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A Lesson in Vengeance

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A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee follows the story of 17-year-old Felicity Morrow, who returns to her elite boarding school after taking a year off for her mental health. Haunted by the death of her best friend Alex, Felicity is drawn into a plot with mysterious teen writer Ellis Haley to investigate the deaths of the infamous Dalloway Five. As Felicity delves deeper into the past, she must confront her own guilt and unravel the truth behind the tragedies that occurred at the school. The book is a beautifully written dark academia novel filled with suspense, vivid descriptions, and intricate character relationships that keep the reader hooked until the very end.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and complex, with prominent themes of mental health, grief, and relationships, although some felt underdeveloped.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is atmospheric and descriptive, fostering a sense of immersion and suspense throughout the narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on Felicity's return to a haunted boarding school where she grapples with her friend's death, the investigation into historical murders, and her relationship with the enigmatic Ellis.

Setting:

The setting of an elite boarding school steeped in history provides a dark, atmospheric backdrop crucial to the story.

Pacing:

Pacing is dynamic, with alternating slow moments and gripping cliffhangers that can keep readers invested.
Dalloway School rises from the Catskill foothills like a crown upon an auburn head. Accessible only by gravel road and flanked by a mirror-glass lake to the east, its brick-faced buildings stand with ...

Notes:

The book is titled 'A Lesson in Vengeance' by Victoria Lee.
It features a 17-year-old main character named Felicity Morrow returning to an elite boarding school.
Felicity's ex-girlfriend Alex died in a tragic accident, which deeply affects her.
The novel includes themes of mental health, classism, and white privilege.
It features a diverse cast, including LGBTQ+ characters and conversations about race.
The story revolves around the mysterious deaths of five girls at the school, known as the Dalloway Five.
Felicity collaborates with Ellis Haley, a teen writing prodigy, on a literary project about the Dalloway Five.
The writing style is praised for its vivid descriptions and atmospheric setting.
The book has an unreliable narrator, making some plot twists unpredictable.
Readers noted the strong dark academia theme of the book, intertwined with witchcraft and murder.
Some found it predictable, contrasting with others who enjoyed the suspenseful twists.
The main romance is sapphic, and the relationships are presented as normal, not sensationalized.
Mental health is portrayed thoughtfully, with the protagonist seeking therapy and medication.
The book's ending leaves some plot threads unresolved, contributing to mixed reviews.
There are elements of gothic horror and thriller genres present in the narrative.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include mental health struggles, grief-related themes, discussions of classism, death, and instances of violence.

Has Romance?

While the book does feature a sapphic romance between the main characters, it is not the central focus of the plot.

From The Publisher:

A dark, twisty thriller about a centuries-old, ivy-covered boarding school haunted by its history of witchcraft and two girls dangerously close to digging up the past. The dangerous romance and atmospheric setting makes it a perfect read for fans of dark academia.

Felicity Morrow is back at the Dalloway School. Perched in the Catskill Mountains, the centuries-old, ivy-covered campus was home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. Now, after a year away, she's returned to finish high school. She even has her old room in Godwin House, the exclusive dormitory rumored to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students-girls some say were witches. The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously, one after another, right on Godwin grounds.

Witchcraft is woven into Dalloway's past. The school doesn't talk about it, but the students do. In secret rooms and shadowy corners, girls convene. And before her girlfriend died, Felicity was drawn to the dark. She's determined to leave that behind now, but it's hard when Dalloway's occult history is everywhere. And when the new girl won't let her forget.

It's Ellis Haley's first year at Dalloway, and she has already amassed a loyal following. A prodigy novelist at seventeen, Ellis is a so-called method writer. She's eccentric and brilliant, and Felicity can't shake the pull she feels to her. So when Ellis asks Felicity to help her research the Dalloway Five for her second book, Felicity can't say no. Given her history with the arcane, Felicity is the perfect resource.

And when history begins to repeat itself, Felicity will have to face the darkness in Dalloway-and herself.

Ratings (17)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (7)
Liked It (3)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (3)

Reader Stats (69):

Read It (16)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (44)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (7)
 
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