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A review by justinekorson
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I've been really into thrillers/horror stories recently and this one was so good! I really enjoyed Nora and Becca and how complicated their friendship had become. The love these two girls showed for each other in the book though was everything. It really encompasses I think how tightly knit friendships can be, that you would do anything for this person who is your platonic soulmate. It reminds me of the friendship between Claudia and Monday in the story "Monday's Not Coming". The similarities end there though.
The idea of this goddess was really fun too. It made me wonder if it was an actual goddess, or a demon who had been locked away. Part of me thinks it might be an actual goddess who used to have people praying/sacrificing to her and that Rita invoked it because of all her praying and vengeful acts against the Principal.
I honestly don't fault young Rita for what she did and how she fed this goddess inside of her. (I support women's rights but also women's wrongs lol). I almost thought that Nora might agree with Rita and decide to continue the work of the goddess. If Becca hadn't been taken and trapped away by her then I think the two girls would have been up for something like that. (Though maybe not since Nora was really shaken by what happened when they prayed to the goddess of vengeance).
Either way this was a really good novel and I throughly enjoyed it.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I've been really into thrillers/horror stories recently and this one was so good! I really enjoyed Nora and Becca and how complicated their friendship had become. The love these two girls showed for each other in the book though was everything. It really encompasses I think how tightly knit friendships can be, that you would do anything for this person who is your platonic soulmate. It reminds me of the friendship between Claudia and Monday in the story "Monday's Not Coming". The similarities end there though.
The idea of this goddess was really fun too. It made me wonder if it was an actual goddess, or a demon who had been locked away. Part of me thinks it might be an actual goddess who used to have people praying/sacrificing to her and that Rita invoked it because of all her praying and vengeful acts against the Principal.
I honestly don't fault young Rita for what she did and how she fed this goddess inside of her. (I support women's rights but also women's wrongs lol). I almost thought that Nora might agree with Rita and decide to continue the work of the goddess. If Becca hadn't been taken and trapped away by her then I think the two girls would have been up for something like that. (Though maybe not since Nora was really shaken by what happened when they prayed to the goddess of vengeance).
Either way this was a really good novel and I throughly enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail