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A review by phantasmaboo
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
1.0
This book really had me in the first two thirds, but I cannot support this author. Without spoiling, the book uses transphobic plot points and language. If you want to see why, read the spoilers below.
The main character is a young woman who is recovering from addiction and who, as part of her process, becomes a devout Christian. I found no problems here and I found it very interesting to hear from a narrator who embraces religion so wholeheartedly.
However, the main character is hired by “scientists” (one computer engineer and one doctor), who are atheists and make sure to tell the main character how they don’t want their child to be taught any religion. From here, we see the main character as some kind of maligned individual while the parents are portrayed as unreasonable. Still, I thought this was okay as it became fundamental to the plot, and to the character’s struggles.
However, the end changed everything for me and it all clicked into place. Turns out, these atheist scientists had kidnapped a little girl from her mother, and raised her as a boy, confusing her about her gender identity. The author draws upon this to create “horror”, and the resolution shows Teddy now living life as Flora, determined to live life as a girl after being rescued by this Christian woman who saves her from the atheists.
Could the author have done this unintentionally? Possibly. But it’s very coincidental and falls along many right-wing and transphobic lines. If that’s your thing, go for it, but for me it ruined the book. Authors should have more creativity than that and based on the first two thirds, I’m sad to see the author went this way.
However, the main character is hired by “scientists” (one computer engineer and one doctor), who are atheists and make sure to tell the main character how they don’t want their child to be taught any religion. From here, we see the main character as some kind of maligned individual while the parents are portrayed as unreasonable. Still, I thought this was okay as it became fundamental to the plot, and to the character’s struggles.
However, the end changed everything for me and it all clicked into place. Turns out, these atheist scientists had kidnapped a little girl from her mother, and raised her as a boy, confusing her about her gender identity. The author draws upon this to create “horror”, and the resolution shows Teddy now living life as Flora, determined to live life as a girl after being rescued by this Christian woman who saves her from the atheists.
Could the author have done this unintentionally? Possibly. But it’s very coincidental and falls along many right-wing and transphobic lines. If that’s your thing, go for it, but for me it ruined the book. Authors should have more creativity than that and based on the first two thirds, I’m sad to see the author went this way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia