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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Rage becomes her.
Layne Fargo's debut, TEMPER, spins familiar archetypes and scenarios into a taut, relentless tale pitting ambition against manipulation. With a controlling and charismatic theater director, his professional partner and enabler, and an ambitious young actress, you can see what we're building toward early on, but the question was how we’d get there. Malcolm may be the center of Joanna and Kira's universes, but the story is singularly theirs.
TEMPER is a darkly gleeful exploration of power, manipulation, sex, and art. Theater nerds will love the behind the scenes detail and drama. I just have one word for it: delicious.
Rage becomes her.
Layne Fargo's debut, TEMPER, spins familiar archetypes and scenarios into a taut, relentless tale pitting ambition against manipulation. With a controlling and charismatic theater director, his professional partner and enabler, and an ambitious young actress, you can see what we're building toward early on, but the question was how we’d get there. Malcolm may be the center of Joanna and Kira's universes, but the story is singularly theirs.
TEMPER is a darkly gleeful exploration of power, manipulation, sex, and art. Theater nerds will love the behind the scenes detail and drama. I just have one word for it: delicious.
Thank you so very much to Gallery/Scout Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley!
Temper is the perfect example of being the frog in the boiling water. You're reading it, and it feels like nothing much is happening, you're just chilling in this land of fantastic writing and Chicago theater, and then you realize, wait, VERY MUCH is happening, and oh wow, did she really just do that, did HE really just do that, and WHAT is GOING ON WAIT -- and then when you realize what you're in for, it's over, and you're left with the thought: They really Did That.
In other words, this book is a rollercoaster of the best kind. From the very first chapter, I was pulled right into Kira and Joanna's worlds. These two characters are so distinct, and so different. On closer inspection, they are similar in deeper ways, but they each go about getting what they want in different ways. I somehow expected the two of them to become friends, or at least allies, from reading the blurb. But I quickly realized that would not be possible -- and I LOVED that. No petty woman-hating drama here, just two women who so fiercely reach for what they want.
The way Layne Fargo weaves in events of the past into the narration of the present is so seamless and natural. We learn lots about Joanna's and Kira's pasts, but it never feels like infodumping or excessive flashbacks. And I loved the slow reveals of the things that made these two women become the way they are.
Malcolm is also a perfect villain. I don't want to say too much about him or what he does, because the experience of reading it does more to show how terrible he is than I could ever do by explaining.
All in all, reading Temper was an experience I'm so grateful I got to have. This book releases in July and I can't recommend it enough if you like female characters with agency and dark books that catch you by surprise. I also recommend it for anyone whose heart belongs to Chicago (like mine). There are so many lovely nuggets in here that made me homesick for my city.
I do want to share a TRIGGER WARNING for emotional and physical abuse. Particularly if you've suffered this kind of abuse, I recommend keeping in contact with someone you trust while you read this book. Just in case.
Temper is the perfect example of being the frog in the boiling water. You're reading it, and it feels like nothing much is happening, you're just chilling in this land of fantastic writing and Chicago theater, and then you realize, wait, VERY MUCH is happening, and oh wow, did she really just do that, did HE really just do that, and WHAT is GOING ON WAIT -- and then when you realize what you're in for, it's over, and you're left with the thought: They really Did That.
In other words, this book is a rollercoaster of the best kind. From the very first chapter, I was pulled right into Kira and Joanna's worlds. These two characters are so distinct, and so different. On closer inspection, they are similar in deeper ways, but they each go about getting what they want in different ways. I somehow expected the two of them to become friends, or at least allies, from reading the blurb. But I quickly realized that would not be possible -- and I LOVED that. No petty woman-hating drama here, just two women who so fiercely reach for what they want.
The way Layne Fargo weaves in events of the past into the narration of the present is so seamless and natural. We learn lots about Joanna's and Kira's pasts, but it never feels like infodumping or excessive flashbacks. And I loved the slow reveals of the things that made these two women become the way they are.
Malcolm is also a perfect villain. I don't want to say too much about him or what he does, because the experience of reading it does more to show how terrible he is than I could ever do by explaining.
All in all, reading Temper was an experience I'm so grateful I got to have. This book releases in July and I can't recommend it enough if you like female characters with agency and dark books that catch you by surprise. I also recommend it for anyone whose heart belongs to Chicago (like mine). There are so many lovely nuggets in here that made me homesick for my city.
I do want to share a TRIGGER WARNING for emotional and physical abuse. Particularly if you've suffered this kind of abuse, I recommend keeping in contact with someone you trust while you read this book. Just in case.
A dark, unflinching examination of violence, power, and what it means to create great art. Absolutely brilliant.
Despite barely ever setting foot on a stage, I’m always drawn to stories featuring theaters, whether it’s YA rom-coms or middle grade fantasy comics or adult thrillers. So when I saw that Temper revolved around a theater, I was immediately interested.
Fargo–who I believe has experience as an actor in Chicago–absolutely immerses the reader in a gritty world where violence and deceit aren’t limited to the stage. If you’re a fan of books like M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains that explores the tempestuous and twisty lives of actors, I’d definitely recommend Temper. From backstage secrets to staged violence becoming all-too-real, Fargo’s tale of was engrossing and intense.
Temper, as it turns out, isn’t just a nail-biting thriller about ambition. It’s also a very timely exploration of the terrible men whose actions we excuse in the name of their art. The two protagonists–Joanna, Malcolm’s partner in the theater and Kira, the lead actress in Malcolm’s new play–both grapple with Malcolm’s insufferable actions. An infamous director with dozens of critically acclaimed productions under his belt, he’s also known for pushing his actors to the breaking point. Their respective ambitions setting themselves on a collision course, Joanna and Kira find themselves forced to contemplate how much of Malcolm’s behavior they can excuse. Fargo’s writing is tense and psychological, the clashing dual perspectives pushing the narrative towards an inevitable, awful climax that I saw coming like a car crash, yet couldn’t look away from.
I also just wanted to take a second and highlight the fact that Temper features multiple #ownvoices bisexual characters (Joanna, Malcolm, and the side character of Kira’s roommate, Spencer), which was kind of a nice surprise. Being a thriller, none of these characters are exactly good people, per se, but given the author’s identity, the representation across several characters seemed nuanced.
Honestly, even though I saw the ending coming, this book had me absolutely riveted anyway, and I think that’s pretty high praise. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for Fargo’s next work.
Diversity notes: Bisexual main character and side characters (#ownvoices), gay mentally ill side character.
Fargo–who I believe has experience as an actor in Chicago–absolutely immerses the reader in a gritty world where violence and deceit aren’t limited to the stage. If you’re a fan of books like M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains that explores the tempestuous and twisty lives of actors, I’d definitely recommend Temper. From backstage secrets to staged violence becoming all-too-real, Fargo’s tale of was engrossing and intense.
Temper, as it turns out, isn’t just a nail-biting thriller about ambition. It’s also a very timely exploration of the terrible men whose actions we excuse in the name of their art. The two protagonists–Joanna, Malcolm’s partner in the theater and Kira, the lead actress in Malcolm’s new play–both grapple with Malcolm’s insufferable actions. An infamous director with dozens of critically acclaimed productions under his belt, he’s also known for pushing his actors to the breaking point. Their respective ambitions setting themselves on a collision course, Joanna and Kira find themselves forced to contemplate how much of Malcolm’s behavior they can excuse. Fargo’s writing is tense and psychological, the clashing dual perspectives pushing the narrative towards an inevitable, awful climax that I saw coming like a car crash, yet couldn’t look away from.
I also just wanted to take a second and highlight the fact that Temper features multiple #ownvoices bisexual characters (Joanna, Malcolm, and the side character of Kira’s roommate, Spencer), which was kind of a nice surprise. Being a thriller, none of these characters are exactly good people, per se, but given the author’s identity, the representation across several characters seemed nuanced.
Honestly, even though I saw the ending coming, this book had me absolutely riveted anyway, and I think that’s pretty high praise. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for Fargo’s next work.
Diversity notes: Bisexual main character and side characters (#ownvoices), gay mentally ill side character.
3.5 ★
Fargo’s writing is of the book is by far the best thing about Temper. She manages to thread a sense of tension into her every word. In a genre like psychological thriller, that is hard to come by, but gold to find.
The characters, though unlikable, as probably intended, are so fun to analyze. There’s so much depth in all of them, and so much not to trust. Both narrators are biased, and the events of the book are warped through their point of views. The jarring difference in the recollection of events was something I found very interesting. But that may be because I love unreliable narrators in psych thrillers.
Kira’s descent into madness, under Malcolm’s control is like a car wreck. I mean that in the best way possible. It is terrifying and you want to stop watching, but you can’t pull your gaze away. In contrast to Kira, is Joana’s plot, who has been deluded and manipulated bu Malcolm since she was a teenager. We follow her thoughts and the way she puts no blame on Malcolm for anything, lifting him onto a pedestal. But, slowly, as Kira falls under Malcolm’s clutches, Joana pulls herself out of it.
The reason I docked stars is because, I found the story to be long. Not long because it was boring, it wasn’t. But, at one point too much exposition was given to the degree I’m sure most readers figured out the ending halfway through the novel. The ending itself, is a slight cliche. I knew what was coming and I wasn’t shocked when it happened. I wish to be shocked or blown away or left confused, even. But this was more quite kind of ending.
I did, however, like the open ending. It left things to the imagination, which I think particularly suits this novel because a majority of it is spent overthinking in our narraters’ heads.
Fargo’s writing is of the book is by far the best thing about Temper. She manages to thread a sense of tension into her every word. In a genre like psychological thriller, that is hard to come by, but gold to find.
The characters, though unlikable, as probably intended, are so fun to analyze. There’s so much depth in all of them, and so much not to trust. Both narrators are biased, and the events of the book are warped through their point of views. The jarring difference in the recollection of events was something I found very interesting. But that may be because I love unreliable narrators in psych thrillers.
Kira’s descent into madness, under Malcolm’s control is like a car wreck. I mean that in the best way possible. It is terrifying and you want to stop watching, but you can’t pull your gaze away. In contrast to Kira, is Joana’s plot, who has been deluded and manipulated bu Malcolm since she was a teenager. We follow her thoughts and the way she puts no blame on Malcolm for anything, lifting him onto a pedestal. But, slowly, as Kira falls under Malcolm’s clutches, Joana pulls herself out of it.
The reason I docked stars is because, I found the story to be long. Not long because it was boring, it wasn’t. But, at one point too much exposition was given to the degree I’m sure most readers figured out the ending halfway through the novel. The ending itself, is a slight cliche. I knew what was coming and I wasn’t shocked when it happened. I wish to be shocked or blown away or left confused, even. But this was more quite kind of ending.
I did, however, like the open ending. It left things to the imagination, which I think particularly suits this novel because a majority of it is spent overthinking in our narraters’ heads.
Is it possible to have a good week after reading this book? a good month? a decent year? my sources say: fuck, no
Temper is basically [b:If We Were Villains|30319086|If We Were Villains|M.L. Rio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480717682l/30319086._SY75_.jpg|45743348] on steroids. It's a dark psychological thriller about a bunch of morally-fraudulent thespians who obviously need psychiatric help. The ending offers more questions than it answers. It's terrible, you should read it.
Temper is basically [b:If We Were Villains|30319086|If We Were Villains|M.L. Rio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480717682l/30319086._SY75_.jpg|45743348] on steroids. It's a dark psychological thriller about a bunch of morally-fraudulent thespians who obviously need psychiatric help. The ending offers more questions than it answers. It's terrible, you should read it.
4/5
- tw past abusive relationship, past suicide attempt
- such an addictively, slow ,tense, seductive ... frustrating drama
- Follows two women, Kira and joanna, involved in a theatre production, a newcomer lead and a dedicated producer respectively, as well as their (competitive?) relationship with the director
- The actual synopsis does it much more justice
- themes: female ambition and retribution
- Of the two women i did find myself loving one and hating the other but isn’t that part of the fun?
- Ngl I’m not sure this would pass the Bechdel test though
- tw past abusive relationship, past suicide attempt
- such an addictively, slow ,tense, seductive ... frustrating drama
- Follows two women, Kira and joanna, involved in a theatre production, a newcomer lead and a dedicated producer respectively, as well as their (competitive?) relationship with the director
- The actual synopsis does it much more justice
- themes: female ambition and retribution
- Of the two women i did find myself loving one and hating the other but isn’t that part of the fun?
- Ngl I’m not sure this would pass the Bechdel test though