mahamreads's Reviews (365)

marx </3

sooooo boring

I wanted to give this book a higher rating because I think what it talks about is very different as compared to most books, but I just couldn't. all the characters are SO annoying, especially Asha. she always finds a way to blame herself even when it isn't her fault and at certain points in the book she seems more like an extension of Cyrus rather than herself. 
But annoying characters apart, one thing that REALLY irked me was the casual islamophobia in this book. I acknowledge that the author was born in Bangladesh (a Muslim country) and so many of the things they're talking about are coloured by their experiences, but the constant references to how the hijab is a bad thing was just tiresome and annoying. for example, that scene where mira says she wants to speak to asha and asha is like 'are you going to stop covering that beautiful head of yours' out of the blue was soooo uncalled for? or the part where the parents are dissing Islam and telling the daughter to wear a bikini when she wants to wear a hijab? 
The worst part is that I loved the premise behind the book, but that was the books only redeemable quality I think

I really really REALLY enjoyed this book.

To sum up the story, Madam is like if The Secret History and The Stepford Wives had a love child. Rose arrives in the gothic Caldonbrae Hall as the institute's first new hire in over a decade and finds herself struggling to fit in. As time passes by, she realizes that Hope (as the school is called) is a far more sinister place than she could have ever imagined.
As someone who is interested in the Dark Academia genre, I was excited to read this and thankfully I was not disappointed. Wynne's writing is very atmospheric, and the book has a very chilling tone to it, which is appropriate because the contents are just that. 
It's difficult to write a review for this book without giving spoilers, so all I'll say is that it's definitely one people who enjoy the dark academia genre should read

This was SUCH a bad book. I read somewhere it pays homage to Then There Were None but this honestly seemed like more like a copy of that book. the writing was terrible and juvenile and the book was just SO SLOW. please don't waste ur time 

I don't think any review I write could ever do this book justice, but I'll give it a try. 

IWWV revolves around a group of 4th year theatre majors attending an Art school. At an after party for a production of Julius Caesar, something happens that sets into motion a catastrophic series of events that crescendo into an ending that left me in tears.

This book is very heavily influenced by Shakespeare, as are the characters who exclusively study and perform plays by the Bard. As someone who is also obsessed with Shakespeare, the constant references and quotations and allusions were such a treat to read and added to the long list of reasons why I adored this book. 

One thing that may not appeal to everyone is the pretentiousness of this book. There are constant references to the Bard, vivid descriptions, and flowery language, so if that doesn't sound like something you'd enjoy you may not like IWWV. However, I loved the way Rio's writing has a dramatic flair to it that would have made Shakespeare proud. 

All in all, a stellar book and one that I wish I could read again for the first time

I adore reading thrillers, and with all the hype surrounding this book I gave it a try and it was SO GOOD. The storyline was a bit cliche with the whole college reunion and all, but the author pulled it off and the constant twists and turns prevented the story from going stale.
A wonderful thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, and one I would definitely recommend