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Black Iris
by
The next dark and sexy romantic suspense novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Unteachable.
It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking arou ...more
It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking arou ...more
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Paperback, 371 pages
Published
April 28th 2015
by Atria
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Start your review of Black Iris

Two girls, cherry-mouthed, glitter-lashed, our skin luminous with moonlight and sweat, making out beneath pennants that still shivered with the afternoon’s boy bravado.
If only you bastards could see me now.
You want to know the bad thing about this book? I must have spent hours trying to single out the quotes I wanted to use from all this BLOODY PERFECT writing. It's like Leah Raeder thinks about every single word - simultaneously telling a story AND writing poetry. It's after books like this ...more
If only you bastards could see me now.
You want to know the bad thing about this book? I must have spent hours trying to single out the quotes I wanted to use from all this BLOODY PERFECT writing. It's like Leah Raeder thinks about every single word - simultaneously telling a story AND writing poetry. It's after books like this ...more


Gather the above words close to your heart and hold them tightly, for this is not a story about redemption or growth. This is not about forgiveness.
Only vengeance.
This book is dark, guttural. It speaks to that side of yourself you keep hidden from the rest of the world. That reptilian part of your brain that never evolved past fuck, kill, conquer. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Take away our modern conveniences and we’re nothing but savages slaughtering each other in the primordial swamp.
Lane ...more

"Why did you marry [Mom]?" I asked suddenly.
"I loved her fire," he said from far away. "I didn't know I would burn."
It has been a month since I read this book and I still have no freaking clue what to say about this. There is something very deeply twisted about this book, and Elliot Wake owns it.
Black Iris follows Laney, a revenge-focused college freshman, and her two newest friends, Blythe and Armin. All three of them are terrible people and all three of them know it and all t ...more

Update: April 28, 2015
It's live! And I wrote a kinda personal blog post about it: Happy book birthday, Black Iris.
I'm feeling all sorts of weird things right now, but the main one is: gratitude. Thanks for letting me publish a dark, fucked up, queer-ass book, Atria. And thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed it.
It only gets gayer from here, kids. <3
I'm giving away a bunch of signed copies and other goodies on social media. Follow me for a chance to snag something purple ...more
It's live! And I wrote a kinda personal blog post about it: Happy book birthday, Black Iris.
I'm feeling all sorts of weird things right now, but the main one is: gratitude. Thanks for letting me publish a dark, fucked up, queer-ass book, Atria. And thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed it.
It only gets gayer from here, kids. <3




I'm giving away a bunch of signed copies and other goodies on social media. Follow me for a chance to snag something purple ...more

Nov 19, 2013
Baba
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
spellbound,
f-f,
five-star-reads,
arc-by-author,
f-f-m,
new-adult-or-young-adult,
leah-raeder
5 stars. Full review posted February 8, 2015




My first five-star rating of the year goes to Leah Raeder'sBlack Iris writing. That should tell you something. If you don't know yet what I mean, then I'm going to elaborate later. Just let me get down to business stat.
When I look at all those wannabe authors and how much crap has been published in Romancelandia, then it goes without saying that genuine and gifted authors like Leah Raeder…
A)
Write in a league of their own
and…
B)
Soothe my bruised reader' ...more




My first five-star rating of the year goes to Leah Raeder's
When I look at all those wannabe authors and how much crap has been published in Romancelandia, then it goes without saying that genuine and gifted authors like Leah Raeder…
A)
Write in a league of their own
and…
B)
Soothe my bruised reader' ...more

Jun 16, 2014
Steph Sinclair
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Steph by:
Meg
Shelves:
2015-release,
audio-books,
strong-heroine,
awesome,
oh-yeah-baby,
smart-heroine,
young-adult,
print-arc,
glbt,
mental-health
Love is not a thing we create. It's an undoing.
Black Iris is the story of Bonnie and Bonnie on Bitch Better Have My Money quest with a Bad Blood mentality. It's not a Redemption, Coming of Age or Happily Ever After story. So if you are looking for those elements, look elsewhere. It's more of a Bitches Get Shit Done tale with a pinch of romance. Let me make this clear, Black Iris has a bunch of fucked up characters that you're not always going to like, if ever. But that's cool, becaus ...more

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Welp, I had high hopes for this one . . . but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.
No shit, right? I’ll be the first to admit New Adult is not generally my bag, but I seriously dug Unteachable so I thought if anyone was going to be more than a one-hit-wonder for me in that genre it would be Leah Raeder.
Is this a love story or a hate story? Is it about me, or your bloody revenge?
Yeah, is it?
This is the part where I lose some frie ...more
Welp, I had high hopes for this one . . . but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

No shit, right? I’ll be the first to admit New Adult is not generally my bag, but I seriously dug Unteachable so I thought if anyone was going to be more than a one-hit-wonder for me in that genre it would be Leah Raeder.
Is this a love story or a hate story? Is it about me, or your bloody revenge?
Yeah, is it?
This is the part where I lose some frie ...more

Nov 18, 2013
Lady Vigilante (Feifei)
added it
Ever since I finished this book I’ve been thinking about it non-stop and how to convey all these weird feelings I have in a cohesive review but because I’m on a time crunch that won’t be happening. This will be short and unadulterated.
Because WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS BOOK?!?!?!?!?!
I want to say 95% of books I read it’s easy for me to tell where I’ll fall in the like/dislike/love zone. Then 4% where I get mixed feelings but in the end I’ll let my heart take over. Then that super rare 1% where both ...more
Because WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS BOOK?!?!?!?!?!
I want to say 95% of books I read it’s easy for me to tell where I’ll fall in the like/dislike/love zone. Then 4% where I get mixed feelings but in the end I’ll let my heart take over. Then that super rare 1% where both ...more

This was fucking FANTASTIC. I am officially obsessed with Elliot Wake. I love their writing style and how dark the stories really get and how every one of their books has a small connection to their others. UGH I LOVED THIS SO MUCH
(Updated my review to they/them bc the author has come out as trans since I wrote my original review)
(Updated my review to they/them bc the author has come out as trans since I wrote my original review)

Feb 08, 2015
Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
did-not-finish
Review posted April 22, 2015 (finally)
DNF at 58%

It's been

**ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
I am not the heroine of this story.
Wellllll....here we go. If anyone follows my reviews, even a little, they know I hardly ever rate below a three. Hell, I hardly rate a three. Even less frequently do I rate a book a one-I mean, like, twice....in the last two years. So, to say I am shocked at my visceral reaction to this story is an understatement. I expected, at worst, maybe some indifference.
Maybe a little bit of dislike. But I ...more
I am not the heroine of this story.
Wellllll....here we go. If anyone follows my reviews, even a little, they know I hardly ever rate below a three. Hell, I hardly rate a three. Even less frequently do I rate a book a one-I mean, like, twice....in the last two years. So, to say I am shocked at my visceral reaction to this story is an understatement. I expected, at worst, maybe some indifference.

Maybe a little bit of dislike. But I ...more

August 27th, 2018:
May made this for me as a birthday give because they know it's my favorite quote of all-time, and I'm so in love with it! I had to share with you all! 💕

February 27th, 2018:
Okay, so this is still one of my favorite books of all time, but I never gave it a proper review because it just felt too personal. But if you guys are interested in my thoughts, my dear friend Silvia is doing an amazing feature on her blog called #QueerLitStories, and I wrote up a guest post, where I talked ...more
May made this for me as a birthday give because they know it's my favorite quote of all-time, and I'm so in love with it! I had to share with you all! 💕

February 27th, 2018:
Okay, so this is still one of my favorite books of all time, but I never gave it a proper review because it just felt too personal. But if you guys are interested in my thoughts, my dear friend Silvia is doing an amazing feature on her blog called #QueerLitStories, and I wrote up a guest post, where I talked ...more

First 5 Stars of 2018
I’ve been trying to write this review for a month. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened this word-document only to delete some half-assed paragraph fifteen minutes later. I literally don’t know how to review this book. (I did my best. I’m sorry)
Raeder’s lyrical prose pulls you in immediately, establishing this hazy-intense fever-dream. The first chapter introduces us to our main ...more
“I never wanted to be saved. I wanted someone to follow me down into the darkness.”
I’ve been trying to write this review for a month. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened this word-document only to delete some half-assed paragraph fifteen minutes later. I literally don’t know how to review this book. (I did my best. I’m sorry)
Raeder’s lyrical prose pulls you in immediately, establishing this hazy-intense fever-dream. The first chapter introduces us to our main ...more

DNF @ 31 %

Black Iris is a book that I wanted to love, Leah Reader is a beautiful writer, her words are chosen carefully, smart and witty. But after much thought, I found that this book was not for me. I am probably the minority here, and I'm okay with that, and suggest you all give it a try.
From the very first pages I knew this was going to be a heavy hitting book, with strong subject material, which I am all for. But what thr ...more
"Trying to find yourself by losing yourself completely."

Black Iris is a book that I wanted to love, Leah Reader is a beautiful writer, her words are chosen carefully, smart and witty. But after much thought, I found that this book was not for me. I am probably the minority here, and I'm okay with that, and suggest you all give it a try.
From the very first pages I knew this was going to be a heavy hitting book, with strong subject material, which I am all for. But what thr ...more


Scroll past if you don't want to read a decidedly ranty review with a healthy dose of profanity.
Ok, too late.
-
THIS NOVEL IS SO FUCKING PROBLEMATIC LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE
Like what? The actual? Fuck? Are you serious?
1) Somehow the abuse of drugs is seen as ok?????? Is this some pseudo-liberal artsy text campaigning for the freedom to sell drugs or something?
a. Laney gets rejected at school; big fucking boo hoo. You know what? Being rejected is actually okay! People don't owe you anything, lea...more

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

1 Star
I didn't like this book at all. I was so excited to get an early copy of this book because I saw everyone raving about it on Goodreads. I just knew that this would be a book that I would fall in love with based on all the 5 star reviews that I saw. I am not sure that I read the same book that everyone else read. I disliked everything about this book. I almost stop reading many times but I kept waiting for that magical moment where I wou ...more

1 Star
I didn't like this book at all. I was so excited to get an early copy of this book because I saw everyone raving about it on Goodreads. I just knew that this would be a book that I would fall in love with based on all the 5 star reviews that I saw. I am not sure that I read the same book that everyone else read. I disliked everything about this book. I almost stop reading many times but I kept waiting for that magical moment where I wou ...more

I just can't!
This is a black hole of a book... It leads nowhere! Leah tries to cover up a slack story line and a jumpy timeline with over describing any and everything.
I get she was aiming for dark and different but I think she missed the mark. Unteachable was one of my favorite books last year and I was hoping Black Iris would be the same. Sadly that's not the case. ...more
This is a black hole of a book... It leads nowhere! Leah tries to cover up a slack story line and a jumpy timeline with over describing any and everything.
I get she was aiming for dark and different but I think she missed the mark. Unteachable was one of my favorite books last year and I was hoping Black Iris would be the same. Sadly that's not the case. ...more

"We're all Kafka's rider, trying to get away from ourselves.
Maybe I'm a little bitter.
And maybe this isn't your typical college romance novel."
Leah Raeder is like the dark horse of the NA genre.

She always brings something fresh to the table. Something that doesn't usually work, but does. Unsympathetic heroine, check. Unconventional character arc, check. Twisted ass love triangle, check. Zero morals, check. Lyrical bordering purple prose, check.
"I was staring at that rose-lipped mouth, t...more


Black Iris is not only provocative and alluring, but it also explores sexuality, the sexy side of f/f romance which every genre lack and the gritty, reality about mental illness, queerphobia and drugs.
I have zero intent on writing this mini review since everything has been said and done about Black Iris, but I want to properly do it nonetheless to show my appreciation for this book.
Plenty of things struck me the most about Black Iris, one of those is, it is beautifully written. I love the prete ...more

Good god. If ever the day comes when I need a book about my life published, I will beg Leah Raeder to write it because I bet she can write from my perspective, own it, bring out emotions I didn't think were there before, and maybe even write sides of me I never even knew.
And here I thought Unteachable was Leah Raeder's masterpiece. Black Iris proved me wrong as this book made me feel as if I were the main character herself - the way it was written was just so sublime and so honest and raw an ...more

Dec 15, 2013
Rose
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
contemporary,
coming-of-age,
drama,
suspense,
favorites,
tough-subjects,
glbt,
realistic-fiction,
netgalley,
pop-culture
Initial reaction: I'm still trying to decide how to do the review for this book. Should I do a standard discussion review to kind of vet out all of my feels on this book, or should I do "Black Iris: The Musical" - which would be all in verse? (ROGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN HAVE NOTHING ON YOU - you may say, but I don't have that kind of confidence. >.<;;;) Maybe I might do both? I honestly have no idea yet.
In any case, "Black Iris" was a read I really liked and appreciated for the journey collectively ...more
In any case, "Black Iris" was a read I really liked and appreciated for the journey collectively ...more

May 23, 2015
Glass
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Glass by:
*P*u*r*p*l*e* Masochist
5-left-me-speechless-stars
How I looked while reading Black Iris?
And then...
And after that big reveal?
After the last page?
FUCKING BRILLIANT!!!
READ IT! ...more
How I looked while reading Black Iris?

And then...

And after that big reveal?

After the last page?

FUCKING BRILLIANT!!!
READ IT! ...more

I don’t think I can adequately begin to express just how important of a book Black Iris is. I attend an extremely liberal, accepting college but, even then, this novel made me feel less alone and more comfortable in my own skin—and that’s no small feat.
Black Iris is a revenge story, one that I often found difficult to read, but Raeder’s prose is pure magic and it is impossible to stay away from this book for long. While Unteachable was a clear-cut forbidden romance, filled with emotion and roma ...more
Black Iris is a revenge story, one that I often found difficult to read, but Raeder’s prose is pure magic and it is impossible to stay away from this book for long. While Unteachable was a clear-cut forbidden romance, filled with emotion and roma ...more


Oh. My. F**ing. God.
I can't. I just can not.
I am on the tour for this book and my stop is tomorrow, and I was really forcing myself to get through this because, you know, so many people seemed to have loved it, the publisher raved about it, I was told it was some sort of new groundbreaking, life-changing, orgasmic reading experience, but all I got out of this is a freaking reading slump and a groundbreaking, life-changing, non-orgasmic headache.
This book is just too pitch-black and messed up f ...more

I'm bumping this up to five stars because I loved it even more the second time around.
I found something that resonated with me in nearly every chapter. This book makes my heart hurt, and burst with joy at the same time. And because this...
I found something that resonated with me in nearly every chapter. This book makes my heart hurt, and burst with joy at the same time. And because this...
"If I was gay, I wouldn't need an asterisk beside my name...... I wouldn't have to explain that I fall in love with minds, not genders or body parts. People wouldn't say I'm 'just a slut' or 'faking it' or 'undecided' or 'confused.' I'm not confused. I...more

4.5/5
CW: substance abuse, intense sexual scenes
This book was gritty and honest and so so so so good. The writing style is vivid and raw and left me reeling. It invoked so many conflicting feelings in me. This book is relentlessly dark and is definitely not for everyone. The narrator is unlikable and unreliable, but I absolutely loved her.
My only complaint is that the jumps between the two alternating timelines felt sporadic and sometimes it made the story hard to follow - it also left the big r ...more
CW: substance abuse, intense sexual scenes
This book was gritty and honest and so so so so good. The writing style is vivid and raw and left me reeling. It invoked so many conflicting feelings in me. This book is relentlessly dark and is definitely not for everyone. The narrator is unlikable and unreliable, but I absolutely loved her.
My only complaint is that the jumps between the two alternating timelines felt sporadic and sometimes it made the story hard to follow - it also left the big r ...more

Nov 19, 2013
Alexis *Reality Bites*
marked it as to-read
Dear Leah Raeder, I followed the link in your review and I am very intrigued with your new NA. I love different and I am always searching for something that does not follow the NA standard. When an author pushes boundaries I become a very happy reader.
I'm very anxious to see what this secret is... And I can't wait to meet Laney, Armin and Blythe.
PS, I will stalk you for teasers.
Your fan, Alexis Moore!
...more
I'm very anxious to see what this secret is... And I can't wait to meet Laney, Armin and Blythe.
PS, I will stalk you for teasers.
Your fan, Alexis Moore!
...more

I am not the heroine of this story.
And I’m not trying to be cute. It’s the truth. I’m diagnosed borderline and seriously fucked-up. I hold grudges. I bottle my hate until it ferments into poison, and then I get high off the fumes. I’m completely dysfunctional and that’s the way I like it, so don’t expect a character arc where I finally find Redemption, Growth, and Change, or learn How to Forgive Myself and Others.
Fuck forgiveness.
Hands down. This is probably the best book I've read in 2015 a ...more

Reviewed by: Hello Beautiful Book Blog
This book entrusts you with secrets, feelings that are so heavy you feel like you are holding it all together for the characters. Dark isn't for everyone, but those who connect will find this is one of the best.
It's going to be hard for me to put my thoughts into words about how much I loved this book. It's not for the normal reasons one would love a book. I didn't have a certain connection to one of the characters. I didn't have a connection to the plot ...more
This book entrusts you with secrets, feelings that are so heavy you feel like you are holding it all together for the characters. Dark isn't for everyone, but those who connect will find this is one of the best.
It's going to be hard for me to put my thoughts into words about how much I loved this book. It's not for the normal reasons one would love a book. I didn't have a certain connection to one of the characters. I didn't have a connection to the plot ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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A Million More Pages: BOTM 2018 - Black Iris - Starts 10th June | 13 | 55 | Jun 29, 2018 12:17PM | |
Crazy for Young A...: Black Iris by Leah Raeder → Start Date: November 1st, 2015 | 29 | 31 | Nov 24, 2015 01:46PM | |
Summer Reading Bo...: Black Iris 71-100%, pg. 258-368 | 4 | 50 | Jun 27, 2015 05:18PM | |
Summer Reading Bo...: * June 14th-28th Black Iris - Mykia (Update Thread) | 14 | 34 | Jun 24, 2015 06:13AM | |
Summer Reading Bo...: Black Iris 31-70%, pg. 123-257 | 2 | 24 | Jun 23, 2015 10:16AM | |
Summer Reading Bo...: Black Iris 0-30%, pg. 1-122 | 14 | 30 | Jun 23, 2015 06:28AM | |
The Challenge Fac...:
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68 | 23 | Jun 07, 2015 10:54AM |
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“Girls love each other like animals. There is something ferocious and unself-conscious about it. We don't guard ourselves like we do with boys. No one trains us to shield our hearts from each other. With girls, it's total vulnerability from the beginning. Our skin is bare and soft. We love with claws and teeth and the blood is just proof of how much. It's feral.
And it's relentless.”
—
332 likes
And it's relentless.”
“If I was gay, I wouldn't need an asterisk beside my name. I could stop worrying if the girl I like will bounce when she finds out I also like dick. I could have a coming-out party without people thinking I just want attention. I wouldn't have to explain that I fall in love with minds, not genders or body parts. People wouldn't say I'm 'just a slut' or 'faking it' or 'undecided' or 'confused.' I'm not confused. I don't categorize people by who I'm allowed to like and who I'm allowed to love. Love doesn't fit into boxes like that. It's blurry, slippery, quantum. It's only limited by our perceptions and before we slap a label on it and cram it into some category, everything is possible.”
—
135 likes
More quotes…