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Cover of Jane Steele by Lyndsay FayeJane Steele
Modern · Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy

Jane Steele

by Lyndsay Faye
2016 · 400 pages · Fiction
64.0Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick
≈ 10 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

'Reader, I murdered him.' Lyndsay Faye's novel is a gothic, witty retelling of Jane Eyre, in which an orphaned heroine who loves that novel responds to the cruelty around her very differently from its famous governess.

Why it's worth reading

It was an Edgar Award finalist. It's a clever, dark homage to Charlotte Brontë.

You'll love it if you liked

Cover of Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre
Jane EyreCharlotte Brontë
Cover of Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierRebecca
RebeccaDaphne du Maurier
Cover of Fingersmith by Sarah WatersFingersmith
FingersmithSarah Waters

Good to know

It helps to know Jane Eyre, but it isn't required.

By the numbers

64.0Must-Read Score
  • Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller8 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Edgar Award finalist (2017)

Reads as

Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Quick answers

Is Jane Steele worth reading?

Yes. It was an Edgar Award finalist. It ranks #1,989 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.0 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Jane Steele about?

'Reader, I murdered him.' Lyndsay Faye's novel is a gothic, witty retelling of Jane Eyre, in which an orphaned heroine who loves that novel responds to the cruelty around her very differently from its famous governess.

How long does it take to read Jane Steele?

About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Jane Steele?

If you liked it, try Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.