Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

26 reviews

antonebooks's review

dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I am always fond of dark, horror, biblical retellings and this is no different. I’ve always loved Valente’s dark writing and this story is just that with also a depressive undertone. 

If you liked “Mother!” you’ll love this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, and Violence

ebeth_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Murder

lucywh's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Religious bigotry

dreamee's review

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So good LITERLLY would recommend like I'm in awe at her writing style it's amazing 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

rmperezpadilla's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Violence

ka_ke's review

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Comfort Me with Apples is a bit of a mind fuck. 

It starts off eerie, I mean, what woman wakes up that perfectly in a perfect world. 

It makes you think, in some cases I wish I could wake up that way, and in others, I’m glad I live with the ability to think and observe my surroundings critically. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Classism

dmanning18's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I loved this complicated little re-telling of a classic fairytale. Valente leaves so much clues along the way to help the readers understand the allusions, and it feels like a puzzle that can be solved halfway through, but it still delightful to see play out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Blood

an_apollinaria's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If Genesis met Blue Beard while tripping off a tab.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Murder

lettucelaugh's review

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting

morriganorgana's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 This book takes a simple concept and warps it beautifully: What if Eve wasn't the first? Somehow managing a slow reveal over the course of this short story, Valente manages to construct a surreal, unsettling world that really sinks into your bones. I went into this story thinking that it would be nothing more than another case of Bluebeard's Wife, but was still left simultaneously satisfied and wanting more by the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Violence