Revenge

Sir Walter Scott called revenge "the sweetest morsel to the mouth that was ever cooked in hell." We are often counseled to rise above slights, grievances, and injuries, but still, the temptation and promise of revenge remain. This thematic collection gathers texts that investigate what prompts us to hunger for revenge and where this hunger leads us.

The Only One Left

by Riley Sager

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Power & Greed, Loyalty & Betrayal, Social Class, Siblings, Community, Fathers, Place, The Past, Guilt, Revenge, Disability, Femininity

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, Realistic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Depression & Suicide, Disability, Grief & Death, Social Class

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The Painted Bird

by Jerzy Kosiński

Publication year 1965

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge

Tags Horror & Suspense, World War II, Military & War, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Though The Painted Bird is set during the Holocaust, it is not strictly a Holocaust novel. The book is largely metaphorical and deals with the brutality of human nature and how the horrors we perpetrate on each other become part of us. The novel’s protagonist, a boy who is an outsider, or a “painted bird,” witnesses acts of subjugation and cruelty and seeks to understand why some people are more powerful than others. Thematically, the... Read The Painted Bird Summary

The Passengers

by John Marrs

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Love, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Death, Future, Environment, Teamwork, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Education, Globalization, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Fame, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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The People Could Fly

by Virginia Hamilton

Publication year 1985

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Equality, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Perseverance, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Guilt, Revenge, Memory, Death, Animals, Environment, Appearance & Reality, Food, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Fate, Race, Language, Regret, Shame & Pride, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Teamwork

Tags Fairy Tale & Folklore, Symbolic Narrative, US History, African American Literature, Race & Racism

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The Plot

by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Daughters & Sons, Literature, Revenge

Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Arts & Culture, Psychology, Trauma & Abuse, Philosophy, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Poison Daughter

by Sheila Masterson

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Femininity, Family

Sheila Masterson’s 2025 novel, The Poison Daughter, is a standalone entry in the popular dark romantasy subgenre, which blends high fantasy with dark romance. Set in the walled city of Lunameade, the story follows Harlow Carrenwell, the youngest daughter of the city’s magical ruling family. Cursed with a poison kiss that kills instantly, Harlow secretly operates as the “Poison Vixen,” a vigilante who targets abusive men. Her mission is upended when she is forced into... Read The Poison Daughter Summary

The Power of One

by Bryce Courtenay

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Revenge, Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, World History, Classic Fiction

The Power of One (1989) is a Bildungsroman written by Australian author Bryce Courtenay, largely based on the life and experiences of the author who grew up on a small farm in the Lebombo Mountains in South Africa. It was the only novel published by the author for an American market. He noted that “American publishers [. . .] are interested in books [set] in their own country first and foremost,” but his novel was... Read The Power of One Summary

The Racketeer

by John Grisham

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Justice, Politics & Government

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

The Racketeer is John Grisham’s 30th book. It debuted at the top of the New York Times bestseller list in November 2012. John Grisham has twice won the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and also received the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. He has written over 35 bestsellers. Eight of his novels have been adapted for film, and one, The Firm, spawned a 2012 television series that takes place 10 years... Read The Racketeer Summary

The Reckoning

by John Grisham

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Grief, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, War, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Race, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Femininity, Masculinity, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Death, Coming of Age, The Past, Nation

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Crime & Law, Race & Racism, Military & War, World History

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The Ruins of Gorlan

by John Flanagan

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Loyalty & Betrayal, Friendship, Safety & Danger, Coming of Age, Fame, Revenge, Memory, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Education, Animals, Fear, Good & Evil, War, Fathers, Perseverance, Conflict, Wins & Losses, Nation, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Social Class

In The Ruins of Gorlan, a Medieval adventure-fantasy novel for middle-grade readers, young Will learns the arts of the secretive Ranger tracker-warriors and defends his kingdom against an evil baron. Released in 2004 by author John Flanagan, The Ruins of Gorlan won multiple awards, spawned the bestselling Ranger Apprentice book series, and has been published in 18 countries. A television adaptation is in the works.Following a long career in advertising, author Flanagan shifted to book... Read The Ruins of Gorlan Summary

The Runaway Jury

by John Grisham

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Economics, Politics & Government, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

The Runaway Jury is a 1996 legal thriller by author, lawyer, and former politician John Grisham. Grisham has written 50 consecutive #1 best-selling novels that have been translated into 50 languages. Grisham has won the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction and won the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction twice. The Runaway Jury was adapted into a 2003 film, one of the seven Grisham novels that have been made into movies. The... Read The Runaway Jury Summary

The Sacrifice

by Shantel Tessier

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Sexual Identity, Loyalty & Betrayal

Shantel Tessier’s 2023 novel, The Sacrifice, is a dark revenge romance set in a violent fantasy world where patriarchal power and wealth are inherited, and loyalty is forged through brutality. The story follows Laikyn Minson, who on her wedding day is forced into an arranged marriage with the ruthless Tyson Crawford, a powerful member of an organization known as the Lords. Tyson’s motives are not love but a long-simmering revenge plot against Laikyn’s family. He... Read The Sacrifice Summary