This was my first book by the author and I really enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into it. I tried physically read this book like 3 times before the release date but for some reasons I couldn't! Anyways I haven't read Macbeth yet so I can't tell u how acurate the retelling is. But I feel like it was really good.
Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars

Foul Is Fair is a book about revenge. About revenge from a girl that gets raped by a group of presumptuous boys that can do what they want because noone is going to stop them. It’s about a girl that fights back with the help pf her friends instead of breaking. This book is full of dark themes, blood and violence. It’s twisted and messy (both good and bad). It’s like nothing I’ve read before. And I still don’t know how to put my thoughts in order. I’m in no way able to write a coherent text. But I can still write a neat list about the things I enjoyed and the things I disliked.

WHAT I LIKED:
» Girl Power. This book is full of girl power. Mostly coming from Jade and her circle of best friends (lovingly called the coven). They’d do anything for one another (and do it) and would never let each other down. They don’t ask, they simply trust. And every single one of them is an individual source of power. I just LOVE powerful girls!
» Diversity – at least of some kind. I don’t want to label this book as a great source of diverse representation, but there are some diverse characters portrayed and I enjoyed this very much (though at least the golden boys of St. Andrew’s look all the same in my head).
» Scheming. Jade is a mastermind when it comes to scheming her revenge. She plots with an intense hatred but still keeps a cool head about it. Every eventuality is planned out. Every movement of everyone. The timing. At some points it feels like Jade is able to bend the nature and her surroundings as well, just so that everything goes as planned. And she is incredibly manipulative when it comes to executing her plans. It’s honestly remarkable how good Jade is at this.
» Darkness. I loved how dark the book was. Not concerning the topics (which are extremely dark), but how there was always a dark flow underneath it all. It would be wrong to say that it highlighted the important parts, but that’s exactly what the darkness did.
» Content and Trigger Warnings. I cannot stress this enough! I appreciate every single author that puts content and trigger warnings in their books. Every. Single. One. You can find a list of the warnings below!

WHAT I DISLIKED:
» The Style. I had some major problems with the writing style of the author. Some metaphors were too much for me and it took me quite some time to get into the writing style and until I figured out the flow of everything.
» Unrealistic parts. I’m not saying that the whole plot of the book is completely unrealistic and that none of this would happen outside of a book. The world is too fucked up for that. But some parts of the story just didn’t feel right for me. I won’t say anything so I don’t soil the book, but there were scenes that just didn’t sit right with me.
» Handling of the topics. I know, I know. This book is about revenge. That’s the whole point of the story and I don’t want to undermine that. And I am most definitely not saying, that the author didn’t handle the topics well. But I feel like Jade as the protagonists could’ve handled the situation better. Or at least different. I get that she wants revenge for what was done to her – completely understandable. But I just wish that she wouldn’t have been so dismissive when it came to reporting. I understand thtat if she’d done this, the whole plot wouldn’t have made any sense. But maybe not every reader likes this kind of display.

trigger warnings: sexual assault (not depicted), rape culture, violence, abusive relationship, suicide attempt, transphobic bullying (for more information visit the author’s content advisory page)

“Because they’re innocent, innocent, innocent as long as they tell themselves they are. As long as they can tell themselves we’ll remember and she won’t. Because to them it isn’t real and it isn’t wrong and that little whore with the jade-green eyes would never come for them.
Because that little whore with the jade-green eyes is no one at all.
Because she’s just a girl, alone and trapped and powerless with their hands locked over her mouth-
– and they’re the golden boys today and the whole world tomorrow.”

Sorry for the long quote, but I really wanted to start with it because it contains perfectly the essence of the book.
Foul Is Fair is a book about revenge, it’s about taking back power that men try to pry from us, it’s about a woman who won’t be a victim and takes justice in her own hands.
It’s about rich boys who thinks they have the world at their feet, and people that are too afraid to say otherwise.
It’s a war cry.
It’s talons ripping through boys' skins.
It’s claws scratching patriarchy’s face.

The story is really fast-paced, dark and violent. The reader follows Jade homicidal plan to destroy one by one the boys who raped her. She infiltrates their school, their group and makes the golden boy fall in love with her in order to make him kill them all.
The tone of the book is lyrical but the words are very colloquial and this creates a dualism that the reader needs to get used to. I have to admit that I had an hard time with that. But in the second half of the book, I found myself transported by the rhythm and unable to tear myself away from it.

The story is not the most realistic one, and it’s often over the top BUT it’s powerful and raw. I think that Hannah Capin consciously exaggerated various scenes and elements to make her message clearer. Besides, Macbeth was not very realistic, as well.

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”

Foul is Fair is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, mixed with Riverdale & Mean Girls. All of it basically screams Hollywood. It certainly would make a good movie, albeit an implausible one.
At the beginning of the book, I had an hard time, not only due to the writing style, but also for the implausibility of certain scenes (sometimes it felt like I was reading a Charlie’s Angels movie script).
Moreover, the swift and lyrical rhythm of the writing style has made the story very fast-paced but, unfortunately, has also rendered nearly impossible for the author to write deep characters. In fact, from the protagonist, to her coven & the doomed boys the characters stays all really cliché throughout the novel.

“We’ll be the witches they don’t believe in until it’s too late.”

All in all, the message and strange, lyrical style saved this book making it a powerful metaphor of revenge and empowerment.

Okay. Wow. I need to start off by saying that when I was approached about being a part of this tour and I first read the book’s synopsis, I thought “Okay, cool, this sounds amazing.” Little did I know, that was a bit of an understatement.

This is a story for girls who have been hurt, abused, betrayed, taken advantage of, so basically all girls. This is a story of a girl who went through one of the most horrifying situations imaginable, and decided that instead of relying on the penal system to do something about it, she was going to take it into her own hands and exact justice on her own terms.

My favorite aspect of this book, beyond the general idea of a girl destroying the people who hurt her, was the prose itself. I’ve never read anything written quite so poetically. It’s all very beautifully dark. My only gripe is that the lyrical nature of the prose left a few things a little confusing. Certain phrasings that I couldn’t fully grasp whether they were literal or metaphorical. But either way, I LOVE Hannah Capin’s writing style.

The way our avenging heroine goes about seeking her revenge is brilliant. Just perfectly executed, even if it doesn’t always go flawlessly. I loved it so much. I could absolutely see this being turned into a gorgeously dark thriller movie. Especially with the way the climax of the story played out. I don’t think I blinked for the entirety of the last two or three chapters.

Now, on a serious note, I feel it’s incredible crucial to point out that there is obviously content in this book that could be triggering or upsetting to some people. I myself had a little trouble reading a couple scenes because the emotions and responses to what the MC went through were so raw and relatable. I feel almost stronger for having read it, though. But I know there will be some people who might not feel the same way. So please, just be aware of that fact.

All in all, the tagline, the synopsis, everything I read about this book before diving in, was spot on. I was promised a “bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough,” and that is exactly what I got.

Elle and her coven - Mads, Jenny, and Summer - are the epitome of cool at their private LA school. To celebrate Elle's 16th birthday, they crash a St. Andrew's Prep party where the golden boys of the lacrosse team assault Elle. She vows revenge and changes her identity to Jade. With the support of her coven, she transfers to St. Andrew's and works to destroy the boys who picked the wrong girl.
As Lady Macbeth, Jade ruthlessly plots the downfall and destruction of the St. Andrew's golden boys - Duncan, Duffy, Connor, and Banks. Mads, Jenny, and Summer are Jade's Weird Sisters and they support all of her machinations to take the boys down. These girls would do anything for each other and Capin stresses their unbreakable bond.
I'm not going to lie - there have been several 2020 releases that I was incredibly hyped for to only end up disappointed. I loved Capin's debut The Dead Queens Club (if someone from the CW or Hulu is reading this, please turn it into a TV show) and hoped I would equally appreciate Foul is Fair. It is not always an easy book to read given the subject matter but Capin expertly shows how golden white, wealthy boys are inherently protected by the systems that enable their power and predation. Jade's revenge is, sadly, one of fantasy for so many girls and women. At times, Foul is Fair moves too quickly but that's the point - Jade cannot rest or start to feel whole again under she gets her revenge.
Many reviews I've read highlight that Jade and her coven are not very likable; they're the prettiest girls and are too-cool-for-school. They remind me so much of the characters I watched growing up on Laguna Beach or The Hills; how are these teens real people? The Foul is Fair girls are fiction but exemplify the pressures teens face today: to be the prettiest, coolest, smartest, etc, etc. Never would I ever go through high school again. Irrespective of their relatability, the coven demonstrates the depths of their friendship and the lengths Summer, Mads, and Jenny will go to help Jade as they are literally accessories to murder. I think Capin's take on #MeToo should be disseminated widely to high school and college age readers. Not only does it seek to give courage to readers who have been Jade or are friends of Jade, but Foul is Fair also shines light on abusive relationships, women who perpetuate the patriarchy at the expense of other women, and believing women. Jade and the coven are unapologetic and unforgiving.

Content Warnings: At the beginning of the ARC, Capin gives content warnings and the link to more detailed information about them on her website. With regards to content warnings, I am a firm believer that knowledge is power. I wish more publishing houses would follow Capin's example.

Wow this book is dark and twisted. Foul is Fair is quite the revenge novel. This is not for the faint of heart. It is also sort of fun in a late eighties early 90’s girl power movie. The story is not super complicated, a teenage girl is sexually assaulted at a party and the girl and her friends plot to kill all the boys involved. The plot moves very quickly but there are a lot of unbelievable things that happened in this book. Like for example insta-obsession.

Foul is Fair attacks the male gaze. It flips the tables, giving women the power to control and manipulate. All of which I loved. This book is violent and scary and certainly is not for everyone. I liked that Elle/Jade was strong and vengeful. One thing I didn’t like was the coven. I understand the purpose of them, Jade needed accomplices. But they didn’t really add much to the story, other than questioning Jade. This did sort of take away from the girl power vibe I was getting.

Overall, I really liked this book. But I want to reiterate this isn’t for everyone and while it is young adult, I would only recommend this for the mature young adult readers.

I think this one is a real underrated 2020 YA release. Powerful and feminist, I really enjoyed reading Foul is Fair. This book didn't pull punches, and wasn't afraid to make some bold points. I didn't always love the pacing, but I felt invested in the plot and enjoyed most of the characters.

3.5

This book was craaazy!

So, the story is a retelling of Macbeth, and if you know anything about the play, you know that first and foremost, it’s a tragedy. And if you know anything about Shakespeare tragedies, you know that usually at least like four people die. Macbeth is no different. Pretty much all the characters die in this one.

Even knowing that and expecting characters to fall like flies, Foul is Fair was wild. Content warnings galore.

The book follows Jade, who, after being assaulted by a very distinct group of prep school assholes, exacts her revenge. In the most Shakespearean way possible.

I have to say, it’s glorious. Jade and her coven are complete, take no prisoners, armed to the teeth with wit and revenge badasses.

But the book is also kinda tough.

The characters kind of reminded me of Gossip Girl? Which, if you’re anything like me, you found to be addictively infuriating. So that’s a pro, I suppose. Although, while I’m on the subject of characters, I will say my con: some of the characters kind of blended together. They served their purpose, but it was hard to get a real character reading off of them. I’m thinking mostly of the boys: Duncan, Macduff, Banquo... and whomever the hell Connor was supposed to represent, if anyone.

Everything about this book is pretty solid. The writing, the plot, etc. But there were a few things that just weren’t for me. Idk. Maybe psychopath teenagers isn’t my thing. The pacing also felt super rushed. The assault happened and then like a week later, everyone’s dead. Maybe a week and a half. Not long at all. Some details also felt really convenient, but I won’t go into that much. No spoilers here.

Anyway, despite all the things that made me not completely love this book, I know it’s gotten plenty of rave reviews. So I suggest forming your own opinion! Recommended for badass bitches seeing revenge.

DNF @ 55%

Getting the trigger warnings out of the way: The book is about sexual assault and although it doesn't really happen on page and is not described explicitly it is very much present throughout. Jade will also often flash back to things the boys said to her as it was happening so if that is something that will bother you then probably give this a pass.

I like the concept for this book but the execution was all over the place, and I think the writing style is ultimately what made me not be able to finish it. The writing style isn't necessarily bad but this book is definitely like reading one of those prose-poetry books except instead of a few nice short poems it's literally over 300 pages of weird choppy dialogue and descriptions and it gets old very fast. I would definitely recommend looking at a sample of this if you are buying it online or reading the first few chapters if you are getting it in a store to see what you're getting into.

My other big problem, as I've seen several other reviews mention, is that I had to suspend way too much disbelief here for a contemporary novel. I mean she literally tells her parents she got raped and there is almost no reaction from them or involvement from them at all. She goes to this new school and takes over as head popular girl in like three hours and apparently also no one recognizes her from before because she cut her hair or something. She meets this random guy is like 'hey can you kill your friends for me, they totally deserve it' and he's just like 'lol sure'. None of this tracks.

Also none of the characters except Jade, Mack, and Duncan have any sort of personality. Jade's three friends are basically interchangeable, as are the popular girl clique and the sports boys group. Characters kept doing things and I would try to be like 'ok is that the one that did this before or this' and could not remember at all. I'm honestly not sure what this book even spent its page space doing because it wasn't building plot or characterization.

Also, and this is just a personal pet peeve, but I hated all the ~I put on my makeup and did my hair and it was my warpaint~ stuff and it was EVERYWHERE. I have nothing against anyone who likes to do their hair or makeup in real life but I hate this idea of 'oh I'll give it to the patriarchy by [spins wheel] conforming to their ridiculous beauty standards!' that is so prevalent now. I guess it kind of works here since she is going 'undercover' but there is a lot of talk about how they did this kind of thing before to 'control' boys etc.

And I know it's a Macbeth retelling so I guess you have to have 'Mack' there, but I just don't understand why Jade and her friends did not go after Duncan and his friends themselves. I mean I guess to remove themselves slightly from the situation, but it was so unbelievable that he would be involved that way and if this was supposed to be a revenge fantasy I think it would have been better for Jade to be getting that revenge more directly herself. Anyway, I think there was probably a good novella in here somewhere, but it got lost somewhere along the way.

Invited by publicist to blog tour, participated in author Q&A: https://yabooksdaily.wordpress.com/2020/02/12/blog-tour-foul-is-fair-by-hannah-capin-qa/

Everything I Loved:

* Bloodthirsty – Foul Is Fair is the book I wanted The Female of The Species to be so badly. It is every bit as dark and driven and bloodthirsty as Sadie was. This is the kind of revenge my heart calls for. Mercy? Elle doesn’t know her.



* Friendship Group – Friendship groups in books are my weakness and I absolutely loved these girls here. Their loyalty to each other knows no bounds. When Elle decides she wants to take down the boys of St. Andrew’s, they are 1,000% on board with it. Did I mention they’re all part of a coven? Because they are and it is amazing.

* Loyal Parents – Not only are Elle’s friends ready for Elle to do what she wants to do, but she has her parents support as well. I really did love this because they love Elle. They are ready to fight for her and they know she can take matters into her own hands and her fight for herself.

* Lilia – Lilia was the only good at St. Andrew’s and that’s the story. I really wish there had been more close interaction between her and Elle, but I loved where it ended up.

* Elle Takes No Crap – Okay, there is actually one exception to this but it ends up being okay. I loved how ruthless Elle was. She will take down everyone at St. Andrew’s and not think twice. She doesn’t feel regret for it, she knows what she wants, she knows her endgame and she won’t be satisfied until she gets it. And she does.

Heathers Musical GIF

* It Sticks With You – This is one to read this year. Foul Is Fair sticks with you. It inspires and empowers, yes, it actually requires I half-rhyme to get my point across. Foul Is Fair is for every victim and survivor out there who wanted justice.

Some Things I Didn’t:

I didn’t dislike anything about Foul Is Fair. It is a Macbeth retelling which I haven’t read but other than that, I adored it so much.

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Meghan from Wednesday Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
You have to know English isn’t my first language, so feel free to correct me if I make some mistakes while writing this review.


TRIGGER WARNING: sexual aggression, rape culture, violence, abusive relationship, attempted suicide, transphobic bullying.


I know, it's only February, but I can already tell you this is going to be one of my favorite books of 2020.

I won't go too much into details about the plot because I think it's better if you discover this book on your own while the story unfolds itself.


When I was in high school, a classmate of mine told us a story she heard from someone she knew. This guy knew another guy, a proud owner of a snake. Then it came the day the guy gushed about his snake, how it was so cute and tender while sleeping right next to him on the bed - but pay attention: it slept laying down alongside his form, not curled up. So the guy my classmate knew advised him with a certain urgency to get rid of him somehow - that's because the snake was measuring him up in order to eat him.

Well, Jade and her plotting reminded me of that chilling story because Jade does the same: she measures everyone up in order to eat them alive.


Girls are supposed to have the world at their feet, to feel confident everywhere they go, to be so brilliant people have to wear shades to look at them.

Elle, Mads, Jenny and Summer are exactly like that - they're teenagers conquering the world one night at a time. But what happens when someone feels entitled to take what they think it's their right to take without asking first?
What happens when the golden boys think they can always get away with it because what charm doesn't, money sure does?

In a couple of hours, Elle's life like she knew it isn't the same as before.
Those golden boys took her claws, her fangs, trimmed her wings, stole her brilliance and her power - and she wants everything back with the interests.

From Elle's ashes, Jade is born - plotting, scheming, commanding her coven to do what has to be done: kill every one of them.


This is a story about revenge: it's brutal, vicious, gritty and I love every second of it.
You can't tell for sure that something is really magical here - sure, we read about Jade's wings and how her shadow makes everyone cower in fear, but we can't exactly point a finger on something specific.
It's simply so beautifully written and well-constructed that you believe every single word - Hannah Capin did an amazing job with these characters and this world.
A world that's morally gray and a protagonist you may think is unlikeable, but you can't help to love and cheer on her.

This book is for every girl who felt beaten down, for every girl that refused to stand down, for every girl that suffered and for every girl still wanting to fight. For every girl that burnt with a hate and a rage so large they didn't know what to do with themselves. For every girl that tried to forget and for every girl that swore to always remember.

Jade isn't afraid of the darkness, she's not afraid to descend in a pit so obscure light can't be strong enough to show itself if that means getting revenge for what they've done to her. She's not afraid to do whatever it needs to be done and this book doesn't shy away from blackmail, psychological manipulation, blood, cruelty, payback, power, guilt, shame.
It's about rape, silence, slut-shaming and victim-blaming - about something so cruel that somebody still sees it as a weekend diversion.
But it's also about friendship, pride, self-respect and rebirth.

It's a book full of shadows and ghosts, but you'll get hooked up even before you know what hit you - it's a must-read. It always swings between light and darkness and if perhaps you get at the end when it's past midnight, you'll be so afraid to look to the side in fear of seeing a toothy grin so brilliant and scary pointed in your direction.

Loved this book so much! Will be recommending to friends and purchasing for my library. Strong Female of the Species vices.

There's never a wrong time or place for a book about this type of content. The only fictionalized aspect was the revenge story, but the rest of it is too true for the society we live in.
A truly heartbreaking story that I could read again and again.

I love revenge stories, but in general I need to find something appealing about the main character. In this story the MC was unlikeable. She was cruel to innocent people, and I couldn't get behind that. I DNFed at 20%.

FOUL IS FAIR is FUN. It’s so deliciously dark, and bloody and thrilling… ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It’s Macbeth meets Heathers, mashed with Mean Girls and Cruel Intentions in the ultimate #metoo revenge story. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
I’m not gonna lie - this book is disturbingly f*cked up! And I loved every dark twist as Jade, our main character, seeks revenge on a group of spoiled prep school golden boys who ruined her Sweet 16 in the most predatory and devastating way. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Jade cuts her hair and changes her entire identity to enroll at the prep school in order to seek vengeance and destroy each of the boys’ lives one by one along with her powerful coven of female friends. It’s so wild and intensely grim as the schemes are carried out and although some scenarios were quite implausible and far-fetched, I devoured every sinister detail and cheered our tenacious heroine and this fearless female foursome.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
It’s a revenge fantasy horror show that’s so wicked and twisted, yet so beautifully written, that I found myself seeking out more from this author and hope it’s all just as bloody and creative as this one was.⁣⁣⁣

Something awful happens to Jade. She goes to a party celebrating her 16th birthday when she's drugged and violated. What people don't realize is that she's Wiccan. She and her clan vow revenge on the boys who turned a night that should have been magical into a nightmare. One person at a time.

I found this book very disturbing in many ways. I liked the story. I really did, but it was disturbing on so many levels. It's like reading a horror novel from the killer's point of view. Something I'm not really used to. In ways, it's like Cruel Intentions, but the main character isn't really horrible. I mean she is, but it's understandable as to why she is. I'm not saying what happens is justified. I'm just saying that I understand it.

Jade is a force of nature. She's terrifying. I wouldn't wish her wrath on my worst enemy. There are several questions I have. Like where are her parents for over half of this stuff that goes down? How is she always able to stay the night at people's houses with no questions asked at all? Also, why were some of the characters faded so much into the background? I kind of forgot who was who now and then.

This book was narrated by Emily Lawrence. She did a pretty amazing job. I almost turned this book in and just read the book on my Kindle, but her narration had me hooked. I actually think it may have amplified the creep factor up to like 20. I'm not sure if I've ever listened to her books before. The name does sound familiar. Either way, I'd definitely listen to other narrations done by her.

While I enjoyed this book, I found it way over the top. It was a little too creepy for my taste. Also, I found that some places were rushed over a little too much. I also didn't really care too much for the ending. I guess I expected a little more. I'm still glad that I got a chance to read it. It's unique. I will say that. I won't be re-reading it.

My Rating: 3.75 stars

Warning book contains mentions of: sexual assault, rape, rape culture, gender-based violence.

Elle is dead and is now Jade. Jade is out for revenge after she attends a St. Andrews party and things go terribly wrong. Jades' mission is to make those that hurt her pay for what they did in the only way she thinks justice can be served... To do this she has the help of her 'coven' (best friends), and a boy who is willing to help in order to make it to the top.

Overall I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it at certain points in time, and then at other points in time I felt very uncomfortable. Well get to those things in a second but first I want to talk about the thing I did like. The way Jade was able to go into St. Andrews prep on her first day and immediately got in with the 'it' crowd was truly amazing to see unfold. The second thing I really liked was her 'coven' as they called themselves, the friendships in this group were truly unbreakable. The way they came up with things and made them happened so seamlessly at times was amazing and pure genius. Some of the people in this group should go and become spies or private investigators because they've got the skills for it.
Now onto some things that made me feel uncomfortable while reading this book. I knew that sexual assault and rape were going to be big focuses of this book, as well as revenge. One thing I was not expecting, however, was the level of manipulation that happened and how far it went. There were so many points in time throughout this book where I kept thinking and wondering how our main character Jade wasn't getting caught or how her parents weren't stepping in because they knew something was going on at multiple points in the book.

Do I still think this book is a fun revenge story? Yes, but I also think it isn't for the faint of heart because of the rape, murders, and manipulation that happened in it. Will I read book two? Yes without a doubt because I need to know what Jade and her 'coven' get up to next!

I enjoy a great retelling and this one does not disappoint. Definitely a YA modern version of Macbeth! Just jump in an enjoy the book for its entertainment and creative value despite the really tough trigger warnings. In a party, Elle gets raped and she is vowed to avenge what happened to her by enrolling into the St. Andrews Prep school as Jade (Elle’s middle name). She befriends Mack and manipulates him to use him for revenge.
I found the writing to be superb and highly entertaining. I would recommend this read.

Representation: Indian-American MC, trans SC, MGA SC, Korean-American SC

Content Warnings: sexual assault (including drugging someone's drink), rape, rape culture, gender-based violence, abusive relationship, physical violence, gore, murder, bullying and transphobia, suicide, substance abuse, vigilantism and revenge. More details at the author's website.

Retellings are a particular favorite form of storytelling. Among the ones I've read are typically fairy tales, such as Beauty & the Beast (Brigid Kemmerer's A Curse So Dark & Lonely) or Snow White (the Evil Queen's story in Julia C. Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns).

Hannah Capin's Foul is Fair, however, delves into a darker, more delicious corner of retelling by taking up the mantle of a Shakespearean tale: Macbeth. One of the darkest of the Bard's stories, the haunted threads of the Scottish play wind through time to a modern take that is Elizabeth Jade Khanjara and her Coven.

After a sweet sixteen when Jade is targeted by the boys of St. Andrews Prep, Foul is Fair becomes a book full of much darkness, deliciously full of vengeance, and depths the reader plunges to with Jade and the other girls in her Coven as they follow their wicked path.

Thank you to the Wednesday Books team for including me in the blog tour for Hannah Capin's new book.


What I Enjoyed


Foul is Fair is interesting because Jade and her Coven are, by their own admission, not likeable girls. Before all the machinations, before all the deceptions, before the book even opens, they were what would probably be termed Mean Girls. There are still likeable things within their makeup, though. The tight knit makeup of their group, the way they are ride or die for one another. Mads, especially, embodies this quality as Jade espouses more than once. Since the four girls met one another as children, there are multiple examples.

As the Lady Macbeth character in this retelling, Jade isn't really here to be likeable, though. It's refreshing to have a book that has this dynamic of two unlikeable sides, but one that you can side with because no matter how unlikeable someone is, they don't deserve what happened in the opener of Foul is Fair.

The vengeance path that Jade sets upon with the aide of her coven drew me in. I had to know more not only because I wanted to know that these criminals would get what they deserved, but because Jade and the Coven's determination and game board style of planning was fascinating.

Aesthetically, Hannah Capin captures moments when her characters are enacting their machinations so thematically that it is easy to visualize each moment in your mind. From the descriptions of St. Andrews Prep, straight out of Scotland and settled into the landscape of Los Angeles, to the late afternoon sunlight the flashes across Jade's eyes like a scene out of The Addams Family featuring Morticia, these all layout a beautiful scene.


In Conclusion


Fair is Foul is a thrilling retelling of Macbeth and something entirely its own. Hannah Capin's sophomore novel is a story of friendship, vengeance, terror, and more that will entice the reader to stay up long into the night to see what wicked thing comes next.