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emily1808's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
treythethird'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
sudy556's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
tcaravello's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
jazellanne'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
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
crypticspren's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
bevlouise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
kriese07's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
mellmeyer96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“Other people got to look at a birthday and say, "Yay! One year older!" We met our birthdays with "Fuck. One year less."
Dot Hutchison’s The Butterfly Garden takes readers into a uniquely twisted and disturbing world. The story, told through flashbacks, follows Maya as she recounts her harrowing experience in the Butterfly Garden during a police interrogation. From the outset, the concept is unsettling—young women are kidnapped, tattooed to resemble butterflies, and held captive by a brutal man known as the Gardener. It’s a heavy and dark narrative that, much like a car wreck, compels you to keep watching despite the horrors.
Initially, I was captivated by the story. The imagery Hutchison creates is breathtaking, painting vivid pictures of the garden and the eerie beauty that belies the sinister undertones. Her writing is undeniably beautiful, which makes the darkness of the plot even more jarring.
However, as the story progressed, my engagement began to wane. Maya’s nonchalant demeanor during her recounting of the events made it difficult to connect emotionally with her and the other characters. While the reader eventually learns the reason behind her detachment, it left me feeling similarly numb, unable to fully feel the impact of the tragedy unfolding.
The pace is quite slow, and by the time the story reached its conclusion, I found the ending lacking the explosiveness a plot this intense seemed to promise. It felt anticlimactic, leaving me somewhat disappointed after the buildup.
Overall, The Butterfly Garden is a beautifully written but deeply disturbing novel. Hutchison’s ability to craft such vivid scenes is commendable, but the story’s heavy themes and the emotionally detached protagonist may not be for everyone. Despite its initial allure, the story’s pacing and anticlimactic ending left me wanting more.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy
teresafranz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment