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outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ricky Desmond has just been taken to Brookline Asylum due to his acting out which included breaking his stepfather's wrist. The asylum is strange but quiet enough but all Ricky wants to do is contact his mother so he can go home. He's been in such places before but has always managed to convince his mother to take him back but the excuses & evasions he gets from the nurses when he requests to make a call makes him think that this time he's more a prisoner than a patient. When the Warden selects him for a special treatment program, things take a more sinister turn.
This is a prequel to the first book in the series & is set in the 1960s when the asylum was still up & running. The plot itself starts off well although it becomes a little muddled towards the end, but the characters let it down. They don't feel like real people & therefore it's difficult to care. It should have been easy to get the reader invested with Ricky's bisexuality & Kay being transgender & how this contributed to their being placed in the asylum, but they're very thinly drawn. There's also the slight paranormal angle (such as the description of the Warden's head being turned almost all the way round at one point) which never really goes anywhere. A missed opportunity for me.
This is a prequel to the first book in the series & is set in the 1960s when the asylum was still up & running. The plot itself starts off well although it becomes a little muddled towards the end, but the characters let it down. They don't feel like real people & therefore it's difficult to care. It should have been easy to get the reader invested with Ricky's bisexuality & Kay being transgender & how this contributed to their being placed in the asylum, but they're very thinly drawn. There's also the slight paranormal angle (such as the description of the Warden's head being turned almost all the way round at one point) which never really goes anywhere. A missed opportunity for me.
katiejackson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
b_is_for_bibliophile's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
vhar7's review against another edition
5.0
Dios, ¿por dónde empiezo?
La historia, presente y pasada (incluso el futuro incierto) de Ricky, cómo es que Kay llegó y su por qué, el por qué la enfermera Ash quiere que la vean cómo amiga y no cómo una simple enfermera, y los planes del Director... todo me ha hecho helar y estremecer hasta los huesos, todo el tiempo.
La forma en la que se lee es increíble, cómo se describe todo lo que está sucediendo y todo lo que hay alrededor me ha hecho sentir de una forma escalofriantemente perfecta dentro del libro, dentro del manicomnio. Cuando creí que Ricky perdería las esperanzas o la cordura (la que se rindiera primero), siempre encontraba una forma de no dejarse llevar y seguir luchando.
Aún me queda alguna que otra pregunta sobre el final y ciertos personajes... pero me faltan más libros por leer y mis esperanzas aún no se pierden.
ㅡOpinión aún más personal:
Me leí "Asylum" porque alguien me lo regaló para Navidad, a eso de dos años atrás, y no sabía que había otros libros. Cuando me enteré, los compré y empecé a leerlos, supe que me enamoraría completamente de ellos.
Madeleine me había enamorado con "Asylum", y leer los demás libros de esta serie me están trayendo recuerdos de lo mucho que me encantaba leer sus párrafos. Si me dejan explayarme un momento, no había sentido tanto miedo y suspenso cómo cuando leía a Stephen King.
Para mí, este libro se merece las 5★ porque no ha habido otro que me haga sentir lo mismo que sienten/sintieron los personajes en todo o varios momentos. Madeleine es la mejor y no estoy abierta a discusiones.
La historia, presente y pasada (incluso el futuro incierto) de Ricky, cómo es que Kay llegó y su por qué, el por qué la enfermera Ash quiere que la vean cómo amiga y no cómo una simple enfermera, y los planes del Director... todo me ha hecho helar y estremecer hasta los huesos, todo el tiempo.
La forma en la que se lee es increíble, cómo se describe todo lo que está sucediendo y todo lo que hay alrededor me ha hecho sentir de una forma escalofriantemente perfecta dentro del libro, dentro del manicomnio. Cuando creí que Ricky perdería las esperanzas o la cordura (la que se rindiera primero), siempre encontraba una forma de no dejarse llevar y seguir luchando.
Aún me queda alguna que otra pregunta sobre el final y ciertos personajes... pero me faltan más libros por leer y mis esperanzas aún no se pierden.
ㅡOpinión aún más personal:
Me leí "Asylum" porque alguien me lo regaló para Navidad, a eso de dos años atrás, y no sabía que había otros libros. Cuando me enteré, los compré y empecé a leerlos, supe que me enamoraría completamente de ellos.
Madeleine me había enamorado con "Asylum", y leer los demás libros de esta serie me están trayendo recuerdos de lo mucho que me encantaba leer sus párrafos. Si me dejan explayarme un momento, no había sentido tanto miedo y suspenso cómo cuando leía a Stephen King.
Para mí, este libro se merece las 5★ porque no ha habido otro que me haga sentir lo mismo que sienten/sintieron los personajes en todo o varios momentos. Madeleine es la mejor y no estoy abierta a discusiones.
samanthas92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Warden's craziness 101 back story
lydia506's review against another edition
5.0
this book had such a beautiful ending. granted, it was a rough read from almost start to finish and I had to take a lot of breather breaks to be able to make it through - but it was really good. would recommend!
madisongoincoley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
I found this series on a random library trip. I am so excited to continue the series with asylum next.
sagenight's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, BUT WHAT WAS THAT ENDING??
How did Kay get out?? How did we go from the fucking basement, forgotten to die
To Dennis losing his shit and killing a bunch of people
To Ricky being checked out by his mom and Kay somehow getting out a year later??
The ending felt super rushed and slapped together, which is disappointing for how good the rest of the book was.
How did Kay get out?? How did we go from the fucking basement, forgotten to die
To Dennis losing his shit and killing a bunch of people
To Ricky being checked out by his mom and Kay somehow getting out a year later??
The ending felt super rushed and slapped together, which is disappointing for how good the rest of the book was.