Reviews with content warning for Animal death - Delicate Condition

I love a good demonic pregnancy tale-except when the author is incredibly repetitive. The amount of times that the author describes the feeling of someones hand touching the FMC, or the "blinding, white light" pain, is too much. There is also a major-ish plot hole? I did not like the ending either, but I am SO excited to watch this season of American Horror Story.

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stacis16's review

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dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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beccasok420's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

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browneyesblue84's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This story is what the newest season of American Horror Story is based on. I hope that the series does the book justice. I’ve read one of Danielle Valentine’s books a few years ago so I’m familiar with the author. Despite not being on a fertility journey myself it was easy to empathize with Anna and become annoyed with her husband and a few other characters. There are a series of plot twists that felt familiar. However, the final twist was my favorite.

Spoiler

Just when it seemed like this whole situation was apart of some dark twisted ritual, the truth was even more heartbreaking. It showed the power of friendship and a definition of love that is not romantic but is even more powerful .

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ziahalloween's review against another edition

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Strong character development? Yes

4.75

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine was an intense ride! This book was a slower burn that successfully built up tensions surrounding pregnancy, the medical system, relationships, fame, and conspiracies. It was really hard to put down at times (or pause, because I read the audiobook lol). I frequently found myself surprised, horrified, creeped out, and eager to figure out how the story would end. And I was not disappointed! Not only is the story well-written and captivating, the narrator (Hillary Huber) did a wonderful job as well. 4.75 / 5.00 stars!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. My comments are an independent, honest review.

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bookishwondergoth's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book was utterly horrific and has left me feeling so so angry. Cathartic and reassuringly familiar in many ways, traumatising and extremely triggering in others. Truly being a woman suffering in a medically misogynistic world is a horrifying, dehumanising experience. It's been a while since I've thought so highly of something that was just so unpleasant to read.

Rating and full review to come as I read this one for Grimdark Magazine.

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starrysteph's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Delicate Condition truly scared me - and brought out a compulsive need to devour this story so I could pass back through the threshold to my safer reality.

But the thing is … this novel feels so close to home. It elevates things that I’ve already experienced just by existing as a woman (and especially as a person with a chronic illness). Danielle Valentine pointed to an existing fear - a historical crisis, really - and widened it into a pit of terror; the slightly supernatural elements of this story live just a shimmering level above our truth. And that’s why it was all so incredibly effective.

“All mothers have one thing in common: pain.”

We follow actor Anna Alcott, who desperately wants to be a mother. She’s nearing 40 and knows the journey will be difficult, especially balancing demanding IVF treatments with her new commercial success.

But things are much harder than they should be, and though her husband Dex is dismissive, Anna fears that someone is sabotaging her pregnancy. As threats and ominous mishaps increase, the couple flees to the Hamptons: a silent place in the winter & ideally a safe place to have a baby.

But then – Anna miscarries. Or at least, that’s what her doctor claims. Anna knows she’s still pregnant, but her world starts to shift and warp in terrifying ways and nobody will truly listen to her. Is it all in her head? Is her baby in danger? Or is there something wrong with the being growing inside of her?

Anna is aware of her own unreliable narration, and Valentine misdirects and builds suspense brilliantly. I felt like I was always a beat behind, scrambling to make sense of the terror just like Anna. The dismissive men in her life and the medical gaslighting were violently frustrating - but also effectively planted seeds of doubt. What if none of it was real? What if it’s just another mystery pregnant people are forced to accept?

It’s a visceral nightmare and a dark fairytale. The slow-rising suspense was effective, and I tensed up even during seemingly-innocuous moments. Anna’s paranoia is so clearly cemented in truth (medical dismissals/gaslighting), and that makes the horror so much more nuanced and clever.

The characterization was superb; I felt completely immersed in Anna’s head and also had a detailed understanding of Dex, Siobhan, Talia, and other supporting players.

Laced into the story are short historical peeks into the lives of other pregnant folks and mothers - and their own pain and terror. From suspicions of witchcraft to righteously wounded Black women looking up at statues of men who tortured Black bodies for ‘medical advancement’, these segments were compelling & fascinating & elevated the main plotline.

This was a unique reading experience for me - and if you have a sturdy stomach and can handle immersing yourself in the terror (and maybe questioning your own autonomy), definitely pick it up. The brilliant writing and razor-sharp commentary is worth it.

(Also - lolz at the comparison to The Silent Patient because this was infinitely better.)

CW: pregnancy, miscarriage, psychosis, gaslighting, animal cruelty, animal death, death, car accident, blood, medical trauma, body horror, cancer, racism & medical racism, stalking, infidelity, sexism, vomit

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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

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enchantressreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

Anna Victoria Alcott is an actress, married to her wonderful husband Dex Harding, living the life she’s always dreamed of in New York City. She’s only missing one thing: a baby.

I’m a huge fan of Rosemary’s Baby, so I requested this book on a whim. I’m glad I did. Body horror gets me pretty badly, and what’s more horrific than pregnancy? The descriptions of something seemed so normal made me really question why people do this all the time. Hormones are truly a feat in evolution.

This book also features one thing I really enjoy: little historical tidbits of people who have also gone through certain events. I enjoyed this with Sylvain Neuvel’s Take Them to the Stars trilogy, and I’d love to see more of it in other books.

I was also surprised to learn that Danielle Valentine is a pseudonym for Danielle Vega, who wrote The Merciless series. I am curious to see if she’s going to write more adult books, because I enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the chance to read this advanced review copy.

CW: pregnancy, medical content, bullying, cancer, stalking, miscarriage, racism, blood, dead animal, infidelity, medical trauma

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