Scan barcode
A review by sspaghettiboness
Penance by Eliza Clark
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely engrossing and enthralling. I connected so deeply with this because I was born super close to the same years as the girls, the references to fandoms and internet culture hit close to home. I was a total Violet (but my fascinations were in other areas) - but it felt like I knew every character. They were so well crafted and real.
The plot, structure, and syntax exceeds five stars. It’s perfect. I never felt bored or unengaged - the book took me so long to read because I had to find special pockets of time where I could just read, otherwise I’d abandon responsibilities.
I love how different this is from Boy Parts - and calling myself a super fan of that novel is an understatement. It’s just so fresh and… Eliza just. Gets dark feminism, to me. She gets women supporting other women, but she also gets feminine rage directed at other women. It’s not for everyone, I don’t think she’s trying to write for everyone, and I think that’s the best kind of writing.
I love, love, love an unpredictably unreliable narrator. I love how she held on to that reveal. Completely changing absolutely everything at the end and letting the reader just sit with that as they close the book. Is. Madness and genius.
I’m frothing, fully rabid to see what Clark writes next. What I wouldn’t give to get a coffee with her and just talk about life and people experiences.
The plot, structure, and syntax exceeds five stars. It’s perfect. I never felt bored or unengaged - the book took me so long to read because I had to find special pockets of time where I could just read, otherwise I’d abandon responsibilities.
I love how different this is from Boy Parts - and calling myself a super fan of that novel is an understatement. It’s just so fresh and… Eliza just. Gets dark feminism, to me. She gets women supporting other women, but she also gets feminine rage directed at other women. It’s not for everyone, I don’t think she’s trying to write for everyone, and I think that’s the best kind of writing.
I’m frothing, fully rabid to see what Clark writes next. What I wouldn’t give to get a coffee with her and just talk about life and people experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death