joey_schafer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
yonde_shiawase's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
i'm not one for war stories but this was written with an emotional heft and subtlety that made it appealing anyways
4 stars
4 stars
sucrose's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
sjgochenour's review
4.0
Rated ever so slightly lower because I would have liked for it to be about twice as long.
inkandplasma's review
4.0
I picked this up from a twitter rec because I needed a book with a food in the title for my #armedwithabingo card. I ended up reading it in a single sitting, and loving it.
The Apple-Tree Throne felt to me like a very gothic-historical-fantasy kind of novella. Lt. Benjamin Braddock survived the war, and more than that the massacre that ended the war. His friends went home to their families, their loved ones, but he has nothing. Nobody. He's got discharge papers and nowhere to go. And he's got the ghost of his commanding officer too, though he doesn't much want him. When the officer's family drag Benjamin into his life, his family, his house and even entangle him with his fiancee, how is Ben supposed to find his own place?
The Apple-Tree Throne is a quick read and really enjoyable. The world was a little different from ours, but parts of it were much the same. It felt like a parallel, and it was interesting to discover where it parted. And, considering that there was a lot of loss and grief in the story, and a huge focus on how hard it can be to find where you fit when you don't feel like you belong anywhere, the story was damn funny. I highlighted a dozen quotes when I was reading it because it gave me genuine moments of laughing out loud amongst the thoughtful moments.
This is definitely worth a pick up.
The Apple-Tree Throne felt to me like a very gothic-historical-fantasy kind of novella. Lt. Benjamin Braddock survived the war, and more than that the massacre that ended the war. His friends went home to their families, their loved ones, but he has nothing. Nobody. He's got discharge papers and nowhere to go. And he's got the ghost of his commanding officer too, though he doesn't much want him. When the officer's family drag Benjamin into his life, his family, his house and even entangle him with his fiancee, how is Ben supposed to find his own place?
The Apple-Tree Throne is a quick read and really enjoyable. The world was a little different from ours, but parts of it were much the same. It felt like a parallel, and it was interesting to discover where it parted. And, considering that there was a lot of loss and grief in the story, and a huge focus on how hard it can be to find where you fit when you don't feel like you belong anywhere, the story was damn funny. I highlighted a dozen quotes when I was reading it because it gave me genuine moments of laughing out loud amongst the thoughtful moments.
This is definitely worth a pick up.
mister_goldfish's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
alangley's review against another edition
5.0
Really lovely and moving. It sunk into me slowly, and I felt the strongest parts were how it was all about grief and longing and regret, and yet it didn't feel tortured at all. Perfectly melancholy.
emburs9's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked this! It was thoughtful and the little bits of world building were really interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Gaslighting