Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

24 reviews

cait's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Torture

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Gun violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, Blood, Child abuse, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

jacquelinepon's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

jjenkins's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

This is a very dark thriller told from an FBI investigator’s perspective and a victims perspective as they investigate a horrible tragedy involving the kidnapping, abuse, and murder of girls. The writing was stunning and the story unfolded in a very unique way

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence

b00murded's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Ending of the book felt very rushed. I personally did not like some of the ways the author decided to take the ending of the novel. This book has very dark content TW include: violence against women, harsh language, drug use, sexual assault.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

maddy_24's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

valentinaambrosius's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I’m sorry but I have to deduct a full point for the ridiculously abrupt ending and the nothing plot twist. As in there was no twist and the book just ended while I waited for a thing to happen. 
 
 Now, after having read a few other reviews I’ve got very little to add in the shape of substance. So I’ll just reiterate. 

Yes, it does require a certain amount of suspension of disbelieve that this large group of girls didn’t think to band together—considering they’re already quite close; and seem able to stay somewhat out of view of prying ears and eyes—to take down The Gardener. 

That being said I understand—well I think I can emphasize with the amount of courage it would take to do so. I’ve never been brutally violated like they have; but at least a few of them seem to be strong enough, brave enough and convincing enough to get the other butterflies to join them. 

Furthermore I loved hating Maya, her wit, her sarcasm and how mature she was while staying a believable 18 year old woman/girl. (at 18 I’d still say child; but that is a personal choice) 

I have to admit that The Gardener was rather tame. He did what he did to the girls, yes, but considering this trilogy is called The Collector; I couldn’t help but think of the book The Collector. I forgot his name, but The Gardener reminded me of him or more precisely what he could’ve been. The collector is from the perspective of the Collector. Still I believe this collector could’ve been more like that one; creepier, more unhinged. His behaviour seemed perfectly normal except for the killing and violating etc. his reactions to requests and to the things the girls wanted and how they rebelled seemed perfectly well adjusted. 

This kind of thing could be true for actual men like this… I just doubt it? 

 

Avery would’ve been a nice collector, a more believable/interesting Gardener in my opinion. Though that might’ve pushed into cliché territory. 

 

Desmond was equally a bit to forthcoming and painfully naïve. Maya’s refusal to spill also seemed only there for drama’s sake. A girl this cynical suddenly thinking she can love a man into letting her out and letting him discover for himself when he proves from the get-go to have no interest in exploring?

 

So, yes, 4 stars. It was beautifully written. The story structure was an amazing and well used tool id like to see and read more of. I just might pick up the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

jcpreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book which made me a little apprehensive going into it. You never know if it’s actually going to live up to the hype. I finished this book less than 30 seconds ago and I’m already typing up a review, so that should tell you something already.

The writing style of this one was unique. It took a bit for me to get used to the differing POV’s without a distinct indication of the change. It also took me a little bit to get used to the fact that this book didn’t have chapters, which I’m typically one to stay away from. HOWEVER, once adjusting this book had me hooked. I was actually hooked by page 15 which was way too early on for my comfort.

The character development was incredibly intriguing to see play out literally until the very last page. The narrator, Maya/Inara was mildly unreliable but mainly because the reader needs to have that inkling of doubt. Learning about the main character’s life before, in the middle, and after was important to this plot. Dot Hutchinson is an incredible writer and has a beautiful way of stringing words together.

I’m not a series girl, and I know I’ve said that before. So believe me when I say, I cannot wait to get my hands on book #2 of this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Incest, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

daniellafrella's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Child abuse, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

nikkibisbee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt