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Rainbow Black: A Novel
“I've loved Maggie Thrash's work for years, and Rainbow Black is going to set so many new hearts aflame—murder, intrigue, queer love, dark humor AND satanic panic? Welcome to the Maggie Thrash Fan Club, world!”—Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow
For readers of Donna Tartt and Ottessa Moshfegh comes a brilliant, deliriously entertaining novel from the acclaimed author of Honor Girl. Rainbow Black is part murder mystery, part gay international fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.
Lacey Bond is a 13-year-old girl in New Hampshire growing up in the tranquility of her hippie parents’ rural daycare center.
Then the Satanic Panic hits. It’s the summer of 1990 when Lacey ’s parents are handcuffed, flung into the county jail, and faced with a torrent of jaw-dropping accusations as part of a mass hysteria sweeping the nation. When a horrific murder brings Lacey to the breaking point, she makes a ruthless choice that will haunt her for decades.
As an adult, Lacey mimes a normal life as the law clerk of an illustrious judge. She has a beautiful girlfriend, a measure of security, and the world has mostly forgotten about her. But after a tiny misstep spirals into an uncontrolled legal disaster, the hysteria threatens to begin all over again.
Rainbow Black is an addictive, searing, high-octane triumph, an imaginative tour de force about one woman’s tireless desire to be free.
For readers of Donna Tartt and Ottessa Moshfegh comes a brilliant, deliriously entertaining novel from the acclaimed author of Honor Girl. Rainbow Black is part murder mystery, part gay international fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.
Lacey Bond is a 13-year-old girl in New Hampshire growing up in the tranquility of her hippie parents’ rural daycare center.
Then the Satanic Panic hits. It’s the summer of 1990 when Lacey ’s parents are handcuffed, flung into the county jail, and faced with a torrent of jaw-dropping accusations as part of a mass hysteria sweeping the nation. When a horrific murder brings Lacey to the breaking point, she makes a ruthless choice that will haunt her for decades.
As an adult, Lacey mimes a normal life as the law clerk of an illustrious judge. She has a beautiful girlfriend, a measure of security, and the world has mostly forgotten about her. But after a tiny misstep spirals into an uncontrolled legal disaster, the hysteria threatens to begin all over again.
Rainbow Black is an addictive, searing, high-octane triumph, an imaginative tour de force about one woman’s tireless desire to be free.
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First published March 19, 2024
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About the author
Maggie Thrash
7 books454 followersMAGGIE THRASH is the author of the critically acclaimed graphic memoirs Honor Girl, which was nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Lost Soul, Be at Peace, as well as two novels for young adults. Rainbow Black is her first novel for adults. Born and raised in Atlanta, she lives in New Hampshire.
You can also find her on maggiethrash.com and on instagram @maggiethrash
You can also find her on maggiethrash.com and on instagram @maggiethrash
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,069 reviews
March 27, 2024
Rainbow Black is quite over the top in a Grady Hendrix kind of way, but without the supernatural elements. It’s funny and feral while also addressing serious, potentially triggering topics.
Despite its outlandish aspects, the story does delve into a dark part of real history that was truly stranger (and perhaps more unsettling) than fiction. Similarly to Whisper Down the Lane by Clay McLeod Chapman, the heart of Rainbow Black is the Satanic Panic, primarily focusing on the false abuse allegations and the adults who manipulated children into revealing fallacious memories. It was a monstrous reality, and Maggie Thrash shows it to us through the eyes of a young character whose life is thrown into upheaval because of the accusations flung at her own parents. The far reaching consequences of this dishonesty become apparent as Lacey’s life unravels.
Rainbow Black was one of those deeply immersive novels that made me desperately wish for more reading time and less adult responsibility. I started it the very day it arrived, and was immediately locked within its grip, never truly wanting to set it down.
There are certainly parts that may leave a reader feeling incredulous, and you’ll just have to decide if you want to go with it all or not. I found the gripping execution, as well as the finely crafted vulnerability of the narrator, allowed me to accept all areas of implausibility. Frankly, I did not care. I was enjoying the book too much.
The novel is trauma heavy, so that’s something readers considering it should be aware of. It demonstrates the influence of prejudices and group hysteria, the hate they fuel, and the damage that is done because of it all. But like that spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down, Thrash’s dark humor helped me swallow the unsavory bits smoothly. You may find it does the same for you while you enjoy this wildly entertaining ride!
I am immensely grateful to Bibliolifestyle and Harper Perennial for my copy. All opinions are my own.
Despite its outlandish aspects, the story does delve into a dark part of real history that was truly stranger (and perhaps more unsettling) than fiction. Similarly to Whisper Down the Lane by Clay McLeod Chapman, the heart of Rainbow Black is the Satanic Panic, primarily focusing on the false abuse allegations and the adults who manipulated children into revealing fallacious memories. It was a monstrous reality, and Maggie Thrash shows it to us through the eyes of a young character whose life is thrown into upheaval because of the accusations flung at her own parents. The far reaching consequences of this dishonesty become apparent as Lacey’s life unravels.
Rainbow Black was one of those deeply immersive novels that made me desperately wish for more reading time and less adult responsibility. I started it the very day it arrived, and was immediately locked within its grip, never truly wanting to set it down.
There are certainly parts that may leave a reader feeling incredulous, and you’ll just have to decide if you want to go with it all or not. I found the gripping execution, as well as the finely crafted vulnerability of the narrator, allowed me to accept all areas of implausibility. Frankly, I did not care. I was enjoying the book too much.
The novel is trauma heavy, so that’s something readers considering it should be aware of. It demonstrates the influence of prejudices and group hysteria, the hate they fuel, and the damage that is done because of it all. But like that spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down, Thrash’s dark humor helped me swallow the unsavory bits smoothly. You may find it does the same for you while you enjoy this wildly entertaining ride!
I am immensely grateful to Bibliolifestyle and Harper Perennial for my copy. All opinions are my own.
March 30, 2024
only the gays have this much audacity
August 4, 2023
"rainbow black" is a wild queer thriller about a young girl at the center of her parents' trial and her life afterwards in canada. when lacey's parents are accused of child sexual assault, thirteen-year-old lacey believes they are innocent and fights viciously for them to be found not guilty. when the case goes sour, she runs away with her trans best friend to canada and they begin a life of their own there.
the queer themes in this novel are very strong. lesbian and trans identity is never questioned by thrash, but embraced. it's great to see a queer author write queer stories.
the first half of this novel was the strongest and most interesting. the second half is less engrossing and feels a bit out of place. we never truly get the answers we want; what did lacey's parents really do? what really happened to èclair? i enjoyed this novel, but the ending did not feel satisfying to me at all. if anything, it shows how disgusting the legal system is and how the wrong people get charged with the wrong crimes. yet, when it comes to lacey's parents, one must wonder if satanic panic caused the allegations, or if her father truly did hurt children.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
the queer themes in this novel are very strong. lesbian and trans identity is never questioned by thrash, but embraced. it's great to see a queer author write queer stories.
the first half of this novel was the strongest and most interesting. the second half is less engrossing and feels a bit out of place. we never truly get the answers we want; what did lacey's parents really do? what really happened to èclair? i enjoyed this novel, but the ending did not feel satisfying to me at all. if anything, it shows how disgusting the legal system is and how the wrong people get charged with the wrong crimes. yet, when it comes to lacey's parents, one must wonder if satanic panic caused the allegations, or if her father truly did hurt children.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2023
3.5 stars rounded... I'm not sure yet.
I was riveted by the first half of this book. The characters and the story were so compelling. There were these little 1-2 page chapters that fast-forwarded 14 years that just didn't make sense... I knew it was foreshadowing about what was to come, but they were just confusing. Regardless, I was enthralled by Lacey's story. But then I got bored, and the book sat unread for a few days. Wanting to move along to my next book, I picked it back up and read only this until I finished it. The last third was just different. It didn't feel like the characters we were so involved with and cared about from the beginning.
When it was all said and done, we didn't really get any answers or concrete details about what actually happened back then, which I hate. We also have no idea where any of these characters ended up or what is happening with their lives. You know your girl loves a good wrap-up! A lot was just implied throughout the book, and you had to decipher everything for yourself. I guess all together I liked it more I loved it, so we're going to round my 3.5 stars down to 3.
I was riveted by the first half of this book. The characters and the story were so compelling. There were these little 1-2 page chapters that fast-forwarded 14 years that just didn't make sense... I knew it was foreshadowing about what was to come, but they were just confusing. Regardless, I was enthralled by Lacey's story. But then I got bored, and the book sat unread for a few days. Wanting to move along to my next book, I picked it back up and read only this until I finished it. The last third was just different. It didn't feel like the characters we were so involved with and cared about from the beginning.
When it was all said and done, we didn't really get any answers or concrete details about what actually happened back then, which I hate. We also have no idea where any of these characters ended up or what is happening with their lives. You know your girl loves a good wrap-up! A lot was just implied throughout the book, and you had to decipher everything for yourself. I guess all together I liked it more I loved it, so we're going to round my 3.5 stars down to 3.
January 9, 2024
Trigger warnings: Mention of Child SA, Violence, Homophobia
I received Rainbow Black as an ARC from Goodreads as a giveaway. This review is my own personal opinion and is not endorsed nor paid for by anyone. This review does contain spoilers.
Rainbow Black has a Goodreads summary written as “part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story”. This book is split into three parts focusing on the main character, Lacey Bond, in her childhood, youth, and then adulthood.
Part One is fantastic and is gripping from the first page. I was immediately invested in Lacey and the happenings of her life as her parents are accused of being Satanist pedophiles after children from their daycare start coming forward and saying that they have been sexually assaulted in Satanic rituals.
Part Two begins to fall off a little as Lacey is a 14 year old attempting to navigate the fallout of her sister Éclair’s murder in the midst of her parent’s retrial. Sounds exciting, I know, but unfortunately for me it fell a little flat.
Part Three follows Lacey, now Jo, and Gwen, who was Destiny in Part Two, who was Dylan in Part One. Are YOU still following? At this point, I was not. Anywho, Jo and Gwen are now living in Canada trying to stay as far away from their past as they can because Lacey murdered Destiny’s half-brother Dodge for murdering Éclair because of Destiny’s penis.
(Oh, and Jo’s parent’s are exonerated almost a decade and a half later because of course there was no actual crime committed by them and the children in the past were coerced by their therapists to believe that they had been assaulted.)
I realize by the end that all of the characters you are introduced to throughout the book are, frankly, terrible. I know that not everyone can be likable, but to have an entire book made up of people I could not care less about is kind of disheartening. There was also always a build up of “something is about to happen” with no real follow though, and for how much we are lead to believe that something big is going to happen it is very anti-climactic.
I would say that this book is very much not a murder mystery and more-so a coming-of-age type book. As far as the international-fugitive love story goes, I must not have gotten that part of the book in my ARC.
I found some of the author’s views on the LGBTQ+ topics addressed in the book troublesome, but I cannot determine if that was because they were trying to stay in line with the time period that the book is based or if there are other factors at play. I could probably write a novel on this aspect, but I will not take up any more of your time than I already have.
Obviously there is a lot more to this book than what I have very briefly summarized, and my takeaway from the book could be completely different than someone else’s. That is why reading and art are so much fun; things resonate differently with different people. I implore you to read this if it sounds interesting to you and draw your own conclusions.
I received Rainbow Black as an ARC from Goodreads as a giveaway. This review is my own personal opinion and is not endorsed nor paid for by anyone. This review does contain spoilers.
Rainbow Black has a Goodreads summary written as “part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story”. This book is split into three parts focusing on the main character, Lacey Bond, in her childhood, youth, and then adulthood.
Part One is fantastic and is gripping from the first page. I was immediately invested in Lacey and the happenings of her life as her parents are accused of being Satanist pedophiles after children from their daycare start coming forward and saying that they have been sexually assaulted in Satanic rituals.
Part Two begins to fall off a little as Lacey is a 14 year old attempting to navigate the fallout of her sister Éclair’s murder in the midst of her parent’s retrial. Sounds exciting, I know, but unfortunately for me it fell a little flat.
Part Three follows Lacey, now Jo, and Gwen, who was Destiny in Part Two, who was Dylan in Part One. Are YOU still following? At this point, I was not. Anywho, Jo and Gwen are now living in Canada trying to stay as far away from their past as they can because Lacey murdered Destiny’s half-brother Dodge for murdering Éclair because of Destiny’s penis.
(Oh, and Jo’s parent’s are exonerated almost a decade and a half later because of course there was no actual crime committed by them and the children in the past were coerced by their therapists to believe that they had been assaulted.)
I realize by the end that all of the characters you are introduced to throughout the book are, frankly, terrible. I know that not everyone can be likable, but to have an entire book made up of people I could not care less about is kind of disheartening. There was also always a build up of “something is about to happen” with no real follow though, and for how much we are lead to believe that something big is going to happen it is very anti-climactic.
I would say that this book is very much not a murder mystery and more-so a coming-of-age type book. As far as the international-fugitive love story goes, I must not have gotten that part of the book in my ARC.
I found some of the author’s views on the LGBTQ+ topics addressed in the book troublesome, but I cannot determine if that was because they were trying to stay in line with the time period that the book is based or if there are other factors at play. I could probably write a novel on this aspect, but I will not take up any more of your time than I already have.
Obviously there is a lot more to this book than what I have very briefly summarized, and my takeaway from the book could be completely different than someone else’s. That is why reading and art are so much fun; things resonate differently with different people. I implore you to read this if it sounds interesting to you and draw your own conclusions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2023
An odd, but phenomenal book.
The first half of the book is set in 1989 New Hampshire and from the point of view of 14-year-old Lacey Bond whose family is torn apart by the satanic panic when her parents are falsely accused of satanic ritual abuse of the children in the daycare they run out of their home. This is clearly inspired by the McMartin trial of the 1980s, which was the longest trial in US history and resulted in no convictions. This book could have been a more straight-forward legal thriller, but Thrash had grander ambitions, and made the bold choice to make it first and foremost, a bildungsroman / queer love story.
I’m sure the time jump to 2005 will be polarizing, as it’s initially quite jarring and takes the reader out of the propulsive narrative of the 1989 section, but I realized after finishing the book just how intentional that was. The first part is like a surreal dream that we are suddenly awakened from and plopped into the mundanity of a ‘normal life’ with marital strife, therapy, workplace drama, etc. This ‘normal life’ interlude is eventually disturbed by the arrival of someone from Jo’s past, and she must accept the surreal dream of her past into her new reality, but not without harsh consequences.
While this book is long, I think it’s meant to be read twice. After you read the final half, the first half will take on new meaning on a second read.
Highly recommended.
The first half of the book is set in 1989 New Hampshire and from the point of view of 14-year-old Lacey Bond whose family is torn apart by the satanic panic when her parents are falsely accused of satanic ritual abuse of the children in the daycare they run out of their home. This is clearly inspired by the McMartin trial of the 1980s, which was the longest trial in US history and resulted in no convictions. This book could have been a more straight-forward legal thriller, but Thrash had grander ambitions, and made the bold choice to make it first and foremost, a bildungsroman / queer love story.
I’m sure the time jump to 2005 will be polarizing, as it’s initially quite jarring and takes the reader out of the propulsive narrative of the 1989 section, but I realized after finishing the book just how intentional that was. The first part is like a surreal dream that we are suddenly awakened from and plopped into the mundanity of a ‘normal life’ with marital strife, therapy, workplace drama, etc. This ‘normal life’ interlude is eventually disturbed by the arrival of someone from Jo’s past, and she must accept the surreal dream of her past into her new reality, but not without harsh consequences.
While this book is long, I think it’s meant to be read twice. After you read the final half, the first half will take on new meaning on a second read.
Highly recommended.
April 10, 2024
I don’t even know where to begin with this book because I just fucking loved it so much. It started as a cover buy but it ended up being so much more. I’ll read anything that features the words Satanic Panic and this one is one of the best damn ones I’ve crossed on the subject matter. Add to that that it’s queer as FUCK and this book was just a love affair waiting to happen. And that ending just ripped my heart out, ripped it to shreds and stomped on it and it hurt so fucking good.
December 18, 2025
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads--review soon!
Notes: Audiobook (it's on hoopla)
-LBGTQ+ rep
-Trans rep
-Satanic Panic
-Love story
-Coming-of-age through adulthood
Notes: Audiobook (it's on hoopla)
-LBGTQ+ rep
-Trans rep
-Satanic Panic
-Love story
-Coming-of-age through adulthood
August 29, 2024
Thirteen-year-old Lacey’s life is thrown into total upheaval when her parents are arrested for a horrific crime. Caught up in the 1980s wave of Satanic Panic, they’re being accused of abusing children at the daycare they run. Lacey knows the charges are baseless, but no one in the legal system wants to hear a kid’s opinion. Lacey makes some decisions she can’t take back, and 14 years later she’s living under an assumed identity in Montreal. But someone is about to learn her secret…
As someone who’s fascinated by the Satanic Panic, I found the beginning of this book especially compelling. The author does such a good job of putting us in the mindset of a child who doesn’t fully understand what’s going on. Based on what I’ve read of similar cases, the dubious recovered memory work by the psychologists in this book seemed very true to life. It was so interesting to follow these characters over a long time period and watch how the trauma of the trial had changed and shaped them. Most of this book’s characters are morally grey, and even the outright villainous ones are acting on their (misguided) convictions, which made this an especially compelling and complex read. I was more interested in Lacey’s childhood and teen years than her adulthood, but I thought the ending came together quite nicely.
While horror fans might be drawn in by the cover, this is definitely more of a character-driven story than a spooky one, so I would recommend it to lit-fic lovers!
As someone who’s fascinated by the Satanic Panic, I found the beginning of this book especially compelling. The author does such a good job of putting us in the mindset of a child who doesn’t fully understand what’s going on. Based on what I’ve read of similar cases, the dubious recovered memory work by the psychologists in this book seemed very true to life. It was so interesting to follow these characters over a long time period and watch how the trauma of the trial had changed and shaped them. Most of this book’s characters are morally grey, and even the outright villainous ones are acting on their (misguided) convictions, which made this an especially compelling and complex read. I was more interested in Lacey’s childhood and teen years than her adulthood, but I thought the ending came together quite nicely.
While horror fans might be drawn in by the cover, this is definitely more of a character-driven story than a spooky one, so I would recommend it to lit-fic lovers!
May 22, 2024
I've been seeing some other Goodreads reviewers complaining that "nothing gets resolved" and "you never find out what really happened," to which I say...maybe reading books isn't for you? If you can't figure out from the text whether Lacey's parents are Satanic pedophiles, maybe you need a hobby that doesn't rely on your reasoning skills. Just a thought. OK, on to my actual review:
Oh, this was GOOD.
I didn't really have any information or expectations about Rainbow Black going into it--I'd liked Honor Girl as much as the next lesbian, but I didn't really have any notion of how Maggie Thrash would approach an adult "thriller" (used here in quotes because it doesn't really capture the story, but is how the book is marketed). As it turns out, she's fabulous at it--this book is grotesque and depressing but also deeply funny, like Demon Copperhead by way of Gretchen Felker-Martin. I do think there's an unevenness after the time jump, but my star rating reflects my genuine joy at reading something gross, gay, hilarious, and surprising despite its small structural flaws.
Oh, this was GOOD.
I didn't really have any information or expectations about Rainbow Black going into it--I'd liked Honor Girl as much as the next lesbian, but I didn't really have any notion of how Maggie Thrash would approach an adult "thriller" (used here in quotes because it doesn't really capture the story, but is how the book is marketed). As it turns out, she's fabulous at it--this book is grotesque and depressing but also deeply funny, like Demon Copperhead by way of Gretchen Felker-Martin. I do think there's an unevenness after the time jump, but my star rating reflects my genuine joy at reading something gross, gay, hilarious, and surprising despite its small structural flaws.
September 7, 2023
This novel is a journey! Mostly stylized as a memoir, this felt like a dark, deep character study more than anything else. What happens when all the systems that are supposed to be in place to support and protect youth not only fail them but actively harm them? The Satanic panic in the 1980s was very real, and it did ruin many lives and traumatize countless others. Without being sensationalist, this story looks at how traumatic events like that are more than just a headline for those who live with them. It is painful, sometimes graphic, and feels authentic and honest. Some reviews highlight this as a thriller, which I suppose isn’t wrong, but it feels more like footage from a car accident in slow motion. The interior perspective clues us in right away that things aren’t great, and probably won’t get better.
I don’t know if I’m doing this story justice, here. I really, really enjoyed the writing style. The dialogue all felt genuine, the prose direct and to the point, and compelling. Since finishing it I have been contemplating what was gained and lost from the memoir-style of writing, and I do think I would have enjoyed it more without that edifice, if we didn’t have the occasional jumps into the future, but I’m not sure. It feels like the structure, which isn’t particularly novel, is doing some of the heavy lifting, and there might be more interesting character growth to witness if this style wasn’t used. But having said that, I think the conventions of the format were well-employed. It was really hard to put down and the chapters all ended with just the right amount of tension that I really had to just keep going but never felt like I was being manipulated. It is weird to talk about world-building, since this is set in the real world, among real life events, but it is still appropriate, I think, because the author has done a great job of situating this story in placer and time. The semi-rural New England setting, the relationships with sibling, parents, and classmates, all the little bits and pieces, they really are great. They help this story feel real, and that makes the stakes, the danger, feel that much more immediate.
Ultimately, the central character and her story is tragic, regardless of any personal growth or catharsis that may or may not come by the end. Although a very specific story rooted in a very specific cultural event, this type of trauma and violence is still felt by queer youth today, and that touchstone with contemporary reality really made me invested in the characters. I found the primary character really engaging, the story stirred all sorts of emotions from frustration and rage to fear, concern, and overwhelming empathy, and the writing strong and perfectly matched with the subject matter and story. Some parts in the beginning were a little drawn out for me, and I am still on the fence about how this story might have hit without the memoir-style format to fall back on, but those are minor quibbles. I really enjoyed this book—I tore through it, and it not provoked genuine emotion but also forced me to investigate my own ideas of morality and justice. I haven’t read the author’s other work, but as far as an adult-fiction debut goes this is amazing, and it makes me excited to see what else she will do.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Harper Perennial, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don’t know if I’m doing this story justice, here. I really, really enjoyed the writing style. The dialogue all felt genuine, the prose direct and to the point, and compelling. Since finishing it I have been contemplating what was gained and lost from the memoir-style of writing, and I do think I would have enjoyed it more without that edifice, if we didn’t have the occasional jumps into the future, but I’m not sure. It feels like the structure, which isn’t particularly novel, is doing some of the heavy lifting, and there might be more interesting character growth to witness if this style wasn’t used. But having said that, I think the conventions of the format were well-employed. It was really hard to put down and the chapters all ended with just the right amount of tension that I really had to just keep going but never felt like I was being manipulated. It is weird to talk about world-building, since this is set in the real world, among real life events, but it is still appropriate, I think, because the author has done a great job of situating this story in placer and time. The semi-rural New England setting, the relationships with sibling, parents, and classmates, all the little bits and pieces, they really are great. They help this story feel real, and that makes the stakes, the danger, feel that much more immediate.
Ultimately, the central character and her story is tragic, regardless of any personal growth or catharsis that may or may not come by the end. Although a very specific story rooted in a very specific cultural event, this type of trauma and violence is still felt by queer youth today, and that touchstone with contemporary reality really made me invested in the characters. I found the primary character really engaging, the story stirred all sorts of emotions from frustration and rage to fear, concern, and overwhelming empathy, and the writing strong and perfectly matched with the subject matter and story. Some parts in the beginning were a little drawn out for me, and I am still on the fence about how this story might have hit without the memoir-style format to fall back on, but those are minor quibbles. I really enjoyed this book—I tore through it, and it not provoked genuine emotion but also forced me to investigate my own ideas of morality and justice. I haven’t read the author’s other work, but as far as an adult-fiction debut goes this is amazing, and it makes me excited to see what else she will do.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Harper Perennial, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 4, 2024
This book was a 400-page anxiety attack that barely let up for air, however, I could not look away.
Rainbow Black is labeled as ‘part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.’ Like always, I did not read the synopsis in its entirety, so a lot of this was a surprise.
We follow Lacey through her tumultuous teenage years, grappling with her attraction to girls and trying to fit in at school, all while her parents face trial for horrific crimes. As the owners of Rainbow Kids, her parents ran a successful business until disturbing stories emerged about what happened behind closed doors, with witnesses claiming Lacey was there, watching. The narrative includes a murder, time in the foster care system, some casual GTA, and eventually follows Lacey in her late 20s in Quebec.
Having been a child during the Satanic Panic and later researching it extensively, I found this portrayal profoundly accurate and unsettling: therapists putting ideas in kids’ heads or twisting their stories to fit into the mold of the justice system and the case at hand, spreading wild misinformation and framing those on trial to truly be monsters when it couldn’t be further from the truth. The impact on those around the accused was devastating.
A very inconceivable, I guess, fear of mine is being either framed for something I didn’t do or being caught for something horrendous I did, such as murder. This is far-fetched, believe me, but I’ve had nightmares of being arrested for crimes I didn’t commit. The second half following Lacey (Jo) navigate and tip-toe around her former life sent my brain into a tizzy: I could not imagine. Hence, the aforementioned anxiety attack.
Some plot points unfolded strangely, and at times, the story seemed ridiculous, but its uniqueness justified my rating. Lacey was a complex character, and by the end, I wanted to give her a big hug. She deserved it, if nothing else.
I recommend it sparingly: it involves heavy topics that require a glimpse at the trigger warnings. Upon completion I questioned my rating; was this a 5-star book? I’ve been very kind about my ratings this year, I’ve found. Does it matter? Will it end up on my top 10? I don’t know, we will see.
Rainbow Black is labeled as ‘part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.’ Like always, I did not read the synopsis in its entirety, so a lot of this was a surprise.
We follow Lacey through her tumultuous teenage years, grappling with her attraction to girls and trying to fit in at school, all while her parents face trial for horrific crimes. As the owners of Rainbow Kids, her parents ran a successful business until disturbing stories emerged about what happened behind closed doors, with witnesses claiming Lacey was there, watching. The narrative includes a murder, time in the foster care system, some casual GTA, and eventually follows Lacey in her late 20s in Quebec.
Having been a child during the Satanic Panic and later researching it extensively, I found this portrayal profoundly accurate and unsettling: therapists putting ideas in kids’ heads or twisting their stories to fit into the mold of the justice system and the case at hand, spreading wild misinformation and framing those on trial to truly be monsters when it couldn’t be further from the truth. The impact on those around the accused was devastating.
A very inconceivable, I guess, fear of mine is being either framed for something I didn’t do or being caught for something horrendous I did, such as murder. This is far-fetched, believe me, but I’ve had nightmares of being arrested for crimes I didn’t commit. The second half following Lacey (Jo) navigate and tip-toe around her former life sent my brain into a tizzy: I could not imagine. Hence, the aforementioned anxiety attack.
Some plot points unfolded strangely, and at times, the story seemed ridiculous, but its uniqueness justified my rating. Lacey was a complex character, and by the end, I wanted to give her a big hug. She deserved it, if nothing else.
I recommend it sparingly: it involves heavy topics that require a glimpse at the trigger warnings. Upon completion I questioned my rating; was this a 5-star book? I’ve been very kind about my ratings this year, I’ve found. Does it matter? Will it end up on my top 10? I don’t know, we will see.
April 24, 2024
“I think . . . life is unpredictable, and people’s souls are tested by random events. Some people learn they’re not capable of violence. Some people learn they are, and we’re the ones who make life hell for everyone else. We’re the ones who ensure society never evolves too far beyond the cave.”
You know me that when it comes to Satan I'm all in. Okay, let's rephrase. When it comes to the hysteria that is the panic of Satan, cults, and all things accusatory my heart gets swept away into a tiny little basket and sent straight to hell. I love it.
Rainbow Black captured my attention right from the first few pages, and I was immediately hooked. The book is filled with deceit, mass hysteria, murder, mystery, love, and all the other things that fall between the cracks. It might sound overwhelming to have all of these elements together, but they were blended perfectly.
RTC
You know me that when it comes to Satan I'm all in. Okay, let's rephrase. When it comes to the hysteria that is the panic of Satan, cults, and all things accusatory my heart gets swept away into a tiny little basket and sent straight to hell. I love it.
Rainbow Black captured my attention right from the first few pages, and I was immediately hooked. The book is filled with deceit, mass hysteria, murder, mystery, love, and all the other things that fall between the cracks. It might sound overwhelming to have all of these elements together, but they were blended perfectly.
RTC
March 28, 2024
Incredible. Loved it. Reminded me of A SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt.
May 16, 2024
I feel like I read two different books.
The first half: I really liked it! We see the Satanic Panic insanity from the POV of Lacey, a teenager whose offbeat but innocent parents run a daycare center. Kids are suddenly making bizarre claims against the family, and Lacey’s world is turned upside down.
The second half: I disliked it intensely. The tone is completely different. Suddenly we’re plucked from the frenzy of the upcoming criminal trial and plopped a couple of decades ahead, into a world of politics focusing on gay rights and agenda rants. We go on for quite some time with this unrelated plot, giving us no insight into how we got there. The characters were dull and unlikable, as if they’d lost their personalities along the way.
Then, finally, things sort of merge as Lacey’s past and present are forced together. But way too much is left unexplained, and worse, the final bit is a huge leap of implausibility. I always avoid spoilers, but I desperately need to rant. So here’s where you stop reading if you haven’t read the book.
Ugh. The second half ruined the book for me.
*I received a free copy from Harper Perennial, as part of a tour with BiblioLifestyle.*
The first half: I really liked it! We see the Satanic Panic insanity from the POV of Lacey, a teenager whose offbeat but innocent parents run a daycare center. Kids are suddenly making bizarre claims against the family, and Lacey’s world is turned upside down.
The second half: I disliked it intensely. The tone is completely different. Suddenly we’re plucked from the frenzy of the upcoming criminal trial and plopped a couple of decades ahead, into a world of politics focusing on gay rights and agenda rants. We go on for quite some time with this unrelated plot, giving us no insight into how we got there. The characters were dull and unlikable, as if they’d lost their personalities along the way.
Then, finally, things sort of merge as Lacey’s past and present are forced together. But way too much is left unexplained, and worse, the final bit is a huge leap of implausibility. I always avoid spoilers, but I desperately need to rant. So here’s where you stop reading if you haven’t read the book.
Ugh. The second half ruined the book for me.
*I received a free copy from Harper Perennial, as part of a tour with BiblioLifestyle.*
January 8, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I am a huge fan of Maggie Thrash’s previous works. I understood going into Rainbow Black that it would be a departure from her YA titles, as this is her adult debut and it tackles darker themes. I knew that I would either absolutely love or strongly dislike this book, and I prepared myself to have low expectations.
And then the first 25% of this book had to go and remind me why I love her books in the first place. It was tragic and funny all at the same time, with quirky characters who had believable relationships with each other. I enjoyed reading about Lacey and her sister dealing with the fallout of their parents’ court case. It was upsetting, but their relationship and humor lent a sort of hopeful levity to the story that kept the novel from being unbearable to read.
And that hope mixed with tragedy is a major reason why I love Maggie Thrash’s YA books and graphic memoirs. Her books aren’t happy, but she has mastered the careful balance of providing readers with a drop of hope among the sadness in her novels that is inspiring. It’s barely anything, certainly not enough to outweigh the suffering, but it’s enough for readers to feel slightly okay. It’s realistic, because in the real world there’s always something to poke fun at or push us to keep going when we are dealing with tough times. Plus, the irreverent humor innate to her YA writing is genuinely some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever read. I went through a lot between the ages of 13 and 14, and the Strange Truth duology as well as Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir and Lost Soul, Be at Peace helped me to find a light in the darkness.
In Rainbow Black, however, Thrash’s former trademark “suffering can coexist with hope” writing style is replaced with “life’s a bitch and then you die” nihilism. I’m disappointed that this incredible shift in her writing is already getting Rainbow Black more 5 star ratings than her other books have. I understand that life can devastate a human being, but I still don’t think it’s realistic to write a character study where the suffering never ends and there is no reprieve from it. Even during the darkest periods of my life, there has always been a glimmer of hope, even if it was only there for a second. Rainbow Black takes away that glimmer, that aspect of Thrash’s writing that made it realistic and made me feel attached to her work and her characters.
The plot of this book (without spoilers) can be summarized in this cycle: hope is given to Lacey and then taken away, over and over again, to the point where the plot is entirely predictable. The book ends on a slightly different note, but it doesn’t make up for the rest of the plot. During the flash forward to the 2006 timeline, the hope and “good times” Lacey had between the 90s and the 2000s are summarized and the reader is placed directly into another cycle of Lacey having problems. Her transition from being friends with Gwen to being in a relationship with Gwen is also summarized after the time jump, leading me to feel nothing for the romantic aspect of Lacey’s life because I only got to see the relationship problems Lacey and Gwen were having, not any great moments they shared.
In Thrash’s YA title Strange Truth, the relationship development between the two main characters was organic and well-built. Since I know Thrash can build character relationships well, I’m disappointed that she didn’t do the same with Lacey and Gwen here.
I can appreciate dark literary fiction books that detail extreme trauma happening to the main character repeatedly. I appreciate them when the main character is written in an empathetic, unflinching way that allows readers to see inside their mind and understand them. Lacey in Rainbow Black reads like a character whose trauma response was used as an excuse to not delve deeper into her psyche. Her character motivations are told, not shown.
Lacey is intentionally written to be immature. I understand this choice, but her immaturity is unabating in a way that makes it difficult to connect with her.
Rainbow Black is incredibly dull. I don’t mind a slow-moving plot if the characters and their relationships are compelling, but the book largely focuses on Lacey and Gwen’s relationship, and their romantic relationship development is summarized.
If you’re looking for a book that is “part murder mystery, part gay international fugitive love story,” look elsewhere. Yes, this book technically has these elements, but the blurb implies that this book is pulse-pounding and full of twists and turns. Instead, Rainbow Black is simply a 416-page chronicle of the same depressing cycle repeating over and over until the end, which doesn’t make up for it in my opinion. I don’t even care that the blurb is misleading, because if this book had been like Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir or Lost Soul, Be at Peace I still would’ve liked it.
In conclusion, I would argue that most people in the world suffer enough to not want to read about it if it isn’t a balanced depiction. I would also argue that a lot of the people who enjoyed this book are mesmerized by the novelty of the brand of suffering present in this book, and therefore rated it highly.
Maggie Thrash’s previous books made me feel seen and hopeful in a way I can’t even quantify. I’m sure they made others feel seen as well. If I read Rainbow Black instead of her other books, I would have felt even more grim about my own life.
I did appreciate some of Thrash’s wit, which will always be present in her writing. And the end scene with the bee farm finally felt compelling, since it focused on Lacey’s other relationships outside of Gwen.
Overall, though, if I knew that this book would be written in an unbalanced, hopeless manner, I wouldn’t have picked it up.
I am a huge fan of Maggie Thrash’s previous works. I understood going into Rainbow Black that it would be a departure from her YA titles, as this is her adult debut and it tackles darker themes. I knew that I would either absolutely love or strongly dislike this book, and I prepared myself to have low expectations.
And then the first 25% of this book had to go and remind me why I love her books in the first place. It was tragic and funny all at the same time, with quirky characters who had believable relationships with each other. I enjoyed reading about Lacey and her sister dealing with the fallout of their parents’ court case. It was upsetting, but their relationship and humor lent a sort of hopeful levity to the story that kept the novel from being unbearable to read.
And that hope mixed with tragedy is a major reason why I love Maggie Thrash’s YA books and graphic memoirs. Her books aren’t happy, but she has mastered the careful balance of providing readers with a drop of hope among the sadness in her novels that is inspiring. It’s barely anything, certainly not enough to outweigh the suffering, but it’s enough for readers to feel slightly okay. It’s realistic, because in the real world there’s always something to poke fun at or push us to keep going when we are dealing with tough times. Plus, the irreverent humor innate to her YA writing is genuinely some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever read. I went through a lot between the ages of 13 and 14, and the Strange Truth duology as well as Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir and Lost Soul, Be at Peace helped me to find a light in the darkness.
In Rainbow Black, however, Thrash’s former trademark “suffering can coexist with hope” writing style is replaced with “life’s a bitch and then you die” nihilism. I’m disappointed that this incredible shift in her writing is already getting Rainbow Black more 5 star ratings than her other books have. I understand that life can devastate a human being, but I still don’t think it’s realistic to write a character study where the suffering never ends and there is no reprieve from it. Even during the darkest periods of my life, there has always been a glimmer of hope, even if it was only there for a second. Rainbow Black takes away that glimmer, that aspect of Thrash’s writing that made it realistic and made me feel attached to her work and her characters.
The plot of this book (without spoilers) can be summarized in this cycle: hope is given to Lacey and then taken away, over and over again, to the point where the plot is entirely predictable. The book ends on a slightly different note, but it doesn’t make up for the rest of the plot. During the flash forward to the 2006 timeline, the hope and “good times” Lacey had between the 90s and the 2000s are summarized and the reader is placed directly into another cycle of Lacey having problems. Her transition from being friends with Gwen to being in a relationship with Gwen is also summarized after the time jump, leading me to feel nothing for the romantic aspect of Lacey’s life because I only got to see the relationship problems Lacey and Gwen were having, not any great moments they shared.
In Thrash’s YA title Strange Truth, the relationship development between the two main characters was organic and well-built. Since I know Thrash can build character relationships well, I’m disappointed that she didn’t do the same with Lacey and Gwen here.
I can appreciate dark literary fiction books that detail extreme trauma happening to the main character repeatedly. I appreciate them when the main character is written in an empathetic, unflinching way that allows readers to see inside their mind and understand them. Lacey in Rainbow Black reads like a character whose trauma response was used as an excuse to not delve deeper into her psyche. Her character motivations are told, not shown.
Lacey is intentionally written to be immature. I understand this choice, but her immaturity is unabating in a way that makes it difficult to connect with her.
Rainbow Black is incredibly dull. I don’t mind a slow-moving plot if the characters and their relationships are compelling, but the book largely focuses on Lacey and Gwen’s relationship, and their romantic relationship development is summarized.
If you’re looking for a book that is “part murder mystery, part gay international fugitive love story,” look elsewhere. Yes, this book technically has these elements, but the blurb implies that this book is pulse-pounding and full of twists and turns. Instead, Rainbow Black is simply a 416-page chronicle of the same depressing cycle repeating over and over until the end, which doesn’t make up for it in my opinion. I don’t even care that the blurb is misleading, because if this book had been like Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir or Lost Soul, Be at Peace I still would’ve liked it.
In conclusion, I would argue that most people in the world suffer enough to not want to read about it if it isn’t a balanced depiction. I would also argue that a lot of the people who enjoyed this book are mesmerized by the novelty of the brand of suffering present in this book, and therefore rated it highly.
Maggie Thrash’s previous books made me feel seen and hopeful in a way I can’t even quantify. I’m sure they made others feel seen as well. If I read Rainbow Black instead of her other books, I would have felt even more grim about my own life.
I did appreciate some of Thrash’s wit, which will always be present in her writing. And the end scene with the bee farm finally felt compelling, since it focused on Lacey’s other relationships outside of Gwen.
Overall, though, if I knew that this book would be written in an unbalanced, hopeless manner, I wouldn’t have picked it up.
April 28, 2024
A wild ride through the Satanic Panic, this book was an addictive read. Definitely one that was hard to put down. The story is weird, emotional, frustrating and so many things.
The people Satanic Panicking really need to get a grip. It always seems like the ones pointing fingers are the people who are actually the horrible ones.
Great read, I would highly recommend it!
The people Satanic Panicking really need to get a grip. It always seems like the ones pointing fingers are the people who are actually the horrible ones.
Great read, I would highly recommend it!
April 13, 2024
This book depressed me, filled me with dread, and made me question the value of existing in general. Five stars
April 22, 2024
I need everyone I love to read this book so we can talk about it.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 7, 2024
“Fear is natural, I was sure she would say. Fear is good. Fear is the universe whispering in your ear: I want you to survive.”
Holy fucking shitballs this book.
I don't want to spoil anything but this book quite literally has everything: Satanists, pedophiles, murderers, taut courtroom drama, addiction, love story and so much more that the kitchen sink is overflowing. When I say this book pulls no punches I mean it.
It feels like a hedonistic callback to Go Ask Alice and Michelle Remembers, a memory of the Satanic panic and the lives destroyed over off-kilter crusades for the children.
And honestly? Despite its many imperfections it was heading toward a five-star rating, until it botched the ending (not saying I disapprove of how it ended—that felt like the most logical thing in this entire book—just that I was annoyed at how the ending rambled).
Anywho, this is the book that you want to read if you read Verity (can't believe I'm comping CoHo) and wanted something on that level of ridiculousness that is nevertheless compulsively readable.
TW: transphobia, pedophilia, murder, child neglect and child abuse
Holy fucking shitballs this book.
I don't want to spoil anything but this book quite literally has everything: Satanists, pedophiles, murderers, taut courtroom drama, addiction, love story and so much more that the kitchen sink is overflowing. When I say this book pulls no punches I mean it.
It feels like a hedonistic callback to Go Ask Alice and Michelle Remembers, a memory of the Satanic panic and the lives destroyed over off-kilter crusades for the children.
And honestly? Despite its many imperfections it was heading toward a five-star rating, until it botched the ending (not saying I disapprove of how it ended—that felt like the most logical thing in this entire book—just that I was annoyed at how the ending rambled).
Anywho, this is the book that you want to read if you read Verity (can't believe I'm comping CoHo) and wanted something on that level of ridiculousness that is nevertheless compulsively readable.
TW: transphobia, pedophilia, murder, child neglect and child abuse
March 21, 2024
It started out good, but steadily went downhill. By the end, I wondered what I just read.
March 31, 2024
Thank you, Partner, @bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy of Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash!
Wow!! This was an absolute rollercoaster of a read! Part coming of age queer love story, part murder mystery, part thriller and all wrapped up in the hysteria that was the Satanic Panic of the 1990s!
💀 Thriller
🐐 Satanic Panic
🏳️🌈 Queer
💿 1990s
🔪 Murder
🗺️ On The Run
🔍 Mystery
🖤 Love Story
I was instantly captivated from page 1 and could not put it down! This is definitely one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read and I’m looking forward to see what Maggie Thrash will come up with next!
Wow!! This was an absolute rollercoaster of a read! Part coming of age queer love story, part murder mystery, part thriller and all wrapped up in the hysteria that was the Satanic Panic of the 1990s!
💀 Thriller
🐐 Satanic Panic
🏳️🌈 Queer
💿 1990s
🔪 Murder
🗺️ On The Run
🔍 Mystery
🖤 Love Story
I was instantly captivated from page 1 and could not put it down! This is definitely one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read and I’m looking forward to see what Maggie Thrash will come up with next!
January 1, 2026
Not a bingeable read, but very very good. Will re-read in the future, will say more then.
Read Harder Challenge 2025: Read a book about a moral panic.
Read Harder Challenge 2025: Read a book about a moral panic.
April 20, 2024
Maggie Thrash is everything to me and Rainbow Black does! Not! Miss!!!!
September 17, 2024
3.5 stars- wow this book made me feel a lot of emotions. Very dark, very gritty, very well-done. Just a lot lol.
December 14, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the advanced copy of Rainbow Black! This book is out March 19, 2024 and wow, what a special book.
--
I have to admit, I read Maggie Thrash's autobiographical graphic novel Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir a bit earlier this year so when I saw that she was releasing a novel, I knew I had to grab it. What I knew before going into this was that Maggie has an excellent talent for vivisection of an individual and Rainbow Black was no exception to that rule and may be one of the most loving, introspective treatments of a character I've read in a long time.
This book takes place in New England in the 90's, set at Lacey's parents in-home daycare. Lacey's a young teen when her parents are arrested, accused of being both satanists and pedophiles and of hurting dozens of kids in their charge. Satanic Panic stories are interesting to me - often fueled by immense amounts of attention from the public and therapists leading young children into telling stories that never actually happened. This book goes into a massive amount of depth of how that impacted Lacey and her sister Eclair, how the public speculation impacted the perspectives people had on them, how Lacey's burgeoning sexuality is exploited by social workers, lawyers, etc. and used as "proof" that she's concealing memories of her parents' possible crimes.
It'd be hard to call Lacey's life anything but cursed - at at time when it was tough to come to terms with your queer identity and the way people viewed queerness (thought it was interesting how attitudes in the early 90's were juxtaposed with gay marriage being legalized in Canada vs. America's violent attitudes toward... well, anything that wouldn't be qualified as the "american dream" of heteronormativity) she was getting shit on by her classmates, watching her parents going through a trial both in an actual court and the court of public opinion, then trying to navigate the world as best as she can as a teenager that's forced away from everything she's ever known and into a group home where every person that's meant to take care of her fails - either via ineptitude, hatred, or because they're the real predators.
Also want to say this included a lovely sapphic romance between Lacey and her childhood friend Dylan, whose journey with gender is also explored - we see Lacey go through learning about what it means for Dylan to be trans and accepting her for who she is, perhaps because so much of her identity has been commodified for the trial. Lacey is fiercely loyal to Dylan and we see how that grows after a time jump - Lacey and Dylan (now Jo & Gwen) flee to Canada after they decide to take matters into their own hands with Dylan's abusive older brother.
I loved Lacey. I loved that Lacey realized that even if she made all the right choices, it didn't mean that life would reward her for them. In the end, Lacey was a character that life happened to, and all that she wanted was to be free and happy. She's so easy to root for because reading this book really makes you think about the way that life takes, the way that we're all just doing our best, and the way that even if we make the wrong choices, sometimes we just want to take control of our lives via whatever means necessary. What a great, great, thoughtful read.
A comp title. Hear me out! This reminded me a lot of Stay and Fight.
Warnings: homophobia/slurs, pedophilia & discussions of it (through the trial commentary/accusations, but also on page), SA, some stuff with a pet cat (the cat's okay, though!). Will continue to add to the list.
--
I have to admit, I read Maggie Thrash's autobiographical graphic novel Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir a bit earlier this year so when I saw that she was releasing a novel, I knew I had to grab it. What I knew before going into this was that Maggie has an excellent talent for vivisection of an individual and Rainbow Black was no exception to that rule and may be one of the most loving, introspective treatments of a character I've read in a long time.
This book takes place in New England in the 90's, set at Lacey's parents in-home daycare. Lacey's a young teen when her parents are arrested, accused of being both satanists and pedophiles and of hurting dozens of kids in their charge. Satanic Panic stories are interesting to me - often fueled by immense amounts of attention from the public and therapists leading young children into telling stories that never actually happened. This book goes into a massive amount of depth of how that impacted Lacey and her sister Eclair, how the public speculation impacted the perspectives people had on them, how Lacey's burgeoning sexuality is exploited by social workers, lawyers, etc. and used as "proof" that she's concealing memories of her parents' possible crimes.
It'd be hard to call Lacey's life anything but cursed - at at time when it was tough to come to terms with your queer identity and the way people viewed queerness (thought it was interesting how attitudes in the early 90's were juxtaposed with gay marriage being legalized in Canada vs. America's violent attitudes toward... well, anything that wouldn't be qualified as the "american dream" of heteronormativity) she was getting shit on by her classmates, watching her parents going through a trial both in an actual court and the court of public opinion, then trying to navigate the world as best as she can as a teenager that's forced away from everything she's ever known and into a group home where every person that's meant to take care of her fails - either via ineptitude, hatred, or because they're the real predators.
Also want to say this included a lovely sapphic romance between Lacey and her childhood friend Dylan, whose journey with gender is also explored - we see Lacey go through learning about what it means for Dylan to be trans and accepting her for who she is, perhaps because so much of her identity has been commodified for the trial. Lacey is fiercely loyal to Dylan and we see how that grows after a time jump - Lacey and Dylan (now Jo & Gwen) flee to Canada after they decide to take matters into their own hands with Dylan's abusive older brother.
I loved Lacey. I loved that Lacey realized that even if she made all the right choices, it didn't mean that life would reward her for them. In the end, Lacey was a character that life happened to, and all that she wanted was to be free and happy. She's so easy to root for because reading this book really makes you think about the way that life takes, the way that we're all just doing our best, and the way that even if we make the wrong choices, sometimes we just want to take control of our lives via whatever means necessary. What a great, great, thoughtful read.
A comp title. Hear me out! This reminded me a lot of Stay and Fight.
Warnings: homophobia/slurs, pedophilia & discussions of it (through the trial commentary/accusations, but also on page), SA, some stuff with a pet cat (the cat's okay, though!). Will continue to add to the list.
August 10, 2023
I liked a lot of things about “Rainbow Black,” though I struggled at times with the author’s writing style. It’s the story of the fascinating and colorful life of Lacey Bond, the child of two hippie parents who ran a daycare called Rainbow Kids that got swept up in the Satanic panic mania dominating the U.S. at the time.
The story follows her life from childhood to a tangled adulthood, in which Lacey becomes Jo Scottish, a law clerk to an esteemed judge and a fugitive for fourteen years in Quebec, Canada, from a murder she committed to protect Gwen, a transgender woman and now her girlfriend, who was being bullied by her half brother. In Quebec she rose from the streets to make for herself a glamorous life, and is an activist for separatism. The relationship with Gwen is complicated, unraveling at times under the weight of the secrets that drew them together.
The book is at its most interesting when it gets into the nitty gritty of manipulating the memory of witnesses and the fallout, often violent, of the victims who were wrongfully accused as they attempt to resurrect their lives in some semblance of normal. It reminded me very much of witch hunts or the McCarthy era. Anyone who was different got subsumed by the hysteria, and Lacey, aka the media’s infamous Satan Daughter, an out lesbian at a dangerous time to be queer, was a prime target.
I loved the complicated relationship between Jo/Lacey and Gwen, though they didn’t really act much like fugitives given the careers they chose. I liked the queer Bonnie and Clyde angle, and how they were imperfect, messy and toxic, but grew with each other through it all. I loved how they showed the homophobia of the time, Jo’s anger issues and recklessness, and the frank, sensitive handling of her first lesbian experience, with a former social worker who raped her. I also was fascinated with the evolution of her relationship with her parents.
I could tell the author got her start in memoirs because this read very much like a memoir, but Jo’s life was way more interesting than the plot itself. The pacing dragged a ton when Jo as narrator did way more telling than showing in much of the book, with some confusing time jumps. I could see this book working way better as a movie.
All in all this was a fascinating book, a story of love, redemption and courage, and a telling condemnation of mob mentality, with lots of relevance to current times.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows her life from childhood to a tangled adulthood, in which Lacey becomes Jo Scottish, a law clerk to an esteemed judge and a fugitive for fourteen years in Quebec, Canada, from a murder she committed to protect Gwen, a transgender woman and now her girlfriend, who was being bullied by her half brother. In Quebec she rose from the streets to make for herself a glamorous life, and is an activist for separatism. The relationship with Gwen is complicated, unraveling at times under the weight of the secrets that drew them together.
The book is at its most interesting when it gets into the nitty gritty of manipulating the memory of witnesses and the fallout, often violent, of the victims who were wrongfully accused as they attempt to resurrect their lives in some semblance of normal. It reminded me very much of witch hunts or the McCarthy era. Anyone who was different got subsumed by the hysteria, and Lacey, aka the media’s infamous Satan Daughter, an out lesbian at a dangerous time to be queer, was a prime target.
I loved the complicated relationship between Jo/Lacey and Gwen, though they didn’t really act much like fugitives given the careers they chose. I liked the queer Bonnie and Clyde angle, and how they were imperfect, messy and toxic, but grew with each other through it all. I loved how they showed the homophobia of the time, Jo’s anger issues and recklessness, and the frank, sensitive handling of her first lesbian experience, with a former social worker who raped her. I also was fascinated with the evolution of her relationship with her parents.
I could tell the author got her start in memoirs because this read very much like a memoir, but Jo’s life was way more interesting than the plot itself. The pacing dragged a ton when Jo as narrator did way more telling than showing in much of the book, with some confusing time jumps. I could see this book working way better as a movie.
All in all this was a fascinating book, a story of love, redemption and courage, and a telling condemnation of mob mentality, with lots of relevance to current times.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 26, 2024
Ugh y’all. I am so disappointed. I thought this book was going to be a new favorite but it just… did not deliver.
The first two thirds were EXCELLENT. They were compelling and sucked me right in. The whole satanic panic craze was before my time (or at least before I can remember; the bulk of this book takes place the year I was born) so I was really fascinating to experience it through such a frustrating case.
I really felt for Lacey and all that she went through. Not only losing her whole family to this nightmare but living her life in the public eye and coming out in the middle of it (and being demonized because of it). The social commentary in this book was just excellent!!
Unfortunately it just lost me in the last third. Once the girls grew up, this book just wasn’t as interesting? It also failed to satisfactorily answer some key questions and felt like it had a great build up… to nothing??
It also felt about 100 pages too long and had some really weird pacing. It would’ve been a truly excellent read it first half of the book would’ve matched the last half but they almost felt like two totally different books?
And if you saw this on a horror list, as I did, and were thinking of picking it up because of that, you are going to be wildly disappointed. This is a straight thriller (or honestly more mystery…?); there is no horror here.
Anyway. Still glad I read this because of how thoroughly I enjoyed the beginning. The legal stuff, too, was such fun and I am always here for a good courtroom drama! I just wish this had ended with a bang instead of a whimper.
Thank you to Harper Perennial for sending a copy of this my way in exchange for an honest review!
The first two thirds were EXCELLENT. They were compelling and sucked me right in. The whole satanic panic craze was before my time (or at least before I can remember; the bulk of this book takes place the year I was born) so I was really fascinating to experience it through such a frustrating case.
I really felt for Lacey and all that she went through. Not only losing her whole family to this nightmare but living her life in the public eye and coming out in the middle of it (and being demonized because of it). The social commentary in this book was just excellent!!
Unfortunately it just lost me in the last third. Once the girls grew up, this book just wasn’t as interesting? It also failed to satisfactorily answer some key questions and felt like it had a great build up… to nothing??
It also felt about 100 pages too long and had some really weird pacing. It would’ve been a truly excellent read it first half of the book would’ve matched the last half but they almost felt like two totally different books?
And if you saw this on a horror list, as I did, and were thinking of picking it up because of that, you are going to be wildly disappointed. This is a straight thriller (or honestly more mystery…?); there is no horror here.
Anyway. Still glad I read this because of how thoroughly I enjoyed the beginning. The legal stuff, too, was such fun and I am always here for a good courtroom drama! I just wish this had ended with a bang instead of a whimper.
Thank you to Harper Perennial for sending a copy of this my way in exchange for an honest review!
August 13, 2024
my favorite read of the year so far, by far. I spent the last few chapters basically silently sobbing in bed long after I should have been asleep. I will be following Thrash’s writing to the ends of the earth from now on.
April 11, 2024
It’s the late 1980s in small town USA and the Bond family is happy, free-spirited, and running a daycare on their property. All around the country, people are panicking over the torture and horror caused by Satanists. One day the youngest daughter of the Bond family, Lacey, notices that things are beginning to change around town and suddenly, out of nowhere it seems, the daycare shuts down and the rest of her family begins acting differently around her. When wild accusations tear the family apart, readers are left following Lacey while she tries to put the pieces of her life back together.
I found this novel to be gripping and intensely satisfying to read though, at times, rather explicit in nature regarding SA. This book is divided in to three parts and while I obsessively read through the first two, I felt that the third act really lost steam and went a direction that wasn’t ideal for me. Nevertheless, I would recommend it and greatly enjoyed my time within these pages. It’s labeled here on Goodreads as thriller but that doesn't feel entirely accurate. I think suspenseful literary fiction would be a more apt description.
I found this novel to be gripping and intensely satisfying to read though, at times, rather explicit in nature regarding SA. This book is divided in to three parts and while I obsessively read through the first two, I felt that the third act really lost steam and went a direction that wasn’t ideal for me. Nevertheless, I would recommend it and greatly enjoyed my time within these pages. It’s labeled here on Goodreads as thriller but that doesn't feel entirely accurate. I think suspenseful literary fiction would be a more apt description.
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