Suspenseful drama that delves into spirituality and supernatural.

The story starts like a typical missing persons, but becomes so much more. When I think of butterflies, I think of metamorphosis and Featherstone takes you on Lucia’s journey.

After learning about Lucia’s disappearance, the story goes to the past to describe her strict childhood upbringing . When she turns 18, Lucia meets her estranged sister and goes off to the university in the real world and is introduced to a life with more freedom and choices. At the university, Lucia meets Harry, and falls in love. Lucia gets married and once again finds herself in a controlled environment with strict rules and restrictions. After experiencing a loss, Lucia becomes severely depressed and is desperate to find peace and feels she needs a change. She goes off to a remote island where there is promise of her finding comfort and peace. Here Lucia is exposed to the wonders of the island and its possibilities as she struggles with her knowledge of religion that has been instilled in her and the supernatural aspects that the island may be able to give her what she truly needs.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, as this was my first book by Featherstone. I definitely will be adding his books to my TBR


Thank you to NetGalley and author for the ARC to review

Phill Featherstone was able to create a realistic main character and the world around the cast. I enjoyed how good the plot worked overall and was invested in what was happening. It uses the supernatural thriller element that I was expecting and glad I read this.

Butterflies: the many lives of Lucia Porter takes you through the different stages of Lucia Porter's life - girl, girlfriend, wife, mother, butterfly. We learn why and how she becomes who she is, and we see her character develop along the way.

I enjoyed the ending - it offers the much-needed closure for the main character. The paranormal twist was intriguing, though could have been hinted along the way throughout the story for a more cohesive vibe instead of coming out of nowhere.

Now... a quick warning as I'll be going into some parts I didn't enjoy as much.

Despite having an interesting background, Lucia sometimes came across as bland to me. I understand it's her sheltered upbringing and everything that plays a role, but it's a bit boring that she's just passive and naive most of the time. There is character development, but it happened too late for me.

"She has had a sheltered and protected upbringing" - as mentioned in the book synopsis, but this does not have to take up a whole good 25% of the book, I wish her back story could be shorter and the book could focus on the back portion that the synopsis is basically about - her growth. Or insert her back story as snippets along the way of present day kind of format to give us hints of her character.

If we're truly meant to experience the many lives of Lucia Porter, I wish the synopsis could have been more upfront about this instead of dangling the main interesting part of the story to me like a carrot and had me wondering when we're getting there. I wouldn't have had the expectation and got disappointed. Would prefer if the Butterfly section of the story is longer for us to explore the full psyche of Lucia Porter's transformation.

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Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc. This review is my own and completely honest.

This story is an interesting blend of historical fiction and sci-fi. Both Lucia and Lily are strong FMC with relatable personalities and a deep, familial bond. The beginning reads as a historical romance, but as the story builds it breaks off into more of a sci-fi storyline, with twilight zone, x-files elements that'll keep your mind weaving, and by the end you're spinning, standing still. It's a unique thrill.

Such a great book! I absolutely love the concept of this story, where our main character is realizing she doesnt really know the man she married. Now that they have a child together, she is seeing more and more unsettling things about him. She goes away on a retreat of sorts, and meets a bunch of other people in similar situations. I don't want to give too much away but it is twisty and turny, and it kept me hooked!!!



Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!