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As I Descended
by
Robin Talley (Goodreads Author)
“Something wicked this way comes.”
Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.
Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.
Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs ...more
Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.
Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.
Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs ...more
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Jessica
Yes, it is! It's meant to be a modern-day retelling.
Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
Lesbian Macbeth?
UPDATE 8/28/16
So, apparently The Strand fucked up and I now have a copy of this book early. So here's my pre-publication opinion, which I smugly give because I never get to do this:
Short answer: If you like the tagline of this book, you will like this book. The tone was incredibly spooky, it had a great setting, the diversity was inclusive and refreshing, it definitely told the story in a new way.
Long answer: If you are a snobbish, nit-picky nerd like me, you will take some issu ...more
UPDATE 8/28/16
So, apparently The Strand fucked up and I now have a copy of this book early. So here's my pre-publication opinion, which I smugly give because I never get to do this:
Short answer: If you like the tagline of this book, you will like this book. The tone was incredibly spooky, it had a great setting, the diversity was inclusive and refreshing, it definitely told the story in a new way.
Long answer: If you are a snobbish, nit-picky nerd like me, you will take some issu ...more
This was so great! It was equal parts creepy and fun. I loved all the representation in it. Hispanic characters, f/f romance, m/m romance, disabled character. Also the inclusion of hispanic folklore was a pleasant surprise. The story of La Llorona is one I was told as a child, so it was cool to see that present in this book.
Highly recommend if you love Macbeth, or even if you haven't read it.
Highly recommend if you love Macbeth, or even if you haven't read it.
I have always enjoyed a good Shakespeare retelling, so imagine my excitement when I learned this was Macbeth.
First off, I was about 20% into the book and immediately knew I would love it and that I needed to slow down. It's so amazingly creepy that it left me feeling itchy when I was done with whatever section I was in. That creepy feeling never went away.
The cast of characters is small and large, if that even makes sense. The events of the book effects several people and how things start to unr ...more
First off, I was about 20% into the book and immediately knew I would love it and that I needed to slow down. It's so amazingly creepy that it left me feeling itchy when I was done with whatever section I was in. That creepy feeling never went away.
The cast of characters is small and large, if that even makes sense. The events of the book effects several people and how things start to unr ...more
Release date: September 6, 2016
So I was super excited when I received an ARC of this LGBTQ modern retelling of Macbeth. I love Shakespeare & pretty much all retellings! The story didn't work quite as well on a modern boarding school campus, but it was still intriguing to see how it all played out.
The main character of Maria is set on the elite Kingsley Prize, so she takes out the girl who's a threat. She digs herself deeper and deeper as she seeks power and tries to cover everything up whil ...more
So I was super excited when I received an ARC of this LGBTQ modern retelling of Macbeth. I love Shakespeare & pretty much all retellings! The story didn't work quite as well on a modern boarding school campus, but it was still intriguing to see how it all played out.
The main character of Maria is set on the elite Kingsley Prize, so she takes out the girl who's a threat. She digs herself deeper and deeper as she seeks power and tries to cover everything up whil ...more
Sep 05, 2016
Sarah
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
r2r-read,
netgalley-edelweiss,
young-adult,
paranormal,
glbt,
fantasy,
death,
read-with-abbie,
2016-resolutions,
read-2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA paranormal story featuring ghosts.
The characters in this were okay, but I didn't really care what happened to them much. Maria was a bit spacey, whilst Lily came across as slightly homicidal, and the way she just took ...more
“The Kingsley Prize was half the reason Maria’s parents had sent her to Acheron instead of one of the day schools near their house in McLean.”
This was a YA paranormal story featuring ghosts.
The characters in this were okay, but I didn't really care what happened to them much. Maria was a bit spacey, whilst Lily came across as slightly homicidal, and the way she just took ...more
Really spooky book that had me up late reading. I loved the writing, the characters and the setting. Also the diversity! Highly recommend this for a book to read around Halloween.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Robin Talley, and the publisher, HarperTeen, for this opportunity.
This is a tale than amalgamates time, genre and emotion into a cacophony of commotion! The contemporary setting, the YA genre tag and the synopsis concerning teen rivalries belied the horror and terror that ensued from the very first chapter. The unification of horror and contemporary has been unsuccessful in past experiences, but here t ...more
This is a tale than amalgamates time, genre and emotion into a cacophony of commotion! The contemporary setting, the YA genre tag and the synopsis concerning teen rivalries belied the horror and terror that ensued from the very first chapter. The unification of horror and contemporary has been unsuccessful in past experiences, but here t ...more
it was spooky and i got goosebumps from time to time. i think the book had great diversity -- LGBT+ rep, a person living with a disability/chronic pain, a hispanic character and they weren't stereotypes or tokenized. they were written in an authentic way. unfortunately, i just didn't love the ending. it had a FANTASTIC beginning, intriguing middle, and then it was just done. i'm not sure what i wanted out of the ending but i was slightly disappointed. overall though, i enjoyed my reading experie
...more
For someone who doesn’t enjoy retellings at all, it’s odd that I keep finding Shakespeare-inspired books that thrill me and make me rethink my position. After Cat Winters’ The Steep and Thorny Way, As I Descended shows us that classics are classics for a reason and that things like ambition and jealousy are inherently human, and therefore always interesting and relevant.
Like Macbeth, As I Descended is divided into five acts, each inspired by its counterpart. Bloody knives and burning candles are ...more
Like Macbeth, As I Descended is divided into five acts, each inspired by its counterpart. Bloody knives and burning candles are ...more
Jun 14, 2016
Shiku
marked it as no-way-i-m-not-reading-that
Bi main character, bi main character, bi main character. *chants and is happy and excited*
It's also a horror novel? I think I need 2016 right now.
It's also a horror novel? I think I need 2016 right now.
If you are not excited by this premise, you're probably living your life wrong.
This...was way more horror based than I anticipated. I mean, it's a retelling of Macbeth. It was never going to be the most lighthearted book on the planet. But I wasn't expecting the ghost side of things to be quite as prominent as it was. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing - just an expected thing!
Anyway.
This book was creepy. But it was also incredibly compelling and wonderfully diverse. I sped through it because I was dying to know what was going to happen next. The four narrators - M ...more
Anyway.
This book was creepy. But it was also incredibly compelling and wonderfully diverse. I sped through it because I was dying to know what was going to happen next. The four narrators - M ...more
This book totally blew my mind. Since it is based off of Macbeth, I really should have seen everything coming, but Robin Talley still managed to surprise me. There is so much diversity in As I Descended, as well, and a main character who is in between a hero and a villain. This is definitely a must-read!
As I Descended is a Macbeth retelling, which I don't believe I've read before. Typically, when Shakespeare retellings are written, the story is based on Romeo and Juliet. I could definitely see t ...more
As I Descended is a Macbeth retelling, which I don't believe I've read before. Typically, when Shakespeare retellings are written, the story is based on Romeo and Juliet. I could definitely see t ...more
Galley provided by publisher
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's actually a good book, and well-written, and I liked most of the characters. On the other hand, I might describe it as an exercise in how not to write an LGBT Shakespeare adaptation (if I'm being particularly harsh).
It took me a while to get properly into this book. I read the first chapter, then had the sudden (late) revelation that everyone in Macbeth dies, and for a book full of LGBT main characters, that ...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's actually a good book, and well-written, and I liked most of the characters. On the other hand, I might describe it as an exercise in how not to write an LGBT Shakespeare adaptation (if I'm being particularly harsh).
It took me a while to get properly into this book. I read the first chapter, then had the sudden (late) revelation that everyone in Macbeth dies, and for a book full of LGBT main characters, that ...more
Jun 09, 2016
Dahlia
added it
Shelves:
paranormal,
retelling,
boarding-school,
quiltbag-ya,
f-f-romance,
2016-releases,
ownvoices,
lgbtqreads
This was as perfectly super-creepy and chilling and gay and Macbeth-y as I wanted it to be <3<3<3
As I Descended captures the day-to-day happenings of school perfectly, from the rivalry to the fight for popularity and belonging. It's a great fantasy retelling and really a book worth reading.
Well, it was pretty creepy sometimes, but overall just weird and mediocre. meh
Bi girls, gay boys, a queer Macbeth retelling? It's as if this book was written for me! Sadly I just skimmed after 150 pages or so, hoping it might get better along the way. The writing felt really off, and at a point the characters seemed to blend together.
Shame too, I've heard so many good things about Talley's books. I might try one more of hers before I decide to call it quits.
Shame too, I've heard so many good things about Talley's books. I might try one more of hers before I decide to call it quits.
Checkout my full review on my blog! http://omgbooksandmorebooks.blogspot....
As I Descended is a Macbeth retelling featuring a diverse array of characters and a F/F relationship. Finally!!!! The lack of F/F relationships in YA honestly bugs the hell out of me. But Robin Talley wonderfully created Lily and Maria who will do anything for each other and continue their happiness after Acheron Academy, even calling a dark spirit that causes madness and death.
I loved the writing, a dark and gripping st ...more
As I Descended is a Macbeth retelling featuring a diverse array of characters and a F/F relationship. Finally!!!! The lack of F/F relationships in YA honestly bugs the hell out of me. But Robin Talley wonderfully created Lily and Maria who will do anything for each other and continue their happiness after Acheron Academy, even calling a dark spirit that causes madness and death.
I loved the writing, a dark and gripping st ...more
Holy shit you WANT to preorder this book IMMEDIATELY
"LA SANGRE QUIERE SANGRE.
Blood will have blood."
What a fun little ghost/horror story. A retelling of Macbeth - which is wonderful because it's such a fun twist. I really liked Lily and Maria and how we are torn because you learn them and get to know them so it's hard to like or hate them. I also loved Brandon and Mateo. Again, they are stuck in a rough situation and it's hard to take sides here.
But most of all was Delilah. She's a character it's easy to hate but for more vague reasons than anyon ...more
Blood will have blood."
What a fun little ghost/horror story. A retelling of Macbeth - which is wonderful because it's such a fun twist. I really liked Lily and Maria and how we are torn because you learn them and get to know them so it's hard to like or hate them. I also loved Brandon and Mateo. Again, they are stuck in a rough situation and it's hard to take sides here.
But most of all was Delilah. She's a character it's easy to hate but for more vague reasons than anyon ...more
Find this and other reviews at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.
I wasn’t completely sure what to expect when I started As I Descended. I knew two things: it was a retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and it featured queer characters. Honestly, that was enough to pique my interest. Within the first few pages, I realized it was a bad idea to be reading the book at night. I’m a total wuss when it comes to scary stuff, and let me tell you, As I Descended had a pretty terrifying beginning. That creep factor ...more
Really well paced. Tonnes of action. Spooky as heck. Even more so gay. And featured people of colour and differently abled people. I recommend it!
AS I DESCENDED is a re-imagining of MACBETH, starring two queer girls in the Macbeth and Lady Macbeth roles. It is set at a southern boarding school, and, man, it is SUPER dark.
One of the hallmarks of Talley's works so far (I've not read her second book, but the two I have read have been consistent), is that she does not flinch when it comes to addressing the darker aspects of American history. In LIES WE TELL OURSELVES, desegregation was a lot of the plot, but in DESCENDED, Talley continues to ...more
One of the hallmarks of Talley's works so far (I've not read her second book, but the two I have read have been consistent), is that she does not flinch when it comes to addressing the darker aspects of American history. In LIES WE TELL OURSELVES, desegregation was a lot of the plot, but in DESCENDED, Talley continues to ...more
Wow this is a totally unpopular opinion here. I initially went into this book with the idea that I would give it three stars but as I continued to read it it just slowly dropped to a one star. This book was getting a lot of hype during Diversathon mid September because of its diverse characters. I mean the story is a lesbian retelling of Macbeth which piqued my interest immediately. Unfortunately it just didn't hold my interest all the way through.
Let's start with the characters. Maria is the m ...more
Let's start with the characters. Maria is the m ...more
Queer retelling of Macbeth with a f/f ship, a m/m ship, a disable character and Hispanic folklore?
yes please!!!
I read Macbeth a couple of months ago so I could fully appreciate the parallelisms between the original and this book.
It's obvious that Talley did a lot of research, and I particularly like how she incorporated ghosts instead of witches and the tale of La Llorona.
Also, the spanish was grammatically correct. HOW RARE IS THIS? GRACIAS ROBIN TALLEY! Al fin alguien que hace bien las cosas!
T ...more
Robin Talley’s first foray into fantasy is a gorgeously atmospheric, spine-tingling Macbeth retelling unlike anything else I’ve ever read. Maria and Lily are Acheron Academy’s ultimate power couple. Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey. But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—including harnessing the dark power long-rumoured to be present on school grounds—to make their dreams come true.
As I Descended ...more
As I Descended ...more
Good, bordering on great, but the end was a little pat and a lot confusing and left me liking the whole mystery less.
This was a 3.5 star read for me. It promised to be a lesbian boarding school Macbeth, and although it's not a direct retelling, it definitely brought that brooding atmosphere and theme of revenge, as well as enough nods to the story to fulfill the premise.
I enjoyed the broody beginning of the story, and how it starts off at a run (the first page has the characters contacting spirits with a ouija board). As the book continues, it gets darker, veering into horror territory. That I wasn't totally ...more
I enjoyed the broody beginning of the story, and how it starts off at a run (the first page has the characters contacting spirits with a ouija board). As the book continues, it gets darker, veering into horror territory. That I wasn't totally ...more
Even though I absolutely detested all the characters, I also loved this book. :P
The book was creepy, scary, wtf-ish, and so much more. I even had a bad night sleeping thanks to this book. That says to me that a book is good. If it causes me to not want to go to sleep, and then later on not being able to sleep because I am creeped out, perfection. :P
And yes, I hated all the characters. At first I did like most of them, but in the end I just wanted to throw them all for the ghosts in Acheron and h ...more
The book was creepy, scary, wtf-ish, and so much more. I even had a bad night sleeping thanks to this book. That says to me that a book is good. If it causes me to not want to go to sleep, and then later on not being able to sleep because I am creeped out, perfection. :P
And yes, I hated all the characters. At first I did like most of them, but in the end I just wanted to throw them all for the ghosts in Acheron and h ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crazy for Young A...: As I Descended, by Robin Talley → Start Date: October 10, 2016 | 18 | 13 | Oct 16, 2016 09:45AM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: As I Descended By Robin Talley - Starting September 4th 2016 | 17 | 19 | Sep 26, 2016 09:10AM |
I live in Washington, D.C., with my wife, our baby daughter, an antisocial cat and a goofy hound dog. Whenever the baby's sleeping, I'm probably busy writing young adult fiction about queer characters, reading books, and having in-depth conversations with friends and family about things like whether Jasmine's character motivation was sufficiently established in Aladdin.
My website is at http://www. ...more
More about Robin Talley...
My website is at http://www. ...more
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“First, though, she had to go back out there and smile at everyone. Fake her way through the rest of the night and another three days. Pretend to still be normal.
When she was pretty sure she never had been.”
—
2 likes
When she was pretty sure she never had been.”
“Between the atheism and the lesbian thing, Lily was a terrible Catholic. Even before she'd added murder to her list of sins.”
—
2 likes
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Sep 19, 2016 12:21PM
Oct 18, 2016 12:18PM
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