Dark Academia is a genre I’m always fascinated with but don’t read enough of. Out of most LGBT ones I have read recently, this one was authentic in its queer characters and allowed them to exist with their identity without it becoming cliche or just a footnote representation. With a hint of meta self-awareness, A Lesson In Vengeance is a study of an unreliable narrator, that in turn causes the reader to question the realities of fact, manipulation, or teenage pranks.

Mental health is represented here as complex and nuanced, building off the meta self-awareness of Felicity’s own thesis of how women’s “hysteria” and mental health is represented in the horror literature. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Dalloway School and how feminist literature played a big role in the character's personalities and interests. I enjoyed this one, but the ending left me wanting a little bit more or a better explanation. There were a few questions unanswered and the motivation of some of the character's actions left me unsatisfied.

This is a twisty, thriller for fans of Dark Academia who want to see LGBT representation and touch on the stigma of mental health (though, this could have been explored a little more in-depth).

Content Warnings

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

Have you ever read something so beautiful that it broke your heart?? The Ones We’re Meant to Find was so profound and captivating. The writing is delicious. The narrative unfurls delicately. It’s a book that only a truly gifted storyteller could write. This felt like a Black Mirror episode meets Westworld meets Studio Ghibli and the near-future dystopian world-building is dream-like from start to finish. Dealing with topics such as climate change, autonomy, freedom, and the consequences of your actions, this amazing story of two sisters trying to find each other set to the backdrop of the dismal realities of the climate crisis far exceeded my expectations. He utilized the dual perspectives in such a brilliant way that unfolds the twists in an unexacting way and allows you to feel the depths of Cee and Kasey’s relationship. Even if you are not a fan of science fiction/fantasy, the human connection, and the sister relationship surpasses the world Joan He has created.

I don’t want to give away too much from this novel as the journey of reading it is best savored without knowing anything about where this story will take you.

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librarianlex's reviews 232 reviews

librarianlex's reviews
232 reviews