Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

6 reviews

crizzle's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

stardustmelody's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

A quick read with a clever twist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Body horror, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Confinement, Murder, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death

Minor: Cursing

thecatconstellation's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

I feel like this is hard to review without spoiling the plot, but it’s a dark, Stepford Wives meets Christian mythology kind of deal. I think this was overall an effective and interesting novella, but falls short in tension/mystery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Gore, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Body horror, Blood, and Child death

aardwyrm's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Valente's stylized approach to novels, like any experimental art, is always striking and memorable, though this isn't one of the more successful experiments. The prose is luscious, the fairy-tale horror well executed, and nothing's really missing. It just also doesn't add up to anything greater than the sum of its parts. A lot of novellas are short novels. This one is a long short story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Violence

vigil's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

this was so odd and unsettling. i think this book was the perfect length, any less and i would’ve been confused, but anymore would have been overdoing it.

i largely guessed the general vibe of the book just from reading the blurb. it was the reason i picked it up and i’m so glad that i did. 

the first couple chapters are very much in the vein of a whimsical fairytale retelling before it begins to descend into something darker and stranger.

there is a sharp twist around 2/3 into the book. while it personally it all the points of things i enjoy, it’s a pretty divisive storytelling choice.

this book is just over a hundred pages, so its hard to discuss without spoiling it. if you’re looking for a short weird horror story for an afternoon, i recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Physical abuse

kypn's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Physical abuse and Rape