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kendallhoward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Dot Hutchison’s mind?????? This was one of the more disturbing books I’ve ever read, an intricately woven psychological suspense thriller of captivity and control.
I was fascinated by this story, with every terrifying and twisted detail revealed, every piece of the puzzle notched into place then thrown back into the pile of crazy. The writing was very fast-paced and the dual POVs lended well to this kind of storytelling—one from the main character during her days of being held captive, the other from the FBI agent interviewing her in the aftermath of her rescue. There are no “chapters” per se, but none of it ever feels like it’s dragging.
I don’t want to give anything away about the plot and how insane it truly is, but this book definitely gave me serious chills and thought spirals. It reminded me of The OA a lot, as well as “Pretty Girls” by Karin Slaughter, both of which I loved. But overall it’s a very unique story of abduction, delusion and survival.
I took off a quarter of a star only because there was one element of the ending that seemed a little too coincidental!!
Only other thing I would say is this book is riddled with graphic, upsetting descriptions and depictions. Pretty much any trigger you can think of is in this book so it’s not for the faint of heart, like at all.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
tiffany_bush's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
jessi_lou95'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Pregnancy
csmoke85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Murder
anissawren's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug abuse, Terminal illness, and Vomit
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: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
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, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
beata_maria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, and Trafficking
Minor: Pedophilia
abbyycadabbyy's review against another edition
4.0
This book had me super hooked from the first page. I loved how the book switched from the interview to Maya's time in the garden. The detectives did get on my nerves when they would interrupt her.
Maya's character is so great to me. She has been through so much in her life, but every time she has been able to become a better person because of it. Her personality is one I really enjoy from a character. In a dark book like this it's good to have a funny character with a little humor. Her life was horrible, but hopefully her life gets better after this book.
I kinda feel bad for The Gardener. Yes, he did horrible things that are not justifiable, but I feel like he really did feel like he was giving the butterflies a good life. I HATE AVERY WITH EVERY BONE IN MY BODY. He was such a horrible man. He got what he deserved in the end.
I thought the ending was a little weird. I thought that the "plot twist" was really dumb. I am curious about what the other books could be about.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy