Scan barcode
A review by mackenzierm
Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff
4.0
Lila and her fiancé, Kurt, have settled into a stunning West Village apartment as they begin filming their feminist adaptation of Fitzgerald’s ‘Tender is the Night’. Lila has the lead role while Kurt is a visionary filmmaker. Lila prepares for her role by beginning work with accomplished therapist, Jonah, to help her dig into the trauma of her past. As Lila makes breakthroughs and her life starts to unravel, Jonah is just the man to pick up the pieces. Everyone has secrets though…and no one is quite what they seem.
SWEET FURY is a thought-provoking and twisty read with eloquent and intelligent, if in places slightly overwritten and unnatural, prose. It reads like a love letter to Fitzgerald’s works. It features a dark and atmospheric vibe, touching on heavy themes whilst navigating toxic relationships, feminism, and misogyny.
This novel is told in three acts with multiple POVs. It took me a while to become immersed in this story, initially put off by the verbose prose, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to parse through to get to the root of what the author was trying to say. The first act is long and winding, making me question the direction of this novel. I had one idea but was soon pleasantly surprised when I reached act II and III to find that I actually had the wrong idea entirely. Acts II and III are riveting. I will add that the ending felt a bit too open and would have liked more clarity.
The characters are each interesting, well-written, and magnetic. The author shifts effortlessly through the main characters’ POVs, allowing the reader to learn their motivations while the story continues to unfold. It’s certainly a rich and powerful character-driven thriller, marking an exquisite debut for this author.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
SWEET FURY is a thought-provoking and twisty read with eloquent and intelligent, if in places slightly overwritten and unnatural, prose. It reads like a love letter to Fitzgerald’s works. It features a dark and atmospheric vibe, touching on heavy themes whilst navigating toxic relationships, feminism, and misogyny.
This novel is told in three acts with multiple POVs. It took me a while to become immersed in this story, initially put off by the verbose prose, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to parse through to get to the root of what the author was trying to say. The first act is long and winding, making me question the direction of this novel. I had one idea but was soon pleasantly surprised when I reached act II and III to find that I actually had the wrong idea entirely. Acts II and III are riveting. I will add that the ending felt a bit too open and would have liked more clarity.
The characters are each interesting, well-written, and magnetic. The author shifts effortlessly through the main characters’ POVs, allowing the reader to learn their motivations while the story continues to unfold. It’s certainly a rich and powerful character-driven thriller, marking an exquisite debut for this author.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.