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.

Vicious

by V. E. Schwab

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science & Nature, Religion & Spirituality, American Literature, Science Fiction

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Vicious

by L. J. Shen

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Revenge, Coming of Age, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, New Adult

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Whidbey

by T Kira Madden

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Revenge, The Past, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Literary Fiction, LGBTQ+, Gender & Feminism, Mystery & Crime Fiction

T Kira Madden’s psychological thriller, Whidbey (2024), is the debut novel from the author of the memoir Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls (2019). The novel follows Birdie Chang, a young woman who flees to the remote Whidbey Island in Washington to escape threats from her childhood sexual abuser, Calvin Boyer. This coincides with the publication of a sensationalized best-selling memoir by another of his survivors, Linzie King, creating a public spectacle that renews... Read Whidbey Summary

With a Vengeance

by Riley Sager

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Conflict, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Childhood & Youth, Death, The Past, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Community, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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You've Reached Sam

by Dustin Thao

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Love, Hope, Memory, Nostalgia, Revenge, Loneliness, Regret, Death, Coming of Age, The Past, Friendship, Appearance & Reality, Music, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Dramatic Literature, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

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Zodiac Academy

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Siblings, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

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