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spaceysloth's review against another edition
4.0
Overall this was a well written horror/fantasy short story. The author manages to conveys both characters of grief extremely well in a short period. The chapter images really made the garden miracles more life like and realistic for the reader. Would definitely read more of these authors works. :)
ellethefantasyqueen's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this short horror story! It has the type of horror vibes that I enjoy where it is a little bit twisted but also has some dark fairy-tale type of elements to it. I also believe that there is some social commentary that can be had about what consequences actions have as well as more philosophical questions of what is it to be alive. I would recommend this to others!
alittlemixofvix's review
3.0
A creepy quick read that had some great illustrations included.
The imagery was something else, nightmarish really, I don't think I'll be able to get that horse out of my head. It's not only a horror but also quite a sad tale about grief too. The ending was terrifying too, though I did wonder what happened afterwards...
I felt it abruptly changed pace, even as a novella, it could have been slightly longer to set the scene first. I also don't know if something happened with the husband or it's just the wife's grief talking.
Overall, a good short story mixing realistic grief with a world of horror - plus I love that cover.
*I received a complementary copy of the e-book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The imagery was something else, nightmarish really, I don't think I'll be able to get that horse out of my head. It's not only a horror but also quite a sad tale about grief too. The ending was terrifying too, though I did wonder what happened afterwards...
I felt it abruptly changed pace, even as a novella, it could have been slightly longer to set the scene first. I also don't know if something happened with the husband or it's just the wife's grief talking.
Overall, a good short story mixing realistic grief with a world of horror - plus I love that cover.
*I received a complementary copy of the e-book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
crushcritiques's review against another edition
1.0
The Q code directing you to the author’s playlist at the beginning is a fun idea, however that was really all I liked.
The writing itself seemed juvenile and the characters weren’t really fleshed out, even for a short story. The husband laments at one point that he’s disappointed about the “life they could have had” when they were married for 53 years. It wasn’t like his wife was ill that entire time and to completely disregard her feelings over dying to focus on his disappointment in her getting cancer is gross. If it was supposed to make us feel empathetic towards him, it failed. Complaining about things not going your way when the supposed love of your life is dying comes across incredibly selfish and tone deaf, and that alone put me off the story.
There’s too much repetition happening in regard to the characters reactions; three times mouths were cupped. Then we have the Greek mythology metaphors (“A mystical warning from the throat of the barn, like the sound of a minotaur hiding from the light.”) which not only seemed out of place and unnecessary, but amateurish as well.
There’s weird religious undertones throughout yet near the end Rosemary says something about the gods which doesn’t really track with things she’s previously said. Then Rosemary is randomly standing and walking at one point which doesn’t seem to strike her husband as odd. Since ambulatory wheelchair users exist it’s not an issue, except that it’s made to seem like she’s not merely dependent upon the wheelchair but is confined to it due to the cancer. There’s inconsistencies which should have been addressed during editing.
The interspersing of poetry, quotations or illustrations is wonderful when it’s not every few pages. Cabbage contains 37.5 pages of story, and 19 pages of
other people’s words and illustrations, which is entirely too much.
Based on the premise, Cabbage should be creepy if not outright scary, but it’s not. It’s not even laughable in a camp way, it’s just cringeworthy and poorly written.
1 star
The writing itself seemed juvenile and the characters weren’t really fleshed out, even for a short story. The husband laments at one point that he’s disappointed about the “life they could have had” when they were married for 53 years. It wasn’t like his wife was ill that entire time and to completely disregard her feelings over dying to focus on his disappointment in her getting cancer is gross. If it was supposed to make us feel empathetic towards him, it failed. Complaining about things not going your way when the supposed love of your life is dying comes across incredibly selfish and tone deaf, and that alone put me off the story.
There’s too much repetition happening in regard to the characters reactions; three times mouths were cupped. Then we have the Greek mythology metaphors (“A mystical warning from the throat of the barn, like the sound of a minotaur hiding from the light.”) which not only seemed out of place and unnecessary, but amateurish as well.
There’s weird religious undertones throughout yet near the end Rosemary says something about the gods which doesn’t really track with things she’s previously said. Then Rosemary is randomly standing and walking at one point which doesn’t seem to strike her husband as odd. Since ambulatory wheelchair users exist it’s not an issue, except that it’s made to seem like she’s not merely dependent upon the wheelchair but is confined to it due to the cancer. There’s inconsistencies which should have been addressed during editing.
The interspersing of poetry, quotations or illustrations is wonderful when it’s not every few pages. Cabbage contains 37.5 pages of story, and 19 pages of
other people’s words and illustrations, which is entirely too much.
Based on the premise, Cabbage should be creepy if not outright scary, but it’s not. It’s not even laughable in a camp way, it’s just cringeworthy and poorly written.
1 star
shelbie_99's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 - wanted more!
Now I understand why Charlie Bucket was tired of cabbage soup….
Great writing and enjoyed how quickly the atmosphere of the story was developed. I could see this being a great twilight zone episode.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
Now I understand why Charlie Bucket was tired of cabbage soup….
Great writing and enjoyed how quickly the atmosphere of the story was developed. I could see this being a great twilight zone episode.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
kay_west_reads's review against another edition
4.0
A demonic garden horror story that will have you questioning miracles.
I really liked C.S Fritz' debut novel, A Fig For All The Devils; so when I saw his new short story and the unsettling cover I knew I had to read it immediately. This story did not disappoint.
I love that our main characters are an older, married couple with a past that is slowly revealed through this story. So many horror stories feature younger characters, so I thought this was refreshing. The wife has terminal cancer and her husband grows her a garden in their humble cottage-like home to keep her company for the time she has left. After accidentally mixing her blood in the cabbage patch, unusual creatures start to form from the garden.
The story weaves together miracles with the tragic past of our main characters with brutal results.
Thank you to NetGalley and C.S. Fritz for this ARC.
This book is best read while eating cabbage rolls the size of a baby's arm.
I really liked C.S Fritz' debut novel, A Fig For All The Devils; so when I saw his new short story and the unsettling cover I knew I had to read it immediately. This story did not disappoint.
I love that our main characters are an older, married couple with a past that is slowly revealed through this story. So many horror stories feature younger characters, so I thought this was refreshing. The wife has terminal cancer and her husband grows her a garden in their humble cottage-like home to keep her company for the time she has left. After accidentally mixing her blood in the cabbage patch, unusual creatures start to form from the garden.
The story weaves together miracles with the tragic past of our main characters with brutal results.
Thank you to NetGalley and C.S. Fritz for this ARC.
This book is best read while eating cabbage rolls the size of a baby's arm.
noellesmagicallibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy, short, and weird. A dying woman’s blood has magical properties, creating miracles in her home garden.
This year I’ve learned that I love horror novellas. Add Cabbage to your list if you do too.
This year I’ve learned that I love horror novellas. Add Cabbage to your list if you do too.
mariannexox's review against another edition
3.0
Who knew a book about cabbage could warm my heart this way?
This book was written so well. You can really see how much time and effort the author put into their work. Each chapter is started with a different quote that correlates perfectly to this authors own writing.
The visualization of the garden and the personification of the vegetables really painted a picture in my mind.
Though short, this story covers greed, grief, love, and sacrifice. In the end the inevitable is bound to happen and the process is beautiful.
Thank you Netgalley and C.S. Fritz for this ARC
This book was written so well. You can really see how much time and effort the author put into their work. Each chapter is started with a different quote that correlates perfectly to this authors own writing.
The visualization of the garden and the personification of the vegetables really painted a picture in my mind.
Though short, this story covers greed, grief, love, and sacrifice. In the end the inevitable is bound to happen and the process is beautiful.
Thank you Netgalley and C.S. Fritz for this ARC