Theme Week: Wither by Lauren DeStephano
“A gilded cage is still a cage — even if the bars are made of roses.”
I’ve always been fascinated by dystopias that wear beauty like a disguise. The premise of Wither sounded like The Handmaid’s Tale meets Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette — all pastel tragedy and quiet rage. I was curious whether it would lean more toward melodrama or a thoughtful look at control, privilege, and survival.
DeStefano doesn’t waste time. We’re thrown straight into Rhine’s abduction, and that urgency sets the tone for the entire novel. The writing balances delicate aesthetics with deep unease — everything glittering, perfumed, and poisonous.
Humanising everyone trapped in the system, even those complicit in it. Linden isn’t the cartoon villain Rhine expects, and that ambiguity makes her rebellion more complicated and interesting. There’s also a haunting, almost fairytale atmosphere that keeps the horror beautiful — and that’s a tricky balance to pull off.
Featured Song: “Control” — Halsey
Vibe Album: Born to Die — Lana Del Rey
Artist Recommendation: BANKS (for that silky defiance and mournful edge)
Colour Palette: White lace, wilted roses, and copper blood
Soundtrack: Creaking floorboards under soft piano
Season: Late autumn — when beauty turns brittle
Mood: Defiance in silk gloves
Scent: Perfume over decay
Tarot Pull: The High Priestess (reversed) — Secrets without power are just prisons.
In the upright position, the High Priestess holds hidden knowledge and quiet control. Reversed, she becomes a symbol of isolation, silenced intuition, and truths twisted against her. It’s Rhine’s struggle exactly: she sees everything, understands too much, but must bide her time until she can act.
For fans of: The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) & Never Let Me Go (film)
