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The Mad House
A broken home made whole through promises of eternal life and family beyond.
On your knees. Whisper the prayers.
Obey thy Father and Mother. You'll be made whole in the Spirit once we're all together again.
One sister escapes. The other is trapped, carrying the weight of all focus from their parents for years to come.
What happens, when reality finally shatters and you’re left alone with only your mind?
Forgive her Father, for she knows not what she does.
On your knees. Whisper the prayers.
Obey thy Father and Mother. You'll be made whole in the Spirit once we're all together again.
One sister escapes. The other is trapped, carrying the weight of all focus from their parents for years to come.
What happens, when reality finally shatters and you’re left alone with only your mind?
Forgive her Father, for she knows not what she does.
447 pages, ebook
Published August 28, 2022
186 people are currently reading
3592 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
September 12, 2022
She’s the God I’ll worship, bowing down to her body and singing praises on my knees.
the moment i heard the word “stepsisters” and “romance” in the same sentence, i was ready to throw all of my money and my clothes at Liza James. it definitely wasn’t what i was anticipating at all from when i first heard about the book and it’s tropes, but it’s perfectly Liza James and i had a blast reading it!
i was enraptured from the get go— Liza James knows how to lure you in, set an ominous atmosphere you can’t help but be curious about. her writing is so addictive, it’s easy to read and get consumed in quickly. i mean, i started the book around 10am this morning, got ready and went book shopping in the afternoon (because what else would i be doing?) and finished the book at 7pm... so yeah, it’s easy to fly through her books😭 i didn’t want to put it down.
Survival is necessary and if there is one lesson I’ve learned in my life, it’s that no one is coming to save you. No one is waiting to rescue you, there’s no one watching, or searching or fighting for your freedom.
i immediately loved Ophelia, aka, Phe. my heart ached for her, my throat was clogged up for like half the book because i just felt so awful for her. she was definitely my favourite part of the book and i favoured her the most. she was so strange and interesting, difficult to pin down but it made her more intriguing to me than anything else. especially with the severity of her trauma.
she was the star of the show for me. she was multifaceted and alluring, with a lot of depth to her. i just adored the fuck out of her.
”Let me get lost with you,” she quietly responds as her eyes tilt down to meet mine. Tears roll down her face as well, the two off us lost in this dark moment with each other.
Cedar... took me a while to warm up to her, i can’t lie. i found her to be quite cruel and unfeeling at times in the beginning— just a few instances that i didn’t like what she said to Phe or how she reacted, especially because i loved Phe so much. i was a lil overprotective of her.
but eventually i warmed to Cedar a lot. she was pretty mysterious and self-assured, and had a serious “fuck boy” vibe going on, which was so fun to read on a female character. but my favourite thing about her was the way i could feel how much she adored Phe. it was super sweet. i was seriously rooting for them so hard.
and the story has LJ’s usual toxic possessiveness that just works so well in her books. im a glutton for it, honestly. she writes it so well. gimme the fun kind of toxic and im all over that shit.
”Why does your heart beat faster when I touch you?” I ask, tilting my head to the side while she stares directly at me.
“Why don’t you let me touch you—” she whispers, her voice laced in temptation and challenge. “—and then you tell me how your heart rate changes.”
the plot was similar to Vibe and Hush, so it’s not a favourite of mine but the romance was enough for me to overlook it. it’s not bad by any means, it’s just not entirely my thing and, like i said in the beginning, it wasn’t what i was expecting at all when i started the book. but it worked really well! it surprised me at every turn.
Cedar’s best friend Bex was a delight, too, i loved her. i wouldn’t say no to her getting a book👀 but the book isn’t overwrought with side characters so that the story wasn’t overwhelmed. it was straight forward and pretty easy to follow.
It’s volatile, what her and I carry in this connection. Practically a living, breathing beast all on its own.
overall i really enjoyed this! it was messy, addictive and a little crazy, but it made for a fun and easy read. im definitely invested and i assume there’s gonna be a book 2 since this one ends on a cliffhanger, so i need that ASAP. i wasn’t expecting it at all, damn.
and the smut was god-tier, as usual💅🏻
trigger warnings: on-page rape, on-page murder, blood, blood-play, religious indoctrination, cult mentality, on-page torture... i have probably missed a few, tbh. just beware :)
thank you to Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Liza James for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 3, 2022
phe is actually sitting right next to me safe, happy & healthy idk what the cliffhanger was about ❤️
October 21, 2022
This book was WILD. I found it very intense all the way through right to the end and then it ended on a f*cking cliffy. My heart was in my f*cking throat I tell you. It was written so incredibly well.
Cedar and Ophelia are stepsisters. Brought up on religion and abuse that is so extreme Cedar escapes with the promise of going back for Phe. 10 years later and Phe is found surrounded by blood and her dead parents that her ‘monster’ killed. Cedar and Phe are finally reunited but with that comes a whole lot of fucking problems. Phe finds Cedar a sinner, wicked and wants to keep her distance, but what happens when her monster wants nothing more than Cedar herself?!
I was on edge this whole book and I NEED to know wtf happens next. Liza girl you’ve ruined me and I need to be cleansed in holy water.
That is all.
Cedar and Ophelia are stepsisters. Brought up on religion and abuse that is so extreme Cedar escapes with the promise of going back for Phe. 10 years later and Phe is found surrounded by blood and her dead parents that her ‘monster’ killed. Cedar and Phe are finally reunited but with that comes a whole lot of fucking problems. Phe finds Cedar a sinner, wicked and wants to keep her distance, but what happens when her monster wants nothing more than Cedar herself?!
I was on edge this whole book and I NEED to know wtf happens next. Liza girl you’ve ruined me and I need to be cleansed in holy water.
That is all.
September 9, 2023
liza babe you need an editor
July 26, 2025
4.25☆
⚠︎[Rape, murder, death]
☢︎[Ending spoilers]
↓↓↓
Was Phe extremely frustrating? Absolutely. Was she also funny and strong as hell for all the shit she’s gone through? FOR SURE.
✴︎
This book dealt with a lot of religious trauma and corruption and cult activity. It was genuinely insane.
✴︎
Phe and Cedar are hot as hell together they can have each other. I WANT BEX. I’m all in that.
✴︎
✦ Quotes I’m taking to my grave ✦
“She’s the God I’ll worship, bowing down to her body and singing praises on my knees.”
“Everything she said, when she was describing who she chooses to love, how could a God look at this and deem it sinful and damning? This holds too much light, too much beauty and innocence and purity to be wrong.”
“Because you feel like home. I’m not worried about what you would or wouldn’t do to me. Just like I don’t think you’re worried about what I would or wouldn’t do to you,”
✴︎
**ENDING SPOILERS**
Liza James said fuck a third act break up let’s do an ABDUCTION with a side of arrests 😭.
No but seriously what was that ending? And I haven’t looked much but it’s been… like 2 years… girl where’s the next book 😀. I’d like to have Cedar and Phe back now heh 🙁.
**END OF SPOILERS**
✴︎
Long story short this was TRAUMATIC. They went through everything under the sun.
This book was in desperate need of an editor. But that’s okay I understand what homegirl was tryna say.
Ophelia’s character is very complex, you have to take your time a lot and have to think from her perspective and how she grew up A LOT.
I had to continuously remind myself that she’s doing these things because she’s brainwashed and thinks she deserves it. Or she’s saying these things because it was engraved in her brain that it was bad. She also has no filter which is beside the point 😭.
When Phe and Cedar were good they were great.. Now.. Liza where’s the next book 😣.
✴︎
Anyways
Peace ♡
⚠︎[Rape, murder, death]
☢︎[Ending spoilers]
↓↓↓
Was Phe extremely frustrating? Absolutely. Was she also funny and strong as hell for all the shit she’s gone through? FOR SURE.
✴︎
This book dealt with a lot of religious trauma and corruption and cult activity. It was genuinely insane.
✴︎
Phe and Cedar are hot as hell together they can have each other. I WANT BEX. I’m all in that.
✴︎
✦ Quotes I’m taking to my grave ✦
“She’s the God I’ll worship, bowing down to her body and singing praises on my knees.”
“Everything she said, when she was describing who she chooses to love, how could a God look at this and deem it sinful and damning? This holds too much light, too much beauty and innocence and purity to be wrong.”
“Because you feel like home. I’m not worried about what you would or wouldn’t do to me. Just like I don’t think you’re worried about what I would or wouldn’t do to you,”
✴︎
**ENDING SPOILERS**
Liza James said fuck a third act break up let’s do an ABDUCTION with a side of arrests 😭.
No but seriously what was that ending? And I haven’t looked much but it’s been… like 2 years… girl where’s the next book 😀. I’d like to have Cedar and Phe back now heh 🙁.
**END OF SPOILERS**
✴︎
Long story short this was TRAUMATIC. They went through everything under the sun.
This book was in desperate need of an editor. But that’s okay I understand what homegirl was tryna say.
Ophelia’s character is very complex, you have to take your time a lot and have to think from her perspective and how she grew up A LOT.
I had to continuously remind myself that she’s doing these things because she’s brainwashed and thinks she deserves it. Or she’s saying these things because it was engraved in her brain that it was bad. She also has no filter which is beside the point 😭.
When Phe and Cedar were good they were great.. Now.. Liza where’s the next book 😣.
✴︎
Anyways
Peace ♡
December 23, 2022
DNF 45%
I've read like 2 other wlw dark romances before this one (one of them being from this author) so I was excited and waited for a month only to end up disappointed. I tried to read it through the end before I form an opinion but I've reached my limit so...
• Plot --> lacked logic and common sense. You want me to believe that after some girl killed both her parents with an AXE she gets no jail time. At all. Just goes to a hospital to get help for her mental health which is great if it actually did anything. Our main girl Phe was a WRECK and mentally unstable even after all that "help". Let's not forget how one of the workers there saw her physically hert herself while rapping Bible verses and was basically like "You can stay a little longer but only if you want to" like girl I don't think she is in her right mind to make a decision rn don't let her go. The cult storyline from basically every other wlw book from this author is still there and somehow even worse.
• Characters -->
Phe. Where do I even start with this one. Her chapters were not only exhausting to get through but filled with unnecessary exposition. I've found her seriously unlikable and hard to understand. I get the whole being in a cult thing but you can not convince me her PTSD was responsible for her being self centered and ungrateful. Her inner monolog (filled with mostly "Bible" verses if you can even call them that) were the most annoying thing in the whole book. I'm all for a bitchy protagonist, they are the most fun but her trying to push her beliefs on everyone and refusing to even try and understand other people's point of view was tiring. Not to mention some questionable, to say the least, lines from the book like: “You know the Word, Cedar. How can you justify drinking coffee? Consuming caffeine when scripture demands we choose foods which nourish us and make us healthy?” and I don't even like coffee.
There was also her weird comment on a side character's short hair which I'm guessing was her internalized homophobia at play there but even so a lot of heterosexual women have short hair (for example: some grandmas or karens or just women who like their hair that way). There was also internalized homophobia in liza james' other books so I know for a fact that she can write better than that, my guess is that this is simply the character. And the character sucks. However her views and repulsive personality were too much for me to like her or feel empathetic towards her.
Cedar. Reading her chapters felt like a reward after phe. So far she seems like the only normal one in the book. I don't really have anything more to say.
• Romance. Now what in the hell was that. Them calling each other "sis" or "sister" was trolling me off.
"[...]and I have a feeling she’ll only see me as the big sister who abandoned her when she needed me most." How do you expect me to ship them after a line like that. They also talk about being a family from a very young age meaning they see each other as such. It's giving "going for the closest thing to incest without it actually being incest". Also Cedar not driving Phe to the hospital after seeing her SH wound ... not her best moment. Im sorry to say this but I saw no chemistry. I could be wrong but I'm not feeling it.
• Writing. I really thought there would be some improvement from the last book I've read from her. I was wrong. It was even worse. The writing is repetitive for the most of the time leavingus with gems like this:
"Homosexuality.
Gay.
Faggot."
(This made me laugh ngl)
"Blood.
Blood.
Blood."
"Concise. Calm. Distant. Detached. Cold."
And my personal favorite: "She laughs.
She laughs.
She laughs."
Like be f*cking for real.
I've read like 2 other wlw dark romances before this one (one of them being from this author) so I was excited and waited for a month only to end up disappointed. I tried to read it through the end before I form an opinion but I've reached my limit so...
• Plot --> lacked logic and common sense. You want me to believe that after some girl killed both her parents with an AXE she gets no jail time. At all. Just goes to a hospital to get help for her mental health which is great if it actually did anything. Our main girl Phe was a WRECK and mentally unstable even after all that "help". Let's not forget how one of the workers there saw her physically hert herself while rapping Bible verses and was basically like "You can stay a little longer but only if you want to" like girl I don't think she is in her right mind to make a decision rn don't let her go. The cult storyline from basically every other wlw book from this author is still there and somehow even worse.
• Characters -->
Phe. Where do I even start with this one. Her chapters were not only exhausting to get through but filled with unnecessary exposition. I've found her seriously unlikable and hard to understand. I get the whole being in a cult thing but you can not convince me her PTSD was responsible for her being self centered and ungrateful. Her inner monolog (filled with mostly "Bible" verses if you can even call them that) were the most annoying thing in the whole book. I'm all for a bitchy protagonist, they are the most fun but her trying to push her beliefs on everyone and refusing to even try and understand other people's point of view was tiring. Not to mention some questionable, to say the least, lines from the book like: “You know the Word, Cedar. How can you justify drinking coffee? Consuming caffeine when scripture demands we choose foods which nourish us and make us healthy?” and I don't even like coffee.
There was also her weird comment on a side character's short hair which I'm guessing was her internalized homophobia at play there but even so a lot of heterosexual women have short hair (for example: some grandmas or karens or just women who like their hair that way). There was also internalized homophobia in liza james' other books so I know for a fact that she can write better than that, my guess is that this is simply the character. And the character sucks. However her views and repulsive personality were too much for me to like her or feel empathetic towards her.
Cedar. Reading her chapters felt like a reward after phe. So far she seems like the only normal one in the book. I don't really have anything more to say.
• Romance. Now what in the hell was that. Them calling each other "sis" or "sister" was trolling me off.
"[...]and I have a feeling she’ll only see me as the big sister who abandoned her when she needed me most." How do you expect me to ship them after a line like that. They also talk about being a family from a very young age meaning they see each other as such. It's giving "going for the closest thing to incest without it actually being incest". Also Cedar not driving Phe to the hospital after seeing her SH wound ... not her best moment. Im sorry to say this but I saw no chemistry. I could be wrong but I'm not feeling it.
• Writing. I really thought there would be some improvement from the last book I've read from her. I was wrong. It was even worse. The writing is repetitive for the most of the time leavingus with gems like this:
"Homosexuality.
Gay.
Faggot."
(This made me laugh ngl)
"Blood.
Blood.
Blood."
"Concise. Calm. Distant. Detached. Cold."
And my personal favorite: "She laughs.
She laughs.
She laughs."
Like be f*cking for real.
September 5, 2022
4.5/5 ⭐️‘s
Wow! I shouldn’t even be surprised that this was yet again another hit book from Liza James. I ate this one up so fast!
I’d loved everything about this, the plot, the pacing, the characters. In love! I honestly didn’t realise how much this book would impact me in terms of how much we covered tramua too, the author didn’t sugarcoat anything of this or the healing processes people for through when they face such heavy things in their life and I really liked this element. It gave such dimension to both characters and really helped with their development.
I loved Ophelia, like wanted to protect her with my whole heart loved her! She was a special character and every side to her was so interesting. I loved how sassy she got and I could go on and on, but I really loved her.
Cedar was the perfect balance to Ophelia, they were ying and yang and just worked perfectly together. I loved how Cedar had a harder edge then Ophelia at times but also how much she just wanted to protect her despite dealing with her own feelings and trauma.
When they both came together it was just explosive, the spice scenes we had were excellent and I couldn’t get enough of it.
This book isn’t just a romance, it added so many little different elements which I loved and after that cliffhanger I’m so excited and anxious to pick up the next book and see what happens next. Highly highly recommend!
*I was kindly gifted an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Wow! I shouldn’t even be surprised that this was yet again another hit book from Liza James. I ate this one up so fast!
I’d loved everything about this, the plot, the pacing, the characters. In love! I honestly didn’t realise how much this book would impact me in terms of how much we covered tramua too, the author didn’t sugarcoat anything of this or the healing processes people for through when they face such heavy things in their life and I really liked this element. It gave such dimension to both characters and really helped with their development.
I loved Ophelia, like wanted to protect her with my whole heart loved her! She was a special character and every side to her was so interesting. I loved how sassy she got and I could go on and on, but I really loved her.
Cedar was the perfect balance to Ophelia, they were ying and yang and just worked perfectly together. I loved how Cedar had a harder edge then Ophelia at times but also how much she just wanted to protect her despite dealing with her own feelings and trauma.
When they both came together it was just explosive, the spice scenes we had were excellent and I couldn’t get enough of it.
This book isn’t just a romance, it added so many little different elements which I loved and after that cliffhanger I’m so excited and anxious to pick up the next book and see what happens next. Highly highly recommend!
*I was kindly gifted an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 24, 2023
“She’s the only God I believe in anymore.”
August 30, 2022
Few people write about the power of identity quite like Liza James. There’s a bleeding vulnerability to every word she writes- I can feel her own existential battles playing out on the page right beside her own characters. There’s an existential consciousness to her characters, her stories, her words that I find so very compelling. While we might not all be coming to terms with the parts of our identity that our characters are, we ALL in some way are constantly fighting to be in harmony with all parts of ourselves. To love ourselves, accept ourselves, to be liberated in who we are. There’s a universalism to that, and Liza so brilliantly combines allegorical narrative constructs- high drama, high trauma, high darkness- to accentuate the demons of the noise around us, the noise within us that inhibit us from actualizing our truest self- our authentic self.
Inspired in part by the well known story of Lizzie Borden, The Mad House is about existential crisis and conflict- and it’s equal parts riveting and devastating. Our two heroines have suffered greatly, trauma that has manifested itself entirely differently in both of them. Liza takes the macabre of Lizzie’s journey and amps up the sensuality…and the trauma. There’s no underscoring that- if there’s one thing we take from this story, its the lasting trauma caused by dominant and repressive ideologies when one’s core identity is denied. Phe is the perfect heroine in that- it’s hard to tell where she’s more damaged, in her mind or in her body. She’s got split personalities- two manifestations of the impact of the psychological crimes committed against her. She’s complicated, confusing, challenging at times. We internalize the battle in her mind- it’s almost like I can feel Liza warring with parts of herself. In the same way that I think Cedar represents a different range of acceptance, relative to Phe’s denial. Cedar seems more straight forward, but the girl surprised me left and right. She brings an interesting ethos to the story- but one ladden with a survivor’s guilt is so interesting. Not only in her LITERAL survival, but in her emotional- almost like an existential survivor’s guilt in that she has the ability to know herself in the way Phe doesn’t…yet. And together they are piles of contrasts- healing and toxic, anger and unconditional love, resentment and longing. Their connection is tangled and full of jagged edges, but as we learn, made of steel.
All that said, this is really NOT an easy read- not only because of the on page trauma and dark themes, but because of the heavy focus of the psyche of both of these women. Which makes sense- this is a story about dismantling toxic, internalized oppression and overcoming physical and metaphysical abuse and trauma. And truth be told, these characters don’t really overcome it- they are still figuring out how to cope with it, hell even to face it. Or in Phe’s case, just to acknowledge it exists. So yes, it makes sense for this book to be a very inwards facing narrative for our characters- a lot of metacognition, a lot of pyshocolical headiness. It’s both rewarding and challenging- because Phe in particular is in an existential crisis, not to mention at war with her own literal battling identities, and Cedar has buried so much. Being in their heads is complicated and heavy, and not always enjoyable, but certainly powerful. Much like Vibe, the world around them is really just an allegorical stage for Liza’s exploration of identity and social construct, the backdrop through which she can most effectively highlight a journey of liberation. The darker, the more f’ed up, the more the internal journey of these characters can shine against it. Unlike Vibe, though, the action is a bit slower- both the romance and the external drama. We marinate for a long time in their lostness before we get some directionality. I think a lot of that has to do with just where Phe is as a character, and Cedar’s recognition of that- but we also have a lot of withheld information. Great for intrigue, but that meant it did take me longer to connect with both of them and get into the story. Again, a lot of this has to do with the complexities of Phe- her instability and trauma result in her being lost within herself- she’s trying to connect with herself as much as we are. But ultimately we get to a really compelling place- it’ just a HEAVY story.
Not to mention- there are parts of this book that are intensely uncomfortable to read. I know that’s the intent- but be wary of the trigger warnings here.
But the heart and soul of this story is what makes it powerful- Liza again challenges us to examine all we know, because it’s the only way to discover ourselves. There’s a madness to confront ourselves while also trying to deconstruct the smog we breathe- the ways in which our minds, our hearts, or moral compass is conditioned by the biased air we breathe. It’s painful- because to really find the core of our identity and being, we have to both address our own inner demons while learning to combat the external demons- whatever they may be. Painful because the power to do that only lives with us. And damn it’s hard work. Loving ourselves, embracing ourselves, living as ourselves loudly is the hardest, most courageous act we’ll every endeavor- and like the mad world of Phe and Cedar, the world around us won’t make it easy.
There is a cliff hanger here- ultimately as our story feels like it’s beginning, it careens into a really heartbreaking finale that means more pain for these two as we move into the second part of the duet. The first part really felt more focused on them as individuals, and I’m hoping to dive deeper into their connection in what’s to come, not to mention, diving deeper into Phe’s mind. Because in order for Phe to exist in a mind that is truly her own, she’s going to have to destroy the foundation of her being. Embrace the madness before she’s lost to it completely.
Inspired in part by the well known story of Lizzie Borden, The Mad House is about existential crisis and conflict- and it’s equal parts riveting and devastating. Our two heroines have suffered greatly, trauma that has manifested itself entirely differently in both of them. Liza takes the macabre of Lizzie’s journey and amps up the sensuality…and the trauma. There’s no underscoring that- if there’s one thing we take from this story, its the lasting trauma caused by dominant and repressive ideologies when one’s core identity is denied. Phe is the perfect heroine in that- it’s hard to tell where she’s more damaged, in her mind or in her body. She’s got split personalities- two manifestations of the impact of the psychological crimes committed against her. She’s complicated, confusing, challenging at times. We internalize the battle in her mind- it’s almost like I can feel Liza warring with parts of herself. In the same way that I think Cedar represents a different range of acceptance, relative to Phe’s denial. Cedar seems more straight forward, but the girl surprised me left and right. She brings an interesting ethos to the story- but one ladden with a survivor’s guilt is so interesting. Not only in her LITERAL survival, but in her emotional- almost like an existential survivor’s guilt in that she has the ability to know herself in the way Phe doesn’t…yet. And together they are piles of contrasts- healing and toxic, anger and unconditional love, resentment and longing. Their connection is tangled and full of jagged edges, but as we learn, made of steel.
All that said, this is really NOT an easy read- not only because of the on page trauma and dark themes, but because of the heavy focus of the psyche of both of these women. Which makes sense- this is a story about dismantling toxic, internalized oppression and overcoming physical and metaphysical abuse and trauma. And truth be told, these characters don’t really overcome it- they are still figuring out how to cope with it, hell even to face it. Or in Phe’s case, just to acknowledge it exists. So yes, it makes sense for this book to be a very inwards facing narrative for our characters- a lot of metacognition, a lot of pyshocolical headiness. It’s both rewarding and challenging- because Phe in particular is in an existential crisis, not to mention at war with her own literal battling identities, and Cedar has buried so much. Being in their heads is complicated and heavy, and not always enjoyable, but certainly powerful. Much like Vibe, the world around them is really just an allegorical stage for Liza’s exploration of identity and social construct, the backdrop through which she can most effectively highlight a journey of liberation. The darker, the more f’ed up, the more the internal journey of these characters can shine against it. Unlike Vibe, though, the action is a bit slower- both the romance and the external drama. We marinate for a long time in their lostness before we get some directionality. I think a lot of that has to do with just where Phe is as a character, and Cedar’s recognition of that- but we also have a lot of withheld information. Great for intrigue, but that meant it did take me longer to connect with both of them and get into the story. Again, a lot of this has to do with the complexities of Phe- her instability and trauma result in her being lost within herself- she’s trying to connect with herself as much as we are. But ultimately we get to a really compelling place- it’ just a HEAVY story.
Not to mention- there are parts of this book that are intensely uncomfortable to read. I know that’s the intent- but be wary of the trigger warnings here.
But the heart and soul of this story is what makes it powerful- Liza again challenges us to examine all we know, because it’s the only way to discover ourselves. There’s a madness to confront ourselves while also trying to deconstruct the smog we breathe- the ways in which our minds, our hearts, or moral compass is conditioned by the biased air we breathe. It’s painful- because to really find the core of our identity and being, we have to both address our own inner demons while learning to combat the external demons- whatever they may be. Painful because the power to do that only lives with us. And damn it’s hard work. Loving ourselves, embracing ourselves, living as ourselves loudly is the hardest, most courageous act we’ll every endeavor- and like the mad world of Phe and Cedar, the world around us won’t make it easy.
There is a cliff hanger here- ultimately as our story feels like it’s beginning, it careens into a really heartbreaking finale that means more pain for these two as we move into the second part of the duet. The first part really felt more focused on them as individuals, and I’m hoping to dive deeper into their connection in what’s to come, not to mention, diving deeper into Phe’s mind. Because in order for Phe to exist in a mind that is truly her own, she’s going to have to destroy the foundation of her being. Embrace the madness before she’s lost to it completely.
March 26, 2024
this book was SO anticlimactic…. like i really liked it for most of it but the end fell SO flat. i really liked both phe and cedar, very interesting characters especially because of their past. i just think the ending could’ve been so much better, and not left on a cliffhanger. i’m just not the biggest fan of this book but it was very easy to read because i was interested for most of it.
November 28, 2023
꧁THE MAD HOUSE꧂
R E V I E W
Tropes:
– religious cult
– step sisters
– tattoo artist FMC
– dissociative identity disorder rep
– very dark themes – check TWs
Through most parts of this book, I really thought this would be a highlight. But the ending reminds me of “Circum Infernum“ by Ivanna DiVa – there too the ending felt half-baked and incomplete, but in this case it‘s much worse in my opinion. Cedar and Phe go through so much, and that is the ending they get? Seriously? First, I thought this might be the first book in a series, then the ending would make sense, it sets up the beginning of the second book, right? But I couldn’t find any indication that there will be a sequel!? No ‘to be continued‘ at the end of it, no ‘#1‘ on Goodreads or her website that might show it‘s the first in a series. I would like to leave this out, but it‘s an important part of my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
There is so much in this book, I did enjoy: Phe slowly acknowledging that what she has been taught throughout her life was all a lie, that‘s done so exceptionally well. I felt with her. I think her DID (=dissociative identity disorder) is described in such a interesting way, I loved to read about her two different personalities, and how she comes to an understanding that both of them are her, and not just one of them.
Cedars PoV is as interesting – she left the cult long before her sister got out, and already has been through what Phe is experiencing now. These two and their beliefs clash on so many occasions, even though Cedar tries to be patient with her, and that too is something I felt so strongly while reading this book.
I liked the step-sisters aspect of their relationship. This strong bond between them is such a good basis for them to go further, well especially Phe, regarding she is the one having to realize she has the feelings she has for another woman.
I love the way the book embraces all these topics all-together, and also doesn‘t fail to be dark romance throughout it. It is a very dark story, Cedar and Phe are morally grey characters, and that fits perfectly into all of this.
I just wish there was a different ending.
3.5/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5
R E V I E W
Tropes:
– religious cult
– step sisters
– tattoo artist FMC
– dissociative identity disorder rep
– very dark themes – check TWs
Through most parts of this book, I really thought this would be a highlight. But the ending reminds me of “Circum Infernum“ by Ivanna DiVa – there too the ending felt half-baked and incomplete, but in this case it‘s much worse in my opinion. Cedar and Phe go through so much, and that is the ending they get? Seriously? First, I thought this might be the first book in a series, then the ending would make sense, it sets up the beginning of the second book, right? But I couldn’t find any indication that there will be a sequel!? No ‘to be continued‘ at the end of it, no ‘#1‘ on Goodreads or her website that might show it‘s the first in a series. I would like to leave this out, but it‘s an important part of my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
There is so much in this book, I did enjoy: Phe slowly acknowledging that what she has been taught throughout her life was all a lie, that‘s done so exceptionally well. I felt with her. I think her DID (=dissociative identity disorder) is described in such a interesting way, I loved to read about her two different personalities, and how she comes to an understanding that both of them are her, and not just one of them.
Cedars PoV is as interesting – she left the cult long before her sister got out, and already has been through what Phe is experiencing now. These two and their beliefs clash on so many occasions, even though Cedar tries to be patient with her, and that too is something I felt so strongly while reading this book.
I liked the step-sisters aspect of their relationship. This strong bond between them is such a good basis for them to go further, well especially Phe, regarding she is the one having to realize she has the feelings she has for another woman.
I love the way the book embraces all these topics all-together, and also doesn‘t fail to be dark romance throughout it. It is a very dark story, Cedar and Phe are morally grey characters, and that fits perfectly into all of this.
I just wish there was a different ending.
3.5/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5
August 28, 2022
TW
Blood,Rape, Sexual Assault,Violence, Homophobic ideology, Derogatory language, Kink and Taboo - stepsisters
This was my first Liza James book and she did not disappoint at all! It was addictive and a little crazy, but it made for an excellent read. Cedar hasn't seen
Ophelia since she had ran away until one day she gets a call from the hospital telling her that her sister had been found. Throughout the book we get to see their past, their guilt and trauma shape their future. I'm definitely need part 2 since this ended on a brutal cliffhanger.
Blood,Rape, Sexual Assault,Violence, Homophobic ideology, Derogatory language, Kink and Taboo - stepsisters
This was my first Liza James book and she did not disappoint at all! It was addictive and a little crazy, but it made for an excellent read. Cedar hasn't seen
Ophelia since she had ran away until one day she gets a call from the hospital telling her that her sister had been found. Throughout the book we get to see their past, their guilt and trauma shape their future. I'm definitely need part 2 since this ended on a brutal cliffhanger.
December 23, 2022
I think I have to come to terms with the fact that Liza James isn't for me. Her books aren't very well edited. If I'm noticing grammar mistakes, there's a problem, because that's not something I look for. Her characters also feel like caricatures of real people. I just can't imagine people actually acting/speaking in the way these characters do. The only thing I enjoyed was the smut. I don't care to read on even if another book is released and that's how I know I didn't enjoy something.
November 15, 2025
(3.5) the buzz they gave me was a great distraction from how badly the book needed an editor
Read
October 13, 2022dnf @60%.
January 1, 2026
what was the ending?! there has to be a book two
August 31, 2022
This book was so dark and intense… Gosh with that ending I’m shook, there better be a second book. It definitely has similar energy to vibe, check TW before reading this.
September 1, 2022
If you liked Vibe, you’ll like this.
If you had any hang ups with Vibe, this book is going to be similar, and so perhaps not for you.
tws: on-page rape, references to child sexual assault, violence (murder), blood gore, homophobia, self harm, religious cults, indoctrination, knife play, mental illness, CPTSD and possible DID
The beginning had me hooked! The tragedy of Phe’s experience and both their loss of each other is heartbreaking. and as Cedar and Phe try to understand each other again, we get some beautiful but painful moments of care and misdirected blame. the darkness right off the bat envelopes you in a rich and immersive world, albeit a destructive religious world from which these women have to heal from. Using each other as crutches to do so, they navigate a suspenseful and tragic present, in addition to their pasts.
the side characters help build a world away from the darkness that filled their early lives, with characters like Bex adding some liveliness to this dark story, maybe even Lacy, surprisingly.
as for the hang ups....
much like Vibe, the on-page graphic r@pe is in here. luckily we were saved from the CSA in the flashbacks (thank god) so I’d hoped that we would be saved from it again in the present of the book. But, no, it is there, it is raw, it is intense and uncomfortable. It disappoints me because I don’t find it necessary. It is barely mentioned for the remainder of the book nor is there much consequence for this event in the characters. So, that leads me to assume that it is for the purpose of shock value, to make the world more fucked up, as if these characters haven’t been through enough.
A further disappointment is the representation of Phe and her ‘other side’. I do want to add that Phe is a traumatised woman and is not going to have a healthy acceptance to this ‘other part’ of her immediately after escaping her trauma. And by the end it is stated that she begins to accept it as herself, but it is written and not shown or developed throughout. All of this to say, that Phe having an ‘other side’ that is destructive and ‘untamed’ feeds into the damaging idea of the ‘evil alter’. Which at times made me feel icky about it. Especially as, Phe even nicknames this ‘side’ to her as “the monster”. It seemed neither realistic nor, again, necessary.
these are sensitive things that I would like to be told in a sensitive manner or at least throughly warned about beforehand.
Maybe these things will be resolved in a healthy and satisfying manner in the concluding part of this duet, I can’t say. I really hope so.
The cliffhanger is intriguing and perfectly suits the suspenseful nature of the book, and I did grow to love these characters. But overall, very mixed feelings.
If you had any hang ups with Vibe, this book is going to be similar, and so perhaps not for you.
tws: on-page rape, references to child sexual assault, violence (murder), blood gore, homophobia, self harm, religious cults, indoctrination, knife play, mental illness, CPTSD and possible DID
The beginning had me hooked! The tragedy of Phe’s experience and both their loss of each other is heartbreaking. and as Cedar and Phe try to understand each other again, we get some beautiful but painful moments of care and misdirected blame. the darkness right off the bat envelopes you in a rich and immersive world, albeit a destructive religious world from which these women have to heal from. Using each other as crutches to do so, they navigate a suspenseful and tragic present, in addition to their pasts.
the side characters help build a world away from the darkness that filled their early lives, with characters like Bex adding some liveliness to this dark story, maybe even Lacy, surprisingly.
as for the hang ups....
much like Vibe, the on-page graphic r@pe is in here. luckily we were saved from the CSA in the flashbacks (thank god) so I’d hoped that we would be saved from it again in the present of the book. But, no, it is there, it is raw, it is intense and uncomfortable. It disappoints me because I don’t find it necessary. It is barely mentioned for the remainder of the book nor is there much consequence for this event in the characters. So, that leads me to assume that it is for the purpose of shock value, to make the world more fucked up, as if these characters haven’t been through enough.
A further disappointment is the representation of Phe and her ‘other side’. I do want to add that Phe is a traumatised woman and is not going to have a healthy acceptance to this ‘other part’ of her immediately after escaping her trauma. And by the end it is stated that she begins to accept it as herself, but it is written and not shown or developed throughout. All of this to say, that Phe having an ‘other side’ that is destructive and ‘untamed’ feeds into the damaging idea of the ‘evil alter’. Which at times made me feel icky about it. Especially as, Phe even nicknames this ‘side’ to her as “the monster”. It seemed neither realistic nor, again, necessary.
these are sensitive things that I would like to be told in a sensitive manner or at least throughly warned about beforehand.
Maybe these things will be resolved in a healthy and satisfying manner in the concluding part of this duet, I can’t say. I really hope so.
The cliffhanger is intriguing and perfectly suits the suspenseful nature of the book, and I did grow to love these characters. But overall, very mixed feelings.
July 3, 2024
I don’t really know how I feel about this book. It was good and I liked it but it felt repetitive and the ending also pissed me off a little 😭 (thank god there’s a second book coming). Another thing that pissed me off was that pool scene with Phe. She went through so much and then this happens?! Hasn’t she endured enough already?! I feel like it was so unnecessary and didn’t really add anything to the plot.
I thought Phe and Cedar’s past was really interesting to read and it added a lot of dept to their characters. Their relationship was also well developed. There are a lot of heavy topics in this book, so if you want to read it, make sure to read the trigger warnings first. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I just learned that there’ll be a second book which I’m very excited to read!
Also I’m not someone who’s usually bothered by typos but there were a lot of them in this book and it affected my reading at times. Overall, this was an okay and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
I thought Phe and Cedar’s past was really interesting to read and it added a lot of dept to their characters. Their relationship was also well developed. There are a lot of heavy topics in this book, so if you want to read it, make sure to read the trigger warnings first. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I just learned that there’ll be a second book which I’m very excited to read!
Also I’m not someone who’s usually bothered by typos but there were a lot of them in this book and it affected my reading at times. Overall, this was an okay and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
August 30, 2022
I will start this review by pointing out its Dark, please check TW’s if you have concerns.
This is one of the most beautiful books I have read, it has extremely hard content. It’s the story of Phe and Cedar from childhood to adulthood and the traumas they face along the way.
Cedar and Phe are characters that will forever stay with me, they awoke me while reading their story and I fell for them at every turn.
Liza’s writing is like no other in this Genre, it’s difficult subject matter but she executes it so beautifully.
My heart broke at the cliffhanger and I don’t know what I am going to do with myself while waiting for the continuation of this story. Please read the Authors note at the end as it’s as meaningful as the book.
Easiest five stars ever
This is one of the most beautiful books I have read, it has extremely hard content. It’s the story of Phe and Cedar from childhood to adulthood and the traumas they face along the way.
Cedar and Phe are characters that will forever stay with me, they awoke me while reading their story and I fell for them at every turn.
Liza’s writing is like no other in this Genre, it’s difficult subject matter but she executes it so beautifully.
My heart broke at the cliffhanger and I don’t know what I am going to do with myself while waiting for the continuation of this story. Please read the Authors note at the end as it’s as meaningful as the book.
Easiest five stars ever
August 27, 2022
✨”Maybe, we can create the rules ourselves and quite possibly, we can learn to trust that we know our needs better than those around us. Better than the men and Priests and Pastors and Politicians who deem us not worthy or knowledgeable enough to decide for ourselves.”✨
THE MAD HOUSE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
REVIEW: hands down, this is one of my top reads of the year. I have so much I want to say about this one, but I’m going to start with a massive thank you to Liza for writing these queer women, especially queer women who have dealt with insurmountable trauma, with the respect & care that they deserve. I’m not going to say too much about the plot because you just have to read it. I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.
This is a dark romance, emphasis on the DARK. There is blood, there is murder, there is r*pe. Def check out TW’s before you start this masterpiece. Liza’s writing is so elevated in this novel, I truly highlighted paragraphs (!!) because it was so beautifully written. I will say there are quite a few typos/editing errors but they’re easy to look past because you’re so immersed into the story & characters.
Which speaking of character, I am obsessed with Cedar & Phe. Cedar comes off hard but she’s soft around the edges & is so fucking compassionate despite all the horror she’s endured. Phe is my trauma baby, who is so incredibly strong & powerful in her own way. I loved both of them so much. Especially when we get to Phe’s internal dialogue with her monster (inspired so many junji ito images).
The girls are step-sisters which adds another layer of taboo to this series, but good god it was hot. Baby, I’m a sinner & will gladly go to hell for simpin’ Cedar & Phe. I definitely think you’re either going to LOVE it or HATE it, there’s not going to be an in between for this book. Liza puffs out her chest & makes some seriously bold statements in relation to religion, being queer, & even just being a woman. Our ideologies & morals are very similar so ofc I loved it. If you’ve never read an FF but love dark romance, read this fucking book. It’s everything & more.
“She feels like my own personal prayer, sweet words of devotion and praise slipping from my lips freely as the only one I’ve ever truly wanted to worship.“
“Our personal chaos born of similar situations, bred into captivity and broken free by our own hands.”
“She’s the only God I believe in anymore.”
THE MAD HOUSE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
REVIEW: hands down, this is one of my top reads of the year. I have so much I want to say about this one, but I’m going to start with a massive thank you to Liza for writing these queer women, especially queer women who have dealt with insurmountable trauma, with the respect & care that they deserve. I’m not going to say too much about the plot because you just have to read it. I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.
This is a dark romance, emphasis on the DARK. There is blood, there is murder, there is r*pe. Def check out TW’s before you start this masterpiece. Liza’s writing is so elevated in this novel, I truly highlighted paragraphs (!!) because it was so beautifully written. I will say there are quite a few typos/editing errors but they’re easy to look past because you’re so immersed into the story & characters.
Which speaking of character, I am obsessed with Cedar & Phe. Cedar comes off hard but she’s soft around the edges & is so fucking compassionate despite all the horror she’s endured. Phe is my trauma baby, who is so incredibly strong & powerful in her own way. I loved both of them so much. Especially when we get to Phe’s internal dialogue with her monster (inspired so many junji ito images).
The girls are step-sisters which adds another layer of taboo to this series, but good god it was hot. Baby, I’m a sinner & will gladly go to hell for simpin’ Cedar & Phe. I definitely think you’re either going to LOVE it or HATE it, there’s not going to be an in between for this book. Liza puffs out her chest & makes some seriously bold statements in relation to religion, being queer, & even just being a woman. Our ideologies & morals are very similar so ofc I loved it. If you’ve never read an FF but love dark romance, read this fucking book. It’s everything & more.
“She feels like my own personal prayer, sweet words of devotion and praise slipping from my lips freely as the only one I’ve ever truly wanted to worship.“
“Our personal chaos born of similar situations, bred into captivity and broken free by our own hands.”
“She’s the only God I believe in anymore.”
October 5, 2022
I’ll remind her every day that she’s worthy. She’s the God I’ll worship, bowing down to her body and singing praises on my knees.
The Mad House was a dark romance I wasn’t prepared for but loved nonetheless. Simply put it was an incredible book to start October with. It was perfectly imperfect. It hit me hard with how raw, gritty, and dark these characters were allowed to be and that’s one of the things I loved about it. Liza James let her characters be as broken and deep in their trauma as they needed to be. There was no rush to “overcome” years upon years of trauma. Phe and Cedar are where they are in their journies to heal and that’s ok.
I thought the writing was beautiful in the way it let the trauma be ever present, something that these characters struggled with every second of every day. It wasn’t used as some shocking twist or trivialized. If there’s two things I can trust Liza James to write in such a relatable way it’s trauma and healing from trauma. I’ve always been able to relate to some aspects when she writes trauma and the emotional/mental toll it takes and it makes her characters easy to connect to.
The romance? Loved it. It was a slower burn compared to Vibe in my opinion because there’s so much to unpack, repressed memories to uncover, and truths to see out. Plus it would have been greatly disingenuous to both FMCs had they immediately jumped into a physical relationship. I thought the pace regarding their relationship was perfect considering everything else going on. And when the smutty goodness starts to happen oh my is it hot!
TWs: Blood. Rape. SA. CSA. Violence. Homophobic ideology and derogatory language. Animal cruelty. Self-Harm. Religious trauma. Murder. Trauma based mental illnesses like DID (Dissociative identity disorder).
4⭐️ 3🔥( this does end on a huge cliffhanger and book two isn’t out yet so be prepared)
What to expect in this book:
Sapphic (F/F)
Lizzie Borden inspired
Stepsisters
Trauma
Religious cult
Murder
Blood
Gore
Light knife play
Praise
Mutual masturbation
The Mad House was a dark romance I wasn’t prepared for but loved nonetheless. Simply put it was an incredible book to start October with. It was perfectly imperfect. It hit me hard with how raw, gritty, and dark these characters were allowed to be and that’s one of the things I loved about it. Liza James let her characters be as broken and deep in their trauma as they needed to be. There was no rush to “overcome” years upon years of trauma. Phe and Cedar are where they are in their journies to heal and that’s ok.
I thought the writing was beautiful in the way it let the trauma be ever present, something that these characters struggled with every second of every day. It wasn’t used as some shocking twist or trivialized. If there’s two things I can trust Liza James to write in such a relatable way it’s trauma and healing from trauma. I’ve always been able to relate to some aspects when she writes trauma and the emotional/mental toll it takes and it makes her characters easy to connect to.
The romance? Loved it. It was a slower burn compared to Vibe in my opinion because there’s so much to unpack, repressed memories to uncover, and truths to see out. Plus it would have been greatly disingenuous to both FMCs had they immediately jumped into a physical relationship. I thought the pace regarding their relationship was perfect considering everything else going on. And when the smutty goodness starts to happen oh my is it hot!
TWs: Blood. Rape. SA. CSA. Violence. Homophobic ideology and derogatory language. Animal cruelty. Self-Harm. Religious trauma. Murder. Trauma based mental illnesses like DID (Dissociative identity disorder).
4⭐️ 3🔥( this does end on a huge cliffhanger and book two isn’t out yet so be prepared)
What to expect in this book:
Sapphic (F/F)
Lizzie Borden inspired
Stepsisters
Trauma
Religious cult
Murder
Blood
Gore
Light knife play
Praise
Mutual masturbation
August 28, 2022
I have read some dark books but this book is Dark!!
Phe and Cedar are step sister brought into a extremely religious family. Cedar is able to escape. She and Phe are separated for 13 years until a tragedy happens and they are brought back together.
Together they are trying to piece but their life together. While feeling are stirring up.
This book is Taboo it is about two step sisters falling in love. I went into this book blind with no exception. Liza’s writing is amazing and you can feel the pain these women are going through.
Like I said in the beginning this book is Dark and disturbing in all the good ways but it is not for the light hearted. This book dives into to some deep stuff. This was my first book by Liza James but I will be reading for back catalogue now.
I think this book ends on a cliff hanger because if this it the ending and I am not accepting that!
‼️Trigger Warnings‼️
Blood,Rape, Sexual Assault, Homophobic Ideology, Violence, derogatory language and Kinks
Phe and Cedar are step sister brought into a extremely religious family. Cedar is able to escape. She and Phe are separated for 13 years until a tragedy happens and they are brought back together.
Together they are trying to piece but their life together. While feeling are stirring up.
This book is Taboo it is about two step sisters falling in love. I went into this book blind with no exception. Liza’s writing is amazing and you can feel the pain these women are going through.
Like I said in the beginning this book is Dark and disturbing in all the good ways but it is not for the light hearted. This book dives into to some deep stuff. This was my first book by Liza James but I will be reading for back catalogue now.
I think this book ends on a cliff hanger because if this it the ending and I am not accepting that!
‼️Trigger Warnings‼️
Blood,Rape, Sexual Assault, Homophobic Ideology, Violence, derogatory language and Kinks
September 3, 2022
| 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 |
╰─▸ ❝[the mad house]❞
*thank you to liza james for sending me an arc*
❥ 4.75/𝟓
↳ [what the fucking fuck. this was so good holy crap. the cliffhanger at the end? i already an dying and i just finished reading.
this book was amazing. i went into it completely blind (which i totally recommend for a good reading experience!)
this book talks a lot about religious trauma and the topic alone is something that gets me, especially after having a whole class about it in psychology. we follow Phe, as she overcomes and heals from her journey with that trauma. i absolutely loved her as our main character and gosh was she strong!
Cedar is also such a good character. the immense love she had for Phe made me swoon. they have such a beautiful connection and i really wish i could read it again for the first time just for that:)
i love liza’s writing. this story, these characters, were so incredible.
i recommend this book so much! it’s definitely a favorite of the year so far. take in mind that this is a very dark romance so make sure to know what you are capable of reading first!
check tw’s before reading.]
ෆ 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒
-wlw
-stepsister romance
-religious trauma
-dark romance
╰─▸ ❝[the mad house]❞
*thank you to liza james for sending me an arc*
❥ 4.75/𝟓
↳ [what the fucking fuck. this was so good holy crap. the cliffhanger at the end? i already an dying and i just finished reading.
this book was amazing. i went into it completely blind (which i totally recommend for a good reading experience!)
this book talks a lot about religious trauma and the topic alone is something that gets me, especially after having a whole class about it in psychology. we follow Phe, as she overcomes and heals from her journey with that trauma. i absolutely loved her as our main character and gosh was she strong!
Cedar is also such a good character. the immense love she had for Phe made me swoon. they have such a beautiful connection and i really wish i could read it again for the first time just for that:)
i love liza’s writing. this story, these characters, were so incredible.
i recommend this book so much! it’s definitely a favorite of the year so far. take in mind that this is a very dark romance so make sure to know what you are capable of reading first!
check tw’s before reading.]
ෆ 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒
-wlw
-stepsister romance
-religious trauma
-dark romance
August 29, 2022
ARC REVIEW
5/5 ⭐ 3.5/5 🌶
This was....intense. So fucking intense and fuck if I didn't love every second of it.
I love it when a book captures my attention from the beginning and has me on the edge of my seat -and this book def had me biting all my fingernails off (oops, tmi?). Everything about this book -the plot, the characters, the vibes- had me hooked. It was intense, it was beautiful and just so fucking good.
Cedar and Phe have my heart, they're my girls <3
The push and pull between them had me both frustrated and giddy -it was intoxicating. With all the secrets and pain and hurts this was such an emotional read for me. They're relationship, while complicated and quite painful was so beautiful. The devotion and dedication they put into building their relationship and trying to help each other -while also hurting- was heart wrenching. I really cannot get enough of them.
Also, Bex is so fucking funny lmao I freaking love her. She is such a girlboss and I just might steal her and make her fall in love w me ;)
I'd also like to have a few *ahem* words w Cedar and Phe's parents (& the other people). I just have some stuff I wanna discuss w them *squints eyes*
5/5 ⭐ 3.5/5 🌶
This was....intense. So fucking intense and fuck if I didn't love every second of it.
I love it when a book captures my attention from the beginning and has me on the edge of my seat -and this book def had me biting all my fingernails off (oops, tmi?). Everything about this book -the plot, the characters, the vibes- had me hooked. It was intense, it was beautiful and just so fucking good.
Cedar and Phe have my heart, they're my girls <3
The push and pull between them had me both frustrated and giddy -it was intoxicating. With all the secrets and pain and hurts this was such an emotional read for me. They're relationship, while complicated and quite painful was so beautiful. The devotion and dedication they put into building their relationship and trying to help each other -while also hurting- was heart wrenching. I really cannot get enough of them.
Also, Bex is so fucking funny lmao I freaking love her. She is such a girlboss and I just might steal her and make her fall in love w me ;)
I'd also like to have a few *ahem* words w Cedar and Phe's parents (& the other people). I just have some stuff I wanna discuss w them *squints eyes*
August 28, 2022
(Arc Review)
Phe and Cedar are estranged step sisters, raised inside a cruel and bizarre church/cult from which Cedar ran away long ago. After Phe killed their parents and spent some time in a psychiatric facility, is time for Cedar to pick her up and bring her to the real world.
Living together is not easy: Phe is extremely damaged due to her upbringing, but Cedar is determined to help her - after all, she too has her demons.
The plot is way more intense than I was expecting, and this books slaps you in the face - in a good way, lol. I was expecting one thing, but it took a very different turn that was, quite honestly, genius.
Be alert on the tw, and keep in mind this book is DARK. And extremely sad at times. But it’s a very good read if that’s your thing. 🖤
Phe and Cedar are estranged step sisters, raised inside a cruel and bizarre church/cult from which Cedar ran away long ago. After Phe killed their parents and spent some time in a psychiatric facility, is time for Cedar to pick her up and bring her to the real world.
Living together is not easy: Phe is extremely damaged due to her upbringing, but Cedar is determined to help her - after all, she too has her demons.
The plot is way more intense than I was expecting, and this books slaps you in the face - in a good way, lol. I was expecting one thing, but it took a very different turn that was, quite honestly, genius.
Be alert on the tw, and keep in mind this book is DARK. And extremely sad at times. But it’s a very good read if that’s your thing. 🖤
August 27, 2023
"No one, and I mean no one, is ever going to dictate your mind or your future ever again. I'll never let this happen. Do you hear me?"
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"and when I frantically look to Cedar, it's the first time I've ever seen her look genuinely afraid."
I need 3-5 business days to process this entire book. It was a very fucked up masterpiece but the cliffhanger was mean. And I have actually no fucking idea how we get out of this mess again until Phe activates her psycho mode
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"and when I frantically look to Cedar, it's the first time I've ever seen her look genuinely afraid."
I need 3-5 business days to process this entire book. It was a very fucked up masterpiece but the cliffhanger was mean. And I have actually no fucking idea how we get out of this mess again until Phe activates her psycho mode
July 27, 2024
Man, this book was....whoah. The graphic past sent chills down my spine and how they turned out as adults was empowering. I loved it. Phe irritated me quite a bit, though, but I can only imagine how I would have acted if I grew up that way. So I try to give her some slack. There are a decent amount of Grammer issues and spelling problems, but it is still worth the read. Especially if you like dark stories. 😉
November 2, 2025
I liked this but it felt like there wasn’t much of a goal plot wise, if that makes sense? Maybe that’s just me. I got a bit bored half way through the book, but I was also pretty invested in both of Phe’s and Cedar’s past as well as their relationship with each other. I will most likely be reading the second book because of that ending though.
dnf
January 22, 2023The amount of times she talked about the monster within her is annoying.
Just wasn’t vibing with this. I kinda Liked it at first but quickly faded, felt like there was no substance to it and started to get bored so I quit. The whole car ride in the beginning was annoying too.
Just wasn’t vibing with this. I kinda Liked it at first but quickly faded, felt like there was no substance to it and started to get bored so I quit. The whole car ride in the beginning was annoying too.
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