Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh

6 reviews

hfrancesh's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Animal death and Drug use

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Read as a buddy read!  Sooo weird and unpredictable, I didn’t fully understand what was going on at times. I had a little trouble feeling fully engaged at some points because it can drag a little and I felt myself losing focus/forgetting what I had read some chapters.

Beautifully written and I marked sooo many passages! I loved the complex, flawed characters and unreliable narrator aspect. This was a Character driven novel that explores vulnerability of people, array of human emotions (such as envy, obsession, and desire), and that we all just want to be loved/seen!

The book could get very dark/violent especially towards the end so do check content warnings. I can’t believe this is loosely based on an actual historical event 👀

I felt like I wanted more, everything comes to a head so quickly and then it’s over. Didn’t love this as much as The Water Cure, but much better than Blue Ticket! A phrase that comes to mind to describe this novel simply is: “be gay, do crime”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Minor: Confinement and Infertility

laurahartfield's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

erisouls's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

If you enjoyed reading Bitter Orange you will enjoy this book. It felt strangely similar at times. I liked it enough to read it all in one sitting but I wouldn’t pick it up again, nor do I think I would tell anyone else to read it. 

I was incredibly disappointed that Violet and Élodie never hooked up. I realize that thematically, the ending made sense, however I was crushed hearing how cruel they were to her. Perhaps I am the gullible one for thinking they were ever interested.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

feebles640's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Domestic abuse and Drug use

madamelacy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The cursed bread almost seems quite peripheral until towards the end of the book. However, this is a gripping tale of a woman who becomes infatuated with a couple who move into the village. Disturbing, bizarre things start to happen and hilarity does not ensue. Highly recommend. Read trigger warnings though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail