Book Review: If There Be Thorns (Dollanganger #3) by V.C. Andrews

January 23, 2015



If There Be Thorns by V.C. Andrews
Series: Dollanganger (#3)
Genre: Gothic, Drama, Thriller
Read Reviews: Goodreads
Synopsis
Out of the ashes of evil Chris and Cathy made such a loving home for their splendid children...
Fourteen-year-old Jory was so handsome, so gentle. And Bart had such a dazzling imagination for a nine year old.
Then the lights came on in the abandoned house next door. Soon the Old Lady in Black was there, watching their home with prying eyes, guarded by her strange old butler. Soon the shrouded woman had Bart over for cookies and ice cream and asked him to call her "Grandmother."
And soon Bart's transformation began...
A transformation that sprang from "the book of secrets" the gaunt old butler had given him... a transformation fed by the hint of terrible things about his mother and father... a transformation that led him into shocking acts of violence, self-destruction and perversity.
And now while this little boy trembles on the edge of madness, his anguished parents, his helpless brother, an obsessed old woman and the vengeful, powerful butler await the climax to a horror that flowered in an attic long ago, a horror whose thorns are still wet with blood, still tipped with fire....


Review

I never thought I would enjoy these kind of novels. I thought I would stick with chick-lit and historical romance, but as it may seem, apparently I cannot control my urges to find something screwed up to read.

There is something about this series that has a way of luring the reader in. This is definitely the strongest book that lured me into the gardens. I was so engrossed into the novel that I would do nothing else but just sit and listen to the audiobook that was narrated by Donada Peters. She did an amazing job portraying the characters. She kept everything in place and organized. By the looks of the chapters, the book seemed like a difficult book to narrate since there were many confusing dialogues, but Donada did a tremendous job in the whole narration. 

If there be thorns is an engrossing novel – if you're into the little screwed up family kind of drama with a little morbidity – that is a great addition the the first two Dollanganger series. Andrews writes with so many emotions that got me wanting more but feeling lost at times when things got rough. I was so into the book that when the characters began to feel remorse, I would feel remorse. When they would feel depressed, I would fall towards the dark shadow of depression and then snap out of it after I realize it was the book, and not really me. 

I love this book, screwed up family drama and all. I still am not a huge fan of the incest – because that's just gross – but it made the book twice as interesting. 

A highly recommended series for those who enjoy indulging in their inner craving for something much more screwed up than their own lives. It is a book that will make you go "WAW" "WHAT?" "OMG PLOOOT TWIST!" and "GASP!"

 
Would ya'll read a book that's much more screwed up that your life?
 

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