Description
All she wanted was a loving mother. Instead, she got a monster.
After a horrific childhood, Tiffany cannot wait for her eighteenth birthday. However, her tyrannical mother is unwilling to relinquish control. Relying on years of lies, she convinces everyone her daughter is self-harming and should remain in her care.
Tiffany must prove she is of sound mind to earn her independence, but how can she from inside a mental ward?
How far is she willing to go for freedom and is redemption worth the price of her soul?
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Though this dark coming-of-age tale is considered Young Adult (because of the age of the main protagonist), it has mature content, which includes rape as well as other physical, emotional, and mental abuse. It is not suitable for those under the age of 16.
Karen’s Magic Review
I’m not sure how to start my review for this one. It’s hard to say I enjoyed it because the subject matter was tough to read, and it’s wrong to say I enjoyed someone else’s misery.
What I will say is that it was absolutely riveting, and I couldn’t stop reading this sad and tragic story. Tiffany is abused by her mother and each time she is taken to ER, everyone takes her mother’s side because she is good at convincing the authorities her daughter is self-harming.
Why did no one see what was happening? For me, I would have enjoyed the story more had there been someone in Tiffany’s corner. Someone who would try help her instead of the poor girl being all alone to face what she did.
All the way through I was hoping something would happen to redeem her and for people to see she wasn’t deranged or crazy in any way.
There was a satisfactory ending. All the ends were tied up with a spectacular climax. But, I wanted more, I wanted another few chapters telling me about what happened afterwards. I wanted Tiffany to see that life could be good, and she could be happy.
Overall, A Prisoner Within is gripping, strong, recommended read. J. M. Northup is a great author. She’s a multi genre writer, and understands her subject well. I also read Tally, a completely different book that dealt with the issues of a polyamorous relationship, and how love always finds a way.
J. M. Northup is part of Norns Triad Publications.
Karen J. Mossman 
You are right – for the real world, and that was probably what the author wanted to depict. For me though, it is the book world and the story was fiction. I like to see good triumphing and I prefer happy every after endings, or least hope.
Thank you for commenting, Sahara, I appreciate it 🙂
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I also enjoyed this book, and it is indeed riveting. But reality is, children that come from that type of parenting don’t see a HEA. It’s a struggle for them to see good in themselves, let alone other people. I see this all the time on my FB feed from people, years later, still trying to recover from a horrendous childhood. So sad.
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