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A review by poppyjessica
The Sharp Edge of Silence by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
5.0
Cameron Kelly Rosenblum's 'The Sharp Edge of Silence' is brutal, disturbing and necessary, shining a light on misogyny and sexual assault rife in the institutions of the powerful. Lycroft Phelps is a prestigious private school and easy route into the Ivy League for the generations of wealthy students from elite families who attend. We view the new school year from the point of view of three students: beautiful Charlotte, a dancer with an enviably rich and handsome boyfriend, Max, a scholarship student who is being seduced by the advantages which could be his in the life of an athlete, and Quinn who is reeling from an experience last summer she would rather hide, despite it being a haunting trauma. We follow the events of the new school year complete with secret societies, athletic rivalries and the debauched behaviour of the rich and powerful.
I found this book a tough but important read. Quinn's story is something alarmingly real for any woman who has experienced any sort of unwanted advances from a man. Rosenblum does not hold back on the grotesque portrayal of the corruption of the elite who believe they are entitled to anything they lay claim to, including women's bodies. What is even more disturbing is the young age of the students involved in this story, the rotten core present even in the younger generations. The reveals get darker and more disturbing as the narrative progresses, at some stages the reader being teased with the 'good' characteristics of Quinn's rapist and the potential for lovely Max to be drawn into this disgusting, exploitative world. The moral lines are blurred and the reader longs for the world to be righted with villains punished and the heroes finding justice. Rosenblum highlights the messiness of reality and does not hold back in her portrayal of toxic masculinity and the corruption of the rich and powerful.
Overall, this is a fantastic read. Hard, yes, but powerful. One of my best reads of 2022. 5 stars,
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book a tough but important read. Quinn's story is something alarmingly real for any woman who has experienced any sort of unwanted advances from a man. Rosenblum does not hold back on the grotesque portrayal of the corruption of the elite who believe they are entitled to anything they lay claim to, including women's bodies. What is even more disturbing is the young age of the students involved in this story, the rotten core present even in the younger generations. The reveals get darker and more disturbing as the narrative progresses, at some stages the reader being teased with the 'good' characteristics of Quinn's rapist and the potential for lovely Max to be drawn into this disgusting, exploitative world. The moral lines are blurred and the reader longs for the world to be righted with villains punished and the heroes finding justice. Rosenblum highlights the messiness of reality and does not hold back in her portrayal of toxic masculinity and the corruption of the rich and powerful.
Overall, this is a fantastic read. Hard, yes, but powerful. One of my best reads of 2022. 5 stars,
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.