You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
phoricho's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I initially rated this book 4 stars, but after a couple of months of it living rent-free in my mind, I decided to change that to a 5 star. My original rating was more due to the fact that this book left me not knowing how to feel. It was so different from anything I've ever read, both in content and layout.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
savreads_2300's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
ren_paige's review against another edition
3.5
I’ve thought a lot about this book once I finished it. I really struggled to decide two important questions did i like the book and was the book good? Usually the former is how I would rate a book but sometimes there is a book that I like but is bad. I have struggled to decide if this is one. There are certainly many issues with this book most notably the almost romanticisation of rape. But that element is, in my opinion, something that has come across via interpretation rather than actual intent of the author. This is not a defence for or against but rather an overall acknowledgement. I have seen criticisms of the protagonist’s demeanour which I would heartily disagree with. The protagonist was the highlight of this book and showed a compelling and different process of grief. I would say though the plot twist at the end was not only unnecessary but substantially reduced the quality of both the ending and the entire story in retrospect. I would argue that the criticisms that there was a lack of any attempt to leave the situation imposed on the girls have merit but not to the extent of it negatively impacting the story. I believe the world created was one intended to be thorough enough that escape was not meant to be possible in any way and the story was not about escape but about survival. In some ways the book was extremely ignorant, the idea that an aggressive detective notorious for not being composed with victims would be allowed to interview and accuse a victim, one of which they do not know her age and has a high chance of being a minor and has suffered extremely traumatic events, was so entirely ridiculous that it took me out of the world completely. The idea of the story itself was interesting and for the most part well written. I still cannot decide if it was a good book. But to some extent, I did like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
gogotheque's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
mirrorblackout's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
hmkreads's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder
slkobza's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
eastballtracy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
michelles_book_nook's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
⚠️ CW: kidnapping, paedophilia, sexual assault, rape, childhood trauma, murder and suicide ⚠️ If you like darkly challenging and emotional thrillers that really get under your skin then this one is for you! Near an isolated mansion lies a beautiful garden. In this garden grow luscious flowers, shady trees and a collection of precious 'butterflies' who are young women who have been kidnapped and intricately tattooed to resemble their namesakes. Overseeing it all is the Gardener, a brutal, twisted man obsessed with capturing and preserving his lovely specimens. When the garden is discovered and a survivor is brought in for questioning, FBI agents Victor Hanoverian and Brandon Eddison are tasked with piecing together one of the most stomach-churning cases of their careers. But the girl, known only as Maya, proves to be a puzzle herself. As her story twists and turns, slowly shedding light on life in the Butterfly Garden, Maya reveals old grudges, new saviors, and horrific tales of a man who’d go to any length to hold beauty captive. But the more she shares, the more the agents have to wonder what she’s still hiding. Wow this book had me absolutely hooked. It was such an emotionally and mentally challenging read but it also had an extra element of creepiness because it all felt so real. Dot Hutchinson writes in such a haunting but beautiful way that really brings the story to life and truly makes you feel so many of the emotions of the victims throughout. Overall, I highly recommend this book, but please take into account the CW's as it is quite graphic and disturbing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Murder
blushin_n_gushin's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
This is the first book in the series and I can't wait to read the rest! It follows a girl who gets kidnapped and brought to "the garden" where she is marked as a butterfly and given a new name. The books switches between her interview with the FBI and the events leading up to how the FBI found the garden. I love how this book took the common plot of abduction and gave it a unique twist to something I promise you have never imagined. I highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Murder