Reviews tagging 'Death'

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

48 reviews

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Murder, Body horror, Gore, and Toxic relationship

meganpbell's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

4.5

This lush, unsettling horror novella may be the perfect late summer to early autumn read—and that’s all I’ll say! In just over 100 pages, this will linger with you much longer than it will take you to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexism, and Murder

Moderate: Gore and Death

Minor: Blood

ka_ke's review against another edition

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

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

megelizabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

OH MY GOD, this was incredible. The unsettling vibes and understated yet disturbing-as-fuck horror elements are completely on point, and the twist is the absolute best kind where I didn't see it coming at all and yet it's so entirely obvious in retrospect. I don't want to say much more, as this is a short, unhinged book that it's definitely best to go into as blind as possible - but be warned, it may well forever destroy your faith in humanity. It's certainly a story that's going to haunt me probably forever.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and Death

dmanning18's review against another edition

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

alexandryareads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, and Misogyny

Moderate: Religious bigotry

marleywrites's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

I read some of the reviews prior to reading this, so some things were spoiled a bit. But overall I enjoyed the story and felt like it was really interesting. As an ex-Catholic, I always enjoy twists on stories from the Bible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Murder

lucylou's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

2.0

Maybe it’s because I read this via audiobook, but man does this book not live up to the hype. A little bit of mystical and body horror elements, but nothing really visceral or scary. I felt more sorry for the main character/narrator than anything.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Body horror, and Violence

keen's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

islesbiyana'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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Animal death and Religious bigotry