Another 5 star review for my official favourite ever author! I had thought 'Paper Butterflies' would be one of those one off amazing books, but after this incredible read, all I want is a book shelf full of Lisa's books. Seed is going straight on my birthday present list! The first thing I noticed about this book was the beautiful front cover - I can't imagine the book cover being anymore perfect than it already is. I had to hold back tears in the first chapter, which gives away the main spoiler of the book and I find it shocking that I could get so emotional over a character I didn't yet even know, or have an emotional attachment to. I preferred reading the parts that were from Lo's point of view, but that might be because I knew what was going to happen to her, so was straight away more drawn to her. I did have a little cry at the ending and the only thing I could say that would make the book better for me personally, is that I wouldn't have put the big spoiler at the beginning, because it would have left the end with a much bigger shock for the reader and rather than having a little cry, I would have had an emotional breakdown! It's always good when a writer can make you cry, using characters and scenarios that were thought up in their own head - it shows the power of a true author.

Laura "Lo" and Rita are part of a trapeze act in their family travelling circus. Up until now defying gravity was all that Lo wanted. But then she stumbled across a family secret, sending her off balance and on to another path all together. Torn between loyalty to her family and being true to herself, Lo struggles to make a decision to stay or leave the circus.

The blurb might lead you to believe this is a story of a girl meeting a boy who makes her want more. And I suppose on the surface that's true, but Dean has only a very minor part in helping Lo to realise who she is. I loved that this wasn't heavily romantic, but instead took a realistic stance on how difficult it is to figure yourself out; particularly for someone like Lo who has only really known the wobbly safety of her trapeze. What she witnesses in the beginning of the book spirals her character out of control, and Lisa Heathfield captures the panicked, irrational behaviour of just that - its heart wrenching and hard to read but on a different level to her other books; it might even be more powerful for being quietly dark.

The characters within the circus are really well developed, with their own back stories and some circus tricks which were fun to read about. I absolutely loved Paper Butterflies, Lisa Heathfield's first read of mine, for having fresh and original characters and she absolutely did this again. Lo was perhaps the most inquisitive, which made her perspective more interesting to read about than Rita's but a varied point of view definitely provided a new dynamic which kept me interested.

The plot is quite slow - this is more of a character driven plot, which I loved. Complex characters always keep me reading and I felt so invested in Lo and Rita that I couldn't put the book down. More than anything though, the ending absolutely snuck up on me - Heathfield tricked me into thinking this was just about the characters and completely free of plot twists!

I definitely recommend this book; this author is quickly becoming one of my absolute favourites!