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jeffreyb0615'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
4.75
Graphic: Incest, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Violence and Rape
Minor: Car accident
jadedcreator's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
First off, people talk about this book as incestuous. There is only one true brother/sister sex scene, and it hits uncomfortably with rape. He forces himself on her because he "can't resist" anymore, but she refuses to call it rape because part of her wanted it too and she didn't want him to hurt. But I don't think she was wanting that: she wanted to be close, and she was curious about the things she was learning, and she loved her brother. It's most accurate to say that their boundaries were all blurred. They were forced into close quarters and left uneducated, left pretending to be parents while at their most sexually vulnerable, left with only each other. They were uncomfortably physically close with their mother, and that's what they were taught. So the fact that people want to reduce it to incest with the jokes that come along with it, while the real truth was that it was child abuse, hurts and angers me.
Second, Cory's death hits as waiting for the other shoe to drop. I didn't believe it to be true this time around. It fell so flat that I expected them to have whisked him away to be raised alone by their mother, and the children all led to believe it (they are incredibly naive). Especially upon finding out that their mom has just up and left. But you finish the book with nothing changed, so I guess that's it? They have no proof of anything after him being led away, no death, no funeral... And their mother is so caught up in her lies, that he's not buried in his own name!
The mother is extremely emotionally abusive. Also upon reflection, she's a narcissist. Everything has always been about her and her desire for money. You know she's manipulating their love for her, and it gets worse and worse what they're willing to give up for her. She lies, over and over, and makes it and their emotions their fault (gaslighting also, wonderful). But to legitimately choose to not free your kids, and then to murder one, to try and murder them all? That's such a line to cross. She's sad and pathetic, and because they're trusting children and she's beautiful, she gets away with it.
I don't know if I want to read the next books. But I'm totally on board for revenge, even though it will never be enough. (Even though she throws the bag of evidence away!!!)
The writing is dated. Silly and innocent, but a large vocabulary. It went from slowly describing everything, to the years/time quickly passing, and yet the pacing wasn't the worst because things were happening.
The hardest part of this book is that is doesn't relate to some people. They have never been a victim/have never seen themselves as a victim. To let it go this far is far-fetched, even in their circumstances/date/age, for some people. They can't suspend their disbelief, and they're enraged especially at the thought of their siblings suffering, and doing nothing.
I think both are possible, but this book isn't for everyone.
"We wouldn't want to leave anything living and loving of sunshine in this attic."
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dontforgetthelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Incest, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
hayleyvharrington'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Death
abbennsky'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
3.75
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Violence, and Child abuse
renee_chrys'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
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Gaslighting, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Violence
beccammartin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
elwyn_k'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
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Violence
annalieseagain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
finally, it was so blatantly attempting to set up a series in my opinion that it intentionally left too much ambiguous. the twists could be surprising at times, particularly the end bits, but to read 400+ pages to arrive at a lukewarm ending that is just baiting at a sequel… no thanks! the book i bought came with the sequel inside as well but seeing how long that is and how little i care to see what happens next, i don’t think i’ll be picking it up anytime soon.
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence