A review by lauravm
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash

dark emotional 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

4.0

Life has dealt young Lacey Bond a bleak hand. Bleak is not strong enough, let's call it torturous. Accused, abused, and utterly alone, Lacey faces a journey through unfathomable twists, and she can rely only on her own intelligence and an icy will to survive. 

“Rainbow Black”  touches every dark corner: pedophilia, bullying, addiction, murder, pack mentality, deceit, suicide, exploitation of the most vulnerable, homophobia, and crimes of every degree. I probably left something out. Somehow, Thrash finds beauty in the morass, bringing it all together in a strangely satisfying way without relying on neatly tied ends or miraculous resolutions. 

The “couldn't put it down” factor in this one is strong.

Thrash’s character development in “Rainbow Black” is fascinating; none of these people are going to be who readers want them to be, protagonist and villains alike (and hardly anyone in fits neatly into either category). While the story involves much evil and harm, love also exists in all its complicated glory. Without revealing any spoilers, it's both ironic and triumphant to say that Lacey stays true to her identity as an independent, queer, headstrong survivor.


Expand filter menu Content Warnings