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emilycmarshman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
gross!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, and Excrement
abbytstuart's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gore, and Body horror
vavocado's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content
gloom_lord's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
"But the apple was first, and it never stops rotting, it just gets blacker."
I'm skeptical of those who read this novel and only found "vibes" and piss contained therein. Yeah, it has those things in spades, but I want to give Paradise Rot more credit than that. I think it's fascinating how Hval's writing is able to wrest sensuality out of the abject, and with it construct its own contemporary fairytale. This book might as well be a rotting apple, a glistening mushroom, a colony of mold. That's what it felt like to me. Sentences became spores. At times, they entered my body without cognition, eliciting soft reveries with the fleshy interior backdrop of an eyelid.
It's not a "perfect" book, but I devoured it in two short sittings and I have not stopped thinking about it.
I'm skeptical of those who read this novel and only found "vibes" and piss contained therein. Yeah, it has those things in spades, but I want to give Paradise Rot more credit than that. I think it's fascinating how Hval's writing is able to wrest sensuality out of the abject, and with it construct its own contemporary fairytale. This book might as well be a rotting apple, a glistening mushroom, a colony of mold. That's what it felt like to me. Sentences became spores. At times, they entered my body without cognition, eliciting soft reveries with the fleshy interior backdrop of an eyelid.
It's not a "perfect" book, but I devoured it in two short sittings and I have not stopped thinking about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content
directorpurry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
professorlina'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? No
2.0
One of the most bizarre things I’ve read, and not in an enjoyable way. This book is heavily invested in urine.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
writeasiread's review against another edition
challenging
dark
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
floorsalad's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Beautifully written. Read it in two days.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Body horror, and Alcohol
Minor: Cannibalism
joensign's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Excrement
Minor: Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Xenophobia
_scvvter's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I had an expectation coming into this that it would be weird. But I didn't expect it to be so nasty. IT worked for the story, however. The description were so vivid and just alway made my gut turn. To be honest I won't really be able to drink milk for a while, which sucks cause I love milk. The writing is the best part of the book and will drag you in the story if you can stomach the grossness of it all.
The main critique I can give it isn't really even a critique, but I think this novel just came to me at the wrong time. In this time, I've been in the mood for a genuinley horrifying book. And between literally the last books I've read, they haven't felt like something that was supposed to make me feel scared. It was either a different genre with horror elements or it just didn't work on me. With this novel, you're not going to be up in the night horrified. So while I can appreciate it, it didn't scartch the itch I was looking for. Was looking to be shaking in my boots, but the only thing shaking was make me queasy.
I'd still recommend the book though.
<b>Final Score:</b> 7/10
The main critique I can give it isn't really even a critique, but I think this novel just came to me at the wrong time. In this time, I've been in the mood for a genuinley horrifying book. And between literally the last books I've read, they haven't felt like something that was supposed to make me feel scared. It was either a different genre with horror elements or it just didn't work on me. With this novel, you're not going to be up in the night horrified. So while I can appreciate it, it didn't scartch the itch I was looking for. Was looking to be shaking in my boots, but the only thing shaking was make me queasy.
I'd still recommend the book though.
<b>Final Score:</b> 7/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Minor: Blood
Urine. Lots of Urine