Name: Julie Burszan 's review of Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin
Item: Foul is Fair
Rating: 5
Author: Julie Burszan

Hannah Capin

Hannah Capin's Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy 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, 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.

A Novel

Foul is Fair

Nadia Minaruto 

Julie Burszan 

“For every girl who wants revenge” 

I cannot put into words how satisfying this book is.

Okay so upon second reading I've decided to bump this to a full 4 stars. Now that I've attacked it from a critical lens for my second thesis chapter, there's so much more that jumps out at me here. I absolutely love how animals and monsters are used as part of the narrative, especially wolves for the lacrosse boys and birds for Jade and her coven and also for the girls who flit around the lacrosse boys. The monstrosity comes in for Jade as well, as she mentions her fangs, her claws, etc. in her quest for revenge and that really feels like it elevates the story for me. Excited to dig my own claws into my analysis of this in conversation with Macbeth soon!!

In my summer quest of reading as many Shakespeare retellings as possible for my thesis research, I stumbled upon this title. Macbeth is one of my favorites and I was so excited to read this. Jade is a ruthless and powerful main character and a stunning puppeteer. Out for revenge for herself, she turns a golden boy into a killer and makes him her king. The ending was glorious, triumphant, and not at all what I was expecting but I liked it anyway! The timeline of this book is fast and thrilling and it worked surprisingly well, though it did leave me wanting for a bit more in characterization of the side characters. Overall though, I really enjoyed this and it was a great retelling to have on my list.

Second read (1/2/24)

Okay so upon second reading I've decided to bump this to a full 4 stars. Now that I've attacked it from a critical lens for my second thesis chapter, there's so much more that jumps out at me here. I absolutely love how animals and monsters are used as part of the narrative, especially wolves for the lacrosse boys and birds for Jade and her coven and also for the girls who flit around the lacrosse boys. The monstrosity comes in for Jade as well, as she mentions her fangs, her claws, etc. in her quest for revenge and that really feels like it elevates the story for me. Excited to dig my own claws into my analysis of this in conversation with Macbeth soon!!

First read (6/21/23)

3.5 rounded up*

In my summer quest of reading as many Shakespeare retellings as possible for my thesis research, I stumbled upon this title. Macbeth is one of my favorites and I was so excited to read this. Jade is a ruthless and powerful main character and a stunning puppeteer. Out for revenge for herself, she turns a golden boy into a killer and makes him her king. The ending was glorious, triumphant, and not at all what I was expecting but I liked it anyway! The timeline of this book is fast and thrilling and it worked surprisingly well, though it did leave me wanting for a bit more in characterization of the side characters. Overall though, I really enjoyed this and it was a great retelling to have on my list.

Alexa M

this was an interesting read! good story, pretty odd, and the writing style is definitely.. different. but the writing style definitely made this a very quick read as well as a fast paced storyline. our main character Jade is strong as fuck and i love her.

I don’t know how to do this book justice with words because all I want to do is scream into the void in my heart because this story was exactly what I needed.

The Me Too Movement?
Macbeth?
Revenge?
All in a YA novel?
Their coven? They're girls so many wanted to be but never would be. 

Foul Is Fair is a revenge story. There is nothing pretty about it. But the author excelled at putting the readers into Jade’s shows, at making us feel the frustration and the armour she puts on herself. UGhh i love it so much!

It is unapologetic, but I felt empowered.

Abby

i actually think this is my favourite book.

Kourtney

I can remember the day I received the email from a publisher (@wednesdaybooks) - having worked with them on new releases in the YA genre, they had sent me many amazing reads. This one was different from the books I normally read, as it was classified as a YA thriller. There was violence, off-the-page-SA, and did I mention violence? I didn't know if I was strong enough to read it at the time. It was February 2020, and my family was so sick at the time (we all know what happened next). So the book sat on the shelf.

When I went to the library with my son, I had to pass through the YA section. I just happened to catch this book sitting on the shelf, and I remembered having it as an ARC. I checked it out (I love a physical book vs ebook option!) and dove in.

Foul is Fair is a modern retelling of Macbeth. On the night of her 16th birthday, Elle attends a party with her friends where she is SA. With the help of her friends, she plots revenge by transferring to their school, rising to power and taking them out one by one. There’s a lot of blood, a lot of violence (not gory or graphic but still there) and a lot of emotions repressed as the plot continues.

If you are looking for sympathetic characters and a completely realistic plot, then this might not be the book for you. But knowing all this, I still found myself quickly turning the pages to see what would happen next. Watching the structure of Macbeth mix with Heathers and Cruel Intentions was very interesting to me!

This was a fast read that I could have read in one sitting (my kids prevent me from doing that anymore!)

Lauren Attaway

Imagine combining a Macbeth retelling with all the dramatics of teenage revenge film. I did not immediately fall as hard into this book, but once I really gave myself over to the writing style I read it as fast I could. This is dark, and there is a trigger warning here that should not be ignored. Following an act of violence, Jade and her coven/best friends set revenge against a group of privileged boys and they do not hesitate. This book is violent in a way that young women are rarely allowed to be violent. Jade's choice powers this novel and her voice pushed me through each chapters until I was at the end and sad to say goodbye to her. When I was reading, all I could wish is that this book had existed as a movie that I could watch while I was getting through high school and being forced to sit through man-centered story after man-centered story. It's completely feminist and dark and I enjoyed it, but please, please please read the trigger warning.

Caitlyn DeRouin

This book was wild from start to finish, and honestly very captivating.

In the morning I put on going-out makeup, and I go to Nailed It with a coffee so hot it burns my throat. The old lady gives me new nails and looks at the bruises on my neck and the scratches across my face, but she doesn't say anything. So I point at my hair, and I say, This color. You know what it's called? She shakes her head- No. I say, REVENGE. Jade Khanjara and her three best friends rule their glittering LA circle. They decide how the party ends - every night but one. The night four boys spike Jade's drink, lock her in a room and brutally attack her. The night they try to ruin her. But they chose the wrong girl. Certain that the boys will face no consequences, Jade and her friends take vengeance into their own hands. Now there's no mercy left, and Jade won't rest until she gets bloody satisfaction . . .

Foul Is Fair

Sam Kiszonka

This book is EPIC!
I don’t think there is any other word you could use to describe it!

Sweet sixteen is when the claws come out.

Elizabeth Jade Khanjara (Elle) is turning sixteen.
Elle and her coven (Mads, Jenny, and Summer) are about to crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party.
The night takes an awful turn, but the boys at the party chose the wrong girl.
Things get HECTIC!!

This is Hannah Capin’s second book, her first book, The Dead Queens Club was just as amazing!! She is definitely now an auto-buy author for me! I just absolutely adore her writing style! The story just flows and is so easy to read… even if the actual content is not so easy to read about haha.

Foul is Fair is a wild ride full of rich kids, revenge and plotting.
The girls are wild, fierce and just absolutely amazing!! The boys not so much haha.
The kids in this book terrify me! I kept forgetting that they were all UNDER SEVENTEEN!!

Seriously! Where’s the adult supervision at!!

I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give away the story.
BUT Y’ALL NEED TO READ THIS NOW!!!

In the mirror I’m something from a 2AM movie about Catholic Schoolgirl vampires. Revenge-black hair, short and sharp; a face that says she’ll pull you to the dark side and you’ll love every second of it.

I would love to thank Penguin Australia and the author for providing me with a copy of this amazing book. This has in no way affected my views or opinions of the book or the content of my review

Jordan Robinson

Wow, I have so many thoughts. Most of them not nice. 😂

Lena

Hannah Capin's books have a way of sinking their teeth into my brain and not letting go. Both I've read in a single day and could not think of anything else until I finished. 

Definitely recommend for a quick gripping read! Do be aware of the trigger warnings beforehand though

I point at my hair, and I say, This color. You know what it's called? She shakes her head: No. I say, REVENGE. She says Good girl. Kill him. Revenge is a bitch. Jade Khanjara and her three best friends rule their glittering LA circle. They control everything. Until one night. The night four boys spike Jade's drink, lock her in a room and attack her. When they try to ruin her. But they chose the wrong girl. Jade is made of claws and fangs and cruel sharp edges. Jade will have them clutching at their throats and choking on blood. She wants revenge. She has no mercy. And now she won't rest until she gets satisfaction. This is the thriller for fans of Killing Eve and One of Us is Lying. This isn't for the light hearted. Praise for Foul is Fair. "Foul is Fair embedded itself into my heart. This is a book that I won't be forgetting anytime soon and it became an instant favourite." - Netgalley Reviewer, 5* "It made me feel too much and made me grin ear to ear when revenge came for the golden boys." - Netgalley Reviewer, 5* "It's one of those stories that invades your thoughts, that even when you're not reading keeps buzzing around your head." - Netgalley Reviewer, 5* "An unapologetic feminist battle-cry that leaves you breathless and thirsting for vengeance." - Sonia Hartl, author of Have a Little Faith in Me "Foul is Fair delivers the story of a girl who snatches control back from a world that stole it away, through whatever means necessary. - Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Mostly Devastated "Fierce, vicious, and electric. If books had teeth, Foul Is Fair would have fangs." - Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Last Girl Lied To

a razor-sharp revenge thriller for the #MeToo generation

Hollie

“I mean those boys didn’t turn me into anything I wasn’t before.”

A great story for women to feel empowered and strong!

Pam Sartain

Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin is a modern re-telling of MacBeth, told from the point of view of Jade, in the role of Lady MacBeth.  

16 year old Jade is date raped at a party by four teenagers, and the next day she is out for revenge, along with her three friends, whom she calls her coven.

This is a bloody tale, set in present day LA, with rich families involved, not all of whom are involved in legal activities.  I enjoyed the version, with overtones of magic, but this isn't a fantasy novel.

It's a YA book, but there is drugs, sex, drinking and murder, so just be warned!

 Foul is Fair  was published on 16th January 2020, and is available from  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and  Bookshop.org .

You can follow Hannah Capin on her  website .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Penguin Random House Children .

Julia

Holy shit. This was a wild ride.

Completely over the top revenge story - but I loved it.

Karolina

The story of Elle Jade Khanjara based on the tragedy Macbeth but also movie Mean Girls. After a terrible event at the party where Elle went with her coven on her 16th birthday, she dedicates her life to revenge. She changes her look and name to Jade and transfers to the St. Andrew School to be closer to the golden boys that hurt her. 

She has a perfect plan that works perfectly from the beginning. She knows exactly how to manipulate them like marionettes and get into their close circle. She makes one of them fall in love with her, girls her friends and boys attracted to her. No one suspects that they are a part of her game. She makes them their targets the same as they did a target of her at the party. She wants to end their legacy so no girl will be hurt by them. 

She wasn’t alone in this. She has her closest friends; Mads, Summer, and Jenny. They were calling themselves a coven. They are strong, well-trained and unbreakable together. They helped her to implement the plan to life. All power was theirs and no one could stop them until everyone will pay for their sins. 

My thoughts: 

It’s the craziest and most twisted story I ever read. The story about the revenge and power of the hurt woman. In the beginning, I was so confused about what is happening; if it’s a fantasy or not because there were used words like coven, wings, and powers but all of it was just metaphors to give a story a bit of magic. It’s full of pain, confidence, and desperation. It’s hard to shortly summarize all my emotions about this book as it touches so many hard subjects like sexual harassment, rape, and murder. The way boys from St. Andrew treated any girl then met on their way is disgusting. First, they can’t even properly call a girl by her name. Every time they behaved like all of them are their properties or they can do with them whatever they want it made my blood boil. The worst thing is that’s how it looks nowadays. The men with power and money think they own the world and they can do whatever pleases them. 

The main character is a smart and beautiful girl. He came up with a flawless plan on how to pay back the people that hurt her. They chose the wrong girl. She decided to end this so no one will be hurt by them again. I was so impressed by her manipulation abilities. She manipulated all of them in a way they didn’t even expect it. They thought she is powerless, but she showed them how wrong they were from the beginning. 

It’s hard to write about this book without any spoilers. The action starts already in the beginning so you will never get bored. One of the very interesting things in this book is that all the events happen within one or two weeks, but it feels like so much longer especially how much happens within these days. 

The book is very powerful and dedicated to all women that were in a position like Jade. It’s a bloody story but it shows exactly how the girl feels after some jerk takes whatever he wants from her. They are not okay and probably never will be, especially that most of them are walking out of it without any consequences. 
I’m so happy that I won this ARC copy last year and I finally read it. Thank you so much Hannah Capin for this journey. I love this book and I can’t wait to read The Dead Queens Club!

Elodia

I wanted to love this book, but it wasn't for me. I did not like the writing or the characters. My main issue with the characters is how they talked, most of their dialogue felt unrealistic and disingenuous.

Samantha Bass

** spoiler alert **
           First and foremost, as a trigger/content warning, if you have a history or are sensitive to materials containing abuse/assault/sexual assault - please be careful reading this. The main character is brutally assaulted and the images she remembers can be very detailed and gruesome. It was hard for me to read at some points and triggered feelings/emotions from my own past that I was not looking to experience nor did I want to open up about.     
Besides that, if we are looking at this book solely as a Macbeth meets Kill Bill retelling - holy hell this book is great! Our MC is her own mix of witch and Lady Macbeth with her coven not too far behind. Her clever plans to get back at the boys who wronged her leaves you speechless - 1) at how brilliant some of the ideas are and 2) badass she is.
     Most (if not all) of Jade's motivation in this book is revenge and while it was a bit much at the beginning, it soon opened up into a conversation about victims and how they deal with what they've been through, which was a good thing to start mentioning. While I'm sure going after those who have wronged you is a great motivator, it was a little repetitive and kind of boring as that was the ONLY motivator. Jade is a fleshed out character, but I didn't just want to hear "revenge" going through her brain but more of a focus on the other things that may have motivated her.     One thing I loved about this book was the fact that the other characters, such as Mack or Duncan, clearly relate to their Macbeth counterparts and it's really interesting how the author so easily mixed these roles into a teenage school hierarchy. It was also cool to read the similar plot progression and events translate from the play to this story, with its own twists of course.
     One thing I did have an issue with was timeline. One plot point is getting Macbeth with Lady Macbeth, which happens in a day. And the entire book events occur in two weeks, which honestly isn't a lot of time. The intricate plan Jade/Elle comes up with is not something that a 16 year old girl could come up with in one day nor execute in less than two weeks. I wish the story had taken a bit more time and spanned it a bit farther than what we got. Maybe a month or two instead of two weeks?
     Overall, I loved the idea of this book but a little "eh" on the execution. The writing was gorgeous but I wanted more out of the "retelling" and more development out of the characters. I understand how hard it is to make characters you're trying to recreate also emulate who they are recreated from, but I wasn't 100% satisfied. I would give this book a 3.5//5 stars solely for time line issues, slightly underdeveloped plot, and the gang rape plot line.

Leelynn Brady

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.

Sam O'Boyle

i would highly recommend reading this with The Cure in the background

Jolie

When I got the invite to review Foul is Fair, I almost turned it down. I had read the blurb and didn’t feel that pull I get when I read blurbs. But something called to me and I decided to ignore the fact that I didn’t love the blurb and accept the invite. I am so glad that I did because this book was AMAZING!!! I got invested in Jade’s quest for revenge.

The plotline for Foul is Fair was lightning fast, and the flow of the book was just as fast. I had zero issues following the plotline. I loved it!!

I loved Jade in this book. She was determined to get her revenge at any cost. That included transferring schools, befriending her attackers, dating the only one who didn’t participate, and executing her plan. She was pure fire during those scenes, and when she persuaded Mack to help, OMG!!! I did not doubt that her plan was going to succeed.

Jade’s attackers were scum. I never go as far as to say that I hate book characters, but these I did. I was triumphant with Jade after each death. They deserved everything that was done to them and then some.

I have read reviews where Foul is Fair has been compared to Hamlet. I wholeheartedly agree with those. I also see a story about taking your life back after a devastating attack. I see a story where the need for revenge surpasses everything.

The end of Foul is Fair was nothing short of amazing. All I have to say is that what Jade did to the last two boys was too lenient. I wish that there was a leap in the future. I wanted to see what happened to Jade, her friends, and Mack.

Heather Killeen

WOW. This book really has a vicious bite and I loved every minute of it! Definitely look up trigger warnings before embarking, but it was a wild, vindictive and cathartic ride.

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

What a book! I went in with the idea that this will be like Heathers (my favorite movie) which isn't wrong, but I addmit that I kept comparing both, and that negatively affected my enjoyment of Foul is Fair in the beginning. Although there are many things that are present in both stories, Foul is Fair is its own story. And what a ride! At first I was a bit sceptical because everything was going so smoothly. But after a while I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen next. And when something specific happened I felt like jumping from my seat cause so much of what had taken place before started to make sense. I loved the female friendships, I didn't connect with the main character but still think she was amazingly done. Plus the revenge feeling of this story was expressed powerfully through the writing style: cutting straight forward when it had to be and flowery when it need to be. And also the narrator did a perfect job! The emotion she put in her voice.. Oh my heart was breaking for Jade at one point and I felt disgusted at every word Duncan said, and the narrator's acting contributed a lot to that! Maybe not a book for everyone, but to the people that this book is for, I truly believe Foul is Fair is gonna be a favorite!

Dearna Mulvaney

For full review: https://wordsoftheroses.com/2020/02/1...

 "He said, Made your rage fight for you. It's your greatest gift.” 

 Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for sending a copy my way! ⁣

I’m not normally one for contemporary novels. This book was dark gritty, all about revenge and thoroughly enjoyed it.⁣

Despite the heavy themes, the story isn’t graphic, which is thanks to the gothic writing style, which I fell head over heels in love with. The lyrical writing is what kept me hooked and it ties in really well with the Macbeth retelling. The imagery throughout is fantastic.⠀⁠⠀

Female friendships in books are one of my favourite things to read about. I adored that this was a huge part of the story. Jade has her friends — Mads, Summer and Jenny— with her every step of the way.

Overall this was a fun, stabby, feminist thriller and I was happy to go along for the ride and see these privilege boys get what they deserved.

Sarah Williams

4/5 stars

This book was ruthless. I already know I’m going to have to sit on this one for a while before I can even think about starting my review. I know this one will haunt me.

Nadia Minaruto &
Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

Reviews

Join the club

Nadia Minaruto &Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

Reviews

Join the club

Nadia Minaruto &
Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin