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Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
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Themes
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+).
This dark gothic sequel contains explicit sexual content including incest themes, strong violence, psychological abuse, and deeply disturbing family dynamics. The book follows traumatized siblings dealing with the aftermath of childhood captivity and contains mature themes inappropriate 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, emotional abuse, and captivity (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
This is an adult gothic family saga exploring the long-term psychological effects of severe childhood trauma.