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Rainbow Black
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 thirteen-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.
Lacey Bond is a thirteen-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.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2024
About the author
Maggie Thrash
6 books370 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 222 reviews
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.
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.
October 25, 2023
Honestly one of my favorite books of all time. I could NOT put this thing down. I cannot wait for its official release so it can earn all the accolades it deserves. This is a not-to-be-missed adult fiction debut by one of my favorite graphic novelists, although it’s so different from her GNs that I couldn’t believe the same incredible human wrote it. Add to your TBR list now! Do it!
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.
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
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.
March 28, 2024
Incredible. Loved it. Reminded me of A SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt.
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.
March 30, 2024
only the gays have this much audacity
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!
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.
April 20, 2024
Maggie Thrash is everything to me and Rainbow Black does! Not! Miss!!!!
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.
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.
March 17, 2024
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash. Thanks to @harperperennial for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
During the Satanic Panic rage, thirteen year old Lacey’s parents are arrested as satanists and pedophiles. The accusations become mass hysteria for America. Lacey makes a decision from the chaos that changes her life forever.
This is one of my favorite reads this year so far. It’s so well written, with beautiful poetic prose at times, but also a deeply moving and emotional story. It is a coming of age during the worse of times, and not only will you fall in love with the many character but also several secondary characters as well. Unfortunately for me, a few of my favorite characters do not continue throughout the book, but they remain a part of the plot. This is one that will deserve a re read.
“What else was there to do but scream and scream until the universe acknowledged your pain, or you died, or you accepted that no one would ever hear you?”
Rainbow Black comes out 3/19.
During the Satanic Panic rage, thirteen year old Lacey’s parents are arrested as satanists and pedophiles. The accusations become mass hysteria for America. Lacey makes a decision from the chaos that changes her life forever.
This is one of my favorite reads this year so far. It’s so well written, with beautiful poetic prose at times, but also a deeply moving and emotional story. It is a coming of age during the worse of times, and not only will you fall in love with the many character but also several secondary characters as well. Unfortunately for me, a few of my favorite characters do not continue throughout the book, but they remain a part of the plot. This is one that will deserve a re read.
“What else was there to do but scream and scream until the universe acknowledged your pain, or you died, or you accepted that no one would ever hear you?”
Rainbow Black comes out 3/19.
March 11, 2024
As a fan of Maggie Thrash since Honor Girl, I was delighted to hear about her adult debut, Rainbow Black. I've always loved Maggie's sly humor, cutting observations, and sharply drawn characters, and Rainbow Black beyond exceeded my hopes! Like Maggie's YA graphic novels, Rainbow Black is at once an intense character study of a young woman whose life has been torn apart and a scathing look at the way homophobia poisons a society. It's dark, visceral, and gritty. It's also the best thing I've read this year.
Describing Rainbow Black is difficult to say the least, but I'm going to try, because "you need to read this" is definitely not enough: Lacey is the daughter of hippie daycare owners who are a little strange for their conservative town, but still beloved...until the Satanic Panic accusations strike. Now, Lacey's world is turned upside down: her parents are arrested, she's left with her flighty older sister Eclair and her parents' lawyer Aaron, and stuck picking up the pieces. The first part is utterly gripping, from the trial itself to the mess left in the wake of it. But it's the second half where the pieces really come together for me. Set years after the trial, adult Lacey, now called Jo, is living in Canada as a lawyer with her partner Gwen, when their life is upended by the past.
I can't stress enough how amazing this novel is, but I think one of my favorite things is the representation. Even though it's set in the 90s and early 2000s, queerness is central (trigger warning, so is period-typical homophobia). Lacey is a lesbian and her partner Gwen is transfemme. It feels very much like a "we're here, we're queer" book, and, as someone always on the hunt for historical representations of queerness, I am HERE for it. It's everything I've grown to expect from a Maggie Thrash book. I do not know what she'll come out with next, but I can't wait, and I just know this is going to find a place on my shelf.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Perennial, and Maggie Thrash for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Describing Rainbow Black is difficult to say the least, but I'm going to try, because "you need to read this" is definitely not enough: Lacey is the daughter of hippie daycare owners who are a little strange for their conservative town, but still beloved...until the Satanic Panic accusations strike. Now, Lacey's world is turned upside down: her parents are arrested, she's left with her flighty older sister Eclair and her parents' lawyer Aaron, and stuck picking up the pieces. The first part is utterly gripping, from the trial itself to the mess left in the wake of it. But it's the second half where the pieces really come together for me. Set years after the trial, adult Lacey, now called Jo, is living in Canada as a lawyer with her partner Gwen, when their life is upended by the past.
I can't stress enough how amazing this novel is, but I think one of my favorite things is the representation. Even though it's set in the 90s and early 2000s, queerness is central (trigger warning, so is period-typical homophobia). Lacey is a lesbian and her partner Gwen is transfemme. It feels very much like a "we're here, we're queer" book, and, as someone always on the hunt for historical representations of queerness, I am HERE for it. It's everything I've grown to expect from a Maggie Thrash book. I do not know what she'll come out with next, but I can't wait, and I just know this is going to find a place on my shelf.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Perennial, and Maggie Thrash for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 1, 2024
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for having me on this tour.
I this over the weekend and really enjoyed it. My first read by Maggie Thrash, it definitely was an interesting take on the Satanic Panic from the view of a 13 yr old girl. I enjoyed the first half a little more than the second, which is when Lacey is an adult and the pacing is a little slower. But then things pick back up again towards the end, and overall this was a good one and I really enjoyed it.
I this over the weekend and really enjoyed it. My first read by Maggie Thrash, it definitely was an interesting take on the Satanic Panic from the view of a 13 yr old girl. I enjoyed the first half a little more than the second, which is when Lacey is an adult and the pacing is a little slower. But then things pick back up again towards the end, and overall this was a good one and I really enjoyed it.
March 29, 2024
pierwsza połowa niezwykle ciekawa i angażująca, sprawiła, że zachciało mi się grzebać w internecie i szukać informacji nt satanic panic. Akcja jest wartka, ciężko było się oderwać. W drugiej części jest przeskok 14 lat do przodu i chociaż ciekawy, to zabrakło mi pogłębienia tego co w międzyczasie, bo na pewno byłoby to ciekawe. Napięcie troszkę siadło, zakończenie odrobinę mnie rozczarowało.
April 18, 2024
One of the most well written novels I have EVER READ, with something so addictive about the narration. Thank God there’s someone out there with a mind as F’d up as my own !!!! Not for the faint of heart. I love the rawness that spills from these pages. I’ve seen some THINGS in my lifetime and for traumatic experiences to be written in this way, WOW!!! THANK YOU MAGGIE. This book has horror elements, court case drama, lesbian drama, and a sense of humor to die for. Please check trigger warnings.
Also Bonus that it takes place in New England, the honest brutality shows.
Also Bonus that it takes place in New England, the honest brutality shows.
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!
March 12, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC of this book, coming out Tuesday, March 19th, 2024.
When I say I devoured this book, I truly mean it. Part fictional memoir, part queer Bonnie & Clyde, and part coming-of-age story, RAINBOW BLACK is less of a murder mystery/satanic panic thriller and more of a rumination on why our culture is so obsessed with and picks apart at anyone who might be even the slightest bit different to the "norm". I really appreciated just how darkly funny this was and how Jo was often times at odds with herself, which made her an utterly enthralling narrator.
Also loved the use of Queer Time as a means to structure the entire book.
My favorite book of 2024 SO FAR!
When I say I devoured this book, I truly mean it. Part fictional memoir, part queer Bonnie & Clyde, and part coming-of-age story, RAINBOW BLACK is less of a murder mystery/satanic panic thriller and more of a rumination on why our culture is so obsessed with and picks apart at anyone who might be even the slightest bit different to the "norm". I really appreciated just how darkly funny this was and how Jo was often times at odds with herself, which made her an utterly enthralling narrator.
Also loved the use of Queer Time as a means to structure the entire book.
My favorite book of 2024 SO FAR!
April 10, 2024
I could not put this book down. An epic, decades long saga that tackles big topics like homophobia, gender identity, child abuse, drug use, and more with a courtroom drama sprinkled in between. The author does an excellent job capturing the gray areas of ethics and legality. The journey from Lacey’s childhood to the conclusion of her legal battles as an adult is nothing short of tragic. I do wish we would have gotten some clear answers: what really happened to Eclair? We’re Lacey’s parent guilty? But I think the ambiguity lent itself to Lacey’s burden of accepting that she may never know the truth. Overall this was an emotional, thought provoking read!
March 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. For the first time in a long time, I was looking forward to getting back into it after I stopped reading (and I kept reading for longer than I ordinarily would just to get one more chapter). I noticed a couple of other reviewers claim the book doesn't explain things like what her parents actually did back when she was a kid (it absolutely does reveal if they were guilty or not) or what really happened to Éclaire (the... entire last third of the book is about the fallout from Lacey finding out what happened to her), so I'm not sure what that's about...
A lot of trigger warnings apply for this one, but I do recommend it.
A lot of trigger warnings apply for this one, but I do recommend it.
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.
January 1, 2024
In a word: riveting! A superbly crafted narrative voice and a propulsive plot. I can’t wait to recommend to people who love a character-driven novel with just a hint of thriller vibes.
January 22, 2024
My first 2024 5 star read, and a book that’s sure to be on my top ten!
March 19, 2024
A queer coming of age love story set against the backdrop of the Satanic Panic.
Do I even need to say more? I myself was all in at this point!
Lacey Bond is the younger of two sisters raised on a small New Hampshire farm by hippie parents who run a daycare out of their converted barn. In 1990, when Lacey is 13-years-old, their relatively normal existence is upended when her parents are arrested, accused of ritualistic abuse, and become embroiled in a high profile legal case.
Rainbow Black is first and foremost a deranged (and I mean that in the best way), queer, coming of age story, but there's really a lot going on here and much to appreciate: murder, mystery, love, trauma, resilience and reinvention. It takes a close look at freedom, justice, and systems that do more harm than good. The narrative is dual timeline told in hindsight until the last of three parts when we reconnect with Lacey as an adult. Unique and weird, though not so out there most readers will be unable to connect, I found this an irresistible page turner full of idiosyncratic characters.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.
Do I even need to say more? I myself was all in at this point!
Lacey Bond is the younger of two sisters raised on a small New Hampshire farm by hippie parents who run a daycare out of their converted barn. In 1990, when Lacey is 13-years-old, their relatively normal existence is upended when her parents are arrested, accused of ritualistic abuse, and become embroiled in a high profile legal case.
Rainbow Black is first and foremost a deranged (and I mean that in the best way), queer, coming of age story, but there's really a lot going on here and much to appreciate: murder, mystery, love, trauma, resilience and reinvention. It takes a close look at freedom, justice, and systems that do more harm than good. The narrative is dual timeline told in hindsight until the last of three parts when we reconnect with Lacey as an adult. Unique and weird, though not so out there most readers will be unable to connect, I found this an irresistible page turner full of idiosyncratic characters.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.
February 26, 2024
Take equal parts coming of age story, murder mystery, and international Gay fugitive love story and you have "Rainbow Black" Maggie Thrash.
The story starts out during the 90s Satanic Panic, when Lacy, our lead is just 13 years old. Her world is turned upside down when her hippie parents are faced with alarming accusations based on the hysteria gripping the nation. Thrash keeps the suspense high with many twists in the story, and showing us a horrific breakdown of what happens to a child with the wrong people in charge of "helping" and the many infuriating aspects of our justice system.
That isn't all this story is about however, there is a murder mystery that leads to a decision that further changes the trajectory of Lacy's life and lands her in a different country running from her past. As we all know, you can't run, the past always comes back, and Thrash again, twists and turns the story for us and holds our interest until the very last page to see what the outcome will be.
More realistic than fictional happy endings for all, this was a very satisfying read that I didn't want to end. The standout theme of this book that kept appearing for me was identity and its many many forms.
The story starts out during the 90s Satanic Panic, when Lacy, our lead is just 13 years old. Her world is turned upside down when her hippie parents are faced with alarming accusations based on the hysteria gripping the nation. Thrash keeps the suspense high with many twists in the story, and showing us a horrific breakdown of what happens to a child with the wrong people in charge of "helping" and the many infuriating aspects of our justice system.
That isn't all this story is about however, there is a murder mystery that leads to a decision that further changes the trajectory of Lacy's life and lands her in a different country running from her past. As we all know, you can't run, the past always comes back, and Thrash again, twists and turns the story for us and holds our interest until the very last page to see what the outcome will be.
More realistic than fictional happy endings for all, this was a very satisfying read that I didn't want to end. The standout theme of this book that kept appearing for me was identity and its many many forms.
April 24, 2024
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash
Thank you partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the gifted copy.
✨ My thoughts:
I was originally going to post an in feed review on my Instagram but the more I sit here and think about it… the more I’m realizing I didn’t vibe with this book all that much. This one started out stronger than it finished for me. I was absolutely hooked from the beginning but slowly it started releasing its hold. The time jump felt like a completely different book from the one I started and looking back on it now, that may have been intentional. There’s a ton of triggers in this book so please be aware before going in if you have a list of topics you want to avoid. There were pieces from this book I enjoyed but I don’t think I was in the right mindset for it overall… if it’s on your TBR I still suggest giving it a read for yourself!
Happy reading 📖
Thank you partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the gifted copy.
✨ My thoughts:
I was originally going to post an in feed review on my Instagram but the more I sit here and think about it… the more I’m realizing I didn’t vibe with this book all that much. This one started out stronger than it finished for me. I was absolutely hooked from the beginning but slowly it started releasing its hold. The time jump felt like a completely different book from the one I started and looking back on it now, that may have been intentional. There’s a ton of triggers in this book so please be aware before going in if you have a list of topics you want to avoid. There were pieces from this book I enjoyed but I don’t think I was in the right mindset for it overall… if it’s on your TBR I still suggest giving it a read for yourself!
Happy reading 📖
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