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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
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TW: child abuse, torture, DID
I'm having a problem with figuring out a rating for this book. So I'm going to write out my thoughts and hopefully that will make things more clear.
This book started out with huge promise for me. It follows many characters, but our main character is a 14 year old girl named Angel. She and her brother are kidnapped by a man and kept in his "dollhouse" where they're forced to recreate photos of his past. This is supposed to help him "fix" things, however he is easy to anger and takes it out on the kids by abusing and torturing them.
Things I liked:
- Fast-read, I always wanted to flip the page.
- it's in the victim's POV, while it's happening, which I eat up!
- They're isolated.
- I really rooted for the kids in the house!
Things I didn't like:
- The writing wasn't great. A lot of overexplaining and the dialogue didn't flow well all the time.
- Some parts seemed unnecessary. In the big picture, I don't think we "needed" Edward's POV.
- You are expected to suspend belief a lot more than I would have liked. For example, a child is kidnapped from a daycare, and the daycare worker just takes a young child's word that the stolen child's aunt came to get her. And doesn't realize anything is amiss until her mom shows up to get her. She never saw the woman, the name wasn't on an approved list, nothing.
- The ending is kind of where it fell apart for me.
- We never really find out what happens to our villin.
Spoiler ahead
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- (the big one) I didn't like the "hollywood" use of DID (dissociative identity disorder, before 1994 it was known as multiple personality disorder) to create a villin. That just didn't sit right with me.
Could it happen? Sure, anything is possible, but if you listen to real people who have DID, you would know they are much more likely to be the victim of abuse than the abuser. People with DID have already been vilified enough we don't need any more stories adding to it. Especially, when it seemed to me that not enough research, or sensitivity readers were involved.
.
Okay, so looking over my thoughts it's like 2 for the ending and 4 for the rest of the book. I'll settle on 3 for now.
There is a sequel, apparently, I don't know what it will go into since this story wrapped up nicely. At this time, I don't see myself continuing.
TW: child abuse, torture, DID
I'm having a problem with figuring out a rating for this book. So I'm going to write out my thoughts and hopefully that will make things more clear.
This book started out with huge promise for me. It follows many characters, but our main character is a 14 year old girl named Angel. She and her brother are kidnapped by a man and kept in his "dollhouse" where they're forced to recreate photos of his past. This is supposed to help him "fix" things, however he is easy to anger and takes it out on the kids by abusing and torturing them.
Things I liked:
- Fast-read, I always wanted to flip the page.
- it's in the victim's POV, while it's happening, which I eat up!
- They're isolated.
- I really rooted for the kids in the house!
Things I didn't like:
- The writing wasn't great. A lot of overexplaining and the dialogue didn't flow well all the time.
- Some parts seemed unnecessary. In the big picture, I don't think we "needed" Edward's POV.
- You are expected to suspend belief a lot more than I would have liked. For example, a child is kidnapped from a daycare, and the daycare worker just takes a young child's word that the stolen child's aunt came to get her. And doesn't realize anything is amiss until her mom shows up to get her. She never saw the woman, the name wasn't on an approved list, nothing.
- The ending is kind of where it fell apart for me.
- We never really find out what happens to our villin.
Spoiler ahead
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- (the big one) I didn't like the "hollywood" use of DID (dissociative identity disorder, before 1994 it was known as multiple personality disorder) to create a villin. That just didn't sit right with me.
Could it happen? Sure, anything is possible, but if you listen to real people who have DID, you would know they are much more likely to be the victim of abuse than the abuser. People with DID have already been vilified enough we don't need any more stories adding to it. Especially, when it seemed to me that not enough research, or sensitivity readers were involved.
.
Okay, so looking over my thoughts it's like 2 for the ending and 4 for the rest of the book. I'll settle on 3 for now.
There is a sequel, apparently, I don't know what it will go into since this story wrapped up nicely. At this time, I don't see myself continuing.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's 3.5 stars for me but we can't do halfsies on Goodreads.
This novel reminded me of V.C. Andrews so I suppose it touched something nostalgic because I used to love all of V.C. Andrews (and after her death the ghostwriter that continued on in her name) kids locked away in a secret room stuff.
It was pretty dark and disturbing and suspenseful. The twists were decent. I'm interested to see where the author will take us in the next book in the series.
This novel reminded me of V.C. Andrews so I suppose it touched something nostalgic because I used to love all of V.C. Andrews (and after her death the ghostwriter that continued on in her name) kids locked away in a secret room stuff.
It was pretty dark and disturbing and suspenseful. The twists were decent. I'm interested to see where the author will take us in the next book in the series.
I've been waiting on a psychological thriller for awhile and when I saw this and read the blurb I knew I had to read it and wow did it not disappoint from start to finish I couldn't stop and put it down. If you like those creepy stories that make you jump when someone says boo this book is it. This is one to read.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
📚BOOK REVIEW‼️
The Dollhouse • Sara Ennis
@saraenniswrites
4.5/5 Overall
5/5 Writing Style
4/5 Thrill
👧 Children
🏰 Dungeon
đź«‚ Found Family
đź‘ĄCHARACTERSđź‘Ą
•These characters were so interesting and unique. I loved getting to know the kids but it did feel odd that the only adult character that was prominent was the villain.
✨PROS✨
•True crime reminiscent
•Kept you guessing and wanting more
•Creepy vibe
❌CONS❌
•The ending felt a bit rushed and I wish it was drug out a bit more.
Overall, I really loved this book! It was a fun thriller and kept me reading well past bed time!
The Dollhouse • Sara Ennis
@saraenniswrites
4.5/5 Overall
5/5 Writing Style
4/5 Thrill
👧 Children
🏰 Dungeon
đź«‚ Found Family
đź‘ĄCHARACTERSđź‘Ą
•These characters were so interesting and unique. I loved getting to know the kids but it did feel odd that the only adult character that was prominent was the villain.
✨PROS✨
•True crime reminiscent
•Kept you guessing and wanting more
•Creepy vibe
❌CONS❌
•The ending felt a bit rushed and I wish it was drug out a bit more.
Overall, I really loved this book! It was a fun thriller and kept me reading well past bed time!
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
First, my bad. I thought this book was about a man kidnapping blonde women. I read like the first line of the synopsis and then read the book. It's about a man kidnapping blonde children!
This book was so much more intense because children had to endure the beatings and torture this sicko and his accomplice inflicted upon them.
Yesterday I had to stop reading for the night because it gave me anxiety. This book is fast paced, heart-pounding, and terrifying!! If I had children I couldn't read this. The next book comes out tomorrow and I have to read it. I need to know what happens next.
This book was so much more intense because children had to endure the beatings and torture this sicko and his accomplice inflicted upon them.
Yesterday I had to stop reading for the night because it gave me anxiety. This book is fast paced, heart-pounding, and terrifying!! If I had children I couldn't read this. The next book comes out tomorrow and I have to read it. I need to know what happens next.
I loved almost every word of every page and even though I saw the twist coming, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reveal. My only complaint is the way it ended, but you can't always get what you want.