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A review by missbreathing
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“A Lesson in Vengeance” is a YA dark academia set in an all-girl prep school with a dark past. It’s full of intrigue, witchcraft, and dark passions. I really enjoyed it! I’m giving it 4.5/5⭐️. Some thoughts:
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Lee instantly creates a deliciously dreary atmosphere and a relentlessly dark mood. She really nails the dark academia vibe and finds ways to infuse even the most mundane moments with haunting detail. Both in the plot and thematically, this book pays homage to gothic writers like Shirley Jackson. It’s very sophisticated in that way. And, with themes of vengeance, murder, witchcraft, and ghosts, this is a perfect October read.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This book is full of twists and surprises. It’s never dull. Although, in retrospect, the pacing is a bit off. The beginning can drag a bit, and the ending feels rushed. There are certain plot points and revelations that could have been dwelt on more. But it’s such a captivating read that one barely notices.
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This book also has lesbian rep, wlw relationships, and a non-binary secondary character. It was refreshing to see LGBTQIA+ rep so explicitly stated in a dark academia novel. The genre seems saturated with homoerotic subtext, but Lee went beyond subtext and made it a key part of her novel.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The prep school setting and the characters’ ages do feel a bit incongruous with the story though. This is not a criticism I like to give because I believe every book has its ideal audience, but I wish this was set in university. It would have been much more believable as a new adult book than a YA book.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Lee instantly creates a deliciously dreary atmosphere and a relentlessly dark mood. She really nails the dark academia vibe and finds ways to infuse even the most mundane moments with haunting detail. Both in the plot and thematically, this book pays homage to gothic writers like Shirley Jackson. It’s very sophisticated in that way. And, with themes of vengeance, murder, witchcraft, and ghosts, this is a perfect October read.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This book is full of twists and surprises. It’s never dull. Although, in retrospect, the pacing is a bit off. The beginning can drag a bit, and the ending feels rushed. There are certain plot points and revelations that could have been dwelt on more. But it’s such a captivating read that one barely notices.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This book also has lesbian rep, wlw relationships, and a non-binary secondary character. It was refreshing to see LGBTQIA+ rep so explicitly stated in a dark academia novel. The genre seems saturated with homoerotic subtext, but Lee went beyond subtext and made it a key part of her novel.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The prep school setting and the characters’ ages do feel a bit incongruous with the story though. This is not a criticism I like to give because I believe every book has its ideal audience, but I wish this was set in university. It would have been much more believable as a new adult book than a YA book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism