Reviews

Penance by Eliza Clark

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laraamaee's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Now, I wasn’t a teenager into serial killers, but this story hit so close to home.

I used to be into a bit of true crime before I turned too squeamish, and although I wasn’t on Tumblr, I grew up heavily online, so it was jarring to see all the internet language and niche references I used to know on the page. Combined with the book making me reminisce on my school days—with its ‘popular’ and ‘nerdy’ groups, its bullying, its dramas—and the fact that it’s set in a North Yorkshire seaside town so close to where I grew up going to the beach (Scarborough), this novel was eerily familiar; especially because I was also a closeted lesbian like some of these characters.

I haven’t read Boy Parts yet, but I can tell Eliza Clark is an incredible writer. Not only are you immediately drawn in, unable to put the book down, and feel so strongly about the characters, but both the story and the criticism of true crime, the media, and British politics are brilliant.

This was truly a unique reading experience that was so familiar to my own experiences, it was unsettling (yes, I even had bad experiences at water parks). I’m just glad I wasn’t ’putting flower crowns on serial killers’ and building torture basements on The Sims…and yet Clark tapping into these characters that delve into the darkest parts of themselves—and ourselves—is really revealing. If you grew up online, too, and/or if you know about or are interested in true crime, you must read this book.

(Teenagers scare the shit out of me…)

averycm4's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

An interesting investigation into teenage-girlhood with a look at tumblr and true crime online communities. didn’t enjoy the frame story but the mixed narrative styles kept it interesting

_pia's review against another edition

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Why too many characters, I got so confused. Maybe I will try again in the future

coppercrane2's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

stephanieclaire's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Whew this was a rough read. So many triggers. Be aware.

mike_nz's review against another edition

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5.0

Excellent. Though I feel it doesn't quite have the unputdownable quality that Clarks debut Boy Parts had, this writer is now an auto-read, buy immediately author for me.

thepagelady's review against another edition

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Penance is a fantastic read about a shocking murder among teenagers in a sleepy northern seaside town. I really enjoyed Boy Parts so I was really looking forward to reading this book and I was not disappointed. Eliza Clark is a great storyteller! It's dark, compelling, unsettling and so very true! I'm looking forward to reading more of Eliza Clark's books!