Penance: The 'unmissable banger' ALICE SLATER from the author of BOY PARTS and SHE'S ALWAYS HUNGRY

This book follows three teenage girls who were found guilty of the murder of a high school girl. I think that's the only thing you need to know going into this. Following the synopsis, you know its going to be a dark crime almost thriller literary fiction. It explores themes on teenage girls, grief, hysteria (since the female rage is often in such cases depicted as that phenomena ~ a grouped psychosis if you will), tumblr crime fandoms/ fanfics, blur of the bully and the bullied, group Psychosis × mental illness, cult girlhood vibes, beliefs in the paranormal (interplay on the dead and living), trauma, loneliness, hypersexualization by the male gaze of teenage *murderer* girls, sexuality/ queerness, sexual violence, obsession and revenge. The narrative style of this book was mix media - featuring podcasts via dialogues, interviews and a very unreliable male narrator who tries to present the case without any bias. Besides the pacing (which is slow in someparts and I guess understandably so), there's not much I'd nit pick as this book is imo quite brilliant. You get very morally grey teenage girls - which I think is a very ironical things seeing that starting from teenage years we all really start blurring the black and white /good and evil lines - here it's just upped the notch where even the victim of the murd*r isn't entirely innocent. The crime here tho is like a collection of broken pieces of mirror - so many of these themes I noted above played a part in the act which gives you a lot to think about; how perhaps one starts mirroring what all morbid gruesome true crime media one consumes/ Or how the one who ships two kil/er$ and writes fanfics on them starts replicating their actions so much so that they become them/ & how it is through these things that the 3rd person are able to give proof of their capability of killi£g = adding that *conveniently solving the puzzle* notion where you say that it was trauma that led to this tragedy. But is that really the case? That's what this book makes you think..Doing a great job at leaving you reeling with its grotesque realness.

Really good read if very uncomfortable in places. Would have been 5 stars but I thought it lost a little momentum in final chapters

at some points i truly felt like i had whiplash, but after about 30% of the way through, it picked up and i got my bearings. the writing is solid and the different voices throughout kept the story engaging.

The cover misses the corner and the first page too. I’m too excited to read it as it just came out, so I won’t be returning it. Still a bummer tho :(

Eliza Clark’s Penance is not a book you can easily forget. It’s one of those novels that’s as much a psychological puzzle as it is a character study, and it pulls no punches in its exploration of guilt, shame, and the human need for redemption. If you’re looking for something deeply intense and morally complex, this book hits the mark, but it’s also a bit of a wild ride. Pros - Gripping, Unpredictable Plot The story kicks off with an emotional sucker punch and just keeps hitting. Clark weaves a narrative that’s equal parts gripping and haunting, leading you through the psychological turmoil of its characters. There’s no clear path, and you really don’t know where it’s going, which makes for a read that’s constantly keeping you on edge. The twists are often subtle, but they land with impact. - Themes of Guilt and Redemption This is a book about the weight of guilt—how it shapes people, how they carry it, and what they’re willing to do to atone for their past. Clark’s exploration of these themes is poignant and thought-provoking, making you question what we owe to ourselves and to others when it comes to forgiveness. It’s heavy stuff, but it’s handled with an authenticity that feels both raw and cathartic. - Psychologically Complex Characters The characters in Penance are messy, flawed, and deeply human. There’s no sugar-coating here—Clark lets her characters be as ugly as they are beautiful. The protagonist is complex and unlikable at times, but that’s what makes her journey so fascinating. You’ll find yourself sympathizing with her, even when you don’t agree with her actions. Clark really nails that balance between empathy and discomfort, making for a compelling character arc. - Evocative Writing Clark’s writing is sharp and vivid, pulling you into the inner world of her characters. She has a knack for evoking strong emotions without being overt about it. You don’t just read this book, you feel it—the tension, the regret, the quiet desperation. Cons - Uneasy Pacing While the book is incredibly engaging, there are moments where the pacing feels off. Some parts of the story move slowly, with a lot of introspection and tension-building that can sometimes feel like it’s dragging. I don’t mind slow burns, but there were moments where I wished things would pick up a little more. That said, the emotional payoff is worth it—just be prepared to stick with it through the quieter parts. - Challenging Subject Matter This book delves into some heavy, uncomfortable territory. Themes of guilt, trauma, and forgiveness are explored in unflinching detail, and it’s not always an easy read. There’s an emotional heaviness that can feel overwhelming, and it might not be the best pick if you’re looking for something lighter or more straightforward. - Ambiguous Ending Clark leaves a lot of room for interpretation by the end, which might leave some readers frustrated. While the ending is satisfying in its own way, it doesn’t offer all the closure you might expect. Personally, I think it works with the novel’s themes of uncertainty and unresolved guilt, but some may find it unsatisfying or too open-ended. Verdict Penance is a haunting, emotionally charged novel that digs deep into the complexities of human nature. It’s not always an easy read, but if you’re into stories that explore difficult emotions and flawed characters, it’s absolutely worth the journey. Clark does an incredible job of pulling you into a world of psychological tension and moral ambiguity, and the result is a novel that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s definitely not a light read, but for those willing to take the plunge, Penance delivers a compelling, thought-provoking experience. Four stars for its depth, complexity, and the emotional gut-punch that it delivers.

I found the first half was missing a drive in the plot, it just felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. Also the slow burn wasn’t as excited as in other novels. We knew the “what” and “who” early on, and the novel spends the rest of its pages going over the “why” without actually figuring out a new “what” or another underlying “who” or offering a twist or another mystery to the case that needs to be solved in parallel, everything just added up. It felt like a good first Try at writing meta-fiction and I like the focus on how being so insular can lead to heinous acts (being in your own head all of the time is a slippery slope).