Didn't like the twist & depiction of mental illness

filled star star unfilled star unfilled star unfilled star unfilled
booksandbark Avatar

By

Yet another book where I disagree with the majority. While I can see the appeal, the characters to me felt unconvincing (especially the dialogue), the story seemed to be telling more than showing, and the "twist" at the end was just a result of what I consider cheap tricks. Like other 2-star reviewers, I want to be given all the clues and still not be able to figure it out myself—not have all the significant information hidden and then used to say "SURPRISE" three chapters from the end. The Greek mythology/themes also seemed to be very forced and I would have rather they were left out entirely.

Also, on the depiction of mental illness: it seemed irresponsible to only include violent mentally ill people without even acknowledging the fact that mentally ill people are more likely to be victims, not perpetrators, of violence. At one point, the author even writes that all abusers have been abused/are mentally ill—something which has very much been disproven. There wasn't even an author's note at the end explaining the reality of mental illness despite the book focusing so much on therapy/mental health. There's so much stigma about mental illness already. We really don't need another book like this.