As little girls, Sphinxie's mother and Cadence's mother made a plan for their children to become best friends and spouses. Miraculously, parts of the plan started falling uncannily into place until an incident when Sphinxie and Cadence are young that leaves Sphinxie scarred and Cadence taken away. Years later, the two children are drawn together as teenagers and what once started out as a beautiful plan made my two close friends transforms with frightening twists into something no one wished for.

M. Anjelais eerily and beautifully captures a mind that cannot feel in BREAKING BUTTERFLIES. Cadence's character is twisted, beautiful, heartbreaking, and undoubtedly charismatic and seductive all at the same time. Seeing him through Sphinxie's eyes is an experience readers won't forget. As somehow tragic and scary as Cadence is, Sphinxie is the one whose character resonates deeply. Her admittance and acceptance of forever being ordinary is perhaps what makes her so very extraordinary. In this book, ordinary turns out to perhaps not be quite so bad, and it even allows a strength to arise that might not exist for someone focused solely on outshining everyone else.

Alongside the characters, the writing holds an utterly sincere narration. This story isn't designed to trick readers or leave them guessing but instead to create a safe place to experience something unusual and uncertain through a kind and simple narration that makes it awfully difficult to step away from the book. It hooks readers through a slow transformation that still flies by in pacing. The characterization is as intense as any action packed thriller.

For readers looking to be challenged and in want of something that will truly make them think, BREAKING BUTTERFLIES is an excellent addition to that to-be-read shelf. M. Anjelais's writing is both impressive and solidly moving, and without a doubt, she is writer to keep an eye on.