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Cutler #5
Darkest Hour (5)
The unforgettable finale of the Cutler series from #1 New York Times bestselling author V.C. Andrews takes us back to the dark beginnings of the Cutler family .
Growing up on the thriving plantation called The Meadows, Lillian Booth’s world is full of grand parties and vibrant promise. No one, not even her cold, stern Papa and her Bible spouting sister Emily, can crush her spirits—until the day Emily reveals the shattering secret of Lillian’s birth, a secret her mother sadly cannot deny.
Still Lillian refuses to believe Emily’s hateful claim that she is cursed...but when tragedy befalls her best friend, the one boy whose tender heart mirrors her own, Lillian comes to believe her sister’s grim words. Meekly, she endures her penance, finding a strange solace in the endless repetition of prayers in a room stripped of all comforts. But when Papa loses The Meadows in a card game, Lillian is faced with a new and terrifying prospect—arrogant, handsome playboy Bill Cutler will return the plantation…if Lillian will marry him. Now Lillian must leave her girlhood home behind and make a bold new beginning as the mistress of a hotel called Cutler’s Cove.
Growing up on the thriving plantation called The Meadows, Lillian Booth’s world is full of grand parties and vibrant promise. No one, not even her cold, stern Papa and her Bible spouting sister Emily, can crush her spirits—until the day Emily reveals the shattering secret of Lillian’s birth, a secret her mother sadly cannot deny.
Still Lillian refuses to believe Emily’s hateful claim that she is cursed...but when tragedy befalls her best friend, the one boy whose tender heart mirrors her own, Lillian comes to believe her sister’s grim words. Meekly, she endures her penance, finding a strange solace in the endless repetition of prayers in a room stripped of all comforts. But when Papa loses The Meadows in a card game, Lillian is faced with a new and terrifying prospect—arrogant, handsome playboy Bill Cutler will return the plantation…if Lillian will marry him. Now Lillian must leave her girlhood home behind and make a bold new beginning as the mistress of a hotel called Cutler’s Cove.
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
131 people are currently reading
3666 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,079 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
August 11, 2011
I liked this book. However, it did nothing to help justify "Grandmother" Cutler's ultimate rise from a sweet, caring girl to a cold bitch. I didn't have any idea why she became the way she did in later books towards Dawn, when she had suffered through so much as a young girl herself. I never understood if she hated Dawn so much, why did she name her Eugenia, after the young sister she loved so much?
October 10, 2011
Rated it four because I thought it was the best in the series. But it makes absolutely no sense that the sweet little girl I cried tears for grew up into Grandmother Cutler. It doesn't even seem as though a HUGE chunk of story was missing that would explain her change because there isn't much else one person can live through, and her past hadn't changed her so significantly by the end of the book save to make her smarter.
I have to look at this book as something separate from the other books, disassociate little Lilian from Grandma Cutler. Then, I can say I liked this character even more than I did Dawn or Christie. However, separating them causes another problem. As readers, we come in - regardless of how sophisticated we like to think we are - expecting a happy ending, especially after our protagonist suffers so... well sh*t, as a standalone, this one ends pretty dismally.
(Plus, the death of Niles was just f*ck*d up).
I have to look at this book as something separate from the other books, disassociate little Lilian from Grandma Cutler. Then, I can say I liked this character even more than I did Dawn or Christie. However, separating them causes another problem. As readers, we come in - regardless of how sophisticated we like to think we are - expecting a happy ending, especially after our protagonist suffers so... well sh*t, as a standalone, this one ends pretty dismally.
(Plus, the death of Niles was just f*ck*d up).
October 19, 2023
Best YA books ever a true must read by all. I loved this series. must read series, best YA Author ever
April 11, 2020
This book was very interesting and I never wanted it to end but at last am through with it and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will continue reading V.C.Andrews.
August 21, 2012
Once again, as in other books in this series, I have found minor discrepancies in the story, which annoy the heck out of me. I mean, come on, you can't get someone to thoroughly proofread your book? But besides that, I was also very disappointed by the fact that this book did not really explain to us our Lillian turned into evil Grandmother Cutler. Yes, she's been through a whole lot of s**t in her life, but even at the end of the book, she still seemed to be a kind hearted individual. What happened?! I feel jipped!!
August 1, 2023
Read this book at work lol. It was a vibe.
Anyway I liked this book more than most parts in this series.
Lots of bad stuff happened and I’m kinda over the locked up bc pregnant trope, but still. My jaw dropped when one chapter ended on a casual blunt mention of a character death.
Speaking of repeat tropes; characters who lose their minds and confuse the MC for their mom/etc.
This book does feel like a Lillian redemption arc (book) but a few things I hoped for didn’t happen. Lillian and Dawn are so much alike and they could’ve shown a piece of the future (book 1) where Lillian realises this. Or at least hear her POV on Dawn.
If they’d done this I would’ve understood why Dawn was named after Eugenia. Like why would she have if Dawn was not welcome in her family?
Her change from innocent Meadows girl to strong strict Cutler was also too sudden. It could’ve easily gone slowly with all she went through. Maybe I’m just overthinking it though.
I did enjoy it but maybe it’s time for me to retire VCA novels.
Anyway I liked this book more than most parts in this series.
Lots of bad stuff happened and I’m kinda over the locked up bc pregnant trope, but still. My jaw dropped when one chapter ended on a casual blunt mention of a character death.
Speaking of repeat tropes; characters who lose their minds and confuse the MC for their mom/etc.
This book does feel like a Lillian redemption arc (book) but a few things I hoped for didn’t happen. Lillian and Dawn are so much alike and they could’ve shown a piece of the future (book 1) where Lillian realises this. Or at least hear her POV on Dawn.
If they’d done this I would’ve understood why Dawn was named after Eugenia. Like why would she have if Dawn was not welcome in her family?
Her change from innocent Meadows girl to strong strict Cutler was also too sudden. It could’ve easily gone slowly with all she went through. Maybe I’m just overthinking it though.
I did enjoy it but maybe it’s time for me to retire VCA novels.
April 5, 2013
The author's purpose in writing the book is to entertain but also to somehow inform the readers. In the book Darkest Hour, the author shows the life of a wealthy family and how they lived their lives each day. The book mostly talks about the life of one of the family members, Lillian. Lillian is a girl full of hopes, dreams, and happiness; she is also a very smart and beautiful girl as we see in the book "I wouldn't be quite five when the school year began. She's so bright." We also see in this book the relationship between Lillian and her older sister, Emily. The relationship between this sisters is not quite the best because apparently Emily doesn't like her sister Lillian and it seems that she is jealous because her Lillian is very smart.
This book definitely causes an impact on the audience. Even though the story is not real, many readers that have siblings can relate to the story. In real life, sometimes people don't have a good relationship with their siblings but they still love each other. In this book, the relationship between Emily and Lillian is not quite normal because Emily is not only jealous but she does whatever she can to accommodate Lillian, as we see in the book, "Miss Walker doesn't like spoiled children" she would even hurt her if she can for example, "I looked up at her and saw a strange smile on her lips. Before I could retreat, she tugged me hard and I slipped off the rock and fell forward". In several occasion sisters don't like each other but they wouldn't try to harm each other but in this case Emily does. This book will have a lasting value because after reading this book, many sisters can make their relationship better.
The book Darkest Hour is well written. The book is easy to read, but it offers a variety of vocabulary and different sentence structures. Even though the story is about the life of a family and the conflicting relationship between sisters, the author makes it interesting to read. The author provides dialogues between the characters such as "well I'm not going on the wagon, Emily said defiantly. I'm not a baby." "Let her walk, Papa declared. If that's what she wants to do". In this book, we can not only see what's happening with Lillian, the main character but we can also see what is going on with the rest of the characters' lives and that makes the book very enjoyable.
The book was very captivating, personally I could not put it down. The way the story begins it's very interesting because at first you would never imagine that the story would end like that. The book it is definitely not boring because it doesn't only shows the life of Lillian but the lives of the other characters too. Even though this book is about the life of a family and their relationship, is not boring because it provides dialogues such as "Well, I'm not going on the wagon, Emily said defiantly. I'm not a baby. Let her walk, Papa declared, If that's what she wants to do". There is drama and turning points in the book that makes it very enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to a friend because is not boring, is enjoyable,and intriguing. Darkest Hour is a book easy to read that has drama and turning point. In the middle of the book we see people turning against Lillian and how dramatically this affects her. Darkest Hour is great book to read.
This book definitely causes an impact on the audience. Even though the story is not real, many readers that have siblings can relate to the story. In real life, sometimes people don't have a good relationship with their siblings but they still love each other. In this book, the relationship between Emily and Lillian is not quite normal because Emily is not only jealous but she does whatever she can to accommodate Lillian, as we see in the book, "Miss Walker doesn't like spoiled children" she would even hurt her if she can for example, "I looked up at her and saw a strange smile on her lips. Before I could retreat, she tugged me hard and I slipped off the rock and fell forward". In several occasion sisters don't like each other but they wouldn't try to harm each other but in this case Emily does. This book will have a lasting value because after reading this book, many sisters can make their relationship better.
The book Darkest Hour is well written. The book is easy to read, but it offers a variety of vocabulary and different sentence structures. Even though the story is about the life of a family and the conflicting relationship between sisters, the author makes it interesting to read. The author provides dialogues between the characters such as "well I'm not going on the wagon, Emily said defiantly. I'm not a baby." "Let her walk, Papa declared. If that's what she wants to do". In this book, we can not only see what's happening with Lillian, the main character but we can also see what is going on with the rest of the characters' lives and that makes the book very enjoyable.
The book was very captivating, personally I could not put it down. The way the story begins it's very interesting because at first you would never imagine that the story would end like that. The book it is definitely not boring because it doesn't only shows the life of Lillian but the lives of the other characters too. Even though this book is about the life of a family and their relationship, is not boring because it provides dialogues such as "Well, I'm not going on the wagon, Emily said defiantly. I'm not a baby. Let her walk, Papa declared, If that's what she wants to do". There is drama and turning points in the book that makes it very enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to a friend because is not boring, is enjoyable,and intriguing. Darkest Hour is a book easy to read that has drama and turning point. In the middle of the book we see people turning against Lillian and how dramatically this affects her. Darkest Hour is great book to read.
October 8, 2012
This book... I don't know. I didn't dislike it in the slightest, but I didn't like it as much as I usually do VCA books.
I think the aspect that mostly preventing me from really enjoying this book is that we already knew the major plot events before even getting to this book. (*Potential spoiler, if you haven't read the previous books*) We already knew that Eugenia was going to die, we knew she was going to get raped by her uncle/father. We knew they were going to pretend Charlotte belonged to her mother/aunt. We knew Lillian was going to get traded off to a Cutler. (**End of spoilers**)
The only surprise was the part involving Niles, but that didn't last long at all. (It still made me cry, though.)
Also, as pretty much everyone's already said, We didn't really see Lillian's transformation from sweet, innocent, emotional Lillian Booth to evil, crazy Grandmother Cutler who finds joy in torturing family members. By the end of the story, I still couldn't fathom the idea of Lillian behaving in such a way.
She did become a little self preserved and emotionally diluted, but she still wasn't a bad person.
I think the aspect that mostly preventing me from really enjoying this book is that we already knew the major plot events before even getting to this book. (*Potential spoiler, if you haven't read the previous books*) We already knew that Eugenia was going to die, we knew she was going to get raped by her uncle/father. We knew they were going to pretend Charlotte belonged to her mother/aunt. We knew Lillian was going to get traded off to a Cutler. (**End of spoilers**)
The only surprise was the part involving Niles, but that didn't last long at all. (It still made me cry, though.)
Also, as pretty much everyone's already said, We didn't really see Lillian's transformation from sweet, innocent, emotional Lillian Booth to evil, crazy Grandmother Cutler who finds joy in torturing family members. By the end of the story, I still couldn't fathom the idea of Lillian behaving in such a way.
She did become a little self preserved and emotionally diluted, but she still wasn't a bad person.
July 14, 2009
Probably one of the worst books I've read from this author. I hated this character in the first few books of this series, now I pity her. Growing up and finding out your parents are really your aunt and uncle, having your one sickly sister die, while the other holy roller sister torments you and sees you as the devil. Then, after your mother/aunt loses her mind, being raped by your father/uncle and becoming pregnant. All this while not being able to leave your house and being treated like some kind of slave. Only in the end, to be basically sold to a man who won your house in a poker game and decided you would do instead.
This book was not a good read. It was not entertaining in the least because it was filled with doom and gloom. I only read it because it was the last in a series and once I start a book like this, I have to know how it ends. No wonder the character turned into a cold-hearted bitch in her later years.
This book was not a good read. It was not entertaining in the least because it was filled with doom and gloom. I only read it because it was the last in a series and once I start a book like this, I have to know how it ends. No wonder the character turned into a cold-hearted bitch in her later years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2014
Lillian grows up in a seemingly normal household. What she didn't know was that there was a secret. Her cold sister Emily insists that she is a curse upon the family and nerve misses an opportunity to say so. As more tragedies fall, Lillian's life gets more horrible.
It was a pretty entertaining book. It was easy to sympathize with Lillian. So many bad things happened to her that I actually got angry at times. The author definitely channels to mind of a young girl. She writes passages that make you think on a deeper level.
It was a pretty entertaining book. It was easy to sympathize with Lillian. So many bad things happened to her that I actually got angry at times. The author definitely channels to mind of a young girl. She writes passages that make you think on a deeper level.
February 16, 2018
In this novel you see how Lillian is full of hopes, dreams, and happiness; she is also smart and beautiful. We also see how the relationship between Lillian and her sister, Emily isn’t the greatest. It's obvious that Emily is very jealous of Lillian. Every page gets better. I feel for Lillian, but I’m surprised that this caused her to change into the person she turned to. I get it with Grandmother Foxworth (Flowers in the Attic), but not with Lillian. I feel like it wasn't really explained why she became so cruel and bitter.
November 8, 2010
Repugnant. Repugnant. Repugnant. I wanted to see why my wife totally refused to read any books by this author. I was sickened all the way through this story. Child abuse, incest, and bitter tragedy. Avoid this book at all costs. It might make you throw up with disgust. It took me three days to finish.. which is very slow for me.
November 9, 2017
Re read I just can’t seem to start anything new so going back to the oldies
September 26, 2017
I really wanted to love this book, it started out really well and I felt so bad for Lillian the entire time she grew up and had to live with Emily as her sister. I was heartbroken and shattered along with her when Niles died after climbing up to her room to see her. But I still do not for the life of me understand why she turned into such a retched bitch. If she hated what Dawn was and planned for her kidnapping, why on earth would she suggest she be named after her favorite beloved sister Eugenia to being with? After growing up with Emily, and being tortured by her day in and day out, why would she send Dawn to her to have her baby?! She knew exactly how Emily would be with her. It doesn't actually make any sense, how living like she did would make her so evil that she would actually send someone else to live the same way. I feel like after reading her story, it should have made her into an understanding person, not a hard person like she is. I am disappointed in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
I used to say this was my all time favourite book, after this re-read, I can no longer say that but it will always have a special place in my heart. This was the first Andrews book I ever read. It was the first 'adult' book I ever read at 12 years old. I was fascinated by it, as had never read about the adult themes included in this book.
I still really like this book but like the last couple of books in this series, found myself bored at the start. You are pretty gripped by part two though!
I also have no idea how Lillian turned into evil Grandmother Cutler. She goes through some horrific things in this book. I feel like she would have been sympathetic to Dawn, rather than call her a Curse.
I wish we could have had a book about Lillian's life in the hotel, up until the point she met Dawn.
This is a book I'm sure I will revisit again in the future. A great end to a family saga.
February 27, 2011
I just have to say that I had an unhealthy obsession with VC Andrews books and the Cutler series was the second series that I really read. I loved them, but at the same time, the aspects of the books I enjoyed as a young teen, looking back now were much too adult and so cookie cutter with most of the Andrews series.
December 29, 2013
I read this when I as FARRRRRRRR far too young. And that's saying something considering I think I'm pretty lax when I recommend what ages would be fine reading some of the books I recommend.
I'll give this 4 stars because it isn't perfect, but I'm extremely nostalgic considering I used to hide this under my bed at night >_<
I'll give this 4 stars because it isn't perfect, but I'm extremely nostalgic considering I used to hide this under my bed at night >_<
December 7, 2011
Look forward to reading more from this author --- appears to have tons to choose from!
May 18, 2017
Insert loud exhausted sighing here.
Finally, I will never have to pick up another VC Andrews book ever again. Ever.
Finally, I will never have to pick up another VC Andrews book ever again. Ever.
May 21, 2025
De façons générale, j’ai bien aimé l’histoire. Finir la saga d’Aurore avec l’enfance de Liliane à bien clos les dernières questions non répondu des premiers livres.
On comprend au final que Liliane avait un grand cœur teinté également du négatif qu’elle a vécu dans sa jeunesse. Cela la rendu forte, mais quand même capable d’une grande cruauté envers Aurore.
Je recommande la série. Merci à ma cousine de me l’avoir fait découvert.
On comprend au final que Liliane avait un grand cœur teinté également du négatif qu’elle a vécu dans sa jeunesse. Cela la rendu forte, mais quand même capable d’une grande cruauté envers Aurore.
Je recommande la série. Merci à ma cousine de me l’avoir fait découvert.
January 9, 2022
My favorite in the series. However this was a prequel and I am struggling to see how the sweet little girl from this story ended up being the cruel old grandmother who treated people the same way she had been treated
February 22, 2025
This book made me want to go back and read the whole series again
December 15, 2016
Full disclosure: I really don't like V.C. Andrews' ghostwriter. I really wish her writing career ended after the Dollanganger series and My Sweet Audrina, but it seems as though there are some seedy people who can't let her writing die, and I think it has tarnished her name as a writer. The ghostwriter has churned out a number of formulaic, predictable, and one dimensional books that rely on shock value and read as V.C. Andrews fanfiction half the time.
I have sworn off all ghostwritten work, but there were some books I did like. A broken clock is still right twice a day. I kept this book on my shelves because it has a southern gothic theme. There is nothing I like better than the imagery of slowly dying plantations, tarnished southern pride and values post-Civil War, and the darkness of religious hypocrisy. This book has all of those things and works as a standalone, even though it is part of the god awful Cutler series.
Overall, I thought this book was just alright. One of the ghostwriter's major problems is that he fails to develop any of the characters except the main heroine. They are very cardboard, and act only as protagonists or antagonists, instead of their own standalone personalities. For example, Lillian's sister Emily has no substance to her or her personality at all except to torture Lillian and serve as the story's main antagonist. Her character lacks any sort of depth or development.
I also don't believe this explain's Lillian's behavior as the evil Grandmother throughout the Dawn series. This Lillian is kind, caring, and empathetic until the end. I understand that she was supposed to be hardened, but it seems ridiculous that these two are supposed to be the same people. However, the Dawn series is garbage. Even Dawn the protagonist is unlikeable and cardboard.
Overall, this book would be better if it was written by a serious and talented writer, but it has good themes and is a quick read. I wish it wasn't churned out as another mass produced V.C. Andrews incest book. Also the whole book is more or less spoiled for you if you read the back of the paperback, and the first page of the book!
I have sworn off all ghostwritten work, but there were some books I did like. A broken clock is still right twice a day. I kept this book on my shelves because it has a southern gothic theme. There is nothing I like better than the imagery of slowly dying plantations, tarnished southern pride and values post-Civil War, and the darkness of religious hypocrisy. This book has all of those things and works as a standalone, even though it is part of the god awful Cutler series.
Overall, I thought this book was just alright. One of the ghostwriter's major problems is that he fails to develop any of the characters except the main heroine. They are very cardboard, and act only as protagonists or antagonists, instead of their own standalone personalities. For example, Lillian's sister Emily has no substance to her or her personality at all except to torture Lillian and serve as the story's main antagonist. Her character lacks any sort of depth or development.
I also don't believe this explain's Lillian's behavior as the evil Grandmother throughout the Dawn series. This Lillian is kind, caring, and empathetic until the end. I understand that she was supposed to be hardened, but it seems ridiculous that these two are supposed to be the same people. However, the Dawn series is garbage. Even Dawn the protagonist is unlikeable and cardboard.
Overall, this book would be better if it was written by a serious and talented writer, but it has good themes and is a quick read. I wish it wasn't churned out as another mass produced V.C. Andrews incest book. Also the whole book is more or less spoiled for you if you read the back of the paperback, and the first page of the book!
January 7, 2015
I dunno what it is about V.C. Andrews, but she seems to be very fascinated with incest and abuse because that seems to be the focal point of all her stories (or at least the ones I've read). I becomes almost disturbing to read that kind of material. I read almost the whole Cutler series and this one was more of a back story about Grandma Cutler. I don't see a connection with the characters I read in the earlier books tho. Grandma Cutler is a mean and evil woman, where Lillian Cutler is not at all a mean and evil person in this book. She is a victim of her mother's untimely demise and placed in the home of some warped and twisted individuals. Emily with her deep fascination with religion and believing that Lillian has a curse on her and is Satan's child and the lack of care for anything except himself from Captain Booth. His wife withering away after the death of her youngest child.
Yes, this story is sick and twisted and yet I found myself disturbed and fascinated all at the same time. I still find myself filling up my bookshelves with more of Andrews' twisted tales of flawed families. Is there something wrong with me? I doubt that, especially being that V.C. Andrews is a bestselling author.
If it weren't for the dark material of this book and my failure to connect the Lillian of this book with the Grandma Cutler of the previous books, I may have given this a higher rating. I found myself at one point expressing my disgust out loud in a room of a dozen or so people. It was fun trying to explain THAT one!!
Yes, this story is sick and twisted and yet I found myself disturbed and fascinated all at the same time. I still find myself filling up my bookshelves with more of Andrews' twisted tales of flawed families. Is there something wrong with me? I doubt that, especially being that V.C. Andrews is a bestselling author.
If it weren't for the dark material of this book and my failure to connect the Lillian of this book with the Grandma Cutler of the previous books, I may have given this a higher rating. I found myself at one point expressing my disgust out loud in a room of a dozen or so people. It was fun trying to explain THAT one!!
December 15, 2014
Guess I'm reading the series backwards haha. This is the first of the Cutler series I've read.
From the minute I started this book, to the minute I put it down, there were tears in my eyes-not a comfortable feeling! There were too many unfortunate deaths in the book- sure stirred up alot of uncomfortable feelings for me! I was uncomfortable from the very beginning because I knew Eugenia was going to die eventually and I wouldn't be able to take it. THen Niles- that was a WTF moment for me (although I knew he'd die too-the back of the book reveals that-but why in that manner?). I HATED HATED HATED Emily's treatment of Lillian and in general, have great contempt for that character. Such an annoying prude.
Also, I didn't like the part where Lillian mentions something about her adoptive parents (her aunt and uncle) never really being able to love her- people adopt kids all the time and love them. Though, as a young girl, those questions and concerns do come to mind. I HATED her father too, and although her raped her twice when he was drunk, I didn't like how he couldn't even apologize, or even own up to his actions. Utterly disgusting.
Generally, this book was an easy, quick read. I read it all in one sitting. THe reason for the one star rating was that it was painful to read, far too much tragedy for my liking, and I tend to get emotionally invested in my books. I mean, why couldn't they kill off Emily instead of the good characters like Eugenia, her mom, etc. Lack of remorse by Emily and her father towards the death of their family was unbearable as well.
From the minute I started this book, to the minute I put it down, there were tears in my eyes-not a comfortable feeling! There were too many unfortunate deaths in the book- sure stirred up alot of uncomfortable feelings for me! I was uncomfortable from the very beginning because I knew Eugenia was going to die eventually and I wouldn't be able to take it. THen Niles- that was a WTF moment for me (although I knew he'd die too-the back of the book reveals that-but why in that manner?). I HATED HATED HATED Emily's treatment of Lillian and in general, have great contempt for that character. Such an annoying prude.
Also, I didn't like the part where Lillian mentions something about her adoptive parents (her aunt and uncle) never really being able to love her- people adopt kids all the time and love them. Though, as a young girl, those questions and concerns do come to mind. I HATED her father too, and although her raped her twice when he was drunk, I didn't like how he couldn't even apologize, or even own up to his actions. Utterly disgusting.
Generally, this book was an easy, quick read. I read it all in one sitting. THe reason for the one star rating was that it was painful to read, far too much tragedy for my liking, and I tend to get emotionally invested in my books. I mean, why couldn't they kill off Emily instead of the good characters like Eugenia, her mom, etc. Lack of remorse by Emily and her father towards the death of their family was unbearable as well.
July 3, 2017
Un prequel qui se centre sur le personnage de la redoutable Grand mère Cutler et qui nous donne une autre vision du personnage de Liliane aux antipodes de la femme dure et cruelle des premiers tomes. Là, on la découvre enfant dans la plantation familiale. Très vite, on découvre qu'elle n'est pas la fille de la maison (contrairement à Emily) mais une nièce orpheline recueillie. Du coup, la voilà harcelée tant par son père adoptif que par sa prétendue soeur... On comprend également mieux pourquoi elle était si entêtée pour le prénom d'Eugenie. Le personnage du père est un monstre d'hypocrisie tout comme celui d'Emily dont la cruauté n'a rien à voir avec les valeurs chrétiennes dont elle se targue. On assiste lentement à la descente aux enfers de Liliane à qui rien n'est épargné et je trouve que la genèse du personnage est vraiment très réussie. La mort de Niles est sans doute le tournant tout comme la naissance de Charlotte... J'ai adoré lire le récit du mariage de Liliane et pour le coup, tout celà rend le personnage beaucoup plus humain !
Ce que j'aime : le travail sur le personnage de Liliane, très réussi
Ce que j'aime moins : j'aurais aimé en lire un peu plus sur les années de Liliane à Cutler Cove
En bref : Un excellent prequel qui bouscule tout ce qu'on croyait savoir sur l'odieuse grand mère Cutler
Ma note
8,5/10
Ce que j'aime : le travail sur le personnage de Liliane, très réussi
Ce que j'aime moins : j'aurais aimé en lire un peu plus sur les années de Liliane à Cutler Cove
En bref : Un excellent prequel qui bouscule tout ce qu'on croyait savoir sur l'odieuse grand mère Cutler
Ma note
8,5/10
January 13, 2018
Great as a stand-alone book, but really doesn’t do anything to explain why Lillian grows up to be the butter Matriarch of the Cutler family. There are also a few contextual oversights by Niederman (e.g. the Booths identifying that Eugenia had cystic fibrosis even though before the Great Depression they didn’t know what it was), but a good, if not slightly twisted, story.
January 15, 2018
I have really enjoyed reading this series. In the beginning I hated Lillian but after reading Darkest Hour I can see and understand how she became so bitter and twisted.
May 22, 2022
This is the best among all the Cutler Books. I actually felt more sorry for Lilian AKA Grandmother Cutler's life rather than Dawn's. Indeed, the title fits right with what the story is about. It wasn't just the darkest hour, it was the darkest life of Lilian Booth. Not only did she not end up with the love of her life, Niles, unlike Dawn, she had her over-religious crazy sister to begin with, planting thoughts to her head that she was cursed. Everything that happened to Lilian's teenage and childhood life was far worse than Dawn's that you begin to understand and empathize why Lilian became the woman she was when she got older. Like Dawn, she was once a dreamer and had hope and love for everything, but slowly everything she loved faded and died away, unlike Dawn again, who SPOILER gets a somewhat happy ending. The way the book was written ( I couldn't count the times I had to use my kindle's dictionary to highlight fancy words I didn't understand ) is amazing and makes me really feel like I am in the era in which the characters are in. Every character was fleshed out nicely and differently. This is the best book indeed within the Cutler Series.
September 30, 2011
WHAT I HATED ABOUT THIS BOOK, IS HOW AT FIRST LILLIAN BOOTH HAS A SWEETER LOVING SIDE. IT IS SHOWN WITH HOW MUCH SHE LOVES EUGINA, AND WANTS TO SPARE HER FROM ANY DISCOMFORT IN TELLING HER THAT THEY ARE NOT BLOOD SISTER. WHAT THE BOOK NEVER SAYS IS HOW DID EMILY BECOME SO FALSELY RELIGIOUS. MAYBE FALSELY IS THE WRONG WORD, I THINK IT IS HOLLIER THAN THOUGH ATTITUDE. SHE WEILED THE BIBAL AGAINS EVERYTHING SWEET AND INOCENT THAT OLIVA LOVED. MAYBE SHE WAS JELOUS OF THE FACT THAT HER OWN MOTHER LOVED LILLAN MORE, OR SHE WAS JUST BORN EVIL. SINCE LILLIAN WAS GOING TO TURN OUT EVIL, I WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR HER TO HAVE KEPT THE DEED TO "THE MEDOW"S AND ANNOUNCE INFRONT OF ALL OF THE GEUSTS WHAT KIND OF MAN HER FATHER OR RATHER UNCLE IS, AND KICK OUT EMILY, AND JED BOOTHE OUT OF THE HOUSE AND LITTLE BY LITTLE RESTORE THE HOUSE TO WHAT IT WAS, BROUGHT BACK HENRY, LOUELLA AND TOTTIE. AND THEN HAVE EMILY EXICUTED, WHILE HER FATHER IS LEFT OUT WALLOWING IN FILTH. THEN TURN TO BILL AND TELL HIM SHE IS INCHARGE AND HE BEST BETTER LISTEN.
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