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.
The closest he will ever come to happiness is when he's hurting her. Will she let him? A beautiful and twisted story of first love and innocence lost -- written when the author was just eighteen. Sphinxie and Cadence. Promised to each other in childhood. Drawn together again as teens. Sphinxie is sweet, compassionate, and plain. Cadence is brilliant, charismatic. Damaged. And diseased. When they were kids, he scarred her with a knife. Now, as his illness progresses, he becomes increasingly demanding. She wants to be loyal -- but fears for her life. Only the ultimate sacrifice will give this love an ending.