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lilpugbooklover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
in short: an extremely heart tugging, thrilling, grab your soul and wont let go, dark roller-coaster of a read.
complete review
Victoria Mas is a new author for me and I only really started the mad women ball because I wanted to check out her writing style, as I’m a mood reader I felt this week I probably wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with a book I knew was going to be very emotional but once I started it grabbed me and wouldn't let go, so much so I finished this book in one whole day.
Victoria Mas paints us a picture of 19 century Paris so vividly that you can almost smell the baguettes, her characters are exceedingly life like and you’ll feel everything they go through as if it was yourself.
Although with this story theme being of a 19 century asylum as readers will know this is like to be a dark and emotive read but be warned there is active sexual assault, mentions of abuse of different types and active self harm told with various detail within these pages.
Despite this dark and raw storyline, this book is physically breath taking as we follow one main girl as her world is tipped upside down when she finds herself abandoned within the local asylum despite being very much sane, her diagnoses that put her there, she trusted someone with her secret, she could see and talk to the dead.
Victoria writes a beautiful, terrifying, raw and completely unforgettable story that I was sad to finish, I really wish there was another story following Eugenie after everything had happened to her. A book I don’t normally read but has since stole my heart and earn a space on my favorite bookcase.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
lauramparis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual violence
imkaytie'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
2.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Drug abuse, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
thesehauntedshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical trauma, Misogyny, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
thefoxcharmer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Rape
ellasecretarchive's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Torture
words_and_dreams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eugenie, who sees the dead is sent to the asylum by her Father after being betrayed by her Grandmother. Genevieve, the matron/senior nurse at the asylum believes in science, order and Dr Charcot. She is stern and disciplined and cares for her patients without sentimentality.
We see how the mentally ill women are treated, misunderstood and put on display like exhibits. Men abusing their power and postition whether that is a dr or a father.
The cold figure of Genevieve ends up being the savior whilst the 'loving' maternal Grandmother is the betrayer. I like how it explored discovering yourself and your beliefs despite thinking everything is already set in stone through Genevieve. She represents growth. Theophile, Eugenies brother represents the next generation of men who could do better, hope for the future.
We also get to meet some of the other inmates who are equally heartbreaking, especially Louise and Therese.
It was a little on the nose at times but I really enjoyed it and found it both emotional, heartbreaking and gripping.
Moderate: Sexism, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Chronic illness
Minor: Abandonment
julesreadsstuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Alcoholism
thebogdan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault and Physical abuse
heartsfromella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Self harm, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Death