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Orphans #2
Crystal
ALL SHE WANTED WAS A FAMILY SHE COULD CALL HER OWN....
As an orphan girl, Crystal was one of many -- and utterly alone. But she still dreamed of a shining life of love and happiness, and freedom from the dark legacy of her past...
As an orphan girl, Crystal was one of many -- and utterly alone. But she still dreamed of a shining life of love and happiness, and freedom from the dark legacy of her past...
168 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
100 people are currently reading
2673 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,108 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 4, 2018
]This book took me awhile to get through because it was so intense and that's why I love VC Andrews books.
September 14, 2017
It seemed like a nub of a story to me, like someone took a full length novel and chopped out everything but the bare necessities.
It was an interesting story psychologically, though I do wish some elements were touched on a bit more. But that's my inner psychology nerd coming out.
It was an interesting story psychologically, though I do wish some elements were touched on a bit more. But that's my inner psychology nerd coming out.
May 10, 2021
This one was kind of meh.
I did feel bad for Crystal. But it is difficult not to feel sorry for any orphan.
But I expected Thelma's obsession with soap operas and novels to come to something in the end. As it was, with that 180 ending, car crash out of nowhere, it really didn't add anything to the overall story arc. Like the author was just searching for a way to make them odd before she could kill them off suddenly and out of the blue.
I did feel bad for Crystal. But it is difficult not to feel sorry for any orphan.
But I expected Thelma's obsession with soap operas and novels to come to something in the end. As it was, with that 180 ending, car crash out of nowhere, it really didn't add anything to the overall story arc. Like the author was just searching for a way to make them odd before she could kill them off suddenly and out of the blue.
October 15, 2011
I was a little dissapointed to find out that most of the V.C. Andrews books out there are from a ghost writer hired after V.C. Andrews' death. I probably would have chosen the books she actually wrote first. Even so, I will finish the Orphan's mini-series and then look at reading some of V.C. Andrews' real work like Flowers in the Attic, one of my favorite movies.
September 14, 2025
Die Waise Crystal wünscht sich eine Familie, in der sie willkommen ist. Sie fühlt sich allein und hofft auf ein besseres Leben. Dann wird sie tatsächlich von Pflegeeltern aufgenommen, aber auch hier kämpft sie gegen die Einsamkeit.
Mit „Geliebte Crystal“ geht die Orphan-Saga in die zweite Runde. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Reihe, welche die Geschichte von vier Waisenmädchen erzählt. Diesmal steht das junge Mädchen Crystal im Mittelpunkt, das sich sehnlich ein Zuhause wünscht. Manche Wünsche erfüllen sich schneller als gedacht, als Crystal von Thelma und Karl als Pflegekind aufgenommen wird.
Crystal wirkt trotz ihrer Vergangenheit gefestigt auf mich. Sie hat einen schlimmen Werdegang hinter sich, aber sie begegnet ihrer neuen Realität mit bemerkenswerter Klarheit. Intelligent, gebildet und selbstbewusst nimmt sie ihre neue Umgebung mit vorsichtiger Neugier an und hat auf den ersten Blick mehr Glück als andere.
Dennoch hinterlässt ihre neue Pflegemutter Thelma einen bedenklichen Eindruck. Ich fand es auf eine traurige Weise faszinierend, wie sich ein Mensch vollständig in eine Scheinwelt zurückzieht. Denn Thelmas Leben dreht sich ausschließlich um Seifenopern. Sie ist so in dieser Welt gefangen, dass sie den Menschen um sich herum kaum Aufmerksamkeit schenkt. Meiner Meinung nach ist ihr Rückzug ein Versuch, der Wirklichkeit zu entkommen. Deshalb fällt es mir schwer, ihr daraus einen Vorwurf zu machen. Gleichzeitig wirkt ihr Verhalten verstörend, nicht nur auf Crystal, sondern es stört zudem ein lebendiges Familienleben. Einerseits konnte ich mich in ihre Realitätsflucht einfühlen, andererseits war ich regelrecht fassungslos.
Trotz dieser Herausforderungen hat es Crystal nicht schlecht getroffen. Mit Karl, den Großeltern und frisch geschlossenen Freundschaften findet sie sich rasch in ihr neues Leben ein. Schön empfand ich die Verbindung zu Bernie, mit dem sie auf einer Wellenlänge liegt. Sie haben gemeinsame Interessen, zeigen sich gegenseitig Respekt und nähern sich vorsichtig einander an. Wobei manch wissenschaftliche Vorgehensweise zum Grinsen anregt.
Wieder war ich beeindruckt, wie viel Tiefe auf so wenig Seiten geschaffen wird. Die Figuren sind lebendig und wirken glaubhaft. Die Handlung ist stimmig aufgebaut und lässt sich gut lesen. Trotz einer Portion Drama, ist es meiner Ansicht nach eine ausgewogene Erzählung mit tragischen und hoffnungsvollen Augenblicken.
Der Autorin gelingt es, von düsteren Fügungen mit psychologischem Verständnis zu erzählen. Ihre Figuren sind mit ausgesprochenen Gespür für Zwischentöne gezeichnet. In all den kleinen Gesten, versteckten Wahrheiten und leisen Abgründen entfaltet sich eine starke Geschichte. Das Grauen trägt diesmal keine Schrecken zur Schau, sondern schleicht sich in den Alltag, indem es stumm vorm Fernseher sitzt.
Crystals Geschichte endet nicht ganz so dramatisch, wie ich es erwartet hatte. Es wirkte fast ein wenig klanglos, war aber dennoch traurig. Es gab Momente des Glücks, die ihr genommen werden. Aber sie zerbricht nicht daran und damit wird der Übergang zum nächsten Band feinfühlig vorbereitet. Denn man weiß, dass ihr Werdegang noch nicht zu Ende ist.
Die Orphan-Saga:
1) Dunkler Schmetterling
2) Geliebte Crystal
3) Spiegel der Schatten
4) Haus der Tränen
5) Die Flucht der Waisen
Mit „Geliebte Crystal“ geht die Orphan-Saga in die zweite Runde. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Reihe, welche die Geschichte von vier Waisenmädchen erzählt. Diesmal steht das junge Mädchen Crystal im Mittelpunkt, das sich sehnlich ein Zuhause wünscht. Manche Wünsche erfüllen sich schneller als gedacht, als Crystal von Thelma und Karl als Pflegekind aufgenommen wird.
Crystal wirkt trotz ihrer Vergangenheit gefestigt auf mich. Sie hat einen schlimmen Werdegang hinter sich, aber sie begegnet ihrer neuen Realität mit bemerkenswerter Klarheit. Intelligent, gebildet und selbstbewusst nimmt sie ihre neue Umgebung mit vorsichtiger Neugier an und hat auf den ersten Blick mehr Glück als andere.
Dennoch hinterlässt ihre neue Pflegemutter Thelma einen bedenklichen Eindruck. Ich fand es auf eine traurige Weise faszinierend, wie sich ein Mensch vollständig in eine Scheinwelt zurückzieht. Denn Thelmas Leben dreht sich ausschließlich um Seifenopern. Sie ist so in dieser Welt gefangen, dass sie den Menschen um sich herum kaum Aufmerksamkeit schenkt. Meiner Meinung nach ist ihr Rückzug ein Versuch, der Wirklichkeit zu entkommen. Deshalb fällt es mir schwer, ihr daraus einen Vorwurf zu machen. Gleichzeitig wirkt ihr Verhalten verstörend, nicht nur auf Crystal, sondern es stört zudem ein lebendiges Familienleben. Einerseits konnte ich mich in ihre Realitätsflucht einfühlen, andererseits war ich regelrecht fassungslos.
Trotz dieser Herausforderungen hat es Crystal nicht schlecht getroffen. Mit Karl, den Großeltern und frisch geschlossenen Freundschaften findet sie sich rasch in ihr neues Leben ein. Schön empfand ich die Verbindung zu Bernie, mit dem sie auf einer Wellenlänge liegt. Sie haben gemeinsame Interessen, zeigen sich gegenseitig Respekt und nähern sich vorsichtig einander an. Wobei manch wissenschaftliche Vorgehensweise zum Grinsen anregt.
Wieder war ich beeindruckt, wie viel Tiefe auf so wenig Seiten geschaffen wird. Die Figuren sind lebendig und wirken glaubhaft. Die Handlung ist stimmig aufgebaut und lässt sich gut lesen. Trotz einer Portion Drama, ist es meiner Ansicht nach eine ausgewogene Erzählung mit tragischen und hoffnungsvollen Augenblicken.
Der Autorin gelingt es, von düsteren Fügungen mit psychologischem Verständnis zu erzählen. Ihre Figuren sind mit ausgesprochenen Gespür für Zwischentöne gezeichnet. In all den kleinen Gesten, versteckten Wahrheiten und leisen Abgründen entfaltet sich eine starke Geschichte. Das Grauen trägt diesmal keine Schrecken zur Schau, sondern schleicht sich in den Alltag, indem es stumm vorm Fernseher sitzt.
Crystals Geschichte endet nicht ganz so dramatisch, wie ich es erwartet hatte. Es wirkte fast ein wenig klanglos, war aber dennoch traurig. Es gab Momente des Glücks, die ihr genommen werden. Aber sie zerbricht nicht daran und damit wird der Übergang zum nächsten Band feinfühlig vorbereitet. Denn man weiß, dass ihr Werdegang noch nicht zu Ende ist.
Die Orphan-Saga:
1) Dunkler Schmetterling
2) Geliebte Crystal
3) Spiegel der Schatten
4) Haus der Tränen
5) Die Flucht der Waisen
September 12, 2024
I liked this one more than the first one, even though it was also depressing. These books are pretty outdated but I love them!
August 10, 2012
This is the most intellient V.C. book I've read so far and it is also one of my favorites. I refuse to believe that the two facts are unrelated.
Following in the vein of its predecessor, "Crystal" is about a smart science-loving teen girl who has grown up in an orphanage. She is adopted by Thelma and Karl Morris, an odd couple who are unable to have their own biological children. Crystal likes them, but she doesn't really understand them- Karl is economical to the point of obsession, and Thelma is more interested in the fictional characters in her books and soap operas than she is in real life. As she settles in, Crystal also has to deal with catty high school girls and the interesting young neighbor, Bernie, who ends up being her first kiss. In the end, disaster strikes, and Crystal's too-good-to-be-true new family comes to a halt.
Another short read, but much different than Andrews' other novels. No sexually aggressive creeper, not abusive female caregiver, no psychotic breaks. Pretty tame, actually. But Crystal was funny and intelligent and I'd like to read more of her in the tie-in novel, "Runaways".
Following in the vein of its predecessor, "Crystal" is about a smart science-loving teen girl who has grown up in an orphanage. She is adopted by Thelma and Karl Morris, an odd couple who are unable to have their own biological children. Crystal likes them, but she doesn't really understand them- Karl is economical to the point of obsession, and Thelma is more interested in the fictional characters in her books and soap operas than she is in real life. As she settles in, Crystal also has to deal with catty high school girls and the interesting young neighbor, Bernie, who ends up being her first kiss. In the end, disaster strikes, and Crystal's too-good-to-be-true new family comes to a halt.
Another short read, but much different than Andrews' other novels. No sexually aggressive creeper, not abusive female caregiver, no psychotic breaks. Pretty tame, actually. But Crystal was funny and intelligent and I'd like to read more of her in the tie-in novel, "Runaways".
February 12, 2011
Not bad but perhaps a little predictable. I know it was meant to be short but it felt like just as the characters were developing, it was cut off.
January 31, 2012
Really enjoy this book. Great series. =]
October 23, 2013
I'm pretty sure that Crystal is my favorite of the Orphans. An enjoyable 2nd book. On to Brooke's story!
December 31, 2015
El libro estaba muy bueno, pero el final muy de golpe. Y la sinopsis de la contraportada no tiene que ver en nada con la historia del libro. Igual lo disfruté.
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January 7, 2025When I was like nine years old, my cousin snuck this book into one of the back bedrooms at my grandma's house to read me a "sexy" scene from it. I'm sure at that point I hadn't encountered much like it before, so the book stuck with me for years even though it is not a book most people have heard of🤣 I've thought about that scene a lot, not in a weird way, lol, but because I remember something about it disturbed me. I finally decided to read the book because that was literally the only scene I'd ever known from it and I had no context for it. Let me tell you, it was a very strange book. And beyond that, the scene in question was one with *very* questionable consent issues, so I see now why it disturbed my prepubescent mind.
I'm writing all of this out for the benefit of anyone who knows me in person who's scrolling by and wondering why the heck Lisa randomly read the second book in an obscure V.C. Andrews series.
I'm writing all of this out for the benefit of anyone who knows me in person who's scrolling by and wondering why the heck Lisa randomly read the second book in an obscure V.C. Andrews series.
November 30, 2025
The book wasn’t BAD but it was slightly boring. It felt as if a majority of the plot was cut and made the ending seem very rushed. It was too short for me to care about the characters and what happened to them. I understand that the first 4 books in this series are prologues for Runaways so I will still read the rest. Perhaps my mind will change once I read Runaways and see how they all tie in together.
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October 15, 2022
3 1/2 ***
August 18, 2023
Finally a semi-normal family. The story itself was actually okay. And nobody was assaulted! Yay!
August 13, 2013
Summary: Crystal is a little over eleven years old. She's been an orphan since birth. Once she'd snuck a peek at her file and was horrified to learn that her Mother had been diagnosed as a manic depressive at a young age and tried to commit suicide a few times before being admitted to a mental facility. While there she was raped by an attendant who's identity was never known. That was her heritage and Crystal felt sick.
And it seemed as though every set of potential parents that came to look at her were scared off by her brilliance and out spoken way with words. They always seemed to feel stupid while in her presence. Until Thelma and Karl Morris came to see her. They said she was just the kind of child they had been looking for and took her home right away.
Thelma was very open right away with Crystal and tried hard to make her feel at hom. Karl was a little quieter but also expressed his happiness to have her as part of the family.
The only problem was after Thelma and Karl had had a miscarriage she had become obsessed with her soap operas where she could pretend to live happily through her fantasy characters on screen. Karl told Crystal that he hoped she could help Thelma come back to reality.
Crystal had freedom and love from her new parents and Grandparent. She even made new friends. Amanda was a shy girl at school that could potentially become a close best friend. Something Crystal had never had before, and then there was Bernie.
He was a smart boy that shared Crystals love of knowledge. They even shared a few kisses that could have led to a relationship, something else crystal had never experienced.
But then suddenly both Thelma and Karl die in a terrible care accident and Crystal's world and hopes are shattered once again. Then she's sent back to another orphanage. This one seems nicer than the others but still she wishes the Morris's were still alive.
She meets her roommate named Janet, a pretty girl that wants to be a ballerina some day. She hopes that maybe things won't be so bad after all.
Thoughts: Again, really short. Kinda felt unsatisfied when this one was over and not in a good way like "I can't wait to read the next one", but more like... really.. that's it huh?
And it seemed as though every set of potential parents that came to look at her were scared off by her brilliance and out spoken way with words. They always seemed to feel stupid while in her presence. Until Thelma and Karl Morris came to see her. They said she was just the kind of child they had been looking for and took her home right away.
Thelma was very open right away with Crystal and tried hard to make her feel at hom. Karl was a little quieter but also expressed his happiness to have her as part of the family.
The only problem was after Thelma and Karl had had a miscarriage she had become obsessed with her soap operas where she could pretend to live happily through her fantasy characters on screen. Karl told Crystal that he hoped she could help Thelma come back to reality.
Crystal had freedom and love from her new parents and Grandparent. She even made new friends. Amanda was a shy girl at school that could potentially become a close best friend. Something Crystal had never had before, and then there was Bernie.
He was a smart boy that shared Crystals love of knowledge. They even shared a few kisses that could have led to a relationship, something else crystal had never experienced.
But then suddenly both Thelma and Karl die in a terrible care accident and Crystal's world and hopes are shattered once again. Then she's sent back to another orphanage. This one seems nicer than the others but still she wishes the Morris's were still alive.
She meets her roommate named Janet, a pretty girl that wants to be a ballerina some day. She hopes that maybe things won't be so bad after all.
Thoughts: Again, really short. Kinda felt unsatisfied when this one was over and not in a good way like "I can't wait to read the next one", but more like... really.. that's it huh?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2016
In ‘Crystal’, Crystal is a lonely orphan who discovers the identity of her birth mother as well as the reason why she had been placed in the orphanage. When she is adopted by Karl and Thelma, her happiness is short-lived as she soon realizes that Thelma is terribly obsessed with TV programmes while Karl is fixated on time. Plus, a girl at her new school is spreading rumours about her. Will Crystal get her happy ending?
I really liked Crystal as she was incredibly smart, sharp, straightforward and confident. She quickly adapted to her new life, knowing how to behave around her parents who were unpredictable and a little creepy at times. She didn’t try too hard to please them. Instead, she did her best to get to know them while still retaining her own personality and perspective unlike Janet in the first ‘Orphans’ book. Besides that, I especially admired how she stood up for herself even when the mean girl, Helga constantly picked on her.
Thelma’s obsession was evidently unhealthy. Being hell-bent on watching every episode of one’s favourite programme is normal to a certain extent but she actually cared about the characters and was affected by everything that happened. For instance, the death of a character made her cry and end up depressed. When she wasn’t seated in front of the TV, she was like a zombie who’d mostly only discuss anything TV-related. Karl was alright but he definitely needed to quit focusing so much on time and numbers. Needless to say, they were eccentric in their own ways.
The moments leading up to the climax could have been written with more suspense and foreshadowing while the characters could have been more fleshed out but anyhow, ‘Crystal’ was a predictable but fun read thanks to the likeable main character.
I really liked Crystal as she was incredibly smart, sharp, straightforward and confident. She quickly adapted to her new life, knowing how to behave around her parents who were unpredictable and a little creepy at times. She didn’t try too hard to please them. Instead, she did her best to get to know them while still retaining her own personality and perspective unlike Janet in the first ‘Orphans’ book. Besides that, I especially admired how she stood up for herself even when the mean girl, Helga constantly picked on her.
Thelma’s obsession was evidently unhealthy. Being hell-bent on watching every episode of one’s favourite programme is normal to a certain extent but she actually cared about the characters and was affected by everything that happened. For instance, the death of a character made her cry and end up depressed. When she wasn’t seated in front of the TV, she was like a zombie who’d mostly only discuss anything TV-related. Karl was alright but he definitely needed to quit focusing so much on time and numbers. Needless to say, they were eccentric in their own ways.
The moments leading up to the climax could have been written with more suspense and foreshadowing while the characters could have been more fleshed out but anyhow, ‘Crystal’ was a predictable but fun read thanks to the likeable main character.
May 30, 2017
2.5 stars
Whelp, I guess the best way to describe this book is to say that I liked the buildup and I liked the ending...but I hated everything in between.
I liked the detail put into Crystal's past: I feel like it was far more interesting than Janet's in the first book. And I liked the shock factor at the end, as well as the epilogue which connects the two books together (and, I imagine, books 3 and 4 will connect themselves to the plot too). However, I hated almost everything included in the middle.
The ghostwriter who writes this series under V.C. Andrew's name is a man and I'm starting to think that he thinks that all girls think about is boyfriends, sex, and sex with boyfriends. Which...I don't know how out of loop I am with other 18 year olds, but I hardly care about sex or relationships at all. However, EVERY book I've read thus far by the ghostwriter is in a teenage girl's POV and so far, in every book, she sounds absolutely sex-crazed. Yuck.
Newsflash, Mr. Ghostwriter Man, girls think about a lot more than just sex.
...Anyways, I have three more books to this series sooooo I guess I'll continue it. They're about different girls so...hopefully they might be better?
Whelp, I guess the best way to describe this book is to say that I liked the buildup and I liked the ending...but I hated everything in between.
I liked the detail put into Crystal's past: I feel like it was far more interesting than Janet's in the first book. And I liked the shock factor at the end, as well as the epilogue which connects the two books together (and, I imagine, books 3 and 4 will connect themselves to the plot too). However, I hated almost everything included in the middle.
The ghostwriter who writes this series under V.C. Andrew's name is a man and I'm starting to think that he thinks that all girls think about is boyfriends, sex, and sex with boyfriends. Which...I don't know how out of loop I am with other 18 year olds, but I hardly care about sex or relationships at all. However, EVERY book I've read thus far by the ghostwriter is in a teenage girl's POV and so far, in every book, she sounds absolutely sex-crazed. Yuck.
Newsflash, Mr. Ghostwriter Man, girls think about a lot more than just sex.
...Anyways, I have three more books to this series sooooo I guess I'll continue it. They're about different girls so...hopefully they might be better?
April 27, 2017
Crystal is an intelligent young woman with high hopes for college & career. However Crystal is also a ward of the state and will need to rely on scholarship & grants to achieve her goals. Until she is adopted by a loving couple who want everything for her that she also wants. Her new mom, Thelma, is a soap-opera junkie and wants Crystal to be as enthused as she is about the shows. This is strange to Crystal as Thelma seems to believe these are real people. Her new dad, Karl, is overjoyed that he can have intellectual discussions with Crystal, who believes this is what is missing in their marriage. Crystal makes friends with a boy at school called Bernie. They quickly discover that they are both among the smartest in the school and grow closer. Just when Crystals world starts to look normal, with great parents and a boyfriend, disaster strikes.
January 4, 2013
VC Andrews has always been a favorite of mine since my childhood days. I have read (and re-read) all of her books, and although I am much older now and find that some of her work is better than others, I still enjoy the twists and turns, strangeness and mystery that continues to captivate my interest.
With that being said - it might also explain why I find the ghostwriter's quality of work lacking and less memorable than Andrews true writing, especially with the newer, more modern series.
If your looking for a quick read that you can probably finish than give it a shot, but if you're looking for a timeless piece of work that will make your heart race and leave you speechless - read VC Andrews' original stories.
With that being said - it might also explain why I find the ghostwriter's quality of work lacking and less memorable than Andrews true writing, especially with the newer, more modern series.
If your looking for a quick read that you can probably finish than give it a shot, but if you're looking for a timeless piece of work that will make your heart race and leave you speechless - read VC Andrews' original stories.
October 19, 2014
Crystal is an intelligent girl, who is an orphan. She is adopted by a couple, Karl and Thelma Morris and quickly adapts to their lifestyle, even though her adoptive mother is living in a world of soap opera and romance novels. Crystal even has a boyfriend. But then, her chance for happiness is taken from her, and she is alone in the world again.
This is the second book in the orphans series, and it's not very good, (until the very last chapters). However, like Butterfly, some good scenes and good characters make up for all the shortcomings, and believe me, there are a lot. Over all i give this book a 3 out of 5 and this book is more for an older audience again because of some of the writing.
This is the second book in the orphans series, and it's not very good, (until the very last chapters). However, like Butterfly, some good scenes and good characters make up for all the shortcomings, and believe me, there are a lot. Over all i give this book a 3 out of 5 and this book is more for an older audience again because of some of the writing.
August 7, 2013
I liked this book much better than the first. This is the second book in V.C. Andrews' miniseries, "Orphans". Like the first, this book left a few questions unanswered. Luckily, not as many as the first in the series.
I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not so don't read this next part if you haven't read the book yet.
I really liked how the main character, "Crystal" met up with the main character of the first book, "Janet" at the end of this book. The series is starting to come together. I'm hoping with the third book, we'll get to find out a bit more about the previous main characters and how they are doing at their new place of residence.
I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not so don't read this next part if you haven't read the book yet.
I really liked how the main character, "Crystal" met up with the main character of the first book, "Janet" at the end of this book. The series is starting to come together. I'm hoping with the third book, we'll get to find out a bit more about the previous main characters and how they are doing at their new place of residence.
November 21, 2014
When I read these novels back in the day I would have given them 3-3.5 STARS and now would say about one Star
I started reading VC Andrews books in the 1991 and stopped about 2003.
I have read:
-Dollanganger Series
-Casteel Series
-Cutler Series
-Landry Series
-Logan Series
-Orphans Series
-Wildflowers Series
-Hudson Series
-Shooting Stars Series
-DeBeers Series
-Broken Wings Series
As a preteen reading these novels was a rebellion and the gothic theme also seemed cool. I stopped reading this author because the novelty wore off, the novels are too formulaic that I could not tell one book from another and gothic aspect was lost.
I started reading VC Andrews books in the 1991 and stopped about 2003.
I have read:
-Dollanganger Series
-Casteel Series
-Cutler Series
-Landry Series
-Logan Series
-Orphans Series
-Wildflowers Series
-Hudson Series
-Shooting Stars Series
-DeBeers Series
-Broken Wings Series
As a preteen reading these novels was a rebellion and the gothic theme also seemed cool. I stopped reading this author because the novelty wore off, the novels are too formulaic that I could not tell one book from another and gothic aspect was lost.
March 28, 2016
She was smart enough that most families were scared to take her in as part of their family and the one who annoyed her, she was able to get rid of. However, the family she lives with now may be a little off...the husband is a bit obsessive over getting the best deals and cost verses liability while the wife is sucked into her soap operas and romance books. Despite this, Crystal finds herself feeling at home for the first time, making friends in the neighborhood. It seems too good to last....
Again, this book draws you in because it seems like things will never go wrong, yet there is a sense something could go wrong.
Again, this book draws you in because it seems like things will never go wrong, yet there is a sense something could go wrong.
December 7, 2010
Crystal was the orphan that I hated, only because she was so similar to myself. I would have preferred to be Butterfly or Brooke, but definitely not Crystal.
She was the smart, sort of geeky one, that got used by a boy. I was truly sad when she lost her bright future to that incident, though.
V C Andrews continues with the male abusers; women can be stronger than this theme, which I actually liked quit a bit back when I read these books.
She was the smart, sort of geeky one, that got used by a boy. I was truly sad when she lost her bright future to that incident, though.
V C Andrews continues with the male abusers; women can be stronger than this theme, which I actually liked quit a bit back when I read these books.
June 3, 2013
Butterfly was good. Crystal is okay. It's obvious they will all end the same way. I'm guessing I know what happens in Brooke and Raven. The series ends with runaways... Gee I can't imagine what will happen there. It's a light read. I like it enough but it's NO Flowers in the attic, that series was great. I wish true V.C. Andrews books were label as her original work and the ghost writers were labeled as such.
July 31, 2013
Another simple and quick read. The concept of Thelma's addiction to soap operas was interesting though, it made you sort of wonder why she lived in constant fantasies.
I liked Bernie at first but then I ended up not liking him, he is too lame of a male character and got butthurt way too easily to even be worth Crystal's time.
I don't have much to say about this book, but I'm looking forward to the novel at the end that brings all four orphans together.
I liked Bernie at first but then I ended up not liking him, he is too lame of a male character and got butthurt way too easily to even be worth Crystal's time.
I don't have much to say about this book, but I'm looking forward to the novel at the end that brings all four orphans together.
June 14, 2017
Probably my least favorite Andrews book I read.
I disliked Crystal's personality pretty much all the time. She come across and someone intelligent and very grown-up, the way she thinks about life. But on the other hand, she starts a childish kissing-experiment with some boy she hardly knows.
I know, I know... it's Andrews, what do you expect. But normally I can handle that kind of unrealistic behavior, but Crystal just annoyed the crap out of me. On to #3!
I disliked Crystal's personality pretty much all the time. She come across and someone intelligent and very grown-up, the way she thinks about life. But on the other hand, she starts a childish kissing-experiment with some boy she hardly knows.
I know, I know... it's Andrews, what do you expect. But normally I can handle that kind of unrealistic behavior, but Crystal just annoyed the crap out of me. On to #3!
March 20, 2011
umm.. yea didnt like this book very much at all. Nothing really caught my attention in it and i was just a very bland and plain plot: girl gets adopted, girl goes to new school, new friends,a boyfriend, quirky parents, and then the parents die, and she gets sent to a foster home. can anyone spell B-O-R-I-N-G?
April 20, 2014
Good story, abrupt ending again
Like Butterfly, Crystal end abruptly ... but I think I understand why and will continue through the series. This title had a surprising number of typographical errors as well as a few obvious mistakes. No one uses a blood pressure cup, they use a cuff. One cannot put a cup around an arm.
Like Butterfly, Crystal end abruptly ... but I think I understand why and will continue through the series. This title had a surprising number of typographical errors as well as a few obvious mistakes. No one uses a blood pressure cup, they use a cuff. One cannot put a cup around an arm.
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