Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Flowers in the Attic, by V.C. Andrews

95 reviews

rockinoutforthdead's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

definitely a well written book, but disturbing. I think something about it being written so simply and yet about such taboo topics was part of it. I can’t say I enjoyed reading, but I don’t regret reading it either. Just know what you’re in for if you decide to read this book.

Spoiler

 I think also that the essential themes of this book go beyond just taboo topics for the sake of them being forbidden. it is about how money corrupts, and generational abuse, and children who have to grow up to fast. the mother quickly forgot about her children because of her desire for money, since she was regaining the glamorous lifestyle she’d left behind. it was difficult to read, and sad, but i can definitely understand why it sticks with people. I am very glad that I did not read this when I was younger, however.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Incest

ashleighreeb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Child death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Incest, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder and Rape

kyy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death, and Incest

bookshelfhannah'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Grief, Death, Car accident, Incest, Child death, and Abandonment

sunsess's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, and Child death

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent

hez30's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Physical abuse, Animal death, and Car accident

ellilo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Vomit, Sexual content, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Murder, Incest, Child death, Torture, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse

greenrequiem's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child death, Incest, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment

violetturtledove's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

Well this was a wild ride and I can see why it made such an impression on those who read it as young adults. I thought at first that the YA writing style might be a little grating, the kids are all so annoyingly perfect (golly-lolly!) And i wasn't sure if such a long story (three years with just one setting) might drag. But I was soon gripped.
The writing style and the subject matter are quite a contrast, i wouldn't argue that young teens SHOULDN'T be reading about this stuff, but I do wonder what their parents would think if they realised what their kids were actually reading 😄
I also found the 'morals' of the story interesting (if a little dated now) - incest isn't treated as a big deal, but sex outside of marriage is unthinkable, for instance, plus the idea that women are responsible for 'tempting' men.
Neither of these things are criticisms, YA fiction can should go to dark places, and it's inevitable that a story like this one would have some moral ambiguity, it's nice to have something not clear-cut that makes you think.
There were enough twists to keep it interesting after what i assumed was going to be the main mystery was revealed a couple of chapters in, i felt genuinely infuriated, horrified and heartbroken at the appropriate moments, and I've also started immediately on the sequel which really tells you I liked it.
Maybe I should have started with that?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Incest

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent

gkaltam's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, Child death, and Child abuse