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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
aparker89's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Note this book is a horror/thriller and while the author does "protect" us from some of it early on that shielding does disappear as the story progresses.
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Deadnaming, Sexism, Pregnancy, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Suicide, Torture, Body horror, Cursing, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
sarahcrowell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Confinement, Death, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Vomit
evevallarta's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Esta demasiado intenso, es una historia muy fuerte, aunque el final cierra bien, hay una luz al final del tunel.
Esta narrado de manera muy unica e incluso al final sorprende un pequeño twist.
Definitivamente recomiendo checar los trigger warnings ⚠️ porque son a lo larggo de toooodo el libro.
Se gana sus 5 estrellas porque no le encontré ni un error, me engancho desde el principio
AUNQUE, no es de mis favoritos.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Addiction, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual violence
gabbyreynolds's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
marijabilic's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Body horror
katzill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Body horror, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, and Physical abuse
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
sarah2438's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Confinement, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Pedophilia and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Body horror
livgrayson_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault