Reviews with content warning for Animal death - Cursed Bread

a brilliant novel about desire, obsession, and envy. reading it felt like wading through a hazy dream. i loved it and loved the narrator who really brought the story and characters to life!

Content Warnings

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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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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laurahartfield's review against another edition

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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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pich's review against another edition

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expected more ‘historical’ given it is historical fiction. also just did not really enjoy the pacing

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erisouls's review against another edition

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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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bronzeageholly's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

3.0

There were incredibly sculpted moments in this book, but the majority of the pacing was not for me. Despite the short length, I found it difficult to keep going and often had to convince myself to come back to it with the thought that there might be another brilliantly written section coming up. I saw it described as a “fever” and I think that fits it perfectly - the highs and lows of temperature.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes beautifully crafted characters who it’s hard to wholly like or hate.

The main character experiences a lot of obsessive thoughts around sex, bodies, eating, and violence, and I would not recommend this book to anyone who might find this triggering.

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charliecc's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

Taut, sensual, dark. Like a fever dream. Confusing and claustrophobic. But brilliant.

Content Warnings

savvylit's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"Nobody, at the beginning, believes they will debase themselves for love. Nobody believes in anything else but joy."

Cursed Bread is a tale of violent obsession and the narrow line between hatred and love. Narrator Elodie is infatuated with Violet, a wealthy housewife who recently moved to town. Neglected by her own husband, Elodie focuses all of her sexual frustration into her obsession with Violet. As she and Violet get closer, Elodie covets every aspect of Violet's life, eventually hoping to become her.

Sophie Mackintosh is undoubtedly an incredibly talented writer. Her ability to create settings and characters is evocative and dreamlike. Cursed Bread, as a story, had a strong start with its unsettling and unreliable obsession narrative. Yet, as it progressed, I felt that something was missing. The entire narrative alludes to and builds towards a climax based on a real-life mystery. But the execution of that climax was rushed. I know that we, the readers, were only ever able to know as much as Elodie herself. However, the vagueness of the characters' motivations ultimately left me somewhat unsatisfied.

Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the advanced reader copy of Cursed Bread in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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