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.

"Foul is Fair" is a modern retelling of "Macbeth" with a "Mean Girls" vibe going on - popular girls and boys with their King, Queen, and court, ruling the school. It’s dark and gritty, and the writing has a poetic and magical feel at times. But mainly, it’s a story about REVENGE.

Elle and her friends, Jenny, Summer, and Mads (her coven), go to a party on Ellie’s 16th birthday. This is not their regular hang out. No, they crash a party hosted by the captain of the Lacrosse team from St. Andrews Prep Academy. There, Elle is drugged and raped. But instead of falling apart, Elle wants revenge.

She changes her name to Jade, and transfers to St. Andrews.

Thankfully, "Foul is Fair" is not graphic. You don’t experience the rape. Only the fuzzy traces Jade remembers - the color of the room, who was there, bits of what was said. There are other sensitive topics, such as suicide and murder. The murder scenes can be a little bloody.

I loved Jade. She is strong, bold, and brazen. Taking on the popular kids, never flinching. All the while, Jade and her coven were stellar - plotting their revenge. You couldn’t have better friends.

What I wasn’t too fond of was the writing style. It was choppy and repetitive at times.

Overall, after I stopped feeling sorry for Mack, I enjoyed the story! Although, I wish I had had a better understanding of Macbeth before I read "Foul is Fair." - 3.5 Stars.

Here's the thing, I didn't care for this book initially. I struggled a little with the narrative/writing style. It took a little bit of time for me to see what all the hoopla was about. I'm not the biggest fan of revenge stories either and yet, this one, around the half way mark, really started to grow on me. It really is a crazy ride. They really did pick the wrong girl.

“Fair is foul and foul is fair”

I really don't even know how to write a review of this without giving anything away so what I will say is that this book grew on me. I grew to really enjoy the writing and even the wickedly enticing characters. The wring went from being annoying to poetic. This book is revenge on crack dancing with Shakespeare while throwing daggers and dying one's hair. Whew!

Mind you, this book will not be for everyone and it does have some triggers. It deals with some heavy issues.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesdays Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After a party that ended in a brutal rape, Jade (prev. Elle) and her friends swear to get revenge on the boys who were involved. She transfers to St Andrew’s Prep and reinvents herself. She inserts herself into their lives and plots to destroy each and every one of them. She has found the perfect way in – a boy named Mack, whose ambition is exactly the weapon Jade needs. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

Powerful. Angry. Vicious.
For every girl who wants revenge

trigger warnings: rape, sexual assault, murder, violence, abuse, bullying and transphobia (challenged) – see more here

Foul is Fair is a story about a girl who takes back control and enacts vengeance no matter the cost. Elle is a very complicated character and she is vicious and ruthless – she isn’t very likeable BUT she became what she need to be to achieve her goal and I loved that. I loved her power and her manipulation. She was so determined and nothing was going to stop her.

The writing style probably isn’t to everyones tastes. It’s sharp, it’s snappy, it’s fierce. I think though, for this story, it is the type of writing style that was needed to really convey the urgency and desperation and pain that Elle was going through. It is a wild and scary ride, and once you are on, it’s hard to get off until it’s over. Easily read in one sitting.

What was also really done really well was the discourse about inaction. How in not doing anything you are still complicit – in the crime and in the culture. This book was about how Mack was just as bad and just as deserving of punishment.

“Mack, the honorable sellout. Strong–and ambitious– and brave–
–but still so weak it turns my stomach.”

I adore reading about literally any type of female relationships. It is usually the highlight of whatever novel I’m reading. Foul is Fair is no different. I really did love their ride-or-die friendship. Their devotion and loyalty to each other even when planning multiple murders was amazing. Mads was my favourite – she was Elle’s closest friend and I just really adored their friendship, she was also trans.

“Tonight Jenny and Summer and Mads and me, we’re four sirens, like the ones in those stories. The ones who sing and make men die.”

Foul is Fair is addictive and dramatic read about revenge and justice in a charming but unapologetic way. A wicked, twisted, and bloodthirsty read that I would highly recommend.

Jade went with her friends to another school's party to have fun during her sixteenth birthday and the night became a nightmare when she became prey to the school's golden boys. But her group isn't one to underestimate, much less Jade. She architects a revenge plan for which she becomes a new self, infiltrates the school and makes the group pay from inside.

3.5.

This story had a bit of Monte Cristo mixed with Mean Girls and Gossip Girl. It's very dark, really.I think the best thing about it is the narration. It was refreshing, in a dynamic way that really takes you into Jade's mind. The way she calls her friends, describes the happenings were very her, really. Not the kind of narration that is hard to keep for a whole book and it was the same form beginning to end. Maybe it's the writer's style? Either way I liked it.

This is also an unusual YA story. You could argue there is a romance there, but you'll probably lose. Also, girl power taken to the extreme. I don't really recommend any reader following Jade's conduct, because she really puts her plans into action, she surely needs a lot of counseling; and yet, it's an interesting way to talk about rape at parties.

I think what bothered me, even more than the need to take Jade to a psychiatrist ASAP —I wish they had made this the point somehow—, was how surreal the story feels after the first part of her plan succeeds. My lack of belief got in the way of my enjoyment after that and I frowned a lot.

Still, this book was very different, intense, and quick to finish.

Angsty and enthralling. A wild roller coaster of a story that seems to have no end in sight. This gem of a book will keep you happily flipping pages as fast as you can. Happy reading!

Okay look, I’ve been struggling to write this review since I finished the book because I just loved it so much that I don’t know how to put my feelings into words? I’ve run out of time to try and be coherent so now we’re just gonna go for it.

Short version. I adored this book and everything about it, it was dark and twisty and filled me with a sick sense of joy. I’ll read anything and everything this author writes from here on out because this book was just stunning.

Longer version. If you’re looking for a lighthearted contemporary about a group of friends then this is not it. However, if you’re looking for a story about a group of young women taking back control after sexual assault and getting revenge in the only way they know will stick, this is for you. This is a pretty heavy book, it starts with the sexual assault of the main character, and even though it’s not detailed it is frequently brought up and quoted so it paints a pretty vivid picture of what happened.

You’re immediately thrown into the story and you get a perfect representation of what the main characters are like. Girls who take no shit and will get revenge on anyone that wrongs them. I’ll just say that they aren’t the most likable characters, but who the fuck cares? We get to read about male characters that are trash all the time and it’s not a big deal so I really loved reading about a group of stereotypical mean girls who did what needed to be done. Even though they had fully developed personalities, I felt like the story was about them as a group, and just simply about the revenge.

This book is dark, and it’s heavy, and it’s written is such a unique and powerful way. I couldn’t put it down once I got into it. I literally sat in my car after work to finish it because I needed to know what happened. This is a retelling of Macbeth, and even though I’ve never read that I could still see enough similarities from the little I do know about it. I think it would be pretty neat if you knew the original story because from what I’ve heard (asking my best friend to tell me the general plot of Macbeth) it’s pretty damn accurate.

If you’re not bothered by the subject matter (sexual assault, death, murder, blood, etc.) and have always wanted to read a book about girls taking their own revenge then this is the book for you. This story is going to stick with me for a long time, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

I am really not sure where to start with this book. I both loved it and thought it was ridiculous. I was sucked in and no matter how silly or cheesy a part seemed I couldn't put it down. To me it was like a horror movie that I couldn't stop watching. And it was pretty horrific. This one comes with quite a few trigger warnings - Rape being the most prominent one. There's also a lot of swearing and general evilness. 

What I loved about this book was the writing style (very punchy) and how fast paced it was. Once things got going they never slowed down and it was a crazy ride. I didn't love the fact that a lot of it was unbelievable, I struggled with that a bit. I kept thinking but that would never happen! It wasn't enough to dissuade me from finishing it though! The main thing that bothered me was the instalove and instafriendship. I just didn't buy that it would happen just like that. Overall though it was a great read and if you love dark and gritty, and especially if you're a fan of Macbeth, then you should give this one a chance.

Revenge and murder, these two words seem to always draw my attention, and it’s those same words that brought me to this book.

Foul is Fair is vicious, bloody and unapologetically angry. Capin channels the Bard’s Macbeth putting her own twists to it supplanting power-grabbing, murderous Scottish nobles and prophesying witches with entitled rich kids from an elite prep school and a group of knife-sharp girls bonded by their pact of vengeance.

This book doesn’t hold anything back but consider yourselves forewarned: a good chunk of what happens in this book is implausible so suspend your disbelief, leave it at the doorstep before delving in.

This book was just impossible to put down. The story is fast-paced; the writing is crisp and sharp. Capin tackles rape culture and privilege head on, no frills, no social commentary buried in complex prose. Manipulative, diabolic, and so full of dark, deadly secrets, her characters in this story are not ones you usually see or even want to root for. These characters are shallowly drawn, almost like a caricature – something that usually turns me off but for this story, it works.

It may not be for everyone, Foul is Fair is grim, even more grim than I thought it would be. At several points, the story could be too much that’s it’s hard to continue pushing back your disbelief, but there is certainly something freeing reading something that puts into words some of the deepest and darkest thoughts you’ve had. If you’ve enjoyed Sadie (Courtney Summers,) The Female of the Species (Mindy McGinnis,) and Sawkill Girls (Claire Legrand,) this book is for you.

Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin is William Skakespeare's Macbeth in High school! The story doesn't hold back in it's brutality, while keeping the dialogue foul and razor sharp. There's Trigger warnings all over this book in terms of sexual content, murder, and language. This book is being marketed as Young Adult, a mature 16 year old might can handle it, but I would recommend older. I kept thinking of two movies while reading this Heathers the black comedy about means girls terrorizing the school and a girl falling for the bad guy that helps murder some of those that have wronged them. The second movie is I Spit on Your Grave, about a woman sexually assaulted, buried and left for dead. Rises from the grave and takes revenge. Both those movies are from the 80's with the marketing of this book comparing it to the film Kill Bill which fits as a tale of revenge. The language and the camp make this novel stick out and is the best part of it. I had a hard time identifying with the lead character Jade/Elle and her lack of venerability she does show some at the end but it was a little too late. I wanted to like this story more than I did, the novel's timeline is way too fast and took all believability with it. Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday books for the advanced readers copy. Foul is Fair is published on February 18 2020.

The Plot: Elle on her sweet sixteen goes to a party with three of her best friends she calls the coven. At this party Elle is given a drugged drink and gets assaulted by a group of super rich prep boys that go to a local private Catholic School. Elle has flashes of the night and can remember some faces of one girl and six guys who let it happen. She takes care of the bruising and and tells her parents, instead of the cops she says she's going to handle it and wants to switch schools to go to the Catholic school everyone involved went to. Elle changes her look but cutting and dying her hair and wearing contacts, she is not Elle any more but goes by her middle name Jade. Jade recruits the coven of friends to help her murder those who helped with the assault. Jade goes to her new school and immediately joins the top mean girl click noticing one of the girls who witnessed it happen and did nothing, and is dating one of the assaulters. All the people involved in the assault are apart of the boys lacrosse team. She see's one member of the team that wasn't involved in the assault, Mack, that has the potential to be the new king of school and someone that could help her kill. Jade's plan starts to fall apart after she starts to fall for Mack. Will ha screw up her chance for revenge?

What I Liked: She tells her parents after the assault, I was happy to see this, since so many victims don't speak out. The LGTBQ representation is really great, Mads, a member of the coven is Trans and represented and a real strong character that is not a cliche. The descriptions are really good they are often medieval and harken back to remind you of the Macbeth roots to the story. I really enjoyed the last 20 percent of the story, and felt the novel ended on a high note. The Jade and Piper confrontation was so great and my favorite scene with my favorite line, "What are you the patron saint of excessive drinking?" I did enjoy the twist of two character's one for the good and one for the bad.

What I Disliked: The story time frame is so rushed, and it didn't need to be. The whole span of this book is less than 20 days. Elle is assaulted on Friday turns into Jade and attends a new school on Monday. Joins the elite group which accepts her right away, she is an accessory to murder her third day, in love her forth day. This ridiculous time line made this story so unbelievable to me. The main character doesn't show any venerability until the last 20 percent where it was too late.

Recommendations: I think this novel could be a good outlet for those who have been sexually assaulted and feel alone. This book was an attempt and had a lot of potential but I felt it wasn't good enough for me to recommend. There's some burst of greatness, I truly loved the last 20% so much, and was bummed that the rest of the book wasn't this good. I think the author has potential and would seek out another novel. I rated Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin 3 out of 5 stars.

I was really intrigued and excited to be given a chance to read Foul is Fair before release. I was immediately engaged with the writing and story. I rarely read retellings of Shakespeare. The last books I read of Shakespeare's retellings were Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub, Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston and Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay. This book is not like them at all. I was not expected to be pulled into this provoking, twisted and thrilling novel. I could not keep my jaw from hitting the floor from the extremities, cheering on the characters, and enjoying the loyalty and support the coven and the stabbing in rape culture and toxic masculinity. Capin writes a sharp feminist, ferocious reimaging of Macbeth that readers who enjoy dark revenge stories will enjoy.



Fair is foul, and foul is fair; Hover through the fog and filthy air” (1.1.12-13)



“Sweet sixteen is when the claws come out.”
― Hannah Capin, Foul Is Fair



Foul is Fair is a brutal revenge fantasy, an unapologetic reimagining of Macbeth. With its ferocious propelling prose, intoxicating plot, and morally gray characters it is a novel of vigilante justice that sets your anger and rage aflame. The tone of this book is really dark and vicious. The book is prevalently set of graphic violence, death; sexual assault, manipulation; transphobia; suicide and abusive relationships. Fair is foul is a portrait of power at its most insidious. It narrates condoning revenge tangling vigilante justice. The characters are not your typical avenger teens. They are the Heathers meets Riverdale. They are brutal, frenzied and violent in rage. Jade, our mortally gray main character is wicked and ruthless. She is sharp, beautiful brutal that has a plan to approach a violent act against the golden boys at the fancy rich high school they attend after a brutal rape at a party.