Scan barcode
prachidayal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
- Medium read (6 hours)
- I don't know what to say because I can't figure out what Hutchison's goal was in writing this book. It's so graphic and reads as trauma porn. While it is written well, the shocking descriptions are what carry the book, not the writing. It feels like a YA novel with a desperate attempt to tell a dark story. There are a lot of plot holes (further diminishing the book's structure) with an anticlimactic ending. Why could the 20-something girls not overpower the old man? Why did Sirvat do what she did? Why did Elenor never look up and see Maya, and how was the Gardener willing to take that risk?
Also, why are we expected to sympathize with Sophia? She stood by while the Gardner kidnapped girls for a decade because she thought she would lose her child to a man who would be in prison (or on death row). Lastly, Maya's age on her license was 19 and she was there for 3.5 years which just doesn't add up. I also worry that while some of the book's audience is deeply repulsed by the plot, there might be an audience filled with creeps that enjoy this book for all the wrong reasons. The characters were poorly developed because they just had one dimension (Bliss is the exception.) Maya is supposed to be smart and nonchalant, Avery is just aggressive, and Desmond was written like someone we are supposed to root for despite being so complacent. Also, I get the plan to seduce him into helping them escape, but it seemed like Maya actually likes him, and the other butterflies saw it too. How were they not furious with her? Also, how was Desmond okay with having sex with the same person as his dad and brother? The dialogue also felt forced. One of the major mysteries throughout the book is supposed to be that Maya is hiding something, and the conclusion to that fell flat. Also, she was extremely open to telling her story, so I don't know why the officers were being so pushy. Finally, not only did the book read like it was written by a man, but it also read like a book authored by someone who has a fetish for people of color. It was nauseating to read sentences like "her orange wings contrasted her ebony skin," "her caramel skin," or my favorite, "she was an exquisite creature of Japanese descent." - I liked Bliss, and the writing (excluding the dialogue) was pretty good.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Cursing, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Abandonment
sarah2438's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Confinement, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Pedophilia and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Body horror
livgrayson_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
drs645's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Murder, Death, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Body horror, Torture, Suicide, and Kidnapping
cait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Torture
ladylovestead's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Mental illness
Minor: Addiction
jjenkins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
heartobarto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape
thehireader's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Death
Moderate: Abortion, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
mariam_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault