that this is a stand alone.
A Lesson in Vengeance is a good scary dark academia book for October. Will I be reading it again? Probably not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Death, Vomit, Sexual content, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Drug use, and Alcohol
PTSD, self-harm for ritualstarccato's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Vomit