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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
sawyer722's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Abandonment
spooky_haley'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: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Sexual content, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Addiction
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
afroheaux'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, Addiction, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Murder, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
elkiebear's review
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Self harm, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, Cursing, and Gun violence
lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I loved our main character and hearing her narration, flipping back and forth between being in the interview room and being in the garden. The gardener was such an interesting and complex villain to follow and try to understand. Although obviously an extreme example there was some great commentary on violence against women, power, and responsibility when it comes to intervening.
There was one point I thought it was going in a direction I really didn't like (trying to be vague to avoid spoikers) but it got explained and thankfully didn't go there. Although the reveal at the end I'm not sure how I feel about, it felt a little too coincidental and there was no real need other than for the sake of having another secret to reveal. But I also wasn't mad at it.
Overall just a really brilliant book with a really good balance between the very dark content and the almost hopeful sense of family and connection found even in the worst scenarios. Definitely recommend but definitely check content warnings.
Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief
sydbingus'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? No
4.0
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
lina_vc_'s review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
cait's review against another edition
- 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
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