Reviews

Apple & Knife by Intan Paramaditha

shksprsis's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

reaperreads's review against another edition

3.0

There are several really great stories in this collection! Like most collections, however, there were some I preferred over others. It was roughly half and half, but the stories I enjoyed are ones that I plan on rereading plenty in the future. The subtle, building horror of stories like "Vampire" and "The Well" were definitely the biggest highlights for me. However, I also enjoyed some of the punchier stories like the collection's opener, "The Blind Woman Without a Toe," a gory take on the Cinderella tale. Either way, women's bodies and desires are the focus, giving a viscerally feminine reshaping to both horror and fairy-tale tropes. In Paramaditha's stories, the women do the butchering. I think there's something in this collection for everyone, so even though my rating may seem low, I still recommend picking it up and deciding for yourself.

I had also never heard of dangdut music before reading this book, and now I can't stop listening to "Tirani" by Lestiana. And I'm kinda mesmerized by Inul Daratista. No wonder this genre drove men to murder in the story "The Obsessive Twist" (satirically).

For fans of: Lesser-known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez, Goddess of Filth by V. Castro

persephone12's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

soupcreature's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

girlbosslindsey's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.5

a good collection! i enjoyed most of these!

libbygranger's review against another edition

Star ratings are out of 3

1. The Blind Woman Without a Toe ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. Blood ⭐️
3. Doors ⭐️⭐️
4. Kuchuk Hanem ⭐️⭐️
5. Scream in a Bottle ⭐️
6. The Queen ⭐️⭐️
7. Vampire ⭐️⭐️
8. Beauty and the Seventh Dwarf ⭐️
9. The Well ⭐️
10. The Obsessive Twist ⭐️⭐️⭐️
11. The Porcelain Doll ⭐️⭐️⭐️
12. Apple and Knife ⭐️⭐️
13. A Single Firefly, a Thousand Rats ⭐️

Favourites:
The Blind Woman Without a Toe
The Obsessive Twist
The Porcelain Doll

krobinson9292's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.5

spookybookz's review

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

The first page when I opened this book had such a gripping start that I thought I’d love this book! Unfortunately out of this collection of short stories I only enjoyed the first and second story.
It’s a thought provoking bizarre collection of stories with a twist of fantasy/fairytale concept. 
Described on the book as an unsettling ride that swerves into the supernatural to explore the dangers and power of occupying a female body in today’s world. 
The writing isn’t for everyone and I found the stories to be rather flat and hold no depth. It’s only 177 pages and it took me ages to finish it. Wasn’t for me this one. 

remigves's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

lucyellenped's review against another edition

dark funny

3.0