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averycm4's review against another edition
5.0
this book was devastating in so many ways. devastatingly beautiful prose and deplorable characters and a haunting mother-daughter relationship. it took me so long to finish because i didn’t want it to end. it was the perfect mix of intoxicating writing with themes of coming of age, motherhood, sex and power. the through line of the hades, persephone, demeter myth and dynamic drew me in and kept me entranced. overall looking forward to purchasing the paperback when it comes out and revisiting in the future. time to go call my mom!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Rape
kkpines's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.25
the prose, devoid of quotation marks, was a hazy fever dream. though its spirit was undeniably beautiful, i found it somewhat lacking in substance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
thatokiebird's review against another edition
dark
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
1.0
Fruit of the Dead is a book where nothing but tragedy and bad choices happen to all characters in this acid trip of a modern reimagining of the myth of Persephone and Demeter. Told in alternating points of view between aimless 18 year old Cory and her controlling mother, Emer, it reads like a fever dream where no theme or idea is ever fully fleshed out as Cory floats around an island in addiction and Emer floats around with the obsession of finding her disappeared daughter.
I disliked everything about this book, the writing, the characters, the storylines. I totally get that I would have gotten way more out of this if I was super familiar with the Greek myth and if I enjoyed finding the easter eggs of references to the myth throughout this book. But I just didn't like the modern setting, where it lacked the magic and fantasy elements of a Greek myth. Instead it was just horrible thing after horrible choice happening to modern people who have no redeeming qualities who bring everything upon themselves. I read this for Bookclub, and it was a fun discussion especially since other readers had liked it a lot. It made me think about it in different ways than when I read it, but it definitely didn't improve how much I ultimately didn't like it.
I disliked everything about this book, the writing, the characters, the storylines. I totally get that I would have gotten way more out of this if I was super familiar with the Greek myth and if I enjoyed finding the easter eggs of references to the myth throughout this book. But I just didn't like the modern setting, where it lacked the magic and fantasy elements of a Greek myth. Instead it was just horrible thing after horrible choice happening to modern people who have no redeeming qualities who bring everything upon themselves. I read this for Bookclub, and it was a fun discussion especially since other readers had liked it a lot. It made me think about it in different ways than when I read it, but it definitely didn't improve how much I ultimately didn't like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Rape
abbyrose237's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Self harm and Vomit
Minor: Confinement, Death, Racism, and Blood
weirdefruit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
masonwe's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishrona's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
carojust's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a trippy story based on Persephone, Demeter and Hades -- an aimless teenage daughter caught in a billionaire's hell, while her mother dissolves, not knowing where she's gone, searching for her along the northeastern coast.
I think there's only so many storylines about extremely beautiful, self-destructive blond waifs that I can take. If "The Guest" by Emma Cline and "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" by Ottessa Moshfegh are your faves, you'll absolutely love "Fruit of the Dead" -- it's formulaic and frenzied, the same drug haze and unconsenting / triggering scenes, the body odor and broken faces combined with "but she's still so pretty, prettier in fact," the trail of gross men who erode innocence, etc. A yacht girl, sugar daddy tale of caution. What anchors this book's plot, and differentiates it from the aforementioned titles, is the deep dive into a mother's complicated relationship with her daughter, and the desperation and sacrifice that come with that version of love. That perspective resonated with me, and I think helped this plot move along. The end is hurried and attempts to paint the mother as a hero, but falls flat for me, and misses an opportunity to build further on the tragedy.
I think there's only so many storylines about extremely beautiful, self-destructive blond waifs that I can take. If "The Guest" by Emma Cline and "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" by Ottessa Moshfegh are your faves, you'll absolutely love "Fruit of the Dead" -- it's formulaic and frenzied, the same drug haze and unconsenting / triggering scenes, the body odor and broken faces combined with "but she's still so pretty, prettier in fact," the trail of gross men who erode innocence, etc. A yacht girl, sugar daddy tale of caution. What anchors this book's plot, and differentiates it from the aforementioned titles, is the deep dive into a mother's complicated relationship with her daughter, and the desperation and sacrifice that come with that version of love. That perspective resonated with me, and I think helped this plot move along. The end is hurried and attempts to paint the mother as a hero, but falls flat for me, and misses an opportunity to build further on the tragedy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
rheagoveas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
lottyyy's review against another edition
dark
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
I enjoyed reading and the basic premise but I feel like the themes weren't fully developed ont going to the line and not going further. I can't help but feel it would be better to have Cory not realise she's being manipulated and be put in a vulnerable position by the Hades counter part until she's back with Emer- so that from the duel pov you've got the worried scared mother and then a girl in this dark forbidden romance and as the story prevails the reader switchs from being seduced with to be scared for Corey. It started out with this but by the last quarter the book I felt annoyed the My of Kelly felt wasted the relationship between Cory and Rolo didn't feel felshed out going from will they won't they and Rolo being "mildly predatory" to Cory being raped and this then not developed properly and moving on with her mother appearing and taking her away .
Side note I listened to the audiobook but I'm aware the text dies contain proper grammar like Sally Rooney books with our speech marks that personally put me off buying the book previously
Side note I listened to the audiobook but I'm aware the text dies contain proper grammar like Sally Rooney books with our speech marks that personally put me off buying the book previously
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Rape