Words are funny things. Their meaning, the pictures they paint in the minds of those that hear them: they’re not always the same and to me at least, that makes them meaningless. Take for instance the phrase ‘black widow’. Those words conjure the image of a spider, an eight-legged creature with the red imprint of an hourglass on its abdomen. However, instead of speaking of an arachnid, of the … of an arachnid, of the resident of a spindly and dew-laden web, the people who whisper those words are talking about something much different.
They’re talking about me.
From what I’m told, I’m called the Black Widow because no man I’ve ever loved has survived.
Yet, I have no memory of any of it.
My new home leads me to the definition of another vague and meaningless word.
It’s a place where I’m supposed to seek refuge.
A place of retreat and security.
It’s a place where I’m supposed to be kept safe because I’m sick.
But the definition for this place is wrong and the word becomes meaningless when you’re tucked away and made silent by drugs and pretty white jackets.
My name is Alexandra Sutton and this is the story of what happened when I was imprisoned inside an Asylum.
*Disclaimer: Asylum contains sensitive subject matter that is not appropriate for readers under the age of 18 years of age. Asylum also contains explicit descriptions of violence. Asylum is a full novel at 90k+ words and is not part of a series.
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Warning: If you haven’t read a book by Lily White, then you need to read her warnings and take them serious. Not for the faint hearted.
FANS OF HORROR FILMS ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK!
“From what I’m told, I’m called the Black Widow because no man I’ve ever loved has survived. Yet, I have no memory of any of it.”
Lily White, I’m laughing insanely while writing this, you out did yourself! How you gonna top this? I’m laughing uncontrollably, rocking back and forth. Brilliant. Mind Fucked. Forbidden. Insane. I loved every crazy bit.
“My name is Alexandra Sutton and this is the story of what happened when I was imprisoned inside an Asylum.”
Alex awakes in an The Statham Asylum, no recollection as why she’s there. Well, she’s been locked up longer then what she believes, left with fuzzy memories and crazy people all around her, literally, the staff at this so called nut farm may be just as insane as the patients. (I’m totally giggling right now, I’m really trying to write this review so you can understand it, trying is the key word, without spoilers.) Her brother is the only person she can trust, who’s trying to solve the puzzle right along with the rest of us to free his sister and prove her innocence. How do men end up dead in her presence and she can’t remember anything of the incidents? Right, I’m trying not to spoil anything. LOL New doctor arrives, can he be trusted, or is frecking crazy like the rest of them? Is Alex really crazy?
I love a good mystery and Lily gave it to me from the start, hooked me. I like to touch the puzzle pieces, feel ’em, before I try to fit them together.
The feel of the asylum is creepy enough but there’s this presence of a hooded man within Alex’s memories. This totally had me looking out my window kind of freaked out. I felt like someone was watching me, I started to feel a bit insane myself. I have to leave saying, that whatever you believe is the truth is not. I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. Lily White truly knocked this one out of the park with mystery, horror, and side characters that had me giggling like it was Christmas for the twisted. This has to be my favorite book so far by Lily White!
Admitted to an institution for the criminally insane Alexander lives in a padded white room with a false sense of security. She struggled to comprehend the difference between illusion and reality until Dr. Hutchins had her attend a treatment program to help her regain past memories. Using unconventional methods for his therapy Dr. Hutchins breached her mind.
Overall:
Lily surprised me with her writing abilities by cleverly hiding the truth while also revealing the truth. I questioned every truth and lie completely unsure what was the truth. Trying to distinguish between the two was challenging with her riddling words.
The supporting characters were wildly crazy adding a notch of insanity.
My favorite part of the story were the flashback scenes during therapy. They were quite telling. In those scenes my mind tried to puzzle together the truth.
She does a good job of tricking your mind by swaying your thoughts to believe what is written.
That freaken hooded guy toyed with my mind. Lily was a genius in the way she outlined these scenes. Brilliant work.
Motive was the underling issue in this entire story. I formulated so many different versions of suspicion towards different characters never quite unknotting the knot of truth. She tied it good and strong. I couldn’t undo it. All my theories were shot to hell.
The doctor patient relationship was an unexpected turn of events one I wasn’t prepared for. I must say I enjoyed all the twists and turns. I had my doubts about this doctor regarding his motives, yet in the end Lily had some hidden gems up her sleeve.
The writing was superb. I couldn’t distinguish between what was real or what was her illusion of reality.
A dark and sinister tale of one girls time in the asylum. However, I was expecting something way more evil and wicked with the ending. Lily didn’t disappoint, yet it wasn’t quite what I envisioned. Her way works as well.
I’m glad Lily admits to stretching the truth of both the conditions discussed and the methods used in the treatment of psychiatric patients in this book because I had a slew of questions regarding some of the tactics used.
I absolutely love a good Lily White book and this one sounded so different.
Getting sentenced to an asylum after being named the black widow, Alexandra Sutton lives her days in complete confusion…
Dr Hutchins arrives to take over her treatment and things start to look up for Alex….
Really enjoyed the twists and turns and the hooded man appearing even in the asylum…
Kept me guessing till the end!
5+ Star’s A total mind twister ~
The best I have read so far from Lily White
Asylum had me rocking and feeling like my mind had exploded , Lily White took me into the Asylum from page one I felt connected to Alex aka ‘The Black Widow’ who was sectioned into Statham Institution for the criminally insane a year ago but believes she woke up in the Asylum only a few months ago due to various murders of her previous lovers. Alex cannot remember anything from the past and only her brother, Daine from outside the Asylum to support and guide her.
Until…. The hot, sexy Dr Hutchins arrives and offers his new methods to try and draw out Alex’s memories using a new kind of therapy.
The staff seem dark, evil and very dangerous, who are allowed to use drugs and shock treatment to control the patients and take what they want from them including full use of their bodies and minds.
The other patients made me laugh out loud and stood shoulder to shoulder.
Asylum is an amazing read, a dark erotic thriller that will leave you shocked and more than likely checking in to your local Institution for the insane ~ Highly recommended.
Where to begin with this review I really don’t know It is a total MINDF*CK once I started I couldn’t put it down we start with a women named Alex that has been locked up as she has been accused of murdering 2 guys from her past when she wakes up she thinks she has only been there for a month but she has really been there over a year.
They called her the Black Widow because no man she ever loved has survived.
Yet, she has no memory of any of it.
I am not going to go into too much detail of the book just give you the bases because honestly you need to read the book to get the full experience for yourself.
I was questioning myself through the book I felt like I should have been in Asylum along with Alex.
Loved Dr. Jeremy Hutchins.
Loved Michelle, Lesley and Sally, Julianne.
There is one scene in it that I will admit I could not help but have a little giggle (yep I have lost it ) you will have to wait and read for yourself Cause I not going to spoil it for you.
But it I was in that Asylum I would want these crazy Bitches on my side. Loved them such great characters
Lily White ~ another 5* twisted read, that is brilliantly written and left me asking what the Hell!