Heavn by V.C. Andrews Series: Casteel #1
Published by Gallery Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal Copy
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Of all the folks in the mountain shacks, the Casteels were the lowest -- the scum of the hills.
Heaven Leigh Casteel was the prettiest, smartest girl in the backwoods, despite her ragged clothes and dirty face...despite a father meaner than ten vipers...despite her weary stepmother, who worked her like a mule. For her brother Tom and the little ones, Heaven clung to her pride and her hopes. Someday they'd get away and show the world that they were decent, fine and talented -- worthy of love and respect.Then Heaven's stepmother ran off, and her wicked, greedy father had a scheme -- a vicious scheme that threatened to destroy the precious dream of Heaven and the children forever!
Review
If there ever was a book that makes you want to take a shower afterward it is Heaven by V.C. Andrews – and I mean that as a compliment. This isn’t your typical rags-to-riches story. It’s more like rags-to-different-rags-to-maybe-something-better, with enough family drama to make your last Thanksgiving look like a picnic.
Meet Heaven Leigh Casteel (yes, that’s really her name). She’s smart, she’s beautiful, and she’s dirt poor in the West Virginia mountains. Her mom’s dead, her dad’s bitter, and her siblings are the only bright spot in a life that feels about as welcoming as a cold soup kitchen sandwich.
Then daddy dearest decides to sell his kids. Yes, you read that right. Sell. His. Kids. And just like that, Heaven’s world implodes.
What follows is a story that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Andrews writes like she’s got something to prove, turning poverty into poetry without prettying it up. You’ll feel the mountain grit under your fingernails and taste the desperation in the air. It’s melodramatic at times – okay, a lot of times – but somehow that works. This isn’t a world where subtle things happen to subtle people.
The book’s got issues, sure. Sometimes the tragedy piles on so thick you’ll want to come up for air. And there are moments when you’ll think, ‘Really? That too?’ But that’s part of its twisted charm. Andrews isn’t here to give you a comfortable reading experience. She’s here to drag you through Heaven’s hell and make you feel every burning step.
What makes it work is Heaven herself. She’s a contradiction: book-smart but street-stupid, loving but bitter, hopeful but haunted. Sound familiar? That’s because she feels real, even when the story around her goes off the rails.
This book changed the game for gothic family dramas, tackling themes that were taboo when it was published. Abuse, family secrets, class warfare – it’s all here, served raw. Modern readers might roll their eyes at some of the more dramatic moments, but the gut-punch of the story still lands.
Should you read it? If you like your family sagas with a side of psychological trauma and don’t mind feeling slightly uncomfortable for 300-plus pages. Just don’t expect to walk away unscathed. This isn’t a beach read – it’s more like a dark night of the soul with shoulder pads and big hair.
★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Whose it for? Anyone who thinks their family is messed up (trust me, the Casteels will make you feel better about yours). Skip it if you’re looking for something light or trigger-free.
