Hannah Capin’s Foul Is Fair is a novel of the moment. Set in the aftermath of a sexual assault, this dark and gritty novel features unforgettable characters and moments that didn’t fail to galvanize its readers. It isn’t an easy read, and it isn’t an easy topic, but as Hannah Capin discusses in the interview that we did for The Young Folks, by reading about difficult things we’re able to distance ourselves from them and learn and process from afar. Read the full interview here: https://www.theyoungfolks.com/books/141104/interview-foul-is-fair-author-hannah-capin-metoo/

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

See again, this is another book that I would not have known was a retelling unless I was specifically told that a book was a retelling. Apparently, this is a retelling of Macbeth? I mean I personally am not a Macbeth expert or anything so I may or may not have noticed the retelling aspects but that definitely did NOT prevent me from enjoying this book for what it was. It was pretty darn awesome, if I do say so myself.

On another point, I think it’s so freaking cool that Capin and I live in the same vicinity? Well, she didn’t narrow it down which is totally fine but I’m in the region and I always think it’s so cool when authors are that close in proximity! Hopefully there will be a book signing or something nearby and I can go get my copy signed.

Okay back to the book.

I’m so freaking glad that Elle did not take this sitting down. I absolutely hate when people take advantage of others, hurt others, basically make them seem like less than a person in any kind of capacity. And I’m always one for seeing girls get their revenge on some piss poor excuses people consider a growing boy. Watch out, St. Andrew’s Prep boys.

You picked the wrong girl.

5 Words Review: Revenge, friendship, manipulation, family, misogyny.
Content warning: Off page sexual assault, misogyny, rape culture, abusive relationships, bullying, transphobia, suicide, substance abuse, violence, gore.

I think that Foul is Fair is one of those marmite books - you'll either love it or hate it. And from the very first page, I loved it.

Foul is Fair is exactly my type of book. It needs those content warnings, and the author has a detailed breakdown on their own website. It is dark, so very dark, and it is full of vengeance. It's brutal and packs a punch, it doesn't hold back. It's theatrical and fast paced, and I loved how the Shakespearean influence came through and really complimented the story. Jade is understandably a very angry narrator - and she has a lot to be angry about.

One thing I particularly liked about this story was the way friendship was explored. Jade is A Lot, and this was shown particularly in how she interacted with both her actual friends (her coven) and the group she was inserting herself in to.

After reading Foul is Fair I will definitely be checking out the author's other book. I just loved their writing style so much.

One small thing I want to throw out there is that I think I prefer the UK cover - it's sharp and subtle and has such impact. It reminds me of some of the RSC posters I've seen in the past too, particularly the font. Don't get me wrong, both covers are absolutely gorgeous, but in a bookshop it's the UK one I'd grab. What do you think?

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I genuinely enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did as it is a book about revenge, but I really really loved it. Through most of the book, I was absolutely speechless. I loved the not knowing what would happen next and how unrelenting the book premises actually was.

The pacing was lovely. It was well matched with the story. There was SO much imagery in this book. I won't go too much into the plot, but this story is incredible and the plot will leave you guessing. I could almost feel the main characters anger.

It was nice to see such a strong female lead character. She took absolutely NO crap. She owned every emotion. She was unapologetic and did what she had to.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

It can be said about every book but, especially with this one, people are going to either love or hate Hannah Capin's Foul Is Fair. It is a dark novel of revenge, suicide, abusive relationships, murder, and a gang bang. Oh, and it is a Young Adult novel.

At a party thrown by one of the golden boys of St. Andrew's, the unthinkable happens. It turns out this was not the first time. This time, they picked the wrong girl. Jade has 3 close friends who will help her get revenge. The 4 of them are so close Jade refers to them as her coven. They do not practice witchcraft but their friendship is magical.

It is hard to make such dark themes enjoyable to read but Hannah Capin is able to do it well. If I had to describe this novel in 3 words I would say "dark but fun".

I found myself cheering for Jade and friends to succeed in exacting their revenge. The twists and turns are twisted and gritty. I enjoyed the narrative tone and humor used throughout. Golden boys beware! Something wicked this way comes.

I added Hannah Capin to my "authors to read" list.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/24/20.

#booksofinstagram #bookstagram #netgalleyreview #hannahcapin #foulisfair #whatdidijustread #triggeralert this author just throat punched me hard 😂 not in a bad way. Just in a what did I even read kind of way!?! This book was a fast read. You kept going. Needing to know. Wanting to know. Trying to figure it out. It's a book about rape and assault. About murder. About best friends. About #revenge.

Elle and her 3 best friends, Summer, Mads and Jenny are the It crowd in their LA circle. The night of Elle's sweet sixteen birthday they decide to go to a party at St. Andrew's prep school.
They meet up with the Golden boys and they decide Elle is their next victim. They picked the wrong girl.
The girls decide on vengeance so Elle transfers to their school. Changes her looks and becomes friends with the girls and the golden boys. She becomes the girlfriend of Mack and turns them against each other which can turn deadly.
I all for some sort of revenge and payback for what happened to Elle but what these girls did was way above that.

I received this from NetGalley for review.

This was a very intense book. The writing made it feel 1000% more intense, since short sentences tend to make it feel more agressive. I loved the plot and I'm excited to see what comes next from Hannah.

Where do I even begin? Let's start with five deliciously bloody stars given to Hannah Capin's thrilling revenge fantasy novel Foul is Fair! My English major soul fainted when I found out it's a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth. Every sentence in Foul is Fair stole the breath from lungs. I could feel power radiating off Hannah Capin's words as she crafted a story for every girl who ever wanted revenge.

This book is written for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

Jade and her friends Jenny, Mads, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Jade's sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Jade as their next target.

They picked the wrong girl.

Sworn to vengeance after what they did to her, Jade transfers to St. Andrew’s Prep. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She'll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school's hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly.

Foul is Fair has prose so whimsical and manic I could feel the blood boil deep within my veins with rage from short sentences that felt like Jade stabbed a shiny knife in my heart. Or perhaps I should say she used a defibrillator because I've never felt more alive reading a book than I have reading Foul is Fair.

Hannah Capin makes evil thoughts look breathtakingly beautiful. After Jade is drugged and raped on her sixteenth birthday at the St. Andrew's Prep party, she becomes something more as she says, "I'm the huntress and she's the kill and she knows it now, too late to do anything....I am exactly the wrong way to be a victim." Jade develops an alternate personality: one that seeks vengeance of the murderous kind.

"You picked the wrong girl."

Readers watch as Jade morphs into this beautifully powerful and manipulative creature and they will love her for it. Her coven consists of Summer, Mads, and Jenny and they are right by Jade's side aiding her revenge plots. I love them even more as she describes them: "My beautiful coven. My flock, but instead of starlings they're falcons with wings that turn the whole sky dark." Jade instantly forgives them for leaving her alone at the St. Andrew's party because she needs their help even when she says she doesn't need anybody. I love her coven even more for being Jade's accomplices.

The courageous way Jade faces the people who sought to ruin her, body and soul, is refreshing. She had enough courage to stand up for the old Jade and all the girls like her by getting close to her enemies and watching their kingdom crumble from the inside. I especially love when Jade says, "It's a ruined kingdom that we rule but I wouldn't have it any other way." As a side note, I HAVE to tell you that the theme song for Foul is Fair is Royals by Lorde. I'm over here jamming to this song as I write this review and imagining a St. Andrew's prep music video featuring Jade standing under the Virgin Mary statue in the front hall surrounded by the flock-girls and all the people she's about to destroy.

Capin did a wonderful job making me feel shocked the entire book. At one point I was jittery, rubbing my hands together smiling over Jade's murderous rage but towards the middle of the book I was incredibly nervous and hoping she would stop this vendetta because it had gotten so far out of control. However, Capin is always there to remind you that Duncan, Duffy, Banks, Malcolm, Connor, and Piper had no remorse for what they did to Jade and what they did to other girls before her and the outcome of this tragic tale was inevitable but I would be a fool to reveal it to you now. You'll just have to go read it for yourself!

There's a lesson delicately wrapped up for us on a silver platter in Foul is Fair. Hannah Capin really focuses on the people who know enough of what is going on but do nothing to stop it. Seeing something bad happen right before your eyes and choosing to let it happen is the true evil in this story. Our choices to not help a girl who has been given a date rape drug, or someone being harassed on public transportation, it's negligent and it will lead to our downfall as the human race.

I'm going to let you in on a secret: I am extremely afraid of "innocent" bystanders. Those people that see bad things happen and do absolutely nothing. This immense fear takes over me even if I'm safe and cozy in my home, snuggled up with a book. A lot of bad things happen to good people and it's statistically proven that no one is going to help them. The thought terrifies me.

And it should terrify you, too.

Sending all my love and appreciation to Wednesday Books for inviting me to be a part of the Foul is Fair blog tour and granting me early access to read this book in exchange for an honest review and promotional activities!! I had a blast.

I wasn't a fan of this one. I wish I could say that I loved it but I didn't. I found a hard time connected with the story.

3.5 Stars

I’m a little late to the party on this one and didn’t get around to reading it before its Pub Day. But as I always say: better late than pregnant never. For those of you who don’t dip your toes in the Young Adult pond, Foul is Fair is what would happen if Macbeth had a baby with Kill Bill and Heathers. The result??? How very *wink*.

The story here is one of revenge after Elle goes to a party in order to celebrate her Sweet 16, is violated and comes out reborn as Jade. For those of you who are squeamish, please note no graphic details are provided and all atrocities happen off screen. That’s not to say this is a book for everyone. Those of you who would be triggered should be well aware this isn’t for you. The same goes for the writing. You’ll know right away if you are going to hate it.

This was a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge winner amongst my friends. I think I need to admit straight up revenge stories just aren’t my jam. And when a shoutout to an old fave like Heathers is added to the marketing campaign I can’t help but hope for a bit of dark humor. This was a solid first experience for me with this author, but maybe my hopes were set a bit too high. I think I need to check out her first book – a high school version of Henry VIII and his six wives.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

Foul is Fair
By Hannah Capin
5/5

TW: Rape, Murder, Suicide, Underage Drinking and Sex--this is a revenge fantasy to the extreme so protect your mental health!

I adored this book. There is an angry, feminist harpy within me that calls for the blood of entitled males like the cast of men in this novel, and watching them fall was like an exorcism, a pure moment of catharsis that was filled with power, rage, and justice. This book is a bloody and chilling retelling of Macbeth from the point of view of Lady Macbeth, if she were a 16 year old rich girl who was brutally gang raped at a party on her sixteenth birthday by a group of Lacrosse players from the local Catholic school. Utterly chilling I tell you!

The bulk of the story is the systematic takedown of all involved by our girl and her closest friends, her "coven." There is nothing remotely good about any of them excepting their unflinching loyalty.

They are killers and manipulators. They toy with people and hurt people. They don't usually get their hands dirty--they are the sort of girls who can get others to do what they want, even kill, even die. Most of the time, I would not be able to care about them if I found any of them in another setting, but because of what happened, I was cheering them on.

The book itself is written totally from the perspective of our somewhat unreliable protagonist, Elle-Jade. She's unreliable because she was drugged that night and part of the draw of the novel, the can't-put-it-down factor, is the lingering mystery of why gave her the drink. The discerning reader may guess, but I was left at least vaguely uncertain if I was correct until the big reveal.

The style of the writing is intriguing. In the best possible way, it reminds me of slam poetry. It is thoughts and actions and emotions all spewed out onto the page. I found it utterly readable but it is most definitely a style--and one not everyone may like. Reading it felt like an expression of trauma. It was beautiful but chaotic and broken. I could hardly put it down.

Another great aspect of the book is representation in the major characters. Our Elle-Jade is a POC. Her very best friend is transgender. Her other two best friends are lesbians or bi. There is a lot of representation from their group. The students from the Catholic school are by comparison, a homogeneous group of straight white guys and their girlfriends. However, the socio-economic distinctions are almost non-existent. These are rich, rich kids. They have yachts and mansions. They wear designer clothes, drink the best booze money can buy, and throw parties that cost more than my monthly rent. They are privileged.

The Coven themselves will appeal to fans of Maas' Thirteen. They are strong antiheroes and their wickedness is what brings justice. They are the furies. I loved their bond and their loyalty, even when it was strained. They are literally friends to help you bury a body, and I love that.

For spoilery details about the ending, lingering questions, my playlist, and more, check out my blog!
https://inkstainsanddust.wordpress.com

What a ride this was! I don’t really know what I was expecting when I went into this one and I think I enjoyed it that much more because of that reason! This story is weird and violent and suspenseful and I would watch the crap out of this if it were a TV show!

I really wanted to like this book. A novel about a girl taking revenge against her assaulters, inspired by Macbeth sounds utterly engrossing. And it definitely should have been. The storyline itself is interesting, and if I were to describe the way the novel unfolds from beginning to end to a friend, it would sound incredibly intriguing, thrilling, and interesting. However, reading the book itself was a slog and the well-crafted plot couldn’t make up for the so-so writing and lack of characterization.

I get the writing style that the author was going for her - sparse and startling, without much description or dwelling on the thoughts and emotions of the characters. I’ve seen this style pulled off well before, but it just didn’t work for me for this book. There were phrases and sentences that stuck out to me as being very striking and well-written, but it felt like there was no flow to the writing, just short staccato bursts of dialogue and bare-bones descriptions.

My biggest gripe with Foul is Fair and the one-dimensional characters. Every character in this book could be described with two adjectives, and it would cover their character from beginning to end. Jade/Elle is vengeful and sharp-edged. Mack is sweet but complacent with his friends’ crimes. Jade’s four friends (Mads, Jenny, Summer and Lilia) are completely interchangeable. There is no growth or development, even in the case of one character who theoretically underwent a huge transformation. I could get over the fact that none of these characters would exist in the real world, but at least make them fully-formed in this revenge fantasy setting.

Lastly, there are a couple things I didn't care for in the way the book handles sexual assault/rape. First, the crime is never reported, even though Jade tells her parents. Second, Jade looks down on the therapy that's offered after her assault, deeming it for the weak. Lastly, the phrase "they picked the wrong girl" is a refrain in this book, and it rubs me the wrong way. It gives me the sense that Jade is shaming other victims of sexual assault that didn't murder their assaulters.

All that being said, if you’re just in the mood for a manically plotted revenge fantasy and don’t give a hoot about well-crafted characterization, feel free to enjoy this wild ride. I've also heard good things about the authors' debut book, The Dead Queens Club.

This was a very intense read about a very serious subject: rape.

Elle, now Jade for most of the book, and her three best friends are the LA It-girls. Rich parents, living in Mansions and partying it up at 16years old.
Until the night everything changes and revenge begins.

It’s a modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The first person narrative by Jade is to the point, not much extra story and no character development as everybody’s life ends within 6 days of begin of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book, a clever retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, is SO good. Here’s why I loved it so much:

Firstly, Foul is Fair contains a powerful discussion of rape and rape culture. This novel stands out in the way it explores the aftermath of rape by employing themes of revenge and ruthless murder. Though certainly disturbing, Jade’s story is also one of resilience and strength; it’s about a whip-smart girl who’s seizes power from the boys who tried to take it from her, by any means necessary.

One of the most important messages that the book gets across is that no one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Jade is not a great person, but it doesn’t matter; what happened to her is still inexcusable.

Additionally, the novel utilizes a side character, Piper, to explore how some girls perpetuate ape culture via slut-shaming, etc., which I though was a really interesting piece.

I also felt that Hannah Capin was very clever in the way she retold Macbeth. First and foremost, I should say that I don’t think you need to be familiar with Macbeth to enjoy this story. That said, I think I did enjoy Foul is Fair more than I would’ve had I not already read Macbeth.

Obviously, there are many differences between Shakespeare’s play and this novel: the main character is a girl (the “Lady Macbeth” figure, loosely), it’s set in ritzy LA, etc. But many themes and motifs carry over, and I loved being able to pick apart the various parallels, and a new layer of suspense was present as I kept wondering which aspects of Macbeth the author would weave into the story and which ones she would leave behind.

One of the pitfalls of the original play (and a lot of Shakespeare’s work in general, I believe) is its lack of depth in its female characters (specifically Lady Macbeth, since she’s the only woman who has a significant role). Though still an interesting character, Lady Macbeth’s story underwhelmed me when I read the classic, and Foul is Fair rectified this shortcoming.

Though there is no doubt that Jade is the “Lady Macbeth” of this novel—she’s cunning, cruel, and ambitious, and she uses men to get what she wants—but her narrative diverges from Lady Macbeth’s in some significant ways that I really, really liked.

Foul is Fair also features an incredibly strong female friendship between Jade and the three girls meant to represent the witches of Macbeth. (The four of them are often referred to as a “coven.”) The individual characters probably could’ve been fleshed out a little bit more, but nevertheless, I loved how close they were and how supportive they were of each other.

Additionally, Foul is Fair is just a damn good story that’s dazzlingly well-written. I was hooked from the start, and the suspense continued on through the whole novel.

Hannah Capin’s writing is gorgeous, metaphorical, and haunting. I’ve heard some reviewers say that they thought it was too heavy on the figurative language, but it’s definitely a matter of personal preference; personally, I loved the writing style.

This book is so, so powerful. It’s sinister, empowering, and brilliantly written; I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars

A modern day retelling of Macbeth. Beautifully written. Paints a vivid picture. 4 stars! I found multiple color themes running throughout.

I had absolutely no expectations going into this book, but, hot damn, it was good. A group of teenage girls, one of who is seeking revenge on a group of teenage boys. At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading, but I'm so glad I did. Even if you haven't experienced what the main character did, I think all of us have wanted revenge and retribution at some cost. And Capin wrote this very well. It kept me hooked, and I wanted these girls to get their justice. Great read!


4/5 Stars

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5

Foul is Fair was a dark tale inspired by Macbeth about revenge after sexual assault and about survivors taking power into their own hands. It a was a raw, raging and visceral read.

On the night of Elizabeth Jade Khanjara’s sweet sixteen, she crashed a St. Andrew’s Prep party with her closest friends- Mads, Jenny and Summer. She became the target of a group of rich, privileged ‘golden boys’ who drugged then sexually assaulted/ raped her, thinking she wouldn’t remember, that they’d get away with it like they always did. But not this time. Because, although Jade’s memory of what happened was fragmented she remembered enough and she and her coven of friends swore to take every single person involved down.

Jade (our Lady Macbeth) didn’t want to be a victim or a survivor, she wanted to be an avenger. She was fierce and there would be consequences for anyone who crossed her or her friends. Her way of dealing with what happened to her was completely detaching herself from who she was before. She changed her name, dyed her hair ‘revenge black’ and became a new person, filled with rage. She targeted everyone involved- including the people who gave her the drink, who guarded the door, who stood by and did nothing- and transferred to St. Andrews Prep. Mack (our Macbeth) seemed to be the only member of their group who wasn’t involved and she exploited and amplified his hesitant ambition to pit them all against each other, manipulate their fears and make them meet their ends.

As a character, Jade was brutal. She revelled in exacting her revenge and wielding her power and she didn’t hold back. Her coven of friends were equally brutal and extremely loyal to one another. I liked their tight-knit friendship, how they could trust each other completely. In terms of Macbeth, they were like the witches, spreading toil and trouble and lurking in the background to ensure everything went to plan. The ‘golden boys’ were all on the lacrosse team and observed a strict ranking. Duncan was their ‘king’ and they were all abhorrent human beings, raping and assaulting girls at parties because they knew there would be no consequences for them- until Jade came along.

The writing style in the novel was unlike anything else I’ve ever encountered. It was disjointed, uncompromising and razor-sharp– at times extremely dramatic. I loved it and I think it worked really well with the story but I do think there will be some people who find it an odd and confusing style to follow, it’s just a matter of taste.

The reason I dropped a star was that many parts of the book were very unrealistic. In real life, I don’t think Jade’s plan would have worked out how it did in the novel. For example, the way Mack fell in love with her after a day or so and soon enough was willing to kill for her was very unconvincing.

I think the novel aimed to be as dramatic and vicious as possible to make a statement. Because while murder is never the answer, perpetrators of assault/ rape shouldn’t be allowed to escape justice, survivors and victims need to feel empowered not let down by the authorities. Another thing I liked was the message that there’s no right way of being a survivor and the people around Jade like her friends and parents were very supportive.

In conclusion, Foul is Fair was a ruthless tale about revenge, with social commentary on rape culture that made for a gripping read.

Macbeth has long been one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, ever since I first read it in seventh grade and got to play Macbeth in Act 3 of the play. The fact that this book is a modern retelling of Macbeth, but from the viewpoint of Jade, aka Lady Macbeth.

I loved how this book was translated into the modern world, with the revenge fantasy of Jade after she is drugged and raped at a party of a nearby prep school. She vows to get revenge on the boys that did this to her. I could recognize the similarities between the source material and this novel and I enjoyed when I saw a line or scene and how they related.

Unfortunately I just didn't really love the story itself. I didn't find myself connecting to any of the characters and just didn't fall in love the way that I hoped that I would. The writing style wasn't my favourite and I wish that I liked it more.