Breaking Butterflies

by M Anjelais

[Kelly]

1½ Stars

One word? Chilling. Breaking Butterflies, although has passages of brilliance, the storyline was not only unique, but was based on one characters mental illness which was portrayed with shock and horror. But the overall storyline was unhinged. It follows the story of Sphinx, who begins by telling us how her mother met Cadence's mother all those years ago. How the two created a pact to always follow their dreams, marry and both bare children for them to grow together and marry. Childhood promises that followed both women into adulthood, and yes, they were both devastated with Cadence's diagnosis as it destroyed the vision of the future both women still held.

Ladies, you're grown women. Your daughter is a doormat and the other, your son is one snap away from mass killings. Think it might be time to let that dream slide.

Sphinx had always been the quiet one, allowing Cadence even as children to dictate the terms of their twisted friendship. Although the adults in his life sensed there may have been an issue with the boy's mental health, no one chose to pursue it. It wasn't until he took to Sphinx with a flick knife, and only then did his mother pack him up and leave the country, running from the issue that increasingly needed to be addressed. Both mother's only cared about their friendship with eachother, and not the toxic friendship these two children had. So when we forward to after Cadence is diagnosed, I expected that perhaps he was finally seeking help.

But he was diagnosed with Leukemia, not a mental illness.

In a sick sense of obligation, Sphinx takes it upon herself to provide a sense of happiness during Cadence's last days. But now with a terminal illness, he has been given the freedom to do and say what he pleases and his mother and Sphinx only enable his behavior. His estranged friend actually begins to believe that she can make a difference, that Cadence actually wants her there, but he only wants to continue to hurt her. And it's not only Sphinx that suffers the consequences. Cadence's character was everything I'd expect him to be, sinister, malicious and cold. His character is unlike any of seen in young adult, and although I was horrified, I couldn't put it down. It was akin to watching a horror, covering your eyes, bracing yourself and reading on the edge of your seat.

But I couldn't enjoy it. It wasn't badly written, but the storyline was just so incredibly disturbing that I really didn't know what the overall message of Breaking Butterflies was. That parents can be irresponsible and let you down? That as long as you're dying, you can mentally and physically abuse others? That it's alright to find yourself attracted to a sociopath, because the passion in which he inflicts the pain captivates you? Definitely one for mature young adult reader that enjoys dark psychologically disturbing storylines. The cover is lovely though.