Lyndsay Faye

Originally published: New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2016.

A Confession

Jane Steele

azliana aziz

nice homage to Jane Eyre. the first part is especially flawless with how wicked and fun the adventure is and the second part (when jane become a governess), while charming, is too much within the territory of Jane Eyre itself. if you're straight-laced canon with Jane Eyre don't read this but if you love venturing into retellings then do read this one.
(oh but how i dearly wish we get more of Jane/Clarke because female friendship!!)
*
"We tell stories to strangers to ingratiate ourselves, stories to lovers to better adhere us skin to skin, stories in our heads to banish the demons. When we tell the truth, often we are callous; when we tell lies, often we are kind. Through it all, we tell stories, and we own an uncanny knack for the task."

Wynter

Nicely written loose re-telling of Jane Eyre. Faye does an excellent job imitating Bronte's prose, but also includes the exciting action and some naughty bits that come along with contemporary fiction. I did enjoy the first part of narrative, prior to Jane's employment as a governess, significantly more (just like it was the case for me with the original). The mystery angle involving India was a little meh, but I still had fun. I will check out Faye's other books if Jane Steele is any indication of her writing style.

Brigid prior 

Loved it!! Don't listen to the audiobook... read! So good.

Erin Russell

"I hope that the epitaph of the human race when the world ends will be: Here perished a species which lived to tell stories." 

This book was amazing. Jane Steele was perhaps the pinnacle of what I could ever dream of wanting from a lead character. She was so very relatable (a worrying revelation based on her proclivities). This book possessed a wide cast of memorable characters which is always welcome. Especially Charles Thornfield, he is a recent addition to my crush-worthy book babes list. The plot was engaging and kept me guessing until the final reveal so it shines on that front as well. Overall I would say this book is one of the best reads of 2017 for me, I highly recommend it.

Patty M.

This book is absolutely stunning. I don't have the words to express the beauty of Lyndsay Faye's words. What a treasure of a novel!

Dana Musser

Andrada D

Starting to read this book, I hope I would like it. But I didn't know I would actually end up being impressed. This is a magnificent retelling, in the vein of the original yet poignantly different, and in a good way.

At first, the language seemed like a let down- this doesn't feel or read like Jane Eyre. But after a while I got to conclude this was for the best- she isn't the same person, so she should not write and think like her. This is not pastiche, nor is it a straightforward retelling, and all the debt Jane Steele has for Jane Eyre is fully acknowledged as such.

The beginnings of their lives are the most similar, although Steele's killing streak makes it the more compelling than its predecessor which is, during the original, quite dull and slow.

The latter part is where they go on different paths- Jane Eyre would have never under any circumstances allow herself to go live by herself in a city- her reputation would have been ruined, her condition as a woman would have made it quite impossible for her to be successful anyway, and the author was, after all, a victim of her circumstances and she couldn't have allowed her protagonist to act as a hussy would. But Lyndsay Faye is one of our contemporaries and she has the enormous privilege of reimagining things how they should have been during the mythical glamorous Victorian era. Her Jane is one with a subtle feminist stance, left to fetch for herself and not limited by the restrictive nature of her society.

Mr Thornfield is also not Mr Rochester. Although I love, love, love the latter, we are all familiar with his flaws and misdoing. Mr Thornfield, not to be spoilery in any way, is much more intricate, character-wise, and his guilt is more nuanced and of less gothic inspiration. 

I loved to pieces the inclusion of a more exotic narrative line. I knew nothing about the Anglo-Sikh wars, nor were they very visible in any history books I can remember, so the author does a great job educating her public, making her audience aware of a difficult period which is completely unknown to many through the means of characters who supposedly lived- and were scarred because of the particular circumstances of their backgrounds.

Of course, there was romance. I didn't quite like it as much as that in Jane Eyre (that slow burn is impossible to be matched) but even so, I have to admit it was much more healthy and developed more organically than the one in the original book, so extra points for this!

Now to the killing part... I loved the justiciary side of little Jane Steele. I loved how she was all for strength and empowerment and never let anyone trample over her- but I similarly admired her not making excuses for her behaviour, never considering her acts to be fair or right in any way- the circumstances were undoubtedly asking for it but she is not considering herself to be self-righteous in her intentions, which gives her a more humane quality compared to almost pristine Jane Eyre.

Again, not to be spoilery, but the little LGBT nod was oh so satisfying, seeing someone unexpectedly admit their sexuality and going against the gloomy Victorian prudery meant to erase one's bodily presence was gratifying. 

Overall, a very good read this was. I know there aren't many good Jane Eyre retellings, and I wouldn't say this is really this, but it is a great book on its own and perfect for the fans of the original. As I am one and I will always adore that book to pieces, I recommend this one wholeheartedly- it is all you expect it to be, and then something more.

Cath

Woah. This was so much better than I've expected. To be completely honest, I'm not the biggest fan of Jane Eyre, so when I was emailed a chance to receive a copy, I was quite hesitant. But the cover *not gonna lie* was a complete steal. Also the blurb 'Reader, I murdered him." got me a whole lot intrigued.

There are lots to say about the book. Firstly, Faye's writing is absolutely flawless. This woman has the ability to present a story that contrasts both the modern and antiquated times. The story allows the reader to visualize the perspective of a strong-willed lady who is very much like the character Jane Eyre but takes the reader to a whole lot of suspense and ridicule moments that makes Jane Steele real to the flesh. Whereas Jane Eyre may be soft spoken and tolerant, Steele's dark and awfully witty. 

Another thing I like about Jane is how she works and sharpens her knife without actually smearing her dress. Not literally speaking of course, I adore the way the author is able to mold Jane into a ruthless character but at the same time a passionate and loving governess who wants nothing but to help other people. A true heroine, I say. Jane Steele's a true delight. I hope to read more of Faye's work in the future. I simply cannot get enough! xx

Thank you to the people over at Putnam books & Penguin Random House for sending over a copy in exchange for an honest review!

'Reader, I murdered him.' JANE STEELE is a brilliant Gothic retelling of JANE EYRE from Edgar-nominated Lyndsay Faye, for fans of LONGBOURN and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. 'I loved it' - Elly Griffiths. ** JANE STEELE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR AN EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL 2017 ** Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors. A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?

Michael Hessling

Outstanding. So much fun to read. Really enjoyed the relationship between Thornfield and Steele. My favorite character was probably Becky Clarke, and then Sardar Singh.

Does not make me want to read Jane Eyre, but I do want to read The Sikhs. 

"Of all my many murders, committed for love and for better reasons, the first was the most important."

Kelsey at

Katelyn Woodard

Kalmár Kitti

The reimagining of Jane Eyre as a gutsy, heroic serial killer that The New York Times Book Review calls “wonderfully entertaining” and USA Today describes as “sheer mayhem meets Victorian propriety”—nominated for the 2017 Edgar Award for Best Novel. “Reader, I murdered him.” A sensitive orphan, Jane Steele suffers first at the hands of her spiteful aunt and predatory cousin, then at a grim school where she fights for her very life until escaping to London, leaving the corpses of her tormentors behind her. After years of hiding from the law while penning macabre “last confessions” of the recently hanged, Jane thrills at discovering an advertisement. Her aunt has died and her childhood home has a new master: Mr. Charles Thornfield, who seeks a governess. Burning to know whether she is in fact the rightful heir, Jane takes the position incognito and learns that Highgate House is full of marvelously strange new residents—the fascinating but caustic Mr. Thornfield, an army doctor returned from the Sikh Wars, and the gracious Sikh butler Mr. Sardar Singh, whose history with Mr. Thornfield appears far deeper and darker than they pretend. As Jane catches ominous glimpses of the pair’s violent history and falls in love with the gruffly tragic Mr. Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: Can she possess him—body, soul, and secrets—without revealing her own murderous past? “A thrill ride of a novel. A must read for lovers of Jane Eyre, dark humor, and mystery.”—PopSugar.com

Jane Steele A Confession

Reviews