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Cover of Petals on the Wind

Petals on the Wind

V. C. Andrews (1980)

SubgenreDark Fantasy

Age groupAdult 18+

Content ratingHard R

Pages (Standard (250-400))

SeriesDollanganger Children #2

Setting

CSM age18+

Goodreads3.82

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Content levels

ViolenceStrong

Sexual contentExplicit

LanguageModerate

Trigger warnings

Child Abuse Incest Sexual Assault Captivity Emotional Abuse Manipulation Mental Illness Suicide Death Forbidden Relationship Grooming Revenge Toxic Relationships Trauma

Positive tags

Survival Healing Arc Self-Discovery

Hero archetypes

Heroine archetypes

Dancer Vengeance-Driven Heroine Tortured Heroine

Protagonist archetypes

Coming-of-Age Protagonist Vengeance-Driven

Tropes

Forbidden Love Vengeance Arc Dark Secrets Family Curse Gothic Romance Twisted Relationships Coming of Age

Themes

Revenge Trauma and Healing Family Dysfunction Forbidden Desire Consequences of Abuse Identity After Trauma Cycle of Violence

Synopsis

Petals on the Wind is a novel written by V. C. Andrews in 1980. It is the second book in the Dollanganger series. The timeline takes place from the siblings' successful escape in November 1960 to the fall of 1975.

Petals on the Wind: content & age rating

Intended for adult readers (18+).

Contains explicit sexual content including incestuous relationships, graphic depictions of child abuse and its aftermath, suicide, manipulation, and deeply disturbing psychological themes. Not appropriate for minors.

What to know going in

This book has strong violence, explicit sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include sexual assault, child abuse, incest, suicide, and emotional abuse (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Adult readers will follow the Dollanganger siblings as they rebuild their lives after escaping captivity and grapple with revenge and forbidden love.

Tags

Gothic HorrorPsychological ThrillerSouthern GothicFamily Saga