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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
This disturbing story will stay with you long after you finish the book. Many parts of the story are left intentionally vague, which I think is a strength of the author to refrain from explaining everything the children endured while living in the House of Horrors and the aftermath of their freedom and future adulthood.
As a reader, when given hints and whispers of the atrocities each child went through, our imagination takes over, and we fill in the rest, thinking of the most extreme thing possible. Our imagination, coupled with the well-written chapters and thoughtfully crafted characters, the story spills out of the page. The reader is taken on the journey of the main character, Lex, through healing, forgiveness, and at times, heartbreak and pain.
It is a poignant and dark psychological story that will either leave you enjoying the book or recoiling from it, most likely a mixture of both.
As a reader, when given hints and whispers of the atrocities each child went through, our imagination takes over, and we fill in the rest, thinking of the most extreme thing possible. Our imagination, coupled with the well-written chapters and thoughtfully crafted characters, the story spills out of the page. The reader is taken on the journey of the main character, Lex, through healing, forgiveness, and at times, heartbreak and pain.
It is a poignant and dark psychological story that will either leave you enjoying the book or recoiling from it, most likely a mixture of both.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
I like that this book spends most of its time talking about what happens after Alexandra escapes. A lot of books that I've read like this focus on the descent (like Godshot), and only spend a little time on what happens afterward.
I would have expected Ethan to be a lot more sinister, as he had a lot to gain from abusing his sisters and staying in his father's good graces. I am certain that he would have resented being rescued.
I would have expected Ethan to be a lot more sinister, as he had a lot to gain from abusing his sisters and staying in his father's good graces. I am certain that he would have resented being rescued.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really engaging writing which covers themes of memory, mental health and abuse. It reads like a thriller but with a heart and a much deeper meaning.
However please check the trigger warnings before reading as it is a very dark and distressing plot.
However please check the trigger warnings before reading as it is a very dark and distressing plot.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
I have mixed feelings on this one.
Some of the positives:
I found it absorbing to read about these characters as they navigate life after a horrible trauma. It’s definitely more of a character study which surprised me as BOTM categorized it as thriller. It is beautifully written with flushed out characters. I am a bit shocked this is Deans debut.
The things I have mixed feelings on:
While the prose is beautiful, several sections of this book include actions that are indicated or suggested, but not clearly told to the reader. At times, I wasn’t sure I knew what Dean was implying had occurred and I found myself re-reading a few paragraphs, wondering if I misunderstood or missed something. On the other hand, when I did follow it, I thought it was a well done instance of showing not telling. Also, the timeline. The chapters are very long. For a 350+ page book, there are only a handful of chapters. I think this works well based on the way each chapter is based on a character, and Dean does break the chapters up by switching timelines a lot. Within 3 pages, you may switch timelines 3 times. It certainly kept me reading but it made listening to this on audio impossible. Thankfully you get a visual representation of the timeline switches within the book.
I am torn on a rating because this was such a dark and bleak story, but it was moving and memorable.
Some of the positives:
I found it absorbing to read about these characters as they navigate life after a horrible trauma. It’s definitely more of a character study which surprised me as BOTM categorized it as thriller. It is beautifully written with flushed out characters. I am a bit shocked this is Deans debut.
The things I have mixed feelings on:
While the prose is beautiful, several sections of this book include actions that are indicated or suggested, but not clearly told to the reader. At times, I wasn’t sure I knew what Dean was implying had occurred and I found myself re-reading a few paragraphs, wondering if I misunderstood or missed something. On the other hand, when I did follow it, I thought it was a well done instance of showing not telling. Also, the timeline. The chapters are very long. For a 350+ page book, there are only a handful of chapters. I think this works well based on the way each chapter is based on a character, and Dean does break the chapters up by switching timelines a lot. Within 3 pages, you may switch timelines 3 times. It certainly kept me reading but it made listening to this on audio impossible. Thankfully you get a visual representation of the timeline switches within the book.
I am torn on a rating because this was such a dark and bleak story, but it was moving and memorable.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes