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themichellegray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While I don't find much enjoyment in this type of book, the hopefulness is what carried me forward. I was rooting for the victims eventual escape and happiness alongside justice being served. Yet the ending wasn't as gratifying as I would've liked and instead concluded with a lazy "twist" (if you can even call it that).
There's definitely an audience for this darker book seemingly created for shock value. Without much depth written into the overarching story though, I don't fit into that group.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction and Pregnancy
tarslynndalton'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
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
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
aparker89's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Note this book is a horror/thriller and while the author does "protect" us from some of it early on that shielding does disappear as the story progresses.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Classism
mblanke's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, and Abortion
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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
gabbyreynolds'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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy
jenknee_'s review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Pregnancy
thatbookmarkbabe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The pros:
-reminded me of Criminal Minds
-pulls you in and keeps you hooked
-the different characters really show people's different responses to trauma and a difficult situation, and I really grew to love the main butterflies depicted in the book
But i had a few issues with it that were hard to ignore, which I'll sum up in just a few points:
-this book forces you to suspend disbelief... like a lot
-the plot twist at the end was just laughable and unnecessary
-there was such a disconnect from the horrible elements that felt almost clinical. I didn't feel as much horror, terror, fear, panic, emotion, etc that you would expect based on some of the things that were described, and while i am not a fan of gratuitous violence for violence sake, it could have benefitted from more emotional and vivid descriptions of these events. The Gardener didn't feel as scary to me because I felt i was told he should be scary rather than shown
-the detectives felt like a rather unnecessary plot device
-I wish there were more stakes. Maybe if the events were told as they were unfolding, it would have felt that way
Overall I didn't hate the book for its flaws as many seem to. I still was hooked and reeled in, but it had the potential to be a 5 star read, if it weren't for the points described above.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction and Gun violence
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