Reviews with content warning for Trafficking - The Butterfly Garden

I initially rated this book 4 stars, but after a couple of months of it living rent-free in my mind, I decided to change that to a 5 star. My original rating was more due to the fact that this book left me not knowing how to feel. It was so different from anything I've ever read, both in content and layout.

Content-wise, it's a very dark book, and the characters go through numerous traumas. It's not for everyone. Check the trigger warnings.

Layout-wise, there are no chapters. That's unique, but it works with the story. There are two parts, and the POVs are broken up by section breaks.

Yes, it's a horrifying story, but I thought it was beautifully told, and the characters felt so real. I'm excited to read the rest of the series.

Content Warnings

hmbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

clougreen's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I would give this a 3.5 but not a 4. I went into the book completely blind because I honestly forgot to read the description before I added it on my kindle. I really appreciated the dual timeline and perspectives to really help develop the story as well as the characters you met in the Garden. I think ultimately the story was a tad darker than I was initially anticipated and for that reason I probably won't read the rest of the series. Overall, the writing style was easy to read and the pace moved steadily to keep me invested.

Content Warnings