Estella's Revenge

by Barbara Havelocke

You know Miss Havisham.

The world's most famous jilted bride.

This is her daughter’s story.

Raised in the darkness of Satis House where the clocks never tick, the beautiful Estella is bred to hate men and to keep her heart cold as the grave.

She knows she doesn’t feel things quite like other people do but is this just the result of her strange upbringing?

As she watches the brutal treatment of women around her, hatred hardens into a core of vengeance and when she finds herself married to the abusive Drummle, she is forced to make a deadly

Should she embrace the darkness within her and exact her revenge?

A stunningly original, gripping Gothic read, perfect for fans of Stacey Halls, Madeline Miller and Jessie Burton.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Gothic, Historical, Retellings, Fiction, 19th Century, British Literature

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2024

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded down.

“There is no kindness in sheltering people from the harsh realities of life, Estella. To live is to suffer. That is what I prepare you for. I will not leave you soft and exposed, I will harden you so that you can survive, nay, thrive.”

Alternating between the 1820s and 1830s, Estella is the adopted daughter of the famously jilted bride, Miss Havisham. Estella was brought up in the dark and intimidating Satis House, she was treated unkindly by her cousins The Pockets, and she is groomed by her mother to hate men from a very early age. She therefore believes that she’s incapable of love, and is just a tool to torture and bring pain to all men, in order to avenge her mother’s heartache.

Estella finds herself in an abusive marriage, which further affirms her feelings towards men. However she is cunning and resourceful, and while Bentley Drummle may have the brute strength, he doesn’t have Estella’s tenacity and intelligence.

This is a gorgeous gothic story, it’s dark, delicious and devious!! I’ve never read a Dickens book, but I’m familiar with his stories and this is an excellently crafted reimagining of Great Expectations where Estella takes centre stage. It’s brilliantly written and I was captivated from start to finish. I alternated between reading the physical book and listening to the Audiobook, and Rosie Akerman’s narration was flawless.

The only reason this book was on my radar was because of a Book Club Challenge, and I’m always thrilled when I stumble across a brilliant book that I otherwise wouldn’t have read. The ending has left the story open for more to come, and I look forward to reading more about Estella in the follow up novel Estella’s Fury.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estella’s revenge is a historical fiction set in 1835 London where arranged marriages are all the rage and all anybody cares about is propriety and status in London society.

Estella is engaged to Bentley and it is going to be the wedding of the century. Everybody is anticipating and gossiping about it.

“ ‘We will be the talk of the town. We will hold all of London in our thrall, Estella. Everyone will want to be like us. And then – then it will be the whole damned country who will be in our power. Lord, together, nothing can stop us.’”

We immediately get the impression that this isn’t your typical pairing, and it definitely isn’t a love match.

“The man I’ve chosen to wed is not a good man. He isn’t kind or charitable; if asked to give alms to the poor, he would ask what the poor have ever done for him.”

After the wedding reception we get a lot of dialogue from guests, and come to see how vapid they are. One man’s wife recently passed away and he acts nonchalant as though he doesn’t have a care in the world. People here are toxic, that much is clear.

Things spiral from there and Estella, being the strong minded woman she is, is forced to decide whether to embrace her situation or to do something about it and enact her vengeance and revenge.

This is a quirky, gothic, poetic writing style and I found it thoroughly entertaining. I enjoy the historical dialogue immersing the reader in atmospheric times of the past. If you enjoy tales about rotten men getting their comeuppance this may be the one for you.

Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for a copy!

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/9/24: It’s publication day!!!

Full disclosure: I have never read “Great Expectations”, nor any other book by Charles Dickens. I know some of the stories, as most do, through movie retellings and such. I knew next to nothing about Pip and Estella.

Thus, I went into this blind. I just knew that the premise intrigued me. Well, it held up exceptionally nicely. It was fascinating to get inside Estella’s head. How could anyone not be wholly damaged by that upbringing? Yet Estella is able to overcome many, many obstacles. Her cleverness and cunning know no bounds. She is a marvel and a masterpiece. Do not make the mistake of pitying her or showing her an ounce of kindness, for she will, at the very least, skewer you with one piercing glare. If you’re unlucky, you’ll see the dancing weasel.

(Alas, poor Pip…)

You simply must read this book.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo/Hera for a complimentary eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I know the premise of the story, I have never read Great Expectations but that didn't matter at all. This is a fantastic read - the main characters of Estella and Miss Haversham together with all the supporting characters are so superbly drawn. With the vivid descriptions of the dilapidated Satis House where not even the dust could be disturbed, I was hooked from the first page and my emotions where Estella was concerned ranged from sympathy to dislike to rooting for her. After being jilted, Miss Haversham instilled into her adopted daughter Estella her own prejudices of hatred, telling her that men could not be trusted and that to feel love was a weakness. Estella was such a complex character, so often cruel and this superb retelling takes her flaws and vulnerabilities and crafts them into a captivating and imaginative tale. I believe there will be another book to feature Estella. I can't wait.

[Georgie’s Book Nook]

Going to be DNFing this unfortunately…

I just found that the characters were laid out in a way that didn’t care for them, which made me lose interest in the book. I think our main character is so unloveable that it makes it hard for us to root for her in times of need.

Maybe I’ll come back to this in the future…

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel here


You don’t have to have read Great Expectations first to have read this. Just know that the title is very apt – in Dickens’ novel, Estella is the adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, a rich woman living in Satis House. Since she was cruelly rejected on her wedding day when she was young, she has worn the wedding dress ever since in a bid to remember and wallow in her misery. No doubt, this has shaped Estella and given her a keen sense of revenge and what is wrong with the world. So, this novel reimagines what could have happened next.

The book is told in two timelines – here we see Estella and Miss Havisham in full force. Then, the present day Estella with her bitter and twisted ways having shaped her into the woman she has become. Seeing this through her eyes, given that she is not really the focus of Great Expectations, was intriguing and very well done.


The novel is one based on character and oh boy, there’s a lot of baddies, shifty ones and ones you really don’t want to meet in a dark alley. Pip – ah it was nice to see him again. In fact, it was so lovely stepping back into GE through Barbara Havelocke’s eyes and seeing it afresh. The author has obviously a great love and appreciation for Dickens and his world yet has crafted a whole new one of her own.

I’ve always wondered what happened to Estella. Some characters just stay with you and I loved Miss Havisham so this was a real treat for me to read. I savoured it, even put off Donna Tartt from the library to read it. Totally worth it.

The setting of gothic London, richly decorated houses with devious and dark people within is just a delight from start to finish. The dialogue is clever, the atmosphere immersive and dark and the characters intriguing and so vividly drawn.

I love that Havelocke’s name even sounds Dickensian to me. (There’s a Sir Leicester Deadlock from Bleak House which is quite close)

Just brilliant.

[Megan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, Great Expectations isn't my favourite Dicken novel, but reading Barbara Havelocke's novel has me wanting to re-read it with a different perspective. The enigmatic Miss Havisham becomes the cruel dictator over Estella's childhood shaping her into the woman who fears feeling love.

Taking place over two timelines, the story seamlessly moves between Estella's younger years and her marriage to the insufferable and violent Bentley Drummle. Estella's Revenge explores the toxicity of relationships that destroy Estella's perspective on the world around her, turning men into the ruin of the world (which, in this novel, you can understand with so many horrible men in it).

Havelocke's letter at the end of her novel changed how I saw Estella's Revenge; 'Listen to two people describe an event and they are never identical. [...] This book is no different. It is not a retelling of Great Expectations'. With this change of perspective, I re-read with new eyes and I found myself loving Estella's Revenge more. Seeing this as more than a retelling shows Havelocke's novel in a new light and makes it clear that this is a must-read for those who want a different perspective on a tale that has more to it than what meets the eye.

Estella's Revenge is a beautiful reimagining of Dicken's classic novel and is a must-read for those who want to see it from Estella's perspective.

Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Elle (IG: simply.elle18) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished this outstanding book and I am not quite sure my little review will do it justice, but here goes:

"You know Miss Havisham. The world's most famous jilted bride. This is her daughter's story."

From the very first page, I knew I was going to love this book, I knew it was going to be one of those books I could spend a long time with, and I knew it was going to be one of those books I could read again and again. 

Estella's Revenge is not a retelling of Great Expectations. This book is all through Estella's eyes. It is told over two timelines and is beautifully written. It has gothic, mysterious, and atmospheric vibes and everything was so easy to picture. Ms Havelocke is a very talented author indeed. Every time I opened the book I was completely immersed in Estella's story. 

This book was such a pleasure to read and I didn't want it to end. I had pre-ordered the ebook but I just had to get a NetGalley copy as I was so eager to read this. When the hardback is released I will treat myself to a copy, and that copy of Estella's Revenge will become a book I will read yearly, I loved it that much! 

My favourite book so far this year 💜

AND! I was so pleased (and surprised) to read that Estella's story carries on! I'm very excited to read the next installment! 

Thank you NetGalley, Canelo and Hera for an eArc of Estella's Revenge. Expected publication date is 9/5/24.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the clever way this novel told Estella' s side story. It was entertaining, moving and harsh. Well-written, the story has definitely convinced me even though I really disliked all characters apart from Pip!! Some parts though could have been written a bit more subtly : for instance, Estella' s husband's behaviour description towards her felt over the top, too obvious somehow.
I read this novel on my online book club, Pigeonhole, and I thank you, Pigeonhole and Barbara for this opportunity.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen many reviewers of Estella's Revenge say that they had never read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I have read it and I actually think that it was a benefit that I had, in order to better understand the characters mentioned.
I really enjoyed the parts of the book that expanded upon the characters from Great Expectations - Estella, Miss Havisham, Pip, Mr Jaggers and The Pockets. I enjoyed reading the narrative from Estella's point of view.
I less enjoyed the parts of the book that weren't centred around Satis House and Estella's relationship with Miss Havisham, her adopted Mother.
However, my real disappointment with the book came right at the very end with the very strange last chapter. Estella suddenly turned into a Marvel-type caricature, but instead of a cape, she was adorned with huge Mutton Chop sleeves, an over-large bonnet and a knitting bag.
It was a very odd and almost abrupt ending to the book - almost as if another book entirely had been started.
And then I read the Author's note at the back which promised more adventure from Estella in the future. So this bizarre ending WAS a prelude to more.
I won't be reading any further instalments.
I give this 3.5 stars but can't bring myself to round it up to 4 unfortunately.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Havisham, Estella and Pip make a comeback in this dark tale -

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am aware of Miss Havisham, a character from one of Dicken's books - Great Expectations. She was jilted and lived while still wearing her wedding dress. She adopted a young girl called Estella. Barbara Havelocke has taken Estella and created a fabulous story of her life with Miss Haversham and imagines the things she will have experienced and created this wonderful historical fiction story.

The author states at the end of her book that she does not try to emulate Dickens in his writing and for me, this makes this book very accessible to anyone who likes to read historical fiction, fiction or family and lifestyle books. I adored this book from the outset and remained glued to it until the end. What a happy surprise to find that this is to be a series!

The author conveys a bleak life for Estella living in Satis House with her adopted mother. The rooms are dark, curtains remain drawn, and the place feels unloved and forlorn. It is in some ways a mirror of Miss Havisham herself, she lives with regret and this is passed on to Estella. Estella learns that men cannot be trusted, they should be crushed and love is something that is a whim and not felt.

The author takes the way society looks, treats and expects women to behave during the period this book is set. they are a possession, they do not need to worry about politics, money or opinions, that is the role of the men. Instead, they are to look good, speak when spoken to and do as they are told. I am so glad times have changed!

The author creates such a wonderful character in Estella, yes she is flawed but this is not her doing it is what she has learned from Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham has learnt this from how she was treated when she was jilted. Estella comes across in different ways and it is as I write this review now that I realise just how complex a character she actually is. She can be cruel, loyal, opinionated, rash, and headstrong but she is also so naive.

The way the author has used Estella and the way she has been brought up to such good effect. It gives a platform for the author to have what feels like a free rein as such because you are not quite sure what to expect in the future for Estella. The route that is taken is dark, twisted and dangerous. It has the feel of something akin to a gothic mystery with so much intrigue.

There is so much I want to say about this book, but when I look at the synopsis there is very little given away. So I am not going to leave spoilers.

This is a fabulous book and one that I adored. It is a historical fiction using well-known literary characters, their story is fabulous, emotional and just wonderful. It is one I would definitely recommend.

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been many, many years since I last read "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. This novel brought the story back to life in a vivid and well executed way.

I love historical fiction if it seems true to the time period. If the characters and setting are described in such a way that they leap from the pages. "Estella's Revenge" was just such a novel.
The dark and ultimately creepy Satis House, which for over two decades has lain dormant, dark, and unloved. With drapes drawn against the sunlight, and all clocks set at twenty minutes to nine. With spiders and mice rampant, dirt and mould about the place...

Written via dual timelines, "Estella's Revenge" portrays Estella, an adopted child, during her childhood living with the bitter and reclusive Miss Havisham, and, a decade later when she is a newlywed.

All her life Estella has been taught that men are not to be trusted. Miss Havisham has told her to never love. To steal men's hearts and break them, to hurt them before they hurt you.

"for tricksters often deliver their poisonous lies in drops rather than one big gulp, to make them easier to swallow."

The balance of power between the genders in the early 1800s was so askew that Estella knew that in order to feel safe and secure, she must marry. She did not want to share her heart with any man, but wanted a practical marriage of convenience. Tragically, she chose Bentley Drummle,  a brutal, corrupt, and odious man, much to her regret.

"Revenge. It was my only reason for existence."

This novel expertly demonstrated the gender inequality, and social injustice of the time period. The great divide between the social classes causing some corrupt and wealthy persons to victimize the poor through cruelty. How women were subservient to men, treated like possessions, with no power to make any meaningful decisions, and forced to obey as if they were chattel.

The author's admiration for Dickens' classic masterpiece "Great Expectations" was very evident, and she did justice to his character of Estella. An intelligent, multifaceted, and extremely complex character. She could be cruel and unlikable, yet at times I cried for her and felt so sorry for her life's experiences. Her stoic fortitude was admirable.

The gothic creepiness of Satis House, the emotional manipulation, the expertly drawn characters, all contributed to an astoundingly satisfying read. A dark and devious historical novel with a thriller vibe.

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Great Expectations in all its iterations – my husband loves the 1946 film version where John Mills plays Pip (I think he is far too old), but my favourite is the TV mini series where Gillian Anderson portrays Miss Havisham. As a child, the scene where Miss H goes up in flames terrified me and still does.

As an aside, for my OU degree creative writing module, I wrote a short story called Miss Havisham’s Ghost. It earned me a good mark, but it never saw the light of day, as it got woven into another story a couple of years later. Just goes to show that we all have a budding Dickens in us somewhere!

But back to Estella’s Revenge. I absolutely loved it and have given it a worthy five stars. The writing is impeccable and immaculate. The plot is original and entertaining. It’s not a retelling of GE though, you have to remember that – it’s the story from Estella’s pov, NOT Pip’s, so anything can happen, and it does. There are a lot of the original characters, but also others that are new.

But – if I could keep two things from the story I know and love, it would be Estella and Pip coming together at the end (soppy Love Actually stuff I know), and Bentley falling off his horse and breaking his neck after being cruel to it ie the ‘horse’s revenge’. To discover whether either of these happen in Estella’s Revenge, you’ll have to read it to find out.

My fellow Pigeons and I read this in ten staves over ten days with The Pigeonhole book club and thoroughly enjoyed commenting as we went along. I would highly recommend Estella’s Revenge as a book club read.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author, and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.

[Dan Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satis House lies dormant. Satis House is naught but a crumbling, broken husk of a glorified mausoleum entombing its residence within, refusing to allow one slice of light to enter. The clocks never tick, the dust never to be removed, for that would mean the acceptance of the past moving to the present, moving to the future. And to move forward, is to forget.
Estella is bred towards one simple task, and that is of course, to hate men and to keep her heart colder than an abandoned and unloved grave, much to the delight of her loving mother.
Estella is more than aware she doesn’t feel anything quite like those around her but that is because she is evil. Well, that’s what one would assume, or perhaps her persona is due to her mother’s machinations around ensuring she is sharper than a pain of broken glass, yet tougher than the sturdiest oak.
As Estella starts to navigate her way through the web of broken hearts and wounded egos, she finds herself the target of pure hated in the guise of the abusive Drummle, a man so wicked and now she cannot escape for marriage has them in bondage forever more… for Estella has a choice to make: embrace the darkness within her heart and exact her revenge? Or end up like her mother? Time will tell…. As the clocks may no longer tick, but that won’t stop Estella from crafting her own future, but she must tread carefully if she wants to succeed in her plans.
A dazzling, gothic, and unnerving retelling of Miss Havisham’s daughter, from delicious cover, to unforgettable story, this is a must-read.

[Claire Annals · Rating 5 out of 5]

#EstellasRevenge revisits some of the well-known characters and situations from Charles Dickens's Great Expectations - but you don't have to have read this to enjoy Estella's story.

#Revenge is the purpose that Estella was raised for.

I loved this book. Satis House, London and Paris are brought to life in vivid detail and I was quickly entranced by Estella's world.

Spanning two timelines from Estella's point of view - as her younger self and from the time of her marriage and ensuing events - this book sheds light on her unusual upbringing by the grieving Miss Haversham, the plots and schemes she endured at the hands of Miss Haversham's relatives, her experiences at finishing school in Paris and as a young heiress in London, her insecurity at her position as an adopted orphan in Miss Haversham's household and her desire to be in charge of her own destiny.

The female characters in this book shine, showing loyalty, courage, determination, wit and cunning - even whilst plotting against each other - and not all of the male characters are found wanting .... but revenge on men is Estella's purpose in life.

With thanks to #netgalley for early access to #EstellasRevenge

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo/Hera for an eARC of "Estella's Revenge" in exchange for my review.

The writing style is easy to digest and even though I had never read Great Expectations so I didn't know exactly what I was getting into, the world was introduced and presented to the reader thoughtfully. Which did hold onto it's promise through the novel. It starts off with the hook of suspense, mystery and murder. This story envelopes gothic fiction to it's core. The dual time line shows past and present actions with how they affect our main character, Estella. Estella is a unique and refreshing character to journey with. Along with the other female characters in this book, she has a bold, cunning and witty personality. Experiencing similar events to Estella, I loved seeing her grow throughout her struggles and become this strong, independent woman. (Those are my favorite types of FMC's). I enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more by this lovely author

[Michaela in Bookish Wonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest i'm not usually a fan of historical fiction. But when I read the blurb to this I was eager to read more and I really enjoyed it! 

The story is told across two timelines. Estella now, married to the wrong man, believing she does not need love. And when she was younger growing up with Miss Havisham, frozen in time. The effects of her upbringing are clear. She is a strong and independent girl however lacks compassion and empathy which is hardly surprising.


I read Great Expectations when I was in school so the story is completely lost to me now. I went into this one not realising the relation between the two. It is very well written! I enjoyed the gothic atmosphere and am pleased to say I enjoyed this far more than I expected to as it is not my usual genre at all.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Canela / Hera for my digital copy to read and review.

I found Estella's story to be fascinating and intriguing. The story is told over several timelines. Barbara wrote brilliant descriptions of Satis House, Miss Haversham and Estella that I was able to see them in my mind. It was well written. The premise of Miss Haversham bringing up Estella to not have a care in the world of what people think of her. The story was dark, gothic and suspenseful. I will be recommending this book.

[Laura Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid 4.
This is a very well written, new take on Estella's story, although it has "meet points" with Dicken's original it gives a new voice to Estella. It tells what the author believes is her story in often graphic detail, something Dicken's would not have been able to do.
This was often a gripping read, as the characters were so well drawn I was caught up in their lives.
With thanks to the author and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.

[Anna Mullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite stories is great expectations, so when I was given the chance to read Estelle’s revenge I jumped at the opportunity. The idea of this story intrigued me, this is not simply a retelling but rather Estelle’s story.

Written as a dual time line flitting between her younger years and present, I found this book to be emotional and wonderful at the same time. I would definitely recommend picking this book up!

[Celine | stuffcelinereads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to the online book club The Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I haven't read Great Expectations so I won't be able to talk about the inaccuracies between those two novels but there are enough of them regarding the character's arc and development, different plot lines and overall storyline.

I don't mind unlikable characters, i actually find them refreshing most of the time but what was unlikable about them was that they don't make any sense. Human psychology and mental illness are a big part of the story and if an author wants to go down that road, a bit of research beforehand would be appreciated in order to have well rounded characters with interesting arcs and development.

The inaccuracies were indeed infuriating as well as the out of character narrative for almost all of the characters :
• Our main character, Estella, has never known love but for some reason knows what it should be. Swore that she'll never love, then falls in love with more than one character, then swore she shall never love again, then forgives and loves someone who has never showed her love. She trusts a violent jerk of a man when the whole point of the story is that she isn't to trust any of them. She could have at least go for Pip, which reminds me that she wanted to marry Bentley for power but this plot line was completely forgotten. She's been cocooned all of her childhood from other children, having friends (minor or adult ones) but at 10yo has magically the mental and emotional maturity of a 30yo adult, how ? She also at some point in her very young adult life wants to cut some man's balls off ? Excuse me but at what point, in this regency era, did she get to learn what testicles were ?
• The Mother definitely is manic as we go from 'you shall never love anyone' to 'i gave you your life and everything you have' to 'i love you'. Also fyi, being deprived of any day/sunlight for 25 years is cause of cardiovascular issues and cardiac arrests, meaning that paired with her eating habits which most likely lack any vitamin d, she simply should have died quite some time ago.
• You want to make me believe that Bentley waited almost two months to go retrieve his wife ? And how exactly did he know she was back at the mansion ?
• Why, exactly, make Mr Jaggers a pervert ? Just to show that all men are trash ?
• What happens to Pip ?
• What was the point of Yvette ?
• What was the point of Orlick ?
• What happens to the Pockets ?

The plot goes in way too many directions and should have focused on developing and resolving selected storylines as well as on working more on the characters. Because of that the plot is very weak and the characters felt flat with unresolved storylines. It was all very tiring and nonsensical.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read Great Expectations but I have seen adaptations and I do know of Miss Havisham’s character and her standout characteristics of never taking her wedding dress off, living in darkness etc. However, not reading the original book does not take away anything from this book at all and you can definitely read it without any knowledge of Great Expectations.

Estella’s Revenge is from the Point of view of Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter and Havelocke does an incredible job of making this character her own and giving her a fully fleshed out character with plenty of development throughout the story. The novel takes place in two different time periods: one during Estella’s teenage and young adult years where her mother constantly tells her to break men’s hearts and never love anyone and the other in the present as she prepares to marry an awful man for shared power rather than love.

The novel seamlessly switches between the two timelines to not only give the reader an insight into Estella’s strange yet quite damaging childhood but to also show how strong she has become as an adult as she navigates the marriage scene and then deals with her newlywed husband who shows his true colours almost immediately. What follows is an intense read as Estella has to decide how to deal with her husband while also caring for her mother as they get closer than ever before as Miss Havisham reveals what happened all those years ago.

I really loved this deep insight into Estella and how the novel really focuses on her traumatic childhood which leads to some bad decisions, especially in the love area. Estella is a fascinating character and so strong minded and clever that you can’t help but root for her from start to finish! I also loved Pip and thought he deserved so much better than how he was treated by the mother and daughter pair but unfortunately that stays true to the original text and had to happen.

The Gothic setting of the house and the atmospheric darkness that always enshrouds it was written perfectly by Havelocke with such beautiful imagery that it could almost give you goose bumps every time we are back there. Her characterisation of Miss Havisham also matched up stunningly with the setting to add an eerie touch to the overall novel.

Estella’s Revenge provides readers with a fresh take on a classic novel with a different perspective that delves even deeper into the story with a stunning re-imagining of Great Expectations.

[Lauralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estella’s Revenge is a retelling of Great Expectations told from Estella Havisham’s perspective. Estella is best known to be Pip's love interest. She was the adopted daughter of the jilted Miss Havisham. She has been trained since childhood to break men’s hearts. Estella rejects Pip and enters into an abusive marriage with Drummle. Estella vows to get revenge on her husband and find her own agency.

I had never liked Estella from Great Expectations. She is cold and very mean to Pip. In Estella’s Revenge, I found that her character is more fleshed out and is more sympathetic. Estella has been bullied by others. She was trained from a young age to be a weapon of revenge for Miss Havisham. She is a strong woman who has survived a lot of trauma. However, she is vulnerable and broken. Estella spends the whole novel searching for love. Even though she is mean to Pip, she loves him. However, she is afraid to embrace his love because he fears that he will not love who she is truly. She is afraid of Pip because she is afraid that he will destroy her. Pip is Estella’s weakness. Therefore, I found Estella to be a very compelling character, and it changed my mind ini how I viewed her in Great Expectations.

Overall, this book is about choices, love, and self-identity. I found all of the characters to be faithful to Dickens’ portrayal of these characters. There were some scenes that I thought were a bit far-fetched and unconvincing. I also thought that the novel moved at a slow pace. Nevertheless, I thought it was very well-written! Estella Revenge is a solid retelling of Great Expectations! This book will be sure to please Charles Dickens fans! I recommend this book for fans of Havisham, Olivia Twist, and Little Emily!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estella's Revenge tells the story of Estella Havisham from Great Expectations. The story is told through alternating timelines. The present follows Estella through her engagement and wedding to Bentley Drummle and her conflicts with him. The past chapters focus on her upbringing in Satis House and mistreatment by the Pocket family, as well as her time at finishing school in Paris. All of the characters you know and love from Great Expectations make an appearances in this novel, which is too be expected.

I must admit that I read Great Expectations most of the way through when I was in high school, so I'm no expert on the story. That being said, I found Estella's side of the tale to be very interesting to listen to. The story being told from her perspective brings a lot of depth to her character and it helps the reader to better understand her motivations as well as Miss Havisham's. It also fills the reader in on what her life was like when Pip wasn't around to tell the story. My main complaint with the audiobook was that I just didn't like the narrator. The volume could oscillate quite a bit, with some whispered parts being difficult to hear and other parts being so shrill they almost made my head hurt. The narration got better as the book went on and Estella grew up, so there was that at least. This will be good for fans of Great Expectations who maybe want to get a different perspective on the book, as well as those who enjoy historical fiction or unlikable narrators.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estella‘s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke and narrated by Rosie Ackerman, is about the ward of miss Havisham the jilted bride from Charles dickens great expectations. When starting to listen to the audiobook I was thrilled to hear Barbara Havelock’s great grasp on the spirit of the book and gave an awesome Dickensian bent to the story The first 70% of the book was awesome but I found the ending to be ambiguous but realize it’s paving the way for future books that I do think I would be happy to read. I was happy to see Pipp in the book although he still a doormat he is also adorable. The book switches between her current day married to the pompous duke, to her growing up at the beer foundry with Miss Havisham. If future books have half the snark the great quirky characters and crazy situations I will definitely be down to read it if you love Charles dickens then you will probably enjoy this book as much as I did the audio narration couldn’t have been better I love Rosie Ackerman‘s narration and she never seems to disappoint.#NetGalley,#DreamscapeMedia #BarbaraHavelocke, #RosieAckerman, #CharlesDickens, #estellasRevenge,

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite kinda character is complex, one I’m not sure I can trust. Estella was introduced as an anti-hero that I was ready to love to hate yet she slowly revealed hidden depths and I grew to love and admire this fierce, head strong girl.

The setting and imagery is immaculate and although this took me forever to read as I just haven’t had time this summer, I was always immediately transported to 19th century England and Paris whenever I picked this up. I haven’t read Great Expectations and I’m now keen to,  but this is still a brilliant standalone gothic historical fiction.  Enraging yet heartwarming, brutal but also filled with tenderness and then laced with dark humour, Estella’s Revenge took me on an emotional journey. Safe to say I cannot wait for the sequel, Estella’s Fury, coming out later this year.

[Gina Dalfonzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was very well done. The second half went completely off the rails. Somehow it morphed from a skillful literary fanfic into a penny dreadful. And while either genre can be enjoyable, smooshing them together like this just didn't work.

Full review forthcoming.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Paradise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars