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devin_raquel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
Dark, gritty, emotional, “Animals Eat Each Other” is an expose on obsession and the power dynamics of a toxic relationship.
Nash did an incredible job being consistent in her themes, but the same wasn’t extended to her characters. Frances and Matt felt flat, Jenny and Sam were empty, and Lilith felt disconnected from the book despite being the narrator.
The imagery is detailed and vulgar, from drug use to hardcore sex. The grunginess bled through the pages, and at times I felt dirty while reading. Lilith’s self-hated and hopelessness were palpable from the very first page.
An interesting but inessential read, so check content warnings before picking this novel up.
QUOTE: “It is instinctual to live in the dark.”
Nash did an incredible job being consistent in her themes, but the same wasn’t extended to her characters. Frances and Matt felt flat, Jenny and Sam were empty, and Lilith felt disconnected from the book despite being the narrator.
The imagery is detailed and vulgar, from drug use to hardcore sex. The grunginess bled through the pages, and at times I felt dirty while reading. Lilith’s self-hated and hopelessness were palpable from the very first page.
An interesting but inessential read, so check content warnings before picking this novel up.
QUOTE: “It is instinctual to live in the dark.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse and Blood
taliatalksbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
1.0
Animals Eat Each Other by Elle Nash was fast paced and compelling, though incredibly cruel and traumatic with each page turn. I was surprised by the lack of regard the narrator has for herself, and though this is regarded as a queer novel, it didn’t feel particularly queer. Instead, it came across (at least to me) as misogynistic and harmful to the queer community. While I think talking about queer relationships is important, there is also an importance regarding speaking about HEALTHY queer relationships. Additionally, this was more of an explicit BDSM enslavement than it was a book promoting queer relationships. While I’m not shaming anyone for their sexual preferences, it’s clear that the narrator had other issues that kept her tied to this unhealthy and frankly concerning couple throughout the 121 pages of this novel. Additionally, there wasn’t a much of a plot, rather it was a recounting of explicit moments shared between characters perpetuating a cycle of abuse. While I found it quick to read, and well written, I didn’t find the story, or explicit scenes enjoyable, even from a literary perspective. I am a firm believer in literary texts urging readers to feel discomfort and confront the reasons why they were uncomfortable, but this doesn’t ask us to confront anything in a positive way. While I respect the effort all authors pour into their novels, this one made me incredibly uncomfortable, and not in a good way. I don’t feel as though this novel made the leap from bad situation, to positive lesson/moral most literary works set out to accomplish, and though I think it had the potential, I just can’t recommend a book that doesn’t have a greater payoff to its suffering. While I don’t believe every story needs to have a positive end, I think that this story needed something more to make up for the gross abuse and misogyny of the characters who repeatedly and unapologetically use the narrator every chance they get (INCLUDING the other female characters). 2/10 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Addiction, Cursing, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexual content, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
cphunter's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If I had stopped after the first few chapters, it would have been a 5 star read. The writing is really engrossing and I can’t fault the author’s talent and creative work.
My expectations played into my reaction to this book though, as most other titles from 404 Ink I have read have been horror-skewed, so I was hoping for way more darkness. The opening scene combined with the title create an interesting point to which the plot could move. However, it doesn’t.
By the time I was about halfway through, I found myself feeling uncomfortable. There was so little character development of the narrator that it felt intensely personal; I may be way off the mark but I was left with a gut feeling that some people in the author’s life would feel real icky about this book!
The other disappointment was that the plot didn’t really go anywhere, by the time we were introduced to some character arcs, it was so close to the end that I don’t feel like they were explored: more of an upward curve than an arc!
It felt by the end that it was a series of sex scenes tied together with very loose threads - I would have preferred it to be a series of short stories centring on the different characters, linked by the sex they are all having. To me that would have been cleverer and more gripping.
My expectations played into my reaction to this book though, as most other titles from 404 Ink I have read have been horror-skewed, so I was hoping for way more darkness. The opening scene combined with the title create an interesting point to which the plot could move. However, it doesn’t.
By the time I was about halfway through, I found myself feeling uncomfortable. There was so little character development of the narrator that it felt intensely personal; I may be way off the mark but I was left with a gut feeling that some people in the author’s life would feel real icky about this book!
The other disappointment was that the plot didn’t really go anywhere, by the time we were introduced to some character arcs, it was so close to the end that I don’t feel like they were explored: more of an upward curve than an arc!
It felt by the end that it was a series of sex scenes tied together with very loose threads - I would have preferred it to be a series of short stories centring on the different characters, linked by the sex they are all having. To me that would have been cleverer and more gripping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
pleasedaspunch's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug use
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