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e_bee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual content
growintogardens's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Incest, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Rape, Death of parent, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
uncreativeoops's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Moderate: Incest, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Physical abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Colonisation
ladylothlorien's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. I loved the queer representation and the very happy, very queer ending for Adele. I also enjoyed her as an avenging angel, especially as the time period was so very restrictive for women (and queer people!). I want to join Nan's family as it is just a lovely example of why having a place where you can be entirely yourself with zero judgment is so important. The main issue I had was
I struggled to see how Adele had always known this "darkness" in Rochester, even how he might have planned this from the start of taking in Adele. Reading the author's note at the end and her story of being sexually abused by her father helped me understand it better. I can understand now why the author saw a similar darkness in Rochester in Jane Eyre that she saw in her own father. I don't know that I see the same thing, but I can appreciate the author's perspective and how she channeled her story into Adele's.
Moderate: Incest, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Murder, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
Some of these content warnings are specifically about the ending of the story (gaslighting, incest, pedophilia). If you want to know what happens:emily__michelle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Classism
loveat1stwrite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
For starters, I thought the title would be a quick homage to Jane Eyre, but this book ends up treating itself like a sequel to Charlotte Brontë’s book. As the promotional material didn’t mention anything about its heavy ties to Jane Eyre, I felt misled and left in the lurch right from the get-go.
The book follows Adele, before Jane arrives, while Jane is her governess, and primarily after Rochester and Jane get married. Pre-existing characters forced into a new dynamic can have potential, but here the source material felt like a crutch the author couldn’t let go of, even when doing so would have made for a more substantial reading experience. This would have been better off as an original new concept, with new characters that can be molded how the author sees fit.
While the sequel aspect was an early blindside, I was still excited for the historical fiction vigilante story I was promised. Unfortunately, that’s not really what I got. It was about 1/3 Jane Eyre retelling, 1/3 generic boarding school filler, 1/3 typical Victorian-novel-twists. In this last third is where we start to dabble with vigilante justice that unfortunately still left much to be desired. While there is sapphic romance from Adele’s POV, this too takes a backseat to the author trying to reference Jane as frequently as possible. Overall, it was a weird structure choice to be sure, creating an experience that can be only described as unfocused.
Simply put, the aspects that were most heavily promoted and that were getting readers excited for this release were not allowed to shine.
Moderate: Infidelity, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Pedophilia, and Confinement
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Okay, we love some sapphic historical vigilantes. I will read any story like this any time. I had no idea that Reader, I Murdered Him told the story of Adele from Jane Eyre. But what I loved about this specific aspect was that it leans and pulls from the original in just the right spots. It is centered on Adele's background before she meets Jane and then her own feelings regarding Jane. It felt like a fresh perspective on a classic, but also one that wasn't trying too hard to stick only to the original.
And then where it obviously departs from Jane Eyre, I adored. To see the ways in which Adele has been shaped by her upbringing and see what she makes of herself. Because while Jane is there, she's by no means a present mother figure to her for her entire life. Once her story really departs from the original, is when I began to fall in love with Adele. To see the ways in which she protects her friends when no one else will. At the same time, Reader, I Murdered Him is very aware of the privilege and class differences. How she has certain privilege because her family is not dependent on her match.
Minor: Sexual assault and Pedophilia
alannadoucette8's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Child abuse, Classism, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexism