A review by hollyway
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sarah Waters is truly an astounding talent. The Paying Guests was one of my favourites last year, and now Fingersmith is my first 5 star read of this year (excluding re-reads). I watched The Handmaiden a few years ago which is how I discovered Sarah Waters in the first place. This meant that I knew the main plot/twists going in, and at first that kept me at a bit of a distance. But the way Waters builds tension, crafts nuanced characters and conjures up an atmosphere quickly swept me up and left me unable to do anything the past few days but read. This book is what I love about reading, and just like her last book, also makes me want to write again. It is such a rare treat to get truly absorbed into a story like this yet Waters has pulled it off twice now. I'm praying she will release a book on writing one day because I want to learn everything she knows!!