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.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

by Jules Verne

Publication year 1870

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Place, Revenge, Science & Technology, Environment, Power & Greed

Tags Science Fiction, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, French Literature, Animals, Technology, Science & Nature, Fantasy

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a science fiction adventure novel by French author Jules Verne. It was originally published in serialized form in 1869 under the title Vingt mille lieues sous les mers, and later as a book in 1870. In 1873, the first English-language translation was released. The book was highly acclaimed at the time of its publication and was one of several successful novels by Verne. Others include Journey to the... Read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Summary

Twisted Love

by Ana Huang

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Revenge

Tags Romance, Love & Sexuality, Trauma & Abuse, Asian History, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Twisted Pawn

by L. J. Shen

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Love, Revenge, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Family

Tags Romance, Horror & Suspense

Twisted Pawn (2026) is a dark mafia romance by L. J. Shen, a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. The novel is the second installment in the Society of Villains series, which follows warring crime families. The story traces the volatile relationship between Tierney Callaghan and Achilles Ferrante, former teenage sweethearts who are now bitter enemies. Their bond is violently reignited when Achilles is tasked with delivering Tierney into an arranged marriage, forcing... Read Twisted Pawn Summary

Unfriended

by Rachel Vail

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Disability, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Technology

Rachel Vail is the author of the middle grade novel Unfriended (2014). Vail has published several books for young readers and children, including Wonder (1991) and The Friendship Ring series (2014). As with Unfriended, her stories focus on young people confronting the fraught dynamics of friendships and school. In Unfriended, 13-year-old Truly leaves her best friend for the popular crowd and is beset by conflicts online and in the physical world. The story of Truly... Read Unfriended Summary

Valentine

by Elizabeth Wetmore

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Community, Safety & Danger, Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Revenge, Love, Mothers, Family, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Fear, Justice, Equality, Good & Evil, Marriage, Truth & Lies, Perseverance, Conflict, Loneliness, Hope, Gratitude

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Relationships, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

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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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Victorian Psycho

by Virginia Feito

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Social Class, Colonialism, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Historical Fiction

Virginia Feito’s 2025 novel, Victorian Psycho, is a work of satirical historical fiction and femgore horror. The novel was a national bestseller and was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker, NPR, and Time. Presented as a pastiche of 19th-century literature, the narrative follows Winifred Notty, a governess whose prim exterior conceals a deeply psychopathic worldview. She arrives at the grim estate of Ensor House to tutor the children of the... Read Victorian Psycho Summary

Weavingshaw

by Heba Al-Wasity

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Revenge, Race, Social Class, Immigration, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Gothic Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

Heba Al-Wasity’s 2026 debut novel, Weavingshaw, is a Gothic fantasy romance set in the industrial city of Golborne. The story centers on Leena Al-Sayer, a young Algaraan refugee who possesses the ability to see ghosts. To afford life-saving medicine for her dying brother, Leena sells her secret to the menacing inquisitor Bram St. Silas, only to be blackmailed into a contract of indenture. She is forced to serve as his “ghost-seer” in his hunt for... Read Weavingshaw Summary

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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