A review by liseyp
Estella's Revenge by Barbara Havelocke

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Thank you to the author, publisher Canelo Hera, and online book club The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this. This is an honest and voluntary review. 

 

A dark re-imagining of Great Expectations from the perspective of Estella, Miss Havisham’s ward. 

 

It’s an interesting concept. Raised in the house where time is frozen in Miss Havisham’s post-abandonment depression, Estella is naturally affected by that experience. This book takes that concept and runs with it. 

 

There are moments which echo plot points in Great Expectations, but this is a far darker tale. While Pip’s life is impacted by his early poverty, he is able to improve his life and gain independence and autonomy through his mystery benefactor. Estella however has to face the restrictions of not just her upbringing, but of the legal and social limitations placed on women of the time. 

 

Unfortunately the concept was let down by the delivery. Estella is not a sympathetic character. That she’s unlikable and makes bad decisions is understandable given everything she goes through. But, she’s also very hard to empathise with at all. The coldness of her character bleeds into the writing. The plotting also dragged, particularly in the second half. I wanted to read the whole thing, but I was ready for the story to be over by halfway through so everything after that was grudged.