Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

102 reviews

strrygo's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

concept is so fun but think it would've been even More fun if it kept it subtle :,3 little moment in the middle of the worst day of her life where she starts worrying abt the HOA contract,, know she's not real but at that moment she was to me

♡ recc from dayana

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Body horror and Gore

Minor: Misogyny

_scvvter's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Well that was sure an experience for me.

I'm gonna just say that after finishing this book, I do not know how to really feel about it. Like don't get me wrong, I can't think of any flaws about it write now except possibly I wasn't super wild about the writing style. Like everything connected well and the whole story came together at the end great. Valente slayed with this but I just don't think it was for me. Like when I got to the twist I was more upset that I didn't figure it out earlier

especially as someone who spent their who K-12 career being in a private christian school.

I would totally recommend this to someone who wants a good, quick book to read but I just don't think fit with me. Valente didn't eat but she did nibble a bit so I'll possibly give her another chance.

<b>Final Score:</b> 6.5/10

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder

willow_the_wisp's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Murder

amfonteyn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, and Gaslighting

okokfinewhatever's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Religious bigotry and Murder

megrob's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Body horror, Toxic relationship, and Murder

rosie_valadez's review

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

viscog30's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

ebeth_reads'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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Murder

paneerakbari's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Exquisitely written and a tremendously imaginative blending of often obscure sources. Valente wields language like a samurai with their sword, or a chef with a knife, and to rather the same effect, emotionally. 

The book is novella-length, easily read through in a day if not a single (extended) sitting. It is dark, and tight, and uncomfortably close. The studied reader is liable to be piqued by the author's name-drops, and they work well as signposts pointing you on to the conclusion, itself another beginning. It's the sort of tale that, like all the best ones, matters more in the "getting there" than in the particulars of its plot: "how it's done" is so much tastier than "what it was" - though what it is includes penetrating insight, criticism so sharp you don't quite notice its bite, and a profound (though implicit) challenge to a particular ordering of some societies.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Domestic abuse, Blood, and Religious bigotry

Primary literary influences appear to be the Christian bible and apocrypha, Judo-Christian temple tradition, and Bluebeard folklore. This is not intended as a comprehensive list.