Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

8 reviews

anissawren's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Medical content, Kidnapping, Confinement, Rape, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, Suicide, Child abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Drug abuse, Terminal illness, and Vomit

themichellegray's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

A grim, heartbreaking story told through unstructured writing and a confusing 'interview' format. I found it quite difficult to suspend my belief for this wildly unrealistic plot which unfortunately made it read like a commodity of other's very real trauma.

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.

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Content Warnings

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

kassidypf13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Violence

sydbingus's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I think the “twist” at the end was a little unnecessary and ruined it a little for me, but still a very enjoyable read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, and Abandonment

Minor: Gun violence, Child abuse, Medical content, Abortion, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

cait's review against another edition

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

ladylovestead's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.0

This is a fun read if I don't think too much about it. I thought the butterfly garden was creepy the characters were interesting. There were some issues in logic that I struggled with. For example, the butterfly garden must be just a huge structure. It housed lots of girls each with their own room. Then there were rooms for like snacks and a natural area with a cliff and a waterfall. This garden was supposed to be nestled inside an even larger greenhouse? The geometry didn't make sense to me and I found things like this to be really distracting. If you can ignore some of those logic issues and read it for sheer entertainment, it's a dark and twisted fun ride. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape

Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Mental illness

Minor: Addiction

jacquelinepon's review

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

valentinaambrosius's review

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