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A review by shelfofunread
Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch by Codie Crowley
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
If the title of Codie Crowley’s debut novel, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, doesn’t make you want to instantly pick it up and read it then honestly, I don’t know what my review is going to do for you. But hey, if you’re still on the page after the title, the awesome cover, the brilliantly angry dedication, and the killer first line, then by all means, read on!
Annie Lane is dead. And really REALLY mad about it. Brought back from the grave by a combination of spite and vengeance, Annie is on the hunt for her killer and she isn’t going to let anyone – not her deadbeat ex-boyfriend, creepy boss, judgemental school principal, or neglectful mother – stand in her way.
Although Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch is, of course, a revenge story, what really impressed me was the way that it celebrates ‘difficult’ women. Without giving away any spoilers, it soon becomes apparent that Annie Lane has something of a ‘Reputation with a capital R’ in the small town of Hagley. She is, according to nearly everyone in authority, Officially Too Much. She smokes too much. Drinks too much. Hangs out with unsuitable guys too much. Drives around super fast in her beat up car too much. Talks back to her elders too much. Questions the status quo too much. But is being Too Much so much of a crime that someone would kill her for it?
As you might be able to guess, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch touches on several challenging topics and readers would be advised to consult the authors note, which lists the content guidance, before diving in. As a precis, the book contains depictions of violence and murder; emotional, verbal, and physical abuse; revenge porn; sexual harassment and implied threats of sexual assault; non-consensual drug use; bullying; injury/injury detail (including fire and burn injuries, as well as blood); alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; and a hefty amount of cursing. None of this is gratuitous. Indeed, I’d argue that its inclusion is central to the message of the story, but you should know that, for all its dark comedy, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch does not pack its punches. A LOT happens to Annie before she’s able to enact her revenge and much of it isn’t pleasant and, for all that this is published by Disney Hyperion, the mature nature of the themes and content means I’d probably advise that its one for older YA readers (16+) and adults.
That said, there really is a truckload of comedy in this revenge tale. For all her sharp edges, Annie has a wicked sense of humour and many of her observations about Hadley and the people with in it are sharp, acidic, and properly funny. I particularly enjoyed the snarky relationship that she develops with the other inhabitants of Resurrection Peak and, in particular, with mysterious leather-jacketed Sam whose ashy smell and occasional habit of setting his hair on fire belie his own tragically misunderstood backstory.
Indeed, if I had one criticism of Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, it would be that its just a tiny bit thin on some elements of the worldbuilding. Sam, Fern, Virgil and the other inhabitants of Resurrection Peak are fantastic characters but I wanted to know more about who they were and how they ended up there. Similarly, Annie’s quest for vengeance soon intersects with an investigation into a historic murder that is being conducted by her best friend, Maura, and I wanted to find out more about that. Whilst some explanations are given by the end of the book, I did feel that these were rather brief and, even though the story wraps up Annie’s tale satisfactorily, there were several loose ends when it came to side characters and subplots. This is a testament to the fascinating world that Crowley has created – and maybe we’ll see more of the other inhabitants of Resurrection Peak in another book – but it was just a tad disappointing all the same.
Fortunately, Annie’s story has has plenty of propulsion and makes for a furious and fast-paced read. I say furious because I defy this novel not to make you angry. Crowley does such a great job of showing the absolute BS that comes with being a young woman in the world and really highlights the pressure of societal expectations – and the consequences for refusing to adhere to them – through the character of Annie Lane.
Overall, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch is an impressively accomplished debut that successfully combines supernatural shenanigans with a fast-paced revenge thriller and just a hint of YA romance. The combination makes for a compulsive page-turner that packs a satisfying – if fairly hefty – punch and I for one cannot wait to see what Codie Crowley writes next!
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Annie Lane is dead. And really REALLY mad about it. Brought back from the grave by a combination of spite and vengeance, Annie is on the hunt for her killer and she isn’t going to let anyone – not her deadbeat ex-boyfriend, creepy boss, judgemental school principal, or neglectful mother – stand in her way.
Although Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch is, of course, a revenge story, what really impressed me was the way that it celebrates ‘difficult’ women. Without giving away any spoilers, it soon becomes apparent that Annie Lane has something of a ‘Reputation with a capital R’ in the small town of Hagley. She is, according to nearly everyone in authority, Officially Too Much. She smokes too much. Drinks too much. Hangs out with unsuitable guys too much. Drives around super fast in her beat up car too much. Talks back to her elders too much. Questions the status quo too much. But is being Too Much so much of a crime that someone would kill her for it?
As you might be able to guess, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch touches on several challenging topics and readers would be advised to consult the authors note, which lists the content guidance, before diving in. As a precis, the book contains depictions of violence and murder; emotional, verbal, and physical abuse; revenge porn; sexual harassment and implied threats of sexual assault; non-consensual drug use; bullying; injury/injury detail (including fire and burn injuries, as well as blood); alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; and a hefty amount of cursing. None of this is gratuitous. Indeed, I’d argue that its inclusion is central to the message of the story, but you should know that, for all its dark comedy, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch does not pack its punches. A LOT happens to Annie before she’s able to enact her revenge and much of it isn’t pleasant and, for all that this is published by Disney Hyperion, the mature nature of the themes and content means I’d probably advise that its one for older YA readers (16+) and adults.
That said, there really is a truckload of comedy in this revenge tale. For all her sharp edges, Annie has a wicked sense of humour and many of her observations about Hadley and the people with in it are sharp, acidic, and properly funny. I particularly enjoyed the snarky relationship that she develops with the other inhabitants of Resurrection Peak and, in particular, with mysterious leather-jacketed Sam whose ashy smell and occasional habit of setting his hair on fire belie his own tragically misunderstood backstory.
Indeed, if I had one criticism of Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, it would be that its just a tiny bit thin on some elements of the worldbuilding. Sam, Fern, Virgil and the other inhabitants of Resurrection Peak are fantastic characters but I wanted to know more about who they were and how they ended up there. Similarly, Annie’s quest for vengeance soon intersects with an investigation into a historic murder that is being conducted by her best friend, Maura, and I wanted to find out more about that. Whilst some explanations are given by the end of the book, I did feel that these were rather brief and, even though the story wraps up Annie’s tale satisfactorily, there were several loose ends when it came to side characters and subplots. This is a testament to the fascinating world that Crowley has created – and maybe we’ll see more of the other inhabitants of Resurrection Peak in another book – but it was just a tad disappointing all the same.
Fortunately, Annie’s story has has plenty of propulsion and makes for a furious and fast-paced read. I say furious because I defy this novel not to make you angry. Crowley does such a great job of showing the absolute BS that comes with being a young woman in the world and really highlights the pressure of societal expectations – and the consequences for refusing to adhere to them – through the character of Annie Lane.
Overall, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch is an impressively accomplished debut that successfully combines supernatural shenanigans with a fast-paced revenge thriller and just a hint of YA romance. The combination makes for a compulsive page-turner that packs a satisfying – if fairly hefty – punch and I for one cannot wait to see what Codie Crowley writes next!
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence