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ulaclare's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I just profoundly dislike Bart and the family, specifically Cathy, babying him. He’s such a man child; he does not love and does not care for those around him. His flaunt of wealth and abuse of women in his life is horrible.
If one more person hurt Cindy one more time I was going to scream. She was a young girl and young woman towards the end of the book. I think you could argue she was too young at the beginning of the novel to have sexual relationships but their reactions and abuse to this act is not to be tolerated. Barts weird sexual behavior towards her, watching her and wanting her because she looks like their mother makes me sick. As well how everyone keeps telling her to behave herself as if her adult sexualing brother shouldn’t be the one punished.
I felt horrible for Jory. The accident I am sure was caused by Bart and their creep uncle. But Bart has motive and is clearly wanted to harm his brother. I did think that Jory’s life made not a lot of sense. Other than his body is broken like Malcom’s body was when he was alive? Also I think the ableism of Melody and his family is disgusting.
Melody looking like Cathy and Cindy looking like Cathy is just… this family just has an incest problem.
Add to it that Tony looks looks dark like Jory and Bart, nasty.
Chris is my most hated character. He straight up ignores Cathy and convinces Cathy she’s crazy when she’s been right most of the time when it comes to Foxworth hall. He’s abusive and a rapist to his wife and I feared for Cindy when they said she looked like her mother and she was staying with him in the city.
I will not lie his death did hurt. Cathy and her heartbreak and the kids finally growing the fuck up shows that their abusive marriage was hindering everyone, even Cathy. Who when her kids grow and are able to leave and be their own individual she dies because her life isn’t her own. Showing she’s still trapped in the attic as she died there as she lived there in her mind for years to come.
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
kira20'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Incest, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
morgue666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
that said for the things i enjoyed i had so many issues with this book that i was convinced this had to be partly ghostwritten but that may not be correct idk. i felt like there were just a few too many plot lines that seemed to go nowhere?
“As if she knew she was soon to die, my mother had glued paper flowers on the attic walls, including, too, a strange-looking orange snail and a purple worm.”
just break my fucking heart. such a good ending.
Graphic: Incest, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
madelinequinnee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are of course some flaws in this book which you find in all the later written stories once VC Andrews passed and her ghostwriter took over, but I still think it was very enjoyable and had the same captivating atmosphere that all her books entail.
I’m looking forward to reading the final book in this series!
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
fallenxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Incest and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
lauraew333's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Incest and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Child death and Suicide
cosmicruin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
katrione's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Incest and Rape
amora32's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
The book centers around a dysfunctional family who are held in ancestral home where the narrator experienced a tremendous amount of trauma as a child. They are essentially held emotionally hostage by a highly volatile and abusive male family member, whom nobody wishes to upset or challenge, and this character is not held accountable for any of his actions. The only character who challenges him is a much younger sister, who is assaulted when she does so. Christian religious zealotry, accidents/attacks which lead to disability, shut shaming, and child abandonment are also themes. There is also A LOT of upsetting ableism, but it is cast as being a negative thing (author was a wheelchair user and was disabled, though the language used is dated of course).