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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awful awful awful. This may be one of the worst books I’ve ever read. It feels like someone’s final in a creative writing class where they’re trying so hard to create eloquent and beautiful sentences and descriptions. It was honestly painful to read. The only reason I finished it is because it was short.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Haunting, dark and emotive, The Harpy is a heartfelt and realistic portrayal of the heartbreak and devastation felt after the betrayal of adultery. With bittersweet beauty, Megan Hunter explores the emotions felt after someone has taken the life you’ve built, all of your love and trust, and destroyed it with their acts. It’s achingly human and raw, making you feel everything alongside the protagonist as she navigates her way through the aftermath of her husband’s betrayal while also trying to stay together.
The story is part dark fairytale thanks to the eponymous Harpy, which Hunter uses as a metaphor for Lucy's transformation. Through this mythology Hunter explores how she channels her emotions into the creature, it almost becoming an alter ego as she goes from woman scorned to one of revenge, doling out punishments in retaliation for how she was wronged.
Fierce, mythical and surreal, this was a thought-provoking read. And that ending! Sheer perfection.
The story is part dark fairytale thanks to the eponymous Harpy, which Hunter uses as a metaphor for Lucy's transformation. Through this mythology Hunter explores how she channels her emotions into the creature, it almost becoming an alter ego as she goes from woman scorned to one of revenge, doling out punishments in retaliation for how she was wronged.
Fierce, mythical and surreal, this was a thought-provoking read. And that ending! Sheer perfection.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So well written, a really enjoyable read, although I did think/ hope it was going to get a little darker. Would have liked a more conclusive ending but a highly recommended read nonetheless.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this, despite hating all the characters, the emotional turmoil was enough to keep me reading. The slightly ambigous ending really worked for me, but don't go into this book expecting a cathartic resolution - you ain't getting one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content
One day, the protagonist, Lucy receives a call she never expected. Her husband has been cheating on her with an older coworker. This leads Lucy down a destructive and unexpected path.
I really enjoyed this book. Not only is it written beautifully but I was constantly entertained throughout listening to the audiobook. It’s the perfect length for this story. Reminded me a lot of Gone Girl…dare I say…good for you Lucy.
4/5 because I didn’t loooove the ending. I get it but it was pretty expected.
I really enjoyed this book. Not only is it written beautifully but I was constantly entertained throughout listening to the audiobook. It’s the perfect length for this story. Reminded me a lot of Gone Girl…dare I say…good for you Lucy.
4/5 because I didn’t loooove the ending. I get it but it was pretty expected.
A short and taught little book about a housewife who buries her feral side to allow her role as mother and wife to subsume her and be the sole source of her happiness. When husband invariably goes astray in their contract, her pain unearths trauma long buried, as she becomes more and more unhinged.
Gorgeous prose. Love these stories, where women maneuver to a place where they don’t allow societal norms and socialization to dictate every aspect of their identity. Some people didn’t like the ending, but I felt the shift was more clear than most imply. And completely against what some of the lower ratings seem to have inferred. It is subjective, to a point. It’s interesting that I didn’t extrapolate the ending some have. Makes me like it more, to be honest. Great edition to the unhinged women canon.
Gorgeous prose. Love these stories, where women maneuver to a place where they don’t allow societal norms and socialization to dictate every aspect of their identity. Some people didn’t like the ending, but I felt the shift was more clear than most imply. And completely against what some of the lower ratings seem to have inferred. It is subjective, to a point. It’s interesting that I didn’t extrapolate the ending some have. Makes me like it more, to be honest. Great edition to the unhinged women canon.