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Plain Bad Heroines

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( 28,269 ratings, 6,014 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth is a genre-blending tale that interweaves a mysterious early 20th-century tragedy at a girls' boarding school with a contemporary film adaptation about the event. The narrative explores themes of horror, love, and obsession, as past and present collide, leading the characters into a maze of chilling secrets. It skilfully melds gothic elements with a modern twist, creating a richly atmospheric and thrilling experience.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2300
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$2500
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fond of genre-bending narratives that blend historical fiction with gothic horror, and you're intrigued by complex, interwoven stories featuring strong queer characters. It's perfect for those who appreciate multi-layered tales rich in atmosphere, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural, all wrapped in captivating storytelling.

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Plain Bad Heroines

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

‘Brimming from start to finish with sly humour and gothic mischief’ SARAH WATERS

‘Beguilingly clever, very sexy and seriously frightening’ GUARDIAN

‘Atmospheric, sexy, creepy… totally addictive’ KATE DAVIES, author of In At The Deep End

‘A gloriously over-the-top queer romp’ I PAPER

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‘It’s a terrible story and one way to tell it is this: two girls in love and a fog of wasps cursed the place forever after…’

BROOKHANTS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS: Infamous site of a series of tragic deaths over a hundred years ago. Soon to be the subject of a controversial horror movie about the rumoured ‘Brookhants curse’:

In the early 1900’s, Brookhants students Flo and Clara fell madly in love, brought together by their obsession for a scandalous memoir.

A few months later they were found dead in the woods, after a horrific wasp attack, the book lying next to their intertwined bodies.

Three more grisly deaths followed before the school was forced to close.

Now, the school’s doors are open once more. But as the crew of glamorous young actresses assemble to start filming, past and present begin to blur. And soon it’s impossible to tell quite where the curse ends and Hollywood begins…

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‘Buzzing with wickedness… sly, wry and dangerous to know’ Rosie Garland

‘Ingenious, jaw-dropping… a queer roar and it's terrifying and it's a goddamned triumph’ Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World

‘Wears its brilliance lightly… it's dark, sweet, and addictive. Simply one of the best books I've read in the last decade’ Joe Hill, New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman

‘A hot amalgamation of gothic horror and Hollywood satire, it’s draped with depth but bursting with life’ Washington Post

‘A deviously delicious cake’ O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book is celebrated for its sly humour and exuberant storytelling, with a gothic and mischievous tone. Readers have praised its blend of Victorian sapphic romance, metafictional horror, and Hollywood intrigue, complemented by evocative illustrations. It's described as a queer romp, both messy and immensely enjoyable, with a spooky, sexy, and entertaining plot. The narrative is immersive and addictive, featuring a brilliant, eccentric cast and a sense of creeping dread that pervades every page.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008346959

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 February 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: The Borough Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 440g

Pages: 640

About the Author

emily m. danforth is the author of the highly-acclaimed young adult novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post. She has an MFA in fiction from the University of Montana and a PhD in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She lives with her wife and two terrible dogs in Rhode Island. This is her first adult novel.

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