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bookmerized's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read, not in the sense it was light of content but it was jarring enough to keep my eyes glued. I think high schoolers would love this. I just predicted the ending halfway through and y’all know how I feel about that.
theuntitleddocument's review against another edition
4.0
Boarding schools + an ethically questionable code of ethics = banger.
razreads's review against another edition
3.0
Complete review available: Honor Code
I was so ready to love this book because absolutely everyone else was, but that's not just the way it worked. It was a good story, well-thought out and had a nice twist plotwise, but there were several elements in which I felt it was a bit weak. Take, for example, the protagonist - she felt like a highly changeable character and a little bit inauthentic in everything she seemed to do or say. Add in the whole plot-twist element to the confusion - sure, I got what happened, but it leads me to question: was Burkhart trying to use Sam as an unreliable narrator, or did Sam and Gracie's narratives also change part way through when Sam took on a fight "for" Gracie, and that explains the change in character?
Reading that all back, it does seem to make it feel as if I was wholly negative about the experience, but there were things the book had to offer, and I've definitely read much worse. Haydn - she sure became a useful character, even if I did question the point of her perspective at first. And the beginning I thought was a little drawn out? Perfect for manipulating the reader ready for the plot-twist later on (even if I did see it coming a good third of a book before it happened!)
So, there were elements it did great, and elements in did poor, and whilst I do love a good boarding school story, a diverse read or something a little different, it was very much a 'meh' book for me.
I was so ready to love this book because absolutely everyone else was, but that's not just the way it worked. It was a good story, well-thought out and had a nice twist plotwise, but there were several elements in which I felt it was a bit weak. Take, for example, the protagonist - she felt like a highly changeable character and a little bit inauthentic in everything she seemed to do or say. Add in the whole plot-twist element to the confusion - sure, I got what happened, but it leads me to question:
Reading that all back, it does seem to make it feel as if I was wholly negative about the experience, but there were things the book had to offer, and I've definitely read much worse. Haydn - she sure became a useful character, even if I did question the point of her perspective at first. And the beginning I thought was a little drawn out? Perfect for manipulating the reader ready for the plot-twist later on (even if I did see it coming a good third of a book before it happened!)
So, there were elements it did great, and elements in did poor, and whilst I do love a good boarding school story, a diverse read or something a little different, it was very much a 'meh' book for me.
kat_a_lynn's review against another edition
3.0
Honor Code: The book that missed the mark
I bought this book second hand off a Facebook group because I was intrigued by its cover and after a quick search on Goodreads, I was intrigued I messaged the seller and bought it. By the time it arrived, I had forgotten what the book was about and hence forgot about the rape scene that occurs in this story, so I was surprised when I got to that part. There is no disclosure made on the cover or before the story starts, nor at the end of the book any links or services to help rape victims like what you get in other books where the focus is on a triggering topic and the plot is driven by it, all there is topic questions as though this book is going to be a part of school curriculum.
Before I get into why this book makes me mad I just want to touch on the writing itself, because there were times I didn’t know where Sam was or who she was talking to or what was going on. There were a few times I had to go back multiple times to try and make sense about what was going on due to being lost. I feel like this book would have been more successful if the author spent more time world-building and even character developing.But with saying that I also feel as though this was intentional to reinforce that it wasn’t personal to Sam.
Now if you don’t want any spoilers to stop reading now.
And this is where I get mad, so the book is split into three acts (keyword acts) and told from mostly the point of view of Sam. The first act was the most weakly written, I didn’t know where the story was going nor did I feel invested due to the lack of world-building and character development. Act two I start to understand why it’s been split into three parts to highlight the before, after and the result and Harper was introduced which is the reason why I finished this book because Sam boring character to read from. Act three you discover why the parts are called acts, the twist that occurred in act three ruined the message this book was getting across.
Now there was a rape, it was just that Sam wasn’t the one that was raped it was her roommate Gracie who did, and Sam experienced an attempt by the same guy. But Sam took on Gracie’s experience as though it was her own story because she felt bad and blamed herself for Gracie being raped as she could have warned her. There was no need for the author to add this superhero/vigilante subplot if anything it took away from her message about victim silencing as the victim (Gracie) stayed silent and was forced to speak out but share what happened to Sam because Sam took away Gracie’s voice. The author message would have been way more powerful and genuine if she gave Gracie a voice and used Gracie’s and Sam’s friendship to push the fact Scully is a serial rapist and his victims aren’t alone.
Overall this book was a disappointment and could have easily been a 4-star book and not a 3 borderline 2-star book because I didn’t hate it or think it was bad it was just the twist at the end ruined the message and its credibility.
I bought this book second hand off a Facebook group because I was intrigued by its cover and after a quick search on Goodreads, I was intrigued I messaged the seller and bought it. By the time it arrived, I had forgotten what the book was about and hence forgot about the rape scene that occurs in this story, so I was surprised when I got to that part. There is no disclosure made on the cover or before the story starts, nor at the end of the book any links or services to help rape victims like what you get in other books where the focus is on a triggering topic and the plot is driven by it, all there is topic questions as though this book is going to be a part of school curriculum.
Before I get into why this book makes me mad I just want to touch on the writing itself, because there were times I didn’t know where Sam was or who she was talking to or what was going on. There were a few times I had to go back multiple times to try and make sense about what was going on due to being lost. I feel like this book would have been more successful if the author spent more time world-building and even character developing.
Now if you don’t want any spoilers to stop reading now.
Now there was a rape, it was just that Sam wasn’t the one that was raped it was her roommate Gracie who did, and Sam experienced an attempt by the same guy. But Sam took on Gracie’s experience as though it was her own story because she felt bad and blamed herself for Gracie being raped as she could have warned her. There was no need for the author to add this superhero/vigilante subplot if anything it took away from her message about victim silencing as the victim (Gracie) stayed silent and was forced to speak out but share what happened to Sam because Sam took away Gracie’s voice. The author message would have been way more powerful and genuine if she gave Gracie a voice and used Gracie’s and Sam’s friendship to push the fact Scully is a serial rapist and his victims aren’t alone.
Overall this book was a disappointment and could have easily been a 4-star book and not a 3 borderline 2-star book because I didn’t hate it or think it was bad it was just the twist at the end ruined the message and its credibility.
ljbentley27's review against another edition
3.0
The things people will do to fit in. That is the initial basis of Honor Code by Kiersi Burkhart. When you are faced with the dilemma o being ostracised or being part of something bigger Sam knows the choice she has to make. She is new to Edwards Academy – a high school that pretty much guarantees your acceptance into any elite college. But Sam soon comes to realise that it is easy to lose yourself in the expectations of school life, how easy it is to befall victim to more sinister goings on.
Honor Code is brilliantly dark and twisty. Burkhart looks at the tradition of honor codes in schools along with the current victim blaming culture that is seen in many college campuses in America. She uses alienation and broken friendships to look at the desperate nature that being lonely and alone as a teenager along with the problems that teens face.
This book does not leave you feeling comfortable. You are pushed way out of your comfort zone but it is necessary to get the point across. It does make for uncomfortable reading but it is so damn good.
Honor Code by Kiersi Burkhart is available now.
Honor Code is brilliantly dark and twisty. Burkhart looks at the tradition of honor codes in schools along with the current victim blaming culture that is seen in many college campuses in America. She uses alienation and broken friendships to look at the desperate nature that being lonely and alone as a teenager along with the problems that teens face.
This book does not leave you feeling comfortable. You are pushed way out of your comfort zone but it is necessary to get the point across. It does make for uncomfortable reading but it is so damn good.
Honor Code by Kiersi Burkhart is available now.
lillielainoff's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured Honor Code in less than 24 hours, and am going to reread it for craft purposes, because goodness gracious the narrative is so well-developed. As a reader, I was hooked. As a writer, I was in awe of the subtleties throughout the text, even from the very first page, that echo at the end of the novel in ways I could have never expected. There are so many elements of the writing I want to mention that verge on spoiler territory, so I'll just say this: go read Honor Code.
samwlabb's review
4.0
I am always intrigued by books set in boarding schools, and this one deals with the darker side of those institutions. Though multiple issues were touched upon, the one which caught, and kept my interest, revolved around sexual assault and the fallout experience by the women, who are brave enough to speak out.
•Pro: The book was broken into three acts, each with a distinct focus in the story. I liked this division, which kept me very focused, and I also really liked the addition of the second POV, as she served a purpose I was not fully aware of until almost the end.
•Pro: Burkhart showed the good and the bad sides of boarding school. She introduced us to nice and not so nice people at said school, and I appreciated that she didn't paint the school and the people affiliated with the school as all bad.
•Con: Sam was a really complicated character, and I don't think we got to know her as much as I would have like to
•Pro: BUT, I think that was the point. Part of her needed to be kept concealed in order for this story to work.
•Pro: The story definitely ramped up in Acts 2 and 3 as Sam prepared for and actively sought justice. These were my favorite parts of the book, and I loved seeing that side of Sam.
•Pro: There was this very awesome twist, which I only saw coming really close to the reveal. I tip my hat to Burkhart, because it was a great way to distinguish this story from a field of sexual assault stories.
•Pro: As a woman, I found myself angry and frustrated and nodding my head over and over again. There were so many things that happened in this book, which were appalling, but sadly, quite realistic.
•Pro: The ending had many elements that were not shocking, but I was pleased with the effect seeking justice had on the young women in the story.
Overall: An interesting and thought provoking look at rape culture and the repercussions survivors are forced to endure when they speak out, which left me simultaneously sad, frustrated, and angry.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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•Pro: The book was broken into three acts, each with a distinct focus in the story. I liked this division, which kept me very focused, and I also really liked the addition of the second POV, as she served a purpose I was not fully aware of until almost the end.
•Pro: Burkhart showed the good and the bad sides of boarding school. She introduced us to nice and not so nice people at said school, and I appreciated that she didn't paint the school and the people affiliated with the school as all bad.
•Con: Sam was a really complicated character, and I don't think we got to know her as much as I would have like to
•Pro: BUT, I think that was the point. Part of her needed to be kept concealed in order for this story to work.
•Pro: The story definitely ramped up in Acts 2 and 3 as Sam prepared for and actively sought justice. These were my favorite parts of the book, and I loved seeing that side of Sam.
•Pro: There was this very awesome twist, which I only saw coming really close to the reveal. I tip my hat to Burkhart, because it was a great way to distinguish this story from a field of sexual assault stories.
•Pro: As a woman, I found myself angry and frustrated and nodding my head over and over again. There were so many things that happened in this book, which were appalling, but sadly, quite realistic.
•Pro: The ending had many elements that were not shocking, but I was pleased with the effect seeking justice had on the young women in the story.
"This is the price for speaking up," I write. "This is why we so often stay quite. Who would willingly bring this into their life?"
Overall: An interesting and thought provoking look at rape culture and the repercussions survivors are forced to endure when they speak out, which left me simultaneously sad, frustrated, and angry.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
lillielainoff's review
5.0
I devoured Honor Code in less than 24 hours, and am going to reread it for craft purposes, because goodness gracious the narrative is so well-developed. As a reader, I was hooked. As a writer, I was in awe of the subtleties throughout the text, even from the very first page, that echo at the end of the novel in ways I could have never expected. There are so many elements of the writing I want to mention that verge on spoiler territory, so I'll just say this: go read Honor Code.
cozyink's review
3.0
I really, really loved it. Like, It was a five star read. And then I got to the last few pages. Spoiler alert: the main character commits full on perjury and then harrasses the actual victim of the crime she said occured. It made me angry at her, but also at the author. There wasn't a huge message here, just a twist. It was like "feminism! Yay!" And then also like "um girls lie sometimes, let's not forget that."
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