Isabella has had it bad since she was born. Multiple beatings, both physical and mental, have been all she has known. She's growing up now, though - and has a conscious memory. This first book is about her growing up.
This was a solid short story with a lot to like. The flee-flowing writing style is page-turning, enveloping a brutal story with an immersive quality that keeps the attention glued as the harsh antics play out, adding some incredibly descriptive prose that makes it easy to remain invested. Bella is a remarkable lead and makes for a naturally sympathetic figure in the cruelty dished out to her from the adults in her life, and once the action picks up following a strong grounding in the first half to get an idea of what she's gone through so that the escape attempt has stakes which is where the description works quite well in aiding everything together.
Granted, some of the material isn't suitable for everyone, but the style here makes up for it (special kudos for providing a hint as to what's going on in the more harrowing scenes and making it obvious without a blow-by-blow of the acts in question) as it makes for a nice way to get a taste for the darker sides of the other figures in her life. The last act in the woods is a bit out of nowhere and has some rather unexpected storyline beats that come up without any previous mention that might be resolved with the next chapters of the story with the way it's being built. Still, the reaction to the content might be the main stumbling block here and it's not even that big of a deal.
4/5