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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This reminded me a great deal of The Way I Used to Be and My Dark Vanessa. Very well executed and shockingly beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Self harm, Grief
“Son. Don’t be afraid. I’m making you a promise. I won’t ever let them find you.”
Touching, isn’t it? Oh, to have a father enunciating such words into your ears. Wouldn’t you feel euphoric and protected? But what if I tell you, that that same father wanted you so much he chained you inside his house - in a dark, isolated and windowless room so you can never ever leave him.
Did I get your attention? Now that my friend, happened to poor Sayers Wayte.
Sayers do have it all – the looks, popularity, and anything that his family’s money can buy. The first part of the narrative presents him as a privileged teenager not to mention a bully also. I loathe him in those parts where he takes everything for granted while having the time of his life. The feeling that he can get away with everything suddenly turned into a twisty turn when he was kidnapped and held captive by a man who psychologically manipulated and emotionally abused him.
I think the author did an exquisite job exploring the complexities of the human psyche in this very book. Throughout the pages, you get to see Sayers slowly being stripped off with every identity he obtained while growing up and then eventually being clothed with a personality which is far more different than before. And guess what, he embraced and embodied it. Why? Of course, for survival.
As much as I admire him for his resiliency, I cannot just shove the feeling of pity towards him especially when the aftermath was rolling already in the plot.
The author made sure you realize that trauma comes in different forms. Well, some might successfully outlive it. Others might still be living in it while trying their best to get away because sometimes those dark rooms feel like there’s no way to escape.
“Intense and hunting, hard to put down – a masterpiece that makes you remember that one thing Pandora left in her old box – hope.”