No comments about Heaven (Casteel Series, Volume 1).

5 comments about Dawn (Cutler).

1. As all of V.C. Andrews books reveal...there are many twists and turns along the way of life. Dawn, a girl who finds herself torn between what she once thought as truth, and what she now knows as truth, is shown that life isn't always what you believe it to be. There is a slow start to this book, which makes one sort of believe that nothing too bad will happen. However, when it comes to it, we learn there are many secrets in the Cutler family, and Dawn is just one of them. To write much more would spoil everything entirely. I would personally recommend this book to a teenage girl trying to discover who she really is. Also, I would recommend this book, and the entire series to anyone willing to get a taste of what lies and deceit are in a family.



2. Let me say that this novel is what got me into reading V.C. Andrews in the first place, though the details of the Cutler series never stuck out in my mind like "Flowers in the Attic" or "Petals on the Wind", or the Casteel or Landry series. As for "My Sweet Audrina", though the story was refreshingly original, I just never connected with the characters like I connected with Catherine Leigh Dollanganger, my favorite V.C. heroine because of her strength and passion. I read the first three Dawn books in three days, I couldn't put them down, I was so drawn into the story, and that is worth a lot.
   
   However, what hurt this book is Dawn falling in love with Jimmy (and he with her), who she knew as her brother for the first fifteen years of her life, and the way she was able to just turn off her less than sisterly feelings for Philip just like that didn't make a whole lot of sense either. That kind of thing takes time and even then, especially if you've already been intimate (even if you haven't gone all the way), I don't know if those feelings ever really go away, even if you fall in love with someone else. Actually, I think Jimmy and Dawn getting together is actually weirder than her and Philip getting together, even if they were blood-related. Heaven's story was more believable, in that the boy, Tom, she had loved as her brother, she still loved as her brother, even after she found out they weren't blood-related; and her uncle Troy, with whom she had not only slept with, but already fallen in love with, she loved that way still, even if it is supposedly wrong (I am not sure if there is anything in the Bible about uncles not being able to marry nieces--I have heard it's only wrong if it's aunts marrying nephews, but I'm not sure). I agree with Corinne Foxworth Dollanganger (Cathy's mother from "Flowers in the Attic") that a lot of rules are man-made, for she and her half-uncle (really her half-brother, as you later find out) married in a church. But I digress.
   
   Yes, Jimmy having always wished that Dawn was too pretty to be his sister was much creepier to me than Philip's obsession with her.
   
   I've usually found the heroine's love interests in these novels attractive, and though Jimmy was a great guy (not to mention in uniform for awhile), I couldn't get past the stupid name of Jimmy Longchamp. I like James, but that last name needed to go.
   
   I think this story was set (at the beginning) in 1978, and were Southern aristocrats really this obsessed with going by first and middle names? I thought it was a bit over the top. They acted like Dawn No-Middle-Name was a weird name. Maybe the GW just had too much fun with names. Authors tend to go overboard with naming their characters sometimes.
   
   I did cringe at the description of Laura Sue (a pretty, useless thing, and Dawn's natural mother) as resembling a Dresden doll, and some of the metaphors to the themed titles sounded a bit silly (though I was so into the story, I don't have any examples).
   
   I think there are twins in the first five V.C. series (two in the Dollanganger saga and two in the Landry series: Ruby and Gisselle, and Ruby's sons, Jean and Pierre), save the Casteel (though don't quote me on that), which averages over a set of twins per series! I know the GW was trying to copy V.C.'s style, and there's nothing wrong with trying to emulate (for the sake of continuing her legacy, but don't copy!). There have already been two evil Grandmother Olivias, and whereas there was the grandmother Jillian in the Casteel series, there was Lillian in this one. I'm not really complaining about the similarities, as long as the GW gives each character their own voice and personality, but he didn't give Dawn much of a personality (he gave it all to Clara Sue). Now Cathy had a personality!
   
   Another similarity is that all the women (save Heaven), have an artistic talent. Out of all the series, the Dollanganger and the Casteel series were the most original and I think that's because they are probably the only two that were the original ideas of V.C. (even though I think she died before finishing the Casteel series).
   
   So, even though there are a lot of similarities (and Fern's character added nothing to this series), it is still well worth the time and money I spent on it.



3. Every one in our household enjoys these wonderful books by V.C. Andrews. They are very interesting and always a thrill to read.



4. "Dawn" started out strong, grabbing my attention and kept me going. At times I could guess what was going to happen next but there were still a lot of surprises.
   
   What I did not like about this book were the likenesses it had to other books by V.C. Andrews. In this series there is a wicked, stern, tight-lipped grandmother, incestual relationships implied as well as made into reality. Must we repeat "Flowers"? Surely V.C. Andrews had other ideas for plots for her books. Let's branch out! I ended up just skimming past those parts in the book.
   
   Aside from the sexual encounters, I thought this book to be a pretty good read. It kept me going with it's hints of deceit because I wanted to find out the truth as well.



5. This book was important for me to read, because it followed Darkest Hour, but all that incest of made me sick!!! Also, Clara Sue isn't even showing her sexy self! Nothing wrong with a little chubbiness!!!!!
   
   I really thought that Lillian was going to be THAT sexy blonde MISS AMERICA? Instead she had gone soft... Well with those gorgeous blonde locks turning into a short curl, not the mention her girly ho blue eyes have gone grey, and her sex appeal has lef the building! I HATED GRANDMERE! I miss my GLAMer!
   
   Frankly I didn't know how Dawn -as I read on a little birdie told me that she was supposed to be madam of- would inherit the HO (I won't tel)?! Love this book, it left so much to be told?!!!

5 comments about Darkest Hour (Cutler).

1. Darkes Hour, was the first novel I read in the Cutler series. I decided to read this book, since the fifth book is usually the PREQUEL. Lillian grew up in a privelaged home with a big house and magnolias everywhere. Yet she still has to deal with her adultering uncle/dad (who rapes her), her spineless mom and evil sister/cousin Emily. She becomes a total victim and prisoner in her home.
   
   Then at 16, she is betted off to womanizer Bill Cutler, and becomes the mistress-governor of Cutler's Cove. She falls in love with the hotel, and becomes a big success- according to the novel?
   
   I thought Lillian was going to be a kind and loving grandmother in the first novel, Dawn. However she ends up being Grandmother Cutler, a cold frigid divaqueen who makes Dawn miserable.



2. I would love to read a story written from Charlotte's point of view. Sure, Darkest Hour was prteey good, but it does not explain why Charlotte was afraid of Lillian. Maybe the Cutler series needs her to tell her story, about how Emily treated her.



3. then I grew up and dug out my Andrews books after they'd been sitting in my closet for a time. I reread this morbid tale one night as I tried to fall asleep. At first it entertained me. But having parted ways with these stories for years, I realized that it was the same spark that got people to read books like Mommie Dearest or Flowers in the Attic. People love to be shocked. And this is a book with nothing but horrible things befalling our 'beautiful' heroine with no bright light ahead of her. It seems that all of the good guys in VCA books are beautiful and most of the bad guys are ugly. And did I mention the rape scenes were absolutely disgusting?
   
   I rest my case...



4. Every one in our household enjoys these wonderful books by V.C. Andrews. They are very interesting and always a thrill to read.



5. This was actually the first VCA book I ever read. It was given to me by a cousin who was done with it, and at first I thought that was all there was to it. Then my stepmother said 'Oh, VCA? I remember this book called Flowers in the Attic, and I read it back in highschool...'
   
   Naturally, this started me off on VCA. At that point, the Logan series wasn't yet finished (it was 1997 or 1998, I think) The first few books I read were not in order, but now, having read ALL of the VCA books from the Dollangangers through the Logans, I am very happy that my cousin gave me that book to read!
   
   While some people didn't enjoy the Cutler series because Neiderman wrote it, I had a good time with this series, and Darkest Hour served as an excellent prequel to a good series.
   
   It is a shame that Neiderman stopped putting so much effort into the books after he completed the Logan series, though...

5 comments about Garden of Shadows.

1. I don't really accept this book as a true part of the "Flowers in the Attic" story -- any more than I accept "The Phantom Menace" as a real part of the Star Wars epic -- but I have to admit, it's a fun read, and I found it much more interesting than I thought I would. And, yes, it's certainly a lot better than "The Phantom Menace" (not that that's saying much).
   
   So, why the disclaimers? Well, for starters, there's quite a bit that doesn't jibe with "Flowers in the Attic." Additionally, a lot of key issues aren't dealt with. For example, in a story dealing with the young Corinne, you would expect to see some sort of a hint of a deficiency in her character, some darkness that would jibe with what we see later, in "Flowers in the Attic." Similarly, the character of Olivia is not what it should be. You expect to see a real transformation in her, and you see a bit of one -- but not enough. There's not enough to foreshadow the monstrosity that follows. In addition to that, within this novel itself, the character's behavior is inconsistent. I get the feeling that the author thinks that these fluctuations are nuances, but they just seem unreal.
   
   On the upside, though: the author definitely understands Southern gothic, and he (or she) weaves in some funky surprises that not only fit into the basic FITA story, but complement it nicely, and make you think about it in new ways. The character of Alicia, who we hear so much about in the other books, comes to life vividly. Best of all, there's a painfully ironic twist at the very end of the book that, I have to admit, I don't totally buy, but it's a gutsy choice, and it's fun to mull over the fact that things could have happened that way.
   
   In sum: it's a fun read, best enjoyed if you think of it as the brainstorm of a good friend imagining how the Dollanaganger kids came to be locked in the attic. Then you can come up with your own version. Too bad we'll never know for sure what V.C. Andrews thought.



2. The 5th installment, prequel to the Flowers in the Attic/Dollanganger series, picks up a notch from book 3 and 4 which although entertaining were a bit of a let down.
   This book follows Olivia, who in her mid twenties, looks destined to be an old maid. In comes handsome Malcolm Foxworth, whose unromantic wedding proposal gives Oliva hope of living a life of love and family. they are soon dashed when Malcolm's true nature is revealed. So begins a downward spiral of dissapointment, deceit and bitterness, twisting Olivia into the cruel Grandmother first introduced in Flowers in the Attic.
   Entertaining, but not one of V C's best.



3. i sent it to my sister so i couldn't tell ya, she seemed to be pleased though



4. This is one of my least favorite books in the series. I will say this, though. It does have a stronger plotline than Seeds of Yesterday. And it's more necessary to the series than the third and fourth books were. It's interesting to read about Olivia's life and there's an interesting twist. I won't tell you what that twist is. I did find it to be overkill but maybe it really does help explain Olivia's behavior. The thing is, there are times when I feel like the book tried too hard to make her into this poor, poor woman who was betrayed by everyone she loved. I don't know if I believe that. I would have liked to have seen more of her cruel side throughout the book. There were flashes of it but it seemed to fade away as soon as Corrine was born, leaving me to wonder if that was where the GW picked up. Then again, it's been a while since I read this so I might need to read it again before I say that for sure.
   
   There are some inconsistencies in this book. It contradicts some stuff we learned in the earlier books. Also, I didn't find the characters to be particularly compelling, although I admit Olivia had some depth to her. I liked reading about Bart Jr. (I thought he was a complex villain), so maybe that's why I preferred the unnecessary third and fourth books to this. I didn't really care for Olivia but she was a little more three-dimensional than the other characters. The most interesting thing about Malcolm was that we got to see evidence of his Oedipus Complex up close. But it was a bit cheesy. Screaming out his mother's name during sex? A little too heavy-handed if you ask me.
   
   I liked the ending. It brings us right up to the beginning of Flowers in the Attic and it leaves us with something to think about, something that turns the whole notion of the attic being to blame for Cathy and Chris's relationship on its head. It could be a grandmother's suspicious mind or it could be something more.
   
   I would say this deserves a 2 or 2 1/2. I do think it's better than Seeds of Yesterday and it certainly leaves the reader with some things to think about. I don't think it even comes close to justifying the grandmother's behavior---nor should it because what she did was horrific and unjustifiable---but it does give us more information on what has to be V.C.A.'s most twisted family.



5. After reading the rest of the Dollanganger series, I was naturally eager to start this book. It is stunning how a woman that you end up feeling sorry for turns into such a horrible person in FitA. Yes, Olivia went through a bad transformation, but here you see who the REAL villain is. Bravo for such a wonderful book.

No comments about Dark Angel.

5 comments about Twilight's Child (Cutler).

1. This was ANOTHER good one not as good as Secrtes Of The Morning or Dawn but still good!



2. A very good book, the whole series is great.... all of V.C.Andrews books are great!! Dawn is at last with her beloved Jimmy and daughter Christie, but evil still huants Dawn...



3. This was a very enjoyable book. VC Andrews may be no literary genius, but just try to put down one of her books. I think of them like candy- a guilty pleasure you can't resist.
   
   Again, this book is a struggle between good and evil. You'll love to hate several characters. And as each secret or development is revealed, you'll be shocked. If you've read other VC Andrews books, I'd give this series a chance, starting with Dawn. Or, if you like books with deceit, surprises and family struggles, I think you'll enjoy VC Andrews.



4. This was a satisfying end to an intriguing series, complete with a glamorous setting and zany characters (with the exception of Dawn and Jimmy, who were sort of blah, but then there always has to be a straight man...and woman).
   
   I would like to have seen Dawn do something with her singing ability though, maybe become a regular performer over at the hotel, become a local celebrity. Not everyone can be an international superstar, and who would want to be, when they can be the star of their own company.
   
   You know, one thing I never understood about this whole story is why didn't Daddy Longchamp move the whole family out West, why did he move back to Virginia? They could have hid out in Montana, or with one of those polygamist Mormon cults out West (which I think would have been terribly interesting). That never made sense to me, thus putting a chink in the story. When a character acts out of character (for no reason) or a plot point doesn't make sense or seems too contrived, I have to stretch my believability, but if the story is good, it's forgiveable (to a point; the Cutler series never went past that point).
   
   WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!
   
   I was so glad to see Clara Sue put into her place (and eventually die), just as much as I was disappointed in Dawn for not pressing charges not only for kidnapping Christie (which I think was Clara Sue's intent--she just got caught), but especially for inducing Dawn's miscarriage of her first child with Jimmy (even though Clara Sue didn't know Dawn was pregnant). Dawn comes across as even more weak in this book than the last. I was glad to see her get the hotel though.
   
   Again, Fern was totally unlikeable (I think she was sort of obsessed with Jimmy); I think it would have been better if she had passed away than turned out the way she did--kind of a dark-haired version of the children of the damned.
   
   What I found personally neat about this book is that my parents names are Philip (even if it does have a second l, even though for the longest time, he spelled it with only one because that's what he thought it said on his birth certificate) and Betty Ann.
   
   Though I am not near as fond of the daughters' stories (in this case, Christie's), it's been a long time since I've read it, so I will read it again just for fun, though I don't think "Midnight Whispers" will be a keeper. I don't recall it being as enthralling as Dawn's story (but then Christie's was condensed into one novel) and from what I remember, she is an even weaker protagonist than Dawn. Though I know Lillian Cutler has her own story to tell, I would like to have read a book about Laura Sue (nee Thomas), but then, how deep of a story can you write about such a shallow character? Yet, I do believe, that she wasn't always that way.
   
   Just reading these books again and knowing that Mr. Neiderman is capable of better than what he's putting out now makes me even angrier than had he just always been a hack.



5. Every one in our household enjoys these wonderful books by V.C. Andrews. They are very interesting and always a thrill to read.

No comments about Ice (Shooting Stars).

5 comments about My Sweet Audrina.

1. Never having read any of V.C. Andrew's work I was both skeptical and curious when her name kept appearing during searches for "gothic horror" type literature. What I found in My Sweet Audrina was something terrifying, engrossing, and very psychologically complex; to the point of having teh story stay with me long after I finished the last page.
   
   Audrina Whitefern is a young girl who doesn't go to school, has no friends, and is constantly under the watchful eye of her overprotective father. Secondly, Audrina is not the first young girl in the Whitefern family by such a pretty name--but the second, after her older sister, the much reverred "First Audrina" was killed in the woods near their home.
   
   Everyone in the family knows the secret surrounding the First Audrina' death. In addition to the second Audrina and her father, they are also joined by her mother, aunt, and cousin Vera. Each of them also knows the secret, something so horrifying and unbelievable you won't want to be spoiled until you discover it for yourself.
   
   And as the second Audrina begins to question her past, her life, and the strange happenings around their gloomy victorian mansion, the secret is unveiled, and nothing will ever be the same. This tale of stifling parental love, rape and abuse, and lies and deceit all comes together in the end, leaving the reader with a haunting conclusion that ensures the legacy of Whitefern will continue.



2. This is probably my favorite of Andrews's books. It's creepy, suspensful, and as usual, they characters are extremely messed up. Damian is a hateful, selfish jerk, Vera is the ultimate villain. And the love story between Arden and Audrina makes me cry. BOTH of them have their issues. I don't hate Arden like many do. Yes, he's a cheat, but I honestly can't blame him. Audrina had her problems too, and both of them needed couples' therapy.
   
   All in all, a great read. If only Andrews had lived-then maybe we'd see more like this, instead of the poor, pathetic immitations from the "ghostwriter."



3. This has to be one of the most creative, eerily, hauntingly beautiful stories I have ever read. Every character is multi-layered, with the multi-hued haired Audrina, who is simply part of the crazy world called Whitefern (which sounds like a decaying plantation without the slaves) that enshrouds her. Definitely gothic horror at it's finest.
   
   I wish not to give anything away, this book is such an artistic (if not intellectual) treat, but the only problem I had with the book was Arden, a lonely little boy who grew up to be a selfish, sex-crazed man, who couldn't understand (when he should more than anyone) why Audrina couldn't "bear to be handled" (to use the words of Tippi Hedren as "Marnie"). Because Arden's stupid male ego was bruised, he turned to Vera, Audrina's nemesis, who tries to kill the girl he loves.
   
   So, while Audrina is, let's say, "out of commission" (you can use your imagination), Arden is screwing Vera, who I could have felt sorry for if she hadn't been so wicked, and then when Audrina's eyes are opened, so to speak, he insists it is her he truly loves, and Audrina says if they fail the second time, they can try again a third, a fourth...
   
   But, this was such a fascinating saga, this is forgivable. I think Audrina could have done so much better than Arden, and as for her father, I cannot hate him or condemn what he did, for he was only trying to protect his daughter.
   
   This book inspired me so much, I wrote a little sequel to it just for fun with Lamar Rensdale being alive after all (you'll have to read the book) and he and Audrina getting together. But then, the real story has already been told, like I think Margaret Mitchell's was.
   
   It's unfortunate Ms. Andrews hadn't starting her writing career sooner, but then, perhaps her wisdom (which comes with age and life experiences) is partly what made her great, and I am grateful for the few, powerful novels/legacies she left behind.



4. I just don't get why the majority of people rated this book 5 stars.
   
   I had high expectations when I started this book because of the reviews I read. I was sorely disappointed.
   
   I had a difficult time getting into this book as it seemed there was no action for the majority of it. Just a mediocre read except for a couple chapters towards the end where everything exciting is dumped. But then even the last couple chapters are boring so it ended and left me irritated I had read the entire thing.
   
   There are some "secrets" and little surprises thrown in other parts of the book but they were predictable and pathetically led up to. Like when you have to sneeze but it goes away - you know it would have felt so good to get that sneeze out and you are mad that you didn't get that satisfaction. That's how I felt after reading this book.



5. This is the only standalone VCA ever published, but oh what a book it is. Things are not always as they seem, and there are always enough plot twists to leave me satisfied. Every time I read it, I always notice new details.
   
   The revelation about the First and Best Audrina was a shocker, and I shall not say what it is because I shall not spoil you! And as for who the real villain is? Well, doubtless Vera is a villain! But as you read it, you will realize that Vera is but the tip of a iceberg. So read this book, gasp and thrill at the secrets and twists, and enjoy!

5 comments about Midnight Whispers.

1. Not the best out of her series. I really couldn't stand the fact that they were treating Jefferson like he was five instead of nine. A nine year old is capable of dressing and bathing himself. Actually, most kids I know at that age are beginning to get modest. But in this story they carry him around and dress him like he is five.
   I also wish they would cut out on the rape stuff. Philip was one of my favourite characters and than they had to go and make him rape Christie.



2. V.C. Andrews was not a good writer. period. I guess the books are great if you like reading the same poorly written story about kids and incest over and over. I'll admit, reading about sick stuff can be entertaining. I would suggest a true crime book about a serial killer. The writing is usually better and the content far more interesting.
   
   Come on now, how many good writers would have new "ghost-written" books published in their name long after they are dead? Answer: Zero.



3. ...despite Christie being an even weaker heroine than her mother. There's nothing wrong with Christie's life being full of music and laughter, but to have so much of her inner dialogue/narration being telling the reader how wonderful her parents are, how wonderful her life is, etc., it gets cliché and boring. I think the GW tried too hard to tell, instead of just showing, because it was obvious that Christie was the little princess of Dawn and Jimmy Longchamp's life.
   
   My favorite part of this book is when Christie and little brother Jefferson, along with Gavin, Jimmy's younger half-brother, with whom Christie is in puppy love, go to The Meadows, where Luther and Aunt Charlotte are married and living contentedly, now that Emily is dead and surely burning in hell.
   
   I liked Bronson Alcott, Laura Sue's (Dawn's natural mother) truelove--it's actually rather sad that she and Bronson had so little time together when they had finally found each other again. I was glad Dawn and Laura Sue had finally had some kind of mother-daughter relationship, and that she and Daddy Longchamp (and her girlfriend, Trisha, from the Sarah Bernhardt school) stayed close.
   
   As for Fern and Clara Sue, I don't know which one was worse. I think it would have been better for Dawn and Jimmy (not to mention Christie) had they never found Fern, but then, they would have always wondered. I thought maybe the nasty way her adopted father treated her tainted her, but then Daddy Longchamp said she must have taken after his side of the family (I think all his brothers, or at least some of them, were in prison).
   
   Jefferson seemed more like five than nine years old and what's with sixteen-year-old Christie still calling her mother "Mommy"? I noticed that in "Music in the Night", too, but at least that book was set sometime (I am guessing) in the late fifties, early sixties, before the world completely lost its innocence.
   
   Then there's Philip, and his homely but fashionable, obsessive-compulsive wife Betty Ann (which happen to be my parents' names, as well), and their two psycho twins, Richard and Melanie. I have a feeling Betty Ann knew all along how her husband felt about his half-sister and it drove her insane and she ended up making her kids nutty, too. (Caution: Spoilers ahead.) Though Philip was the one who ended up in the loony bin, I think Betty Ann should have been put away as well and her children burned at the stake. They were like little Village of the Damned brats.
   
   This book had a colorful cast of characters, and was a satisfying conclusion to the Cutler family saga. The reappearance of Michael Sutton only made me loathe him more. Dawn was such a little fool, and in that sense, Christie had much more sense. She, um, kept it in the family, and thought (before she and Gavin made love the second time), gee, I could get pregnant, and abstained.
   
   I was not expecting this to be a keeper, but it was.



4. Every one in our household enjoys these wonderful books by V.C. Andrews. They are very interesting and always a thrill to read.



5. Midnight Whispers is a fantasy come true for me! There is everything you can think is going on! There is so much hints of secret affairs- that it's sexy! It's a shame that Phillip became so closeted and obsessed with Christie from the start! FERN was curdly with her long raven hair, nails and dress! Not as good as Clara Sue, who is kurt, sexy and clairvoyant!
   
   I was happy that a glimpse of the story of Violet was revealed. I'm also glad that the story of the "wedded in-laws" at the Plantation home, were never revealed to Gavin Handsome Grown Man!
   
   Revenge is sweet and chicken soup can sure rival it up! You'll love this book, and in my opinion, Christie DIDN'T consent to Phillip knowing her!!!!! Oh yeah, why was Christie's right leg so much longer than the other?! Must be those thin hoochie mama slacks she wore?!
   
   Love the book, and I LOVE how the MAN-sion is portrayed on the cover. It's so winter meets Virginia tides!!!

5 comments about PETALS ON THE WIND (Dollanger Saga).

1. Omg... this book was AMAZING!!
   
   one of the best i've EVER read!
   
   yes, the concept of the story is disturbing, but its soo well written, you cant but help to LOVE this book!
   
   5stars!



2. This is my favorite book in the Dollanger series. Its the most heart-breaking, tragic, and interesting in the series int hat we see that the children from book one have grown up and now trying to face a world that was shut off to them for most of their adolescence and childhood.
   
   The protaganist is daring in her revenge, seductive in her romantic choices, and bold as she unleashes her full wrath. If you're a genuine smut reader, then this book (and the third one, Seeds of Yesterday) will wet your appetite.
   
   I don't want to ruin the book for those who haven't read it. But, if you picked up the first book, finish the series. Its never ending tells of deception, lies, and incestry will have you wanting more.
   
   I also reccommend another series if you liked this one: The Casteel Series, which begins with Heaven.



3. I was captivated by Flowers in the Attic and so had to read this. It answers a lot of questions left by the first book and develops the story further.



4. Petals on the Wind picks up where FitA left off. The three remaining children are running for their lives. They're taken in by a kind (but lecherous) man who does everything he can to help them fulfill their wildest dreams. Cathy takes ballet lessons, Chris goes to medical school. It's almost perfect! Everything would be perfect, except for the fact that the past still haunts them. To personalize a cheesy cliché, you can take the kids out of the attic but you can't take the attic out of the kids.
   Perhaps in large part due to all the abuse and neglect and starvation she suffered, Carrie is very small (with a head that doesn't quite fit her tiny body), and the kids all tease her at school. And she still lives in fear that she is as evil as the grandmother always told them they were. Chris is still madly in love with Cathy. He can't imagine loving any other woman. Cathy is desperate to make it as a ballerina and prove that she is better than her mother. She doesn't want anyone, and especially Chris, holding her back. She feels ashamed about her relationship with Chris and she does all she can to escape her feelings for him and make him turn away from her.
   I assume that if you are truly interested in reading this book, you have already read FitA. So I think we can skip the "INCEST WARNING" and move on, right?
   Yes, Petals on the Wind contains incest. It kinda has to. There's no way that Cathy and Chris could do what they did in FitA and not have it affect their relationship for the rest of their lives. The question is, will they move on? Will they heal and find love again in more appropriate places? Will they renounce sex altogether and live the lives of nuns and priests (lol)? Or will Chris try to drag Cathy down with him and pester her until she gives in? A morbidly interesting dilemma, indeed, as we see Cathy hopping from one man to the next as she tries to escape her brother's smothering lust. Three men in particular catch her eye and make it into her fantasies---her much older guardian, an abusive danseur named Julian and her mother's husband Bart.
   Cathy is not exactly a player. She has a few lovers but not an exorbitant amount. The thing about Cathy's sexual life is that it is just so darned inappropriate that we can't help but shake our heads at her and think, "That girl is out of her mind." For example, right off the bat, she decides it would be interesting to seduce her (lecherous) guardian. And, somehow or other, it only goes downhill from there. For many, this will be very off-putting. She's not as sympathetic as she was in FitA. But she's hurting and she's traumatized, so, at times, I couldn't help but feel pity for her, despite her foolish, even downright cruel, ways.
   There is a lot of sex in the book. It is written in a way that gives the novel a trashy feel. Cathy is out to cause her mother pain and suffering, and one way she does this, in particular, is so incredibly sick and wrong that it makes one want to smack her. Many of the other characters are extraordinarily selfish and abusive as well, and yet still, Cathy comes across as a manipulative, abrasive, extremely vindictive woman who does what she wants at any cost to her self and to others. It makes for a tense and interesting plotline (and maybe that's why so many fans seem to like this book). I certainly don't think it's ever boring. And the characters are quite multi-dimensional for a book of this kind. They will do things that will greatly frustrate the reader, yet I think fans of the first book will be entertained. I think it's a decent sequel, so long as you know what to expect.
   So read this book if you were frustrated by the end of FitA and want to see the grandmother and mother pay for their horrible crimes against defenseless little children. I don't think the conclusion is completely satisfying but it's a decent revenge story. Read this book if you want to know more about Cathy and Chris and their day to day lives and struggles---though keep in mind that the incest doesn't go away but only becomes worse. The book does feel a bit like a soap opera with all that's going on, but if you're just looking to be entertained, give it a try. I think that, chances are, if you loved FitA, you'll at least enjoy PotW. But keep in mind that Cathy's changed. She's not the responsible little 12 year old anymore. Everything that was once good about her has gone out the window. She's an emotional wreck. And she's out there in the world now, intent on getting back all that was denied her. And she's hungry for blood!



5. After reading Flowers in the Attic, I was happy to continue the story. If I were Cathy, I'd be supremely pissed off at my own mother, and want to plot revenge. It was sad in some parts, but a satisfying read overall.