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Mary Immaculate Institution #1
Mary Immaculate Institution
She knew nothing about her life, not even her name.
Cabinet Eight had lived in the Mary Immaculate Institution for as
long as she could remember. She was one of the better patients,
never disobeying the nurses or breaking any rules, never even
looking up at her fellow institute members. She ate her daily
vitamin pills and tried her best to keep her head down. That was
until she met her - the nutjob of the institute. Cabinet Four, her
laughter spelled insanity and her eyes screamed danger.
Cabinet Eight preferred her undisturbed life of solitude in the
institute. She knew what getting mixed up with the wrong
crowd would do to her. Everyone in the institute had been made
witness to Cabinet Ten’s execution.
Then there was the captivating boy with different colours in each
eye who she couldn't get out of her mind.
With her growing, uncontrollable abilities, would Cabinet Eight
be able to stay out of trouble or would she finally break out of
her prison and find something she had lost? Maybe a previous
life?Or perhaps, people who loved her?
Cabinet Eight had lived in the Mary Immaculate Institution for as
long as she could remember. She was one of the better patients,
never disobeying the nurses or breaking any rules, never even
looking up at her fellow institute members. She ate her daily
vitamin pills and tried her best to keep her head down. That was
until she met her - the nutjob of the institute. Cabinet Four, her
laughter spelled insanity and her eyes screamed danger.
Cabinet Eight preferred her undisturbed life of solitude in the
institute. She knew what getting mixed up with the wrong
crowd would do to her. Everyone in the institute had been made
witness to Cabinet Ten’s execution.
Then there was the captivating boy with different colours in each
eye who she couldn't get out of her mind.
With her growing, uncontrollable abilities, would Cabinet Eight
be able to stay out of trouble or would she finally break out of
her prison and find something she had lost? Maybe a previous
life?Or perhaps, people who loved her?
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 19, 2025
Read it immediately! Now mentally prepare yourself for the cliffhanger! Rejoice when certain people get unalived. It’s okay to cry when your fictional characters die.
April 11, 2025
First of all, I want to thank the author for giving me the chance to read this book. Oh, I was intrigued by it from the moment she announced it was coming out and now that I’ve read it… Oh, there’s an emptiness in my chest and my thoughts are all over the place as I try to find the right words to talk about it.
It’s a story about… honestly, I don’t even know how to describe it properly. A story about the power of women, about support, about finding and rediscovering yourself in an environment designed to strip away every last bit of life from you — because there’s really no other way to put it. It’s such a captivating and intriguing story that it will trap you in its web and won’t let you go until the very end.
It was a wild ride. Although the beginning was slow and heavy with details, they weren’t useless details. Those who know me already know I’m not a fan of too much description, but here, every detail was so carefully built, so perfectly placed and highlighted that you could actually see the scenes playing out before your eyes. And there’s no greater pleasure for me, at least when I read, than being able to truly visualize what I’m reading, to feel like I’m right there in the middle of the story.
I was intrigued by the story — completely hooked — and I was so happy to have dual perspectives. I empathized deeply with Eight and I was absolutely furious with Cristopher. Honestly, I’ll hold myself back from talking about him too much because I don’t want to spoil anything, but his character had that “something” that annoyed me to no end. I just wanted to slap my forehead, shake him and tell him to get a grip, to open his eyes and see reality — even though it was right there in front of him.
I absolutely loved Eight, Four and Eleven. Watching their journey, even though I mainly saw it through Eight’s eyes, was not just a delight, it was madness — the good kind of madness where you get everything you want from a story.
There were scenes where I actually screamed with joy, especially one near the end where I was desperately hoping for justice to be served — and it was! I even cried at one particular scene toward the end that moved me deeply. Honestly, I never would have thought a book like this — this wild, this intense — would make me cry, but it did.
There were also scenes where I was furious with anger and nerves, where I wished I had the ability to enter the pages of the book and 🔪 some characters, so much frustration built up inside me and it hurt to witness such events.
Oh, God, I don’t even know what else to say — I’m out of words. I loved the sarcasm, oh my God — and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for these characters next. Part of me feels sorry for them and part of me is just dying of curiosity.
One thing that totally surprised me — and I can’t say much because it would spoil it — was that she introduced a character I never in a million years expected. Never. And she did it so well that it left me speechless. Just when I thought, okay, you’ve surprised me enough, she hit me with another twist.
This story has a bit of everything, for everyone. It’s absolutely amazing — truly amazing.
July 21, 2025
First, I want to thank the author for sending me a free e-arc and a free copy of the book in Romanian. I’m very grateful.
I won’t say too much about the blurb of the book, we have Cabinet Eight who is a patient of this Institution for people with powers. She doesn’t know anything about herself and everything changes when she meets Cabinet Four, another patient, who is “insane”. Together with another patient, they try to escape this place.
I will start with the things I liked. I liked the powers these characters have, really interesting. I liked the mythology of Iele a lot, me being a Romanian, it was nice seeing a piece of our legends, I guess, it was captivating reading about them. The cruelty of human beings was on point and I liked seeing women’s rage and how they take their lives in their own hands, as they should.
Also, I liked that the author took some inspiration from “Stranger things” and “The institute” by Stephen King (I think so) and I liked to see that, after some pages, the book has its own story, not another version of those two.
While I enjoyed some things, there were others that I didn’t like. First, there are grammatical mistakes in the book. I tried not seeing them, but every time I did, it was hard moving past them. There were some words and expressions that weren’t quite right, and that made my reading experience a little bit uncomfortable.
Also, the sexual words and phrases weren’t unnecessary, they made me roll my eyes every time I saw them. I don’t think they are the right words to use in a mystery book, especially when you can’t see them for the whole book. They’re just thrown in just for the sake of it.
It was really weird seeing Eight having a crush on Christopher, especially with her situation, I was like “she’s abused, but she’s thinking about this guy? Lol”.
All in all, it was an okay book. I liked the idea behind it, I liked how it ended and I’m intrigued about how the next book will look like.
I won’t say too much about the blurb of the book, we have Cabinet Eight who is a patient of this Institution for people with powers. She doesn’t know anything about herself and everything changes when she meets Cabinet Four, another patient, who is “insane”. Together with another patient, they try to escape this place.
I will start with the things I liked. I liked the powers these characters have, really interesting. I liked the mythology of Iele a lot, me being a Romanian, it was nice seeing a piece of our legends, I guess, it was captivating reading about them. The cruelty of human beings was on point and I liked seeing women’s rage and how they take their lives in their own hands, as they should.
Also, I liked that the author took some inspiration from “Stranger things” and “The institute” by Stephen King (I think so) and I liked to see that, after some pages, the book has its own story, not another version of those two.
While I enjoyed some things, there were others that I didn’t like. First, there are grammatical mistakes in the book. I tried not seeing them, but every time I did, it was hard moving past them. There were some words and expressions that weren’t quite right, and that made my reading experience a little bit uncomfortable.
Also, the sexual words and phrases weren’t unnecessary, they made me roll my eyes every time I saw them. I don’t think they are the right words to use in a mystery book, especially when you can’t see them for the whole book. They’re just thrown in just for the sake of it.
It was really weird seeing Eight having a crush on Christopher, especially with her situation, I was like “she’s abused, but she’s thinking about this guy? Lol”.
All in all, it was an okay book. I liked the idea behind it, I liked how it ended and I’m intrigued about how the next book will look like.
May 17, 2025
3,5⭐️
“She was not evil or crazy. It was just a role she had to play in order to survive her pain. To live another day in this hell” — fave quote🔥
It was a really interesting story! When I found out Romania was involved, I didn’t see that coming! Great choice!
✨I really liked the character of Eight. She wasn’t pictured as “perfect”, and that’s a good sign of authenticity. Also, Four was my fave, ‘cause she can be crazy like me. 🤣
✨When I started reading the book, my first thought was Stranger Things! I believe it was also because of their hairstyle, and because of Eight’s ability. As you move forward in the book, you realize that it’s very different. I was surprised (in a good way) to see Romanian mythology involved.
✨Like I told the author, I also appreciated the little drama between Dr. Haldar and Eight.😘
✨MMC was sooooo annoying, but in time I didn’t despise him that much, let’s say. It was hard to comprehend, though, how could he get so close with Eight and be mesmerized by her if he was such a cold hearted brat. 🤔
✨ Though, I can say that I’m giving 3,5 stars because of some things I either didn’t get, or that had some plot holes I can say? I don’t know how to call them ‘cause I’m not an editor, of course, I don’t want to provide the wrong info. I’ve got some examples, but I don’t want to give spoilers. 😌
💫All in all, even though this book is not from a genre that I’m used to read [SCI-FI], I can say that it was super easy to get through it, and to pay attention to every detail. Congratulations to the author for having this brilliant idea to write this book and, hopefully, to get our legacy full of beautiful creatures abroad!🪐💫
“She was not evil or crazy. It was just a role she had to play in order to survive her pain. To live another day in this hell” — fave quote🔥
It was a really interesting story! When I found out Romania was involved, I didn’t see that coming! Great choice!
✨I really liked the character of Eight. She wasn’t pictured as “perfect”, and that’s a good sign of authenticity. Also, Four was my fave, ‘cause she can be crazy like me. 🤣
✨When I started reading the book, my first thought was Stranger Things! I believe it was also because of their hairstyle, and because of Eight’s ability. As you move forward in the book, you realize that it’s very different. I was surprised (in a good way) to see Romanian mythology involved.
✨Like I told the author, I also appreciated the little drama between Dr. Haldar and Eight.😘
✨MMC was sooooo annoying, but in time I didn’t despise him that much, let’s say. It was hard to comprehend, though, how could he get so close with Eight and be mesmerized by her if he was such a cold hearted brat. 🤔
✨ Though, I can say that I’m giving 3,5 stars because of some things I either didn’t get, or that had some plot holes I can say? I don’t know how to call them ‘cause I’m not an editor, of course, I don’t want to provide the wrong info. I’ve got some examples, but I don’t want to give spoilers. 😌
💫All in all, even though this book is not from a genre that I’m used to read [SCI-FI], I can say that it was super easy to get through it, and to pay attention to every detail. Congratulations to the author for having this brilliant idea to write this book and, hopefully, to get our legacy full of beautiful creatures abroad!🪐💫
April 13, 2025
I need to thank the author for allowing me to be part of her journey as an ARC reader. And I truly need you, whoever reads this review, to dig into the pages of this book because I can't express in words what it did to me!
If you were a teenager who dared to discover the atrocities of the Second World War, like I was, through this book you will encounter a terrifying echo of Mengele within these pages. However, the true triumph lies in the fierce portrayal of female empowerment – women who forge their own paths. If you look for feminine rage, you will find it reading this!
My love for this book is profound. The author seamlessly weaves together mystery, thriller, fantasy, darkness, and light, creating a tapestry of hope and sorrow that moved me to tears repeatedly. It unflinchingly depicts human cruelty while also illuminating the unwavering instinct to survive and the profound kindness that keeps faith in humanity alive. For me, the inclusion of a piece of Romanian mythology was utterly captivating. DMR, consider this a heartfelt warning: harm my beloved characters, and you will have me to contend with!
With my heart full, I declare to you, this will be one of those books I would love to have the chance to read for the first time again. The sequel to this remarkable book cannot come soon enough; I am already yearning for it.
If you were a teenager who dared to discover the atrocities of the Second World War, like I was, through this book you will encounter a terrifying echo of Mengele within these pages. However, the true triumph lies in the fierce portrayal of female empowerment – women who forge their own paths. If you look for feminine rage, you will find it reading this!
My love for this book is profound. The author seamlessly weaves together mystery, thriller, fantasy, darkness, and light, creating a tapestry of hope and sorrow that moved me to tears repeatedly. It unflinchingly depicts human cruelty while also illuminating the unwavering instinct to survive and the profound kindness that keeps faith in humanity alive. For me, the inclusion of a piece of Romanian mythology was utterly captivating. DMR, consider this a heartfelt warning: harm my beloved characters, and you will have me to contend with!
With my heart full, I declare to you, this will be one of those books I would love to have the chance to read for the first time again. The sequel to this remarkable book cannot come soon enough; I am already yearning for it.
September 5, 2025
Edition: E-book
No of pages: 769
Rating 5 stars/5 stars
Short Summary: They’re only numbers. They don’t know who they are, where they come from. They know only one thing: they have to train. Cabinet Eight is just one of the people that live in the Mary Immaculate Institution. Brought in for healing unhealing diseases, she and the other patients are being under treatment. Taking vitamins daily, everyone’s DNA is changing and the special powers start showing. Was it only an accident? Or everything has a purpose in the eyes of Dr. Jones, the man behind all of it.
Personal Impressions: This book did not disappoint me at all. Starting with my Romanian roots, which I was really proud for the mythical background. I loved that because us, the Romanian people, have a really beautiful culture.
Let’s start with the beginning. The story has two point of views written in 3rd perspective. We have Cabinet Eight and Cristopher Jones. Let’s start with Eight. Her character was really powerful. The way she changes from the little lamb to the wolf that stays undercover next to the sheep made me feel really proud of her. She had a really interesting character development which is really hard to describe in words because she’s been through so so much and still, she’s standing on her two feet. That really inspired me. The author’s style made me live every step of the story besides her. Starting with her room, her training sessions, the laboratories and Cristopher. Let’s move on to our boy now. The young Jones really impressed me with his kindness. It takes a lot for a person to see the good in everyone and Cristopher kept doing that until it was his downfall. Even at the end, he couldn’t get around what was really going on. That’s what trust does to a person and the author portrayed really well.
My heart was in my stomach along every part of this book. Every single page struck my curiosity to find out what was really going on. The plot twists were so good that left me speechless and made me feel like I wouldn’t have seen any of those things coming. I loved it and I’m really excited for the 2nd book.
I highly recommend it! But, please, read the trigger warnings because there are some scenes that may be hard on some people.
No of pages: 769
Rating 5 stars/5 stars
Short Summary: They’re only numbers. They don’t know who they are, where they come from. They know only one thing: they have to train. Cabinet Eight is just one of the people that live in the Mary Immaculate Institution. Brought in for healing unhealing diseases, she and the other patients are being under treatment. Taking vitamins daily, everyone’s DNA is changing and the special powers start showing. Was it only an accident? Or everything has a purpose in the eyes of Dr. Jones, the man behind all of it.
Personal Impressions: This book did not disappoint me at all. Starting with my Romanian roots, which I was really proud for the mythical background. I loved that because us, the Romanian people, have a really beautiful culture.
Let’s start with the beginning. The story has two point of views written in 3rd perspective. We have Cabinet Eight and Cristopher Jones. Let’s start with Eight. Her character was really powerful. The way she changes from the little lamb to the wolf that stays undercover next to the sheep made me feel really proud of her. She had a really interesting character development which is really hard to describe in words because she’s been through so so much and still, she’s standing on her two feet. That really inspired me. The author’s style made me live every step of the story besides her. Starting with her room, her training sessions, the laboratories and Cristopher. Let’s move on to our boy now. The young Jones really impressed me with his kindness. It takes a lot for a person to see the good in everyone and Cristopher kept doing that until it was his downfall. Even at the end, he couldn’t get around what was really going on. That’s what trust does to a person and the author portrayed really well.
My heart was in my stomach along every part of this book. Every single page struck my curiosity to find out what was really going on. The plot twists were so good that left me speechless and made me feel like I wouldn’t have seen any of those things coming. I loved it and I’m really excited for the 2nd book.
I highly recommend it! But, please, read the trigger warnings because there are some scenes that may be hard on some people.
November 16, 2025
I don’t think a book has captivated me like this in a long, long time. I wholeheartedly recommend it. 🖤
October 17, 2025
Firstly, I want to thank the author for the physical copy of the book! I really enjoyed it ❤️
Hidden away from the world lies Mary Immaculate Institution — a place that claims to heal, but in truth, it experiments on those trapped inside. The patients don’t have names, only numbers. Cabinet Eight is one of them — obedient and quiet, until she meets Cabinet Four, the “lunatic” of the institute. From that moment, everything begins to unravel, and what seemed like a simple story of survival turns into a fight for truth, identity, and freedom.
I really loved the inspiration behind this story – it has a touch of Stranger Things mixed with Stephen King’s The Institute, but make no mistake: it only shares the vibe. This book is completely unique and stands on its own.
I adored the characters and their strength to survive in such a cruel environment, but what truly stood out to me was their rage and determination when they finally fought back. They felt raw, real, and deeply human.
The flashbacks were absolutely amazing — they made me feel like these “patients” were more than experiments, like I was seeing the world through their souls.
And I have to mention this: the inclusion of Romanian mythology about the Iele was so unexpected and so well done! When I reached that part, I almost screamed out of excitement. 🧚♀️ It fit the atmosphere perfectly and added something magical.
The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was that sometimes it felt like some details were missing — especially how, in the beginning, the patients were described as constantly monitored and barely lifting their heads, yet later on, they seemed able to talk freely even in front of guards. It felt a bit inconsistent.
Still, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique story, with Romanian mythology and characters who refuse to give up.
⚠️ Be warned: once you start it, you’ll want to finish it in one sitting! 😅
Hidden away from the world lies Mary Immaculate Institution — a place that claims to heal, but in truth, it experiments on those trapped inside. The patients don’t have names, only numbers. Cabinet Eight is one of them — obedient and quiet, until she meets Cabinet Four, the “lunatic” of the institute. From that moment, everything begins to unravel, and what seemed like a simple story of survival turns into a fight for truth, identity, and freedom.
I really loved the inspiration behind this story – it has a touch of Stranger Things mixed with Stephen King’s The Institute, but make no mistake: it only shares the vibe. This book is completely unique and stands on its own.
I adored the characters and their strength to survive in such a cruel environment, but what truly stood out to me was their rage and determination when they finally fought back. They felt raw, real, and deeply human.
The flashbacks were absolutely amazing — they made me feel like these “patients” were more than experiments, like I was seeing the world through their souls.
And I have to mention this: the inclusion of Romanian mythology about the Iele was so unexpected and so well done! When I reached that part, I almost screamed out of excitement. 🧚♀️ It fit the atmosphere perfectly and added something magical.
The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was that sometimes it felt like some details were missing — especially how, in the beginning, the patients were described as constantly monitored and barely lifting their heads, yet later on, they seemed able to talk freely even in front of guards. It felt a bit inconsistent.
Still, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique story, with Romanian mythology and characters who refuse to give up.
⚠️ Be warned: once you start it, you’ll want to finish it in one sitting! 😅
June 6, 2025
MARY IMMACULATE INSTITUTION💙🪽 BOOK REVIEW
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shout out to all the Asylum American Horror Story fans this book is perfectly for you! And for me :)! Experiments? Check. Crazy doctors? Check. Weird patients? Check. Secrets, secret letters and lose of memory for all the patients involved? Also check.
I devoured this book in 2 days!! Mihaela did a fantastic job writing this book. She brings up the details about the patients, the institution and the most important thing about the relationships between characters. I am obsessed with this book and I really couldn’t put it down. It kinda forces you to read because at every page we discover another secret another character and so on.
This book follows Cabinet Eight life in Mary Immaculate Institution, located in Liverpool, UK. She doesn’t remember being brought here by herself and she is given secret letters by M. She makes friendships with another patients, Cabinet Four and Cabinet Eleven. They have one thing in common: the need to escape.
But that thing isn’t possible since the owner of institution, Doctor Archibald Jones controls the city and the secrets under the location. They need to find his files with all the evidence, but it seems impossible. Also, his son, Christopher Jones seems to associate his whole life with his father and the help from Mary Immaculate Institution. I can’t explain more because everything feels like a spoiler since we need to discover what happened to the patients gradually.
I also loved how Mihaela write about “Ielele” some mythical females creatures from Romania who have seductive powers over men and she described them so well. Reading this book you also can find more about Romania’s myths and lore.
Also, the 2nd book comes in November and I can’t wait to read it I fell in love with Mihaela’s writing style and with the eerie story. It will be translated in Romanian at @bookbite.ro this year so stay tuned!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shout out to all the Asylum American Horror Story fans this book is perfectly for you! And for me :)! Experiments? Check. Crazy doctors? Check. Weird patients? Check. Secrets, secret letters and lose of memory for all the patients involved? Also check.
I devoured this book in 2 days!! Mihaela did a fantastic job writing this book. She brings up the details about the patients, the institution and the most important thing about the relationships between characters. I am obsessed with this book and I really couldn’t put it down. It kinda forces you to read because at every page we discover another secret another character and so on.
This book follows Cabinet Eight life in Mary Immaculate Institution, located in Liverpool, UK. She doesn’t remember being brought here by herself and she is given secret letters by M. She makes friendships with another patients, Cabinet Four and Cabinet Eleven. They have one thing in common: the need to escape.
But that thing isn’t possible since the owner of institution, Doctor Archibald Jones controls the city and the secrets under the location. They need to find his files with all the evidence, but it seems impossible. Also, his son, Christopher Jones seems to associate his whole life with his father and the help from Mary Immaculate Institution. I can’t explain more because everything feels like a spoiler since we need to discover what happened to the patients gradually.
I also loved how Mihaela write about “Ielele” some mythical females creatures from Romania who have seductive powers over men and she described them so well. Reading this book you also can find more about Romania’s myths and lore.
Also, the 2nd book comes in November and I can’t wait to read it I fell in love with Mihaela’s writing style and with the eerie story. It will be translated in Romanian at @bookbite.ro this year so stay tuned!!
June 1, 2025
Good story, neat ideas. Some interesting stuff that I haven't really been exposed to.
The manifestation of powers was pretty cool, especially given the "behind the scenes" look you got, with the first person narrative of Eight.
I definitely appreciated the "fade to black" aspect of some of the harder to read parts of the story. They're addressed, and they factor heavily into the story, but I didn't feel bludgeoned with them.
The Romanian mythology was a really cool hook that I feel could have really been leveraged a lot more. Since it definitely feels like it was setting up for a sequel, maybe that's coming. It's new to me, and super interesting, so I was a little disappointed that it wasn't more out in the spotlight.
The pacing was a little bit of a struggle for me. The story moves like a pressure cooker. There's a lot of just watching the burner glow at the beginning, a sharp spike of stress and action when it's up to temperature, then the cooking is over in a couple minutes.
Some of the editing was a similar struggle. There were several places where words were used that didn't fit the context. It was just distracting enough to make the first (slower paced) parts of the book harder to become immersed in.
All in all, if I'm right about it being set up as the first book of a series (or at least duology) I liked the story and ideas enough that I'll definitely read the next one. I'm interested enough in the characters to want to see their development, and hopefully we get to see more of the Romanian supernatural.
The manifestation of powers was pretty cool, especially given the "behind the scenes" look you got, with the first person narrative of Eight.
I definitely appreciated the "fade to black" aspect of some of the harder to read parts of the story. They're addressed, and they factor heavily into the story, but I didn't feel bludgeoned with them.
The Romanian mythology was a really cool hook that I feel could have really been leveraged a lot more. Since it definitely feels like it was setting up for a sequel, maybe that's coming. It's new to me, and super interesting, so I was a little disappointed that it wasn't more out in the spotlight.
The pacing was a little bit of a struggle for me. The story moves like a pressure cooker. There's a lot of just watching the burner glow at the beginning, a sharp spike of stress and action when it's up to temperature, then the cooking is over in a couple minutes.
Some of the editing was a similar struggle. There were several places where words were used that didn't fit the context. It was just distracting enough to make the first (slower paced) parts of the book harder to become immersed in.
All in all, if I'm right about it being set up as the first book of a series (or at least duology) I liked the story and ideas enough that I'll definitely read the next one. I'm interested enough in the characters to want to see their development, and hopefully we get to see more of the Romanian supernatural.
June 8, 2025
Amazing debut! Congratulations to the author for creating this world!
The reader is plunged into the eerie, very much controlled world of the Mary Immaculate Institution, where patients are stripped of their identities and assigned only numbers. At the heart of this unsettling story is Cabinet Eight—a model patient who initially defies authority but later questions the reality imposed upon her. The author crafted an atmosphere thick with mystery and suspense, a shadow so sad lurking after the FMC. Loved Cabinet Eight's memories. The way they returned to her.
Ultimately, this book is a thrilling exploration of identity, survival, and rebellion. Fans of dystopian and psychological fiction will find much to love in its vivid descriptions, complex relationships, and the unraveling mystery at its core.
Highly recommended for those who crave thought-provoking narratives with a touch of the supernatural.
Let me tell you about the ending: I WANT BOOK TWO NOW! (no spoilers 👿👿👿👿)
The reader is plunged into the eerie, very much controlled world of the Mary Immaculate Institution, where patients are stripped of their identities and assigned only numbers. At the heart of this unsettling story is Cabinet Eight—a model patient who initially defies authority but later questions the reality imposed upon her. The author crafted an atmosphere thick with mystery and suspense, a shadow so sad lurking after the FMC. Loved Cabinet Eight's memories. The way they returned to her.
Ultimately, this book is a thrilling exploration of identity, survival, and rebellion. Fans of dystopian and psychological fiction will find much to love in its vivid descriptions, complex relationships, and the unraveling mystery at its core.
Highly recommended for those who crave thought-provoking narratives with a touch of the supernatural.
Let me tell you about the ending: I WANT BOOK TWO NOW! (no spoilers 👿👿👿👿)
October 3, 2025
It was an enjoyable book, hint of strangers things I can see. The powers of the characters were interesting, the plot was great just didn't hit with me.
September 5, 2025
📚 DMR - Institutul Mary Immaculate 🏰 (Mary Immaculate Institution #1)
🔞 Vârstă: 16+
❗️TW: mental & physical abuse, physical violence, fighting scenes, bl👀d, r*pe (not by MMC), death.
Gen literar: SF, Dystopia, Supernatural, Romanian Mythology
🏰 Romanul de debut "Institutul Mary Immaculate" te introduce încă de la primele pagini într-o atmosferă bizară, povestea dezvăluind un univers fascinant, în care știința și legendele se împletesc armonios.
🏰 Sinopsis:
🔹️În spatele zidurilor Institutului Mary Immaculate, o clinică aparent respectabilă, se ascunde Proiectul „Prayer”, un experiment menit să transforme pacienții în ființe cu abilități supranaturale. Toți cei internați suferă de amnezie, fiind convinși că sunt tratați pentru boli rare, însă realitatea e mult mai sinistră.
🔹️Cabinet Opt, o pacientă de 28 de ani ce nu-și cunoaște nici măcar propriul nume, descoperă că are puteri telekinetice. Întâlnirea cu ceilalți pacienți îi schimbă radical perspectiva: Cabinet Patru, "nebuna" Institutului, și Cabinet Unsprezece, un tânăr misterios, ambii cu abilități neobișnuite, îi devin aliați neașteptați.
🔹️Conducerea Institutului, sub enigmaticul și influentul Dr. Archibald Jones, își urmărește în tăcere propriile planuri. Medicii, asistentele, gardienii, chiar și membrii familiei Jones sunt prinși într-o rețea de planuri secrete, iar loialitățile le sunt testate pe măsură ce adevărul despre experimentul "Prayer" iese la iveală.
🔹️În timp ce legăturile lui Cabinet Opt cu ceilalți pacienți se adâncesc, ea începe să pună la îndoială tot ce credea că știe despre internarea sa. Fragmentele de memorie și o serie de scrisori misterioase semnate de o anume „M” îi ridică întrebări tot mai tulburătoare: cine e ea de fapt și de ce se află aici❓️ În paralel, Christopher, fiul Dr. Jones, cu ochii săi de culori diferite, e mereu prezent în mintea ei, complicându-i alegerile și deciziile.
🔹️Între promisiunea unui tratament inovator, a unor puteri ieșite din comun și realitatea brutală a fiecărei zile, pacienții trebuie să aleagă: se vor supune autorității sau vor încerca să evadeze din mediul opresiv, riscând totul, chiar și propriile vieți❓
🤩 Puncte forte:
✔ Deși e un debut literar, povestea curge cu naturalețe, scriitura e atent calibrată, iar autoarea construiește tensiunea gradual, fără nesiguranța atât de des întâlnită la scriitorii aflați la început de drum.
✔ Atmosfera și cadrul narativ. Institutul Mary Immaculate e un spațiu claustrofobic, dominat de reguli stricte, experimente sinistre și umbre morale. Această ambiguitate între știință și monstruozitate, între progres și cruzime, e redată convingător și te menține într-o stare constantă de neliniște.
✔ Construcția personajelor și dinamica dintre ele. Nimeni nu e complet „bun” sau „rău”, toți au zone gri de fragilitate, contradicții și motivații ce-i fac credibili. Relațiile dintre pacienți și conflictele din familia Jones sporesc complexitatea și suspansul.
✔ Romanul îmbină în mod curajos SF-ul, distopia și neuroștiința cu mitologia, iar experimentele medicale și amnezia colectivă se întrepătrund cu supranaturalul. Acest amestec surprinde, captivează și ridică întrebări profunde despre identitate, memorie, libertate, etică științifică, precum și despre alegerea între supunere și revoltă.
👎🏼 Minusuri:
✘ Prezența unor greșeli gramaticale, de tipar și câteva scăpări editoriale (valabil pentru ediția în limba română — ISBN 978-630-6708-82-6). Ele nu afectează înțelegerea poveștii, însă pot fi deranjante pentru cei atenți la aspectele tehnice. Totuși, autoarea a confirmat că există deja un manuscris revizuit și corectat la @bookbite.ro, ce va fi disponibil de săptămâna viitoare, un detaliu ce demonstrează grija ei de a ne oferi o ediție cât mai îngrijită. Mulțumim, Mihaela! 🙏🏼🫶🏼
🏰 Concluzie: "Institutul Mary Immaculate" e un debut remarcabil, ce te cucerește printr-o poveste captivantă și memorabilă. O recomand cu drag cititorilor pasionați de universuri în care știința și miturile se întâlnesc, dar și celor dornici să descopere o voce nouă și promițătoare în literatura contemporană. 📚
#DMR #DraguleasaMihaela #MaryImmaculateInstitution #bookbite
🔞 Vârstă: 16+
❗️TW: mental & physical abuse, physical violence, fighting scenes, bl👀d, r*pe (not by MMC), death.
Gen literar: SF, Dystopia, Supernatural, Romanian Mythology
🏰 Romanul de debut "Institutul Mary Immaculate" te introduce încă de la primele pagini într-o atmosferă bizară, povestea dezvăluind un univers fascinant, în care știința și legendele se împletesc armonios.
🏰 Sinopsis:
🔹️În spatele zidurilor Institutului Mary Immaculate, o clinică aparent respectabilă, se ascunde Proiectul „Prayer”, un experiment menit să transforme pacienții în ființe cu abilități supranaturale. Toți cei internați suferă de amnezie, fiind convinși că sunt tratați pentru boli rare, însă realitatea e mult mai sinistră.
🔹️Cabinet Opt, o pacientă de 28 de ani ce nu-și cunoaște nici măcar propriul nume, descoperă că are puteri telekinetice. Întâlnirea cu ceilalți pacienți îi schimbă radical perspectiva: Cabinet Patru, "nebuna" Institutului, și Cabinet Unsprezece, un tânăr misterios, ambii cu abilități neobișnuite, îi devin aliați neașteptați.
🔹️Conducerea Institutului, sub enigmaticul și influentul Dr. Archibald Jones, își urmărește în tăcere propriile planuri. Medicii, asistentele, gardienii, chiar și membrii familiei Jones sunt prinși într-o rețea de planuri secrete, iar loialitățile le sunt testate pe măsură ce adevărul despre experimentul "Prayer" iese la iveală.
🔹️În timp ce legăturile lui Cabinet Opt cu ceilalți pacienți se adâncesc, ea începe să pună la îndoială tot ce credea că știe despre internarea sa. Fragmentele de memorie și o serie de scrisori misterioase semnate de o anume „M” îi ridică întrebări tot mai tulburătoare: cine e ea de fapt și de ce se află aici❓️ În paralel, Christopher, fiul Dr. Jones, cu ochii săi de culori diferite, e mereu prezent în mintea ei, complicându-i alegerile și deciziile.
🔹️Între promisiunea unui tratament inovator, a unor puteri ieșite din comun și realitatea brutală a fiecărei zile, pacienții trebuie să aleagă: se vor supune autorității sau vor încerca să evadeze din mediul opresiv, riscând totul, chiar și propriile vieți❓
🤩 Puncte forte:
✔ Deși e un debut literar, povestea curge cu naturalețe, scriitura e atent calibrată, iar autoarea construiește tensiunea gradual, fără nesiguranța atât de des întâlnită la scriitorii aflați la început de drum.
✔ Atmosfera și cadrul narativ. Institutul Mary Immaculate e un spațiu claustrofobic, dominat de reguli stricte, experimente sinistre și umbre morale. Această ambiguitate între știință și monstruozitate, între progres și cruzime, e redată convingător și te menține într-o stare constantă de neliniște.
✔ Construcția personajelor și dinamica dintre ele. Nimeni nu e complet „bun” sau „rău”, toți au zone gri de fragilitate, contradicții și motivații ce-i fac credibili. Relațiile dintre pacienți și conflictele din familia Jones sporesc complexitatea și suspansul.
✔ Romanul îmbină în mod curajos SF-ul, distopia și neuroștiința cu mitologia, iar experimentele medicale și amnezia colectivă se întrepătrund cu supranaturalul. Acest amestec surprinde, captivează și ridică întrebări profunde despre identitate, memorie, libertate, etică științifică, precum și despre alegerea între supunere și revoltă.
👎🏼 Minusuri:
✘ Prezența unor greșeli gramaticale, de tipar și câteva scăpări editoriale (valabil pentru ediția în limba română — ISBN 978-630-6708-82-6). Ele nu afectează înțelegerea poveștii, însă pot fi deranjante pentru cei atenți la aspectele tehnice. Totuși, autoarea a confirmat că există deja un manuscris revizuit și corectat la @bookbite.ro, ce va fi disponibil de săptămâna viitoare, un detaliu ce demonstrează grija ei de a ne oferi o ediție cât mai îngrijită. Mulțumim, Mihaela! 🙏🏼🫶🏼
🏰 Concluzie: "Institutul Mary Immaculate" e un debut remarcabil, ce te cucerește printr-o poveste captivantă și memorabilă. O recomand cu drag cititorilor pasionați de universuri în care știința și miturile se întâlnesc, dar și celor dornici să descopere o voce nouă și promițătoare în literatura contemporană. 📚
#DMR #DraguleasaMihaela #MaryImmaculateInstitution #bookbite
September 27, 2025
2.75⭐️
Inițial a fost 2.5 (între "nu mi-a plăcut" și "a fost okay"), dar ținând cont că e prima carte a autoarei, am împins-o spre un 3. Mai ales că primele 100 de pagini au fost pe placul meu și le-am ras.
Din cauza descrierii de pe spate, am început cartea cu gândul la Eleven din Stranger Things, deci poate, poate mi-am făcut anumite așteptări, iar apoi m-am dezamăgit singură. 🫣
Povestea are potențial. Am adorat trimiterile la România și la Timișoara. E un sentiment aparte să citești despre locurile prin care poate te plimbi zilnic (Piața Unirii va fi mereu unul dintre locurile mele preferate🩷).
Iar faptul că au fost prezentate făpturi din mitologia românească a fost bine primit. Chiar genial de bine primit. Cine nu iubește o carte cu iele?
Deci, ce nu a mers?
1. Personajele. Au fost mult prea mecanice. Mult prea "tu vino aici, tu du-te acolo, tu faci aia în timp ce el face ailaltă ".
Aveau nevoie de puțin mai multă atenție și de o personalitate bine definită, care să rămână constantă.
Am plecat la drum cu o anumită idee despre personalitatea fiecărui personaj (ținând cont de primele capitole), doar ca pe parcurs acestea să aibă schimbări bruște de atitudine. Celor cărora le era frică, brusc aveau tot curajul din lume; cei prezentați ca nebuni și zăpăciți, se calmau brusc și erau cei mai pașnici; cei care au trăit în teroare, brusc erau nesăbuiți. Cred că era de la mâncarea slab calorică pe care o primeau la cantină. 😅
Pe cât de mult mi-a plăcut de Christopher la început (așa play boy cum se credea el), pe atât de "meah" am fost spre final. Avea potențial de personaj gri. Avea.
2. Lipsa problemelor. Îmi pare rău să spun asta, dar s-a văzut că autoarea e la început de drum. Pentru că a evitat să creeze situații complicate, din care, poate nu credea că reușește să-și scoată personajele. Și tocmai de aceea, de multe ori, lucrurile au mers mult prea convenabil în favoarea lui Eight și prieteniilor săi.
De la un spital unde se întâmplă chestii ciudate și de la un antagonist ca dr. J. aveam așteptări mai mari în ceea ce privește securitatea și ținerea în frâu a pacienților. La un moment dat atmosfera s-a transformat în "copii la grădiniță, care au rămas fără educatoare", fiecare făcea ce voia și nu existau repercusiuni.
3. Scena din criptă. Nu a avut un sens anume, exceptând faptul de a șoca. Mi-a întors stomacul pe dos și mi-a trezit cea mai vie furie, dar a fost degeaba. Pentru că i s-a acordat prea puțină atenție continuării. Voiam să știu ce gândește după, cum se pierde, ce o mai ține prezentă. Voiam măcar un capitol de jale și mâhnire. Dar s-a trecut mult prea repede peste o scenă atât de dură. Ca și cum "am bifat-o și pe asta, next". Refuz să cred că o persoană care a trăit ceva de genul poate reveni la normal atât de repede.
4. Golurile. Există goluri în acțiune, pe care pe mine, cititoarea, m-au băgat în ceață. Pentru autor povestea are sens, pentru că e deja în mintea lui, dar pentru mine, cel care primește doar informația pe hârtie, am avut momente de "unde e sensul?".
Se luau foarte multe decizii care nu aveau un sens anume sau a căror acțiune ulterioară nu era îndeajuns de bine dezvoltată.
Inițial a fost 2.5 (între "nu mi-a plăcut" și "a fost okay"), dar ținând cont că e prima carte a autoarei, am împins-o spre un 3. Mai ales că primele 100 de pagini au fost pe placul meu și le-am ras.
Din cauza descrierii de pe spate, am început cartea cu gândul la Eleven din Stranger Things, deci poate, poate mi-am făcut anumite așteptări, iar apoi m-am dezamăgit singură. 🫣
Povestea are potențial. Am adorat trimiterile la România și la Timișoara. E un sentiment aparte să citești despre locurile prin care poate te plimbi zilnic (Piața Unirii va fi mereu unul dintre locurile mele preferate🩷).
Iar faptul că au fost prezentate făpturi din mitologia românească a fost bine primit. Chiar genial de bine primit. Cine nu iubește o carte cu iele?
Deci, ce nu a mers?
1. Personajele. Au fost mult prea mecanice. Mult prea "tu vino aici, tu du-te acolo, tu faci aia în timp ce el face ailaltă ".
Aveau nevoie de puțin mai multă atenție și de o personalitate bine definită, care să rămână constantă.
Am plecat la drum cu o anumită idee despre personalitatea fiecărui personaj (ținând cont de primele capitole), doar ca pe parcurs acestea să aibă schimbări bruște de atitudine. Celor cărora le era frică, brusc aveau tot curajul din lume; cei prezentați ca nebuni și zăpăciți, se calmau brusc și erau cei mai pașnici; cei care au trăit în teroare, brusc erau nesăbuiți. Cred că era de la mâncarea slab calorică pe care o primeau la cantină. 😅
Pe cât de mult mi-a plăcut de Christopher la început (așa play boy cum se credea el), pe atât de "meah" am fost spre final. Avea potențial de personaj gri. Avea.
2. Lipsa problemelor. Îmi pare rău să spun asta, dar s-a văzut că autoarea e la început de drum. Pentru că a evitat să creeze situații complicate, din care, poate nu credea că reușește să-și scoată personajele. Și tocmai de aceea, de multe ori, lucrurile au mers mult prea convenabil în favoarea lui Eight și prieteniilor săi.
De la un spital unde se întâmplă chestii ciudate și de la un antagonist ca dr. J. aveam așteptări mai mari în ceea ce privește securitatea și ținerea în frâu a pacienților. La un moment dat atmosfera s-a transformat în "copii la grădiniță, care au rămas fără educatoare", fiecare făcea ce voia și nu existau repercusiuni.
3. Scena din criptă. Nu a avut un sens anume, exceptând faptul de a șoca. Mi-a întors stomacul pe dos și mi-a trezit cea mai vie furie, dar a fost degeaba. Pentru că i s-a acordat prea puțină atenție continuării. Voiam să știu ce gândește după, cum se pierde, ce o mai ține prezentă. Voiam măcar un capitol de jale și mâhnire. Dar s-a trecut mult prea repede peste o scenă atât de dură. Ca și cum "am bifat-o și pe asta, next". Refuz să cred că o persoană care a trăit ceva de genul poate reveni la normal atât de repede.
4. Golurile. Există goluri în acțiune, pe care pe mine, cititoarea, m-au băgat în ceață. Pentru autor povestea are sens, pentru că e deja în mintea lui, dar pentru mine, cel care primește doar informația pe hârtie, am avut momente de "unde e sensul?".
Se luau foarte multe decizii care nu aveau un sens anume sau a căror acțiune ulterioară nu era îndeajuns de bine dezvoltată.
October 25, 2025
It was okay. The first part of the book especially when the protagonist is as clueless as the reader. It has that nice confining atmosphere. The prose is nothing elevated, but I think it fits nice to the theme of the story. With all the secrets and whatnot.
It gets way worse when action starts to pick up though.
First of all I felt that the brutality of the guards is unnecessarily excessive. Their behavior gives no shock value and only dampens the atmosphere that would shine far more when it was revolving around confinemnt/solitude. Abuse doesn't need to get physical to work.
Actions scenes are WAY too short. All happens so fast you basically skim through it without knowing it even happened. Since this book clearly is aiming for another part, this needs to be addressed so all the battle will leave some taste after its over.
And lastly when it comes to action, two things happened that I really disliked. Christopher is one. He plays no role in the book and just takes up space for his POV that is practically redundant since what he doesn't know, we as readers already do. He brings nothing to the table and just exits the stage like any other villain. More of a prop than a character, and a really unhandy one.
The main villain is such a cliche trope that it hurts with how he walks in a circle and delivers a bad guy monologue wrapping everything we still didn't know in a tirade right at the very end. It would be so much more awesome if Christopher would unravel this for us, at least then his POV would have a goal and he would have a role more worthy than a bookmark.
It gets way worse when action starts to pick up though.
First of all I felt that the brutality of the guards is unnecessarily excessive. Their behavior gives no shock value and only dampens the atmosphere that would shine far more when it was revolving around confinemnt/solitude. Abuse doesn't need to get physical to work.
Actions scenes are WAY too short. All happens so fast you basically skim through it without knowing it even happened. Since this book clearly is aiming for another part, this needs to be addressed so all the battle will leave some taste after its over.
And lastly when it comes to action, two things happened that I really disliked. Christopher is one. He plays no role in the book and just takes up space for his POV that is practically redundant since what he doesn't know, we as readers already do. He brings nothing to the table and just exits the stage like any other villain. More of a prop than a character, and a really unhandy one.
The main villain is such a cliche trope that it hurts with how he walks in a circle and delivers a bad guy monologue wrapping everything we still didn't know in a tirade right at the very end. It would be so much more awesome if Christopher would unravel this for us, at least then his POV would have a goal and he would have a role more worthy than a bookmark.
October 16, 2025
4.5 Stars
Mary Immaculate Institution follows Cabinet Eight. She has lived in the Institution as long as she can remember. The facility conducts experiments on patients with supernatural abilities and Cabinet Eight is a compliant patient. She begins to learn more about the Institution and its secrets and mysteries and her powers begin to grow and become uncontrollable. This is the first book in a planned series and I really enjoyed it and look forward to its follow-up.
The atmosphere in the Institution is well done. The mystery surrounding the public execution of one of the patients and the trauma and abuses the patients endure create a tense, propulsive atmosphere. The pacing is also spot on. The story is not overly long and it pushes forward straight from the beginning to its conclusion. There is a romance sub-plot, which felt well-developed and believable.
There are a mash-up of a few genres here, which I love. I would describe this as having elements of dystopian science fiction and paranormal romance. Thank you to Once Upon a Book Tour and the author, D.M.R., for including me in the review tour for this book and for the gifted copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Mary Immaculate Institution follows Cabinet Eight. She has lived in the Institution as long as she can remember. The facility conducts experiments on patients with supernatural abilities and Cabinet Eight is a compliant patient. She begins to learn more about the Institution and its secrets and mysteries and her powers begin to grow and become uncontrollable. This is the first book in a planned series and I really enjoyed it and look forward to its follow-up.
The atmosphere in the Institution is well done. The mystery surrounding the public execution of one of the patients and the trauma and abuses the patients endure create a tense, propulsive atmosphere. The pacing is also spot on. The story is not overly long and it pushes forward straight from the beginning to its conclusion. There is a romance sub-plot, which felt well-developed and believable.
There are a mash-up of a few genres here, which I love. I would describe this as having elements of dystopian science fiction and paranormal romance. Thank you to Once Upon a Book Tour and the author, D.M.R., for including me in the review tour for this book and for the gifted copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.
September 22, 2025
3,5 ⭐
ARC Review:
Hello, people!
I read a very dark book!
The heroes are surrounded by the darkness of the institution and memory. They endure the torture without being able to react. All this, until...
The author, with her dark and claustrophobic story, manages to introduce the reader into it from the first page. Her writing strongly brings out the elements of loneliness, despair, silence, pessimism, hope, mutual aid, truth, trust and the need for family, care and love. Through the three characters-inmates of the institution, we see the will to regain their lost memory and themselves.
In addition, there are scenes with enough suspense and anguish that keep the reader's interest undiminished.
Of course, at times I was overcome by despair and disappointment about where humanity is headed and the will for control, power and research.
Read it!
Thank you to the author and Once Upon A Book Tour for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
ARC Review:
Hello, people!
I read a very dark book!
The heroes are surrounded by the darkness of the institution and memory. They endure the torture without being able to react. All this, until...
The author, with her dark and claustrophobic story, manages to introduce the reader into it from the first page. Her writing strongly brings out the elements of loneliness, despair, silence, pessimism, hope, mutual aid, truth, trust and the need for family, care and love. Through the three characters-inmates of the institution, we see the will to regain their lost memory and themselves.
In addition, there are scenes with enough suspense and anguish that keep the reader's interest undiminished.
Of course, at times I was overcome by despair and disappointment about where humanity is headed and the will for control, power and research.
Read it!
Thank you to the author and Once Upon A Book Tour for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
Read
October 16, 2025Thank you to Once Upon a Book Tour and the author for this book.
Aside from the obvious Stranger Things parallels (which I did think were a bit too overdone), some of the plot elements reminded me of V for Vendetta, which is one of my all-time favourite films. The idea of the Mary Immaculate institutions is terrifyingly dystopian, and the hierarchy in these places was horrible. The author did a good job of making some characters feel truly evil. There were elements of Romanian mythology which I found really cool, and I'd love to see more of that - folklore from around the world really appeals to me. There are some lingering unanswered questions by the end of the book, which probably sets up well for a sequel.
Aside from the obvious Stranger Things parallels (which I did think were a bit too overdone), some of the plot elements reminded me of V for Vendetta, which is one of my all-time favourite films. The idea of the Mary Immaculate institutions is terrifyingly dystopian, and the hierarchy in these places was horrible. The author did a good job of making some characters feel truly evil. There were elements of Romanian mythology which I found really cool, and I'd love to see more of that - folklore from around the world really appeals to me. There are some lingering unanswered questions by the end of the book, which probably sets up well for a sequel.
November 9, 2025
Mary Immaculate Institution was such a wild, eerie read. The creepy setting, the secrets, and that slow-burn “who am I really?” storyline had me intrigued the whole read. The mystery pulled me in right away, and I loved watching the main character slowly piece together her past. Definitely one for fans of dark, twisty stories.
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
🌟 Found Family
🧬 Friends to Enemies
🌟 Supernatural Experiments
🧬 Morally Grey Main Characters
🌟 Romanian Mythology
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
🌟 Found Family
🧬 Friends to Enemies
🌟 Supernatural Experiments
🧬 Morally Grey Main Characters
🌟 Romanian Mythology
June 16, 2025
This is an absolutely fantastic story. Well-written and fast-paced, it is an intriguing story that grips you from the very beginning. The characters were really interesting and the whole concept left me interested in where the plot was going. The only annoying thing about this book was having to put it down to go to work or to sleep! I really enjoyed it and cannot recommend enough!
July 31, 2025
Mary Immaculate Institution was an interesting concept. It kind of gave me stranger things vibes in the regards to experiments on people to give them powers. The FMC was very well developed and had a good back story. Enjoyable read.
April 3, 2025
This story is written in a dark time; it captures that perfectly. Although the start is a bit slow, it presents a somewhat future reality.
July 28, 2025
Am citit această carte în luna mai 2025. Am citit-o pe nerăsuflate. Am primit-o ca și ARC dar din păcate nu am reușit să o finalizez până s-a lansat.
Povestea sună în felul următor:
"Într-o zi însorită, viața ei s-a schimbat. A fost smulsă din universul ei, de lângă oamenii pe care i-a iubit.
Într-o zi însorită, viața ei a luat o întorsătură neașteptată.
În spatele porților închise ale instituției Mary Immaculate, au început experimentele.
Într-o lume în care supranaturalul nu ar trebui să existe, abilitățile ei se nasc.
Într-o lume în care iubirea ar trebui să existe, ura îi umple inima.
Pe măsură ce află mai multe despre instituție și administrarea acesteia, cu atât își dorește mai mult să iasă.
Dar în inima ei înflorește un sentiment pierdut de mult.
Pentru el." (text preluat de pe bookbite.ro)
E o poveste tulburătoare care te va marca pe viață. E un storyline foarte bine scris, cu personaje misterioase, care îți vor da damage la creier în timp ce o citeși dar și mult timp după ce termini de citit. O să te întrebi: Ce am citit acum??? Oare ce se întâmplă? De ce se întâmplă așa ceva? Vei avea mai multe întrebări decât răspunsuri.
Stilul scriitoarei este unul aparte și profund. Te bântuie mult timp după ce ai finalizat cartea.
Am uitat să menționez că Mary Immaculate Institution este primul volum dintr-o serie. Deci pregătiți-vă pentru volumul 2.
Rating-ul meu final este fără doar și poate 5 *****.
Povestea sună în felul următor:
"Într-o zi însorită, viața ei s-a schimbat. A fost smulsă din universul ei, de lângă oamenii pe care i-a iubit.
Într-o zi însorită, viața ei a luat o întorsătură neașteptată.
În spatele porților închise ale instituției Mary Immaculate, au început experimentele.
Într-o lume în care supranaturalul nu ar trebui să existe, abilitățile ei se nasc.
Într-o lume în care iubirea ar trebui să existe, ura îi umple inima.
Pe măsură ce află mai multe despre instituție și administrarea acesteia, cu atât își dorește mai mult să iasă.
Dar în inima ei înflorește un sentiment pierdut de mult.
Pentru el." (text preluat de pe bookbite.ro)
E o poveste tulburătoare care te va marca pe viață. E un storyline foarte bine scris, cu personaje misterioase, care îți vor da damage la creier în timp ce o citeși dar și mult timp după ce termini de citit. O să te întrebi: Ce am citit acum??? Oare ce se întâmplă? De ce se întâmplă așa ceva? Vei avea mai multe întrebări decât răspunsuri.
Stilul scriitoarei este unul aparte și profund. Te bântuie mult timp după ce ai finalizat cartea.
Am uitat să menționez că Mary Immaculate Institution este primul volum dintr-o serie. Deci pregătiți-vă pentru volumul 2.
Rating-ul meu final este fără doar și poate 5 *****.
October 7, 2025
Mary Immaculate Institution is an unforgettable read that hooks you from the start. The dual perspectives and incredible character development make for an intensely emotional journey. While a few initial details could have been a bit smoother, it's a minor point in an otherwise masterful and breathtaking story.
November 30, 2025
La trasformazione della protagonista non funziona.
[Disclaimer: Ho ricevuto il libro grazie al programma Early Reviewer di LibraryThing]
La storia sta a metà tra l'horror e la fantascienza, forse più verso il primo anche se non si esagera, un po' come Frankenstein. L'autrice (che si firma solo con le iniziali) sta sicuramente pensando a continuare la serie, dai punti volontariamente lasciati pendenti. Il problema è che almeno per me la trasformazione che la protagonista compie in poche decine di pagine non è basata su nulla, e questo rovina la lettura. Va bene la suspension of disbelief, ma voglio una logica interna...
[Disclaimer: Ho ricevuto il libro grazie al programma Early Reviewer di LibraryThing]
La storia sta a metà tra l'horror e la fantascienza, forse più verso il primo anche se non si esagera, un po' come Frankenstein. L'autrice (che si firma solo con le iniziali) sta sicuramente pensando a continuare la serie, dai punti volontariamente lasciati pendenti. Il problema è che almeno per me la trasformazione che la protagonista compie in poche decine di pagine non è basata su nulla, e questo rovina la lettura. Va bene la suspension of disbelief, ma voglio una logica interna...
April 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The female protagonist is very well developed, and I greatly appreciated the suspense and the surprise elements in the plot. The male protagonist is not as well developed in this volume, but I am sure that in the second book, he will take his well-deserved place, given how the story progressed toward the end of this installment. I am deducting one star because I found it a bit challenging to get through the first four chapters and into the action. Similarly, I believe that this volume serves as a great warm-up for the next one, where the fantastic chaos will unfold. This book is worth reading, and I will definitely follow what the author publishes next, as she has convinced me that she has both talent and a vivid imagination.
May 27, 2025
I loved every moment of it. It hooked me right from the start, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It kept surprising me again and again, and even though I had a feeling about how some parts might unfold, the grand finale still left me speechless. I absolutely can’t wait for the next part!!
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