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sydgolt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One thing I found that added to how deranged this book is, is how the author made you almost like the gardener and Desmond. she wrote them in such a delicate way, and gave them such gentle personalities that you almost started to feel safe when they came into the room. but then she would add a comment about who these people really are and it would remind you that they are monsters, and that you should not like them. It’s almost like she was giving the Stockholm syndrome. And I find that incredibly cool. I don’t think it was a particularly difficult thing for the author to do but I thought it was a really interesting addition to the experience of the book.
I will recommend this book until the day I die, but only to specific people. I do not think of this book is for everyone because of how dark and twisted it is, but the writing the characters, the plot, the ending are just so incredible.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Child abuse, Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Violence, Suicide, Self harm, Gun violence, and Confinement
themichellegray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While I don't find much enjoyment in this type of book, the hopefulness is what carried me forward. I was rooting for the victims eventual escape and happiness alongside justice being served. Yet the ending wasn't as gratifying as I would've liked and instead concluded with a lazy "twist" (if you can even call it that).
There's definitely an audience for this darker book seemingly created for shock value. Without much depth written into the overarching story though, I don't fit into that group.
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Abandonment, and Gun violence
Minor: Addiction and Pregnancy
eimiburt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Death
phoricho's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Rape, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Torture, Trafficking, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
mariana_ct08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
mblanke'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
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Confinement, Torture, Suicide, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Murder, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Stalking, Self harm, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Addiction, Abortion, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
ravenwaltz's review
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Stalking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Mental illness, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
prachidayal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
- Medium read (6 hours)
- I don't know what to say because I can't figure out what Hutchison's goal was in writing this book. It's so graphic and reads as trauma porn. While it is written well, the shocking descriptions are what carry the book, not the writing. It feels like a YA novel with a desperate attempt to tell a dark story. There are a lot of plot holes (further diminishing the book's structure) with an anticlimactic ending. Why could the 20-something girls not overpower the old man? Why did Sirvat do what she did? Why did Elenor never look up and see Maya, and how was the Gardener willing to take that risk?
Also, why are we expected to sympathize with Sophia? She stood by while the Gardner kidnapped girls for a decade because she thought she would lose her child to a man who would be in prison (or on death row). Lastly, Maya's age on her license was 19 and she was there for 3.5 years which just doesn't add up. I also worry that while some of the book's audience is deeply repulsed by the plot, there might be an audience filled with creeps that enjoy this book for all the wrong reasons. The characters were poorly developed because they just had one dimension (Bliss is the exception.) Maya is supposed to be smart and nonchalant, Avery is just aggressive, and Desmond was written like someone we are supposed to root for despite being so complacent. Also, I get the plan to seduce him into helping them escape, but it seemed like Maya actually likes him, and the other butterflies saw it too. How were they not furious with her? Also, how was Desmond okay with having sex with the same person as his dad and brother? The dialogue also felt forced. One of the major mysteries throughout the book is supposed to be that Maya is hiding something, and the conclusion to that fell flat. Also, she was extremely open to telling her story, so I don't know why the officers were being so pushy. Finally, not only did the book read like it was written by a man, but it also read like a book authored by someone who has a fetish for people of color. It was nauseating to read sentences like "her orange wings contrasted her ebony skin," "her caramel skin," or my favorite, "she was an exquisite creature of Japanese descent." - I liked Bliss, and the writing (excluding the dialogue) was pretty good.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Cursing, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Abandonment
lunelpis's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
lightblue_izz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Child death, Pedophilia, Violence, and Mental illness