Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh

7 reviews

laurahartfield's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Sexual violence, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Mental illness, Drug use, Gore, Suicide, Self harm, Animal death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

pich's review against another edition

expected more ‘historical’ given it is historical fiction. also just did not really enjoy the pacing 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death

erisouls's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

If you enjoyed reading Bitter Orange you will enjoy this book. It felt strangely similar at times. I liked it enough to read it all in one sitting but I wouldn’t pick it up again, nor do I think I would tell anyone else to read it. 

I was incredibly disappointed that Violet and Élodie never hooked up. I realize that thematically, the ending made sense, however I was crushed hearing how cruel they were to her. Perhaps I am the gullible one for thinking they were ever interested.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Abandonment, Grief, and Infidelity

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

bronzeageholly's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

3.0

There were incredibly sculpted moments in this book, but the majority of the pacing was not for me. Despite the short length, I found it difficult to keep going and often had to convince myself to come back to it with the thought that there might be another brilliantly written section coming up. I saw it described as a “fever” and I think that fits it perfectly - the highs and lows of temperature. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes beautifully crafted characters who it’s hard to wholly like or hate. 

The main character experiences a lot of obsessive thoughts around sex, bodies, eating, and violence, and I would not recommend this book to anyone who might find this triggering.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

charliecc's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

Taut, sensual, dark. Like a fever dream. Confusing and claustrophobic. But brilliant.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Death, Animal death, and Sexual content

savvylit's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"Nobody, at the beginning, believes they will debase themselves for love. Nobody believes in anything else but joy."

Cursed Bread is a tale of violent obsession and the narrow line between hatred and love. Narrator Elodie is infatuated with Violet, a wealthy housewife who recently moved to town. Neglected by her own husband, Elodie focuses all of her sexual frustration into her obsession with Violet. As she and Violet get closer, Elodie covets every aspect of Violet's life, eventually hoping to become her.

Sophie Mackintosh is undoubtedly an incredibly talented writer. Her ability to create settings and characters is evocative and dreamlike. Cursed Bread, as a story, had a strong start with its unsettling and unreliable obsession narrative. Yet, as it progressed, I felt that something was missing. The entire narrative alludes to and builds towards a climax based on a real-life mystery. But the execution of that climax was rushed. I know that we, the readers, were only ever able to know as much as Elodie herself. However, the vagueness of the characters' motivations ultimately left me somewhat unsatisfied.

Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the advanced reader copy of Cursed Bread in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Stalking, and Sexual content

feebles640's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Animal death, Blood, Toxic friendship, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Domestic abuse and Drug use