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Cabbage
“Does the seed know it must die?” One of Rosemary’s final requests of her husband was to create the garden of her dreams. A place where she could live the remainder of her days in peace. A place that will remind her of her best moments and memories long past. Thomas toils day and night to complete it, but in a moment of carelessness in the cabbage patch, he unknowingly rips the veil between the natural and unnatural. What was meant to be a gift rapidly blossoms into an overwhelming curse—one that unleashes a cornucopia of dread, tension, and fraught. In this short story, C.S. Fritz carries the reader into the dark powers of unresolved resentment, lore, and where hope becomes horror.
114 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2023
3 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Fritz
39 books150 followersCasey "C.S." Fritz grew up on a farm in Oregon, where he milked cows and had a pet pig. To escape the endless chores of cleaning chicken coops and watering tomatoes...Casey would draw.
As a young child, Casey's family moved to Arizona. It was there beneath the fiery gaze of the Southwestern sun, that he spent most of his life. Graduating school, marrying the love of his life and having two wild kids. It was also there that C.S. Fritz's work began to take traction with local galleries and art publications.
C.S. Fritz now is an award-winning author and illustrator with published children's titles as...
The Cottonmouth Trilogy, Good Night Tales, The Moonman Cometh, Seekers, and Good Night Classics!
Fritz's debut novel, A Fig For All The Devils released Halloween, 2021. Fig won best in horror with the IBPA's and is now in the works to be a major motion picture.
Other horror works by Fritz are, All Creatures Living Beneath The Sun, Banana Brain and Cabbage.
As a young child, Casey's family moved to Arizona. It was there beneath the fiery gaze of the Southwestern sun, that he spent most of his life. Graduating school, marrying the love of his life and having two wild kids. It was also there that C.S. Fritz's work began to take traction with local galleries and art publications.
C.S. Fritz now is an award-winning author and illustrator with published children's titles as...
The Cottonmouth Trilogy, Good Night Tales, The Moonman Cometh, Seekers, and Good Night Classics!
Fritz's debut novel, A Fig For All The Devils released Halloween, 2021. Fig won best in horror with the IBPA's and is now in the works to be a major motion picture.
Other horror works by Fritz are, All Creatures Living Beneath The Sun, Banana Brain and Cabbage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
March 12, 2024
This was weird and I loved every bit of it.
As a gift to his wife Rosemary, Thomas creates the garden of her dreams. But one incident involving blood and cabbages opened up a door of unnerving mystic. Is it a miracle? Or a curse?
A very detailed concept with fantastical elements. I like that the whole thing was short and abrupt, I think that the book accomplished its purpose, it gave me the creeps and I think I'll stay away from Cabbages for a while. Haha.
I had guessed the ending but it didn't take away the terror I felt when the fate of the characters were sealed. That last page was utterly terrifying.
Thank you Albatross Book Co. & Netgalley for the ARC!
As a gift to his wife Rosemary, Thomas creates the garden of her dreams. But one incident involving blood and cabbages opened up a door of unnerving mystic. Is it a miracle? Or a curse?
A very detailed concept with fantastical elements. I like that the whole thing was short and abrupt, I think that the book accomplished its purpose, it gave me the creeps and I think I'll stay away from Cabbages for a while. Haha.
I had guessed the ending but it didn't take away the terror I felt when the fate of the characters were sealed. That last page was utterly terrifying.
Thank you Albatross Book Co. & Netgalley for the ARC!
March 28, 2024
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
October 26, 2023
Food horror at its finest :) I loved this short little story. It read just like an old folktale and Casey sure has a way with words. The illustrations, layout, design, and type in this book makes the story even more delicious as a fellow designer.
P.S. I came home with a purple cabbage yesterday, so I think this book influenced me well.
P.S. I came home with a purple cabbage yesterday, so I think this book influenced me well.
March 8, 2024
A great short story that kept my interest.
I would recommend this short horror story to anyone interested in indie horror authors or to those who garden, simply because this story's setting involves gardening. I'll be reading more of C.S. Fritz's work in the future.
Thank you to Albatross Book Company and to NetGalley for providing this story in exchange for an honest review.
I would recommend this short horror story to anyone interested in indie horror authors or to those who garden, simply because this story's setting involves gardening. I'll be reading more of C.S. Fritz's work in the future.
Thank you to Albatross Book Company and to NetGalley for providing this story in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2024
this is a perfectly weird short horror story.
Thomas's wife Rosemary has cancer. When she arrives home from the hospital, Thomas surprises her with the completed garden she's always dreamed of. But when an accident awakens the cabbage growing there, things take a turn for the worst.
I thought the writing in this was great and I very quickly felt connected to the main characters. The pacing in this was perfect for a short story and the author does not keep you waiting - the craziness and weirdness begins very quickly and follows up with a descent into madness.
This is definitely one of those short stories that I would totally read if it was ever a full length novel 🙌🏻
***book recs may be slightly spoilery***
Read if you like:
-Pet Sematary or Crossroads for the 'resurrected family' element
-The Country Will Bring Us No Peace for ominous storytelling & grief over the loss of a child
-Helpmeet for the combination of illness & weird nature
Thank you to NetGalley and Albatross Book Co. for allowing me to read an electronic copy of this book.
Thomas's wife Rosemary has cancer. When she arrives home from the hospital, Thomas surprises her with the completed garden she's always dreamed of. But when an accident awakens the cabbage growing there, things take a turn for the worst.
I thought the writing in this was great and I very quickly felt connected to the main characters. The pacing in this was perfect for a short story and the author does not keep you waiting - the craziness and weirdness begins very quickly and follows up with a descent into madness.
This is definitely one of those short stories that I would totally read if it was ever a full length novel 🙌🏻
***book recs may be slightly spoilery***
Read if you like:
-Pet Sematary or Crossroads for the 'resurrected family' element
-The Country Will Bring Us No Peace for ominous storytelling & grief over the loss of a child
-Helpmeet for the combination of illness & weird nature
Thank you to NetGalley and Albatross Book Co. for allowing me to read an electronic copy of this book.
February 13, 2024
Thank you netgalley for this short story. I really loved the cover so i wanted to read this one. Definitely a quickread and i really enjoyed it. It had great weird elements to it and good main characters and im always a sucker for stories that have to do with floral/garden in fantasy elements its always been want of my favorites. I do wish this story was a little longer just because the concept was really great. Very detailed as well and good writing.
February 29, 2024
⇢ 4.4 ★
thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
if you enjoyed the films "annihilation" or "mother!", get your hands on this short story immediately. i was enamored by this story. in horror, i am a firm believer that the "nature's revenge" trope is criminally underutilized. fritz did a STELLAR job at this. i was listening to the curated playlist the author included with the story, and it gave me chills the entire time i was reading. it's a quick read-- i finished it in one setting. i quite literally could not put this one down. i think this would be a superb A24 film, or even a short film. the poems implemented into the beginning of each chapter were right on point with each chapter's theme. the artwork between each chapter was stunning as well.
fitz does an excellent job at creating atmosphere. in the beginning, you are following along with the lives of this objectively wholesome older couple. the wife has stage four pancreatic cancer, and her dying wish was for her husband to plant her a gorgeous garden. however, you can literally feel this overwhelming sense of dread as the storyline progresses. the playlist the author provides in the book was SO perfect for each scene. it's my understanding fitz has another book, "a fig for all the devils", and i 100% plan to get my hands on it as soon as possible. the author's writing is gorgeous and haunting.
౨ৎ TRIGGER WARNINGS
ᡣ𐭩 body horror
౨ৎ QUOTES
ᡣ𐭩 "Does the seed know it must die? Does the seed know that with the springing forth of every wild rose, the seed in the earth must first die? Crushed by its own purpose for life to blossom. But does the seed have a choice? Does the earth ever pardon it? Does the black dirt cry or feel remorse? This is what garden soil longs to do, to break and bless the ground. To fill the green world with fresh color. Resurrecting shades of dragon pink and angel blue... but does the seed know this? Do you?"
thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
if you enjoyed the films "annihilation" or "mother!", get your hands on this short story immediately. i was enamored by this story. in horror, i am a firm believer that the "nature's revenge" trope is criminally underutilized. fritz did a STELLAR job at this. i was listening to the curated playlist the author included with the story, and it gave me chills the entire time i was reading. it's a quick read-- i finished it in one setting. i quite literally could not put this one down. i think this would be a superb A24 film, or even a short film. the poems implemented into the beginning of each chapter were right on point with each chapter's theme. the artwork between each chapter was stunning as well.
fitz does an excellent job at creating atmosphere. in the beginning, you are following along with the lives of this objectively wholesome older couple. the wife has stage four pancreatic cancer, and her dying wish was for her husband to plant her a gorgeous garden. however, you can literally feel this overwhelming sense of dread as the storyline progresses. the playlist the author provides in the book was SO perfect for each scene. it's my understanding fitz has another book, "a fig for all the devils", and i 100% plan to get my hands on it as soon as possible. the author's writing is gorgeous and haunting.
౨ৎ TRIGGER WARNINGS
ᡣ𐭩 body horror
౨ৎ QUOTES
ᡣ𐭩 "Does the seed know it must die? Does the seed know that with the springing forth of every wild rose, the seed in the earth must first die? Crushed by its own purpose for life to blossom. But does the seed have a choice? Does the earth ever pardon it? Does the black dirt cry or feel remorse? This is what garden soil longs to do, to break and bless the ground. To fill the green world with fresh color. Resurrecting shades of dragon pink and angel blue... but does the seed know this? Do you?"
March 3, 2024
This was a good little story. It only took about 20/30 minutes to read but the writing was smooth and easy to follow, and the horror was paced well.
Rosemary is dying of cancer, and it is up to her husband Thomas to care for her. While she has been at the hospital, Thomas has lovingly built her the garden of her dreams. One night, Thomas accidentally spills Rosemary’s blood in the garden, and monstrous things follow soon after.
I would definitely read from this author again. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.
Rosemary is dying of cancer, and it is up to her husband Thomas to care for her. While she has been at the hospital, Thomas has lovingly built her the garden of her dreams. One night, Thomas accidentally spills Rosemary’s blood in the garden, and monstrous things follow soon after.
I would definitely read from this author again. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.
April 5, 2024
This story has such a gorgeous, eye catching cover. It immediately intrigued me.
The tale itself felt a bit undeveloped and jarring at times. I think pacing, flow and consistency would improve the short story. If it could be lengthened I would’ve like more of the characters’ history, more developments on the miraculous garden, and a longer ending portion. The pictures within the book were great, but all the quotes could be trimmed down.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Albatross Book Co for a copy.
The tale itself felt a bit undeveloped and jarring at times. I think pacing, flow and consistency would improve the short story. If it could be lengthened I would’ve like more of the characters’ history, more developments on the miraculous garden, and a longer ending portion. The pictures within the book were great, but all the quotes could be trimmed down.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Albatross Book Co for a copy.
February 21, 2024
A horror novella of tragedy, the terrifying and the macabre. Telling the tale of Rosemary and Thomas, C.S. Fritz turns a harmless vegetable into a terrifying gift that is less than harmless. This was an interesting concept for a story that bleeds terror without the need for violence or excess gore. Cabbage had me speeding through the short story, with a sense of dread and mystery on each page. With only 56 pages, Fritz creates a creative story that is marred with a terrifying atmosphere that is a perfect read for Halloween or those who love the strange and macabre.
Thank you, NetGalley and Albatross Book Co. for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and Albatross Book Co. for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 25, 2023
A delicious short story about love, grief, harboring resentment, and a mother's endless hope.
Quite different from A Fig For all the Devils! I loved the poems as epitaphs.
It kept me guessing throughout and the ending was shocking.
Akin to old Bradbury tales and vintage King.
5 stars for this hot fire flames banger. 🥬
Quite different from A Fig For all the Devils! I loved the poems as epitaphs.
It kept me guessing throughout and the ending was shocking.
Akin to old Bradbury tales and vintage King.
5 stars for this hot fire flames banger. 🥬
April 2, 2024
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity! Imagine doing something nice for your dying wife like giving her a beautiful garden.....and somehow that ruins your life? Cabbage is a creepy and supernatural short read that I would 110% tell others to read. I enjoyed the telling of this story and the way it was written. I wasn't sure what to expect towards the ending of the story but it was an interesting twist that was a bit predictable. I slipped easily into this read and didn't want to stop. I love when a short story pulls you in, Rosemary and Thomas certainly do that! What could you possibly do to my brain in under 100 pages? Well, I suppose in this case I received a spooky time.
March 27, 2024
Super short. 15-30 min read maybe? I’d love to see this in an anthology, not as a stand alone, but I still appreciated the ability to read it.
I loved the concept of the garden, and if it’s ever written, it’d be cool to learn the history behind it and how it came to be.
As a short, I loved the little ride we went on. It gave both “little shop of horrors” and “pet Sematary” vibes.
I loved the descriptive writing. I could see the characters and the.. garden
I loved the concept of the garden, and if it’s ever written, it’d be cool to learn the history behind it and how it came to be.
As a short, I loved the little ride we went on. It gave both “little shop of horrors” and “pet Sematary” vibes.
I loved the descriptive writing. I could see the characters and the.. garden
April 29, 2024
Such a weirdly beautiful story! The imagery was so well done, along with the character development done within such a short amount of time. I think it’s so beautiful that from death life was born, and sustained in a way. I was saddened for the husband but elated for the wife in a way for a second chance, of life and of witnessing miracles.
March 13, 2024
Actual Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions hospitalization, medical talk, terminal illness (pancreatic cancer), talk of death, blood depictions, smoking, very brief mentions of a tragic accident (in the past), brief mentions loss of a child, grief, scene of being buried alive
This was such a chilling, fast read! It's wholesome, but also at the same time tackles topics of how hard and stressful things can be when you have a loved one who's terminally ill. We're following an older man who's wife is dying from pancreatic cancer and one night, he ends up bursting a blood bag over his wife's garden by accident, and come morning, strange miraculous things begin to happen on their farm. That is until things take a dark twist. I think the author did a really beautiful job at addressing those heavy topics of grief and terminal illness well, did a lot of showing without overly-telling, and the twist came as such a surprise. Honestly, the twist wasn't on my bingo card for this short story. The only reason why this isn't a full five stars, I wanted this to be slightly longer. The way this story concluded has me wondering what the aftermath looked like.
Overall, this was an emotional, spine-tingling, fast read for me. You can read it for free on KU and it's only eighty pages, something around that number count. I definitely recommend this to my horror lovers who enjoy the subtle horror elements with all the emotional themes laced throughout. It was just an all around great time for me and I definitely say it's worth the read!
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions hospitalization, medical talk, terminal illness (pancreatic cancer), talk of death, blood depictions, smoking, very brief mentions of a tragic accident (in the past), brief mentions loss of a child, grief, scene of being buried alive
This was such a chilling, fast read! It's wholesome, but also at the same time tackles topics of how hard and stressful things can be when you have a loved one who's terminally ill. We're following an older man who's wife is dying from pancreatic cancer and one night, he ends up bursting a blood bag over his wife's garden by accident, and come morning, strange miraculous things begin to happen on their farm. That is until things take a dark twist. I think the author did a really beautiful job at addressing those heavy topics of grief and terminal illness well, did a lot of showing without overly-telling, and the twist came as such a surprise. Honestly, the twist wasn't on my bingo card for this short story. The only reason why this isn't a full five stars, I wanted this to be slightly longer. The way this story concluded has me wondering what the aftermath looked like.
Overall, this was an emotional, spine-tingling, fast read for me. You can read it for free on KU and it's only eighty pages, something around that number count. I definitely recommend this to my horror lovers who enjoy the subtle horror elements with all the emotional themes laced throughout. It was just an all around great time for me and I definitely say it's worth the read!
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
March 17, 2024
You know when you start a book and you can tell it is going to be special? For me, I could tell CABBAGE by C.S. Fritz was going to be one of those books.
I adored this old couple right from the first paragraph. I was hooked, I knew that there was nothing bad that could happen to these sweethearts that their love couldn’t overcome.
But then…WEIRD HORROR BLOSSOMED FORTH and shot everything to hell. No more info, you don’t get anymore than that. This book is short and you don’t get all the answers. But I tell you what, that not knowing will pull you along in tension filled misery.
I adored this old couple right from the first paragraph. I was hooked, I knew that there was nothing bad that could happen to these sweethearts that their love couldn’t overcome.
But then…WEIRD HORROR BLOSSOMED FORTH and shot everything to hell. No more info, you don’t get anymore than that. This book is short and you don’t get all the answers. But I tell you what, that not knowing will pull you along in tension filled misery.
October 21, 2025
Obviously this is a short story so the pacing is fast and furious. But we really went from soup to horse to baby in the course of 3 days. They called each other “dear” and “love” in damn near every line of dialogue. And then all of a sudden we go from couple who really loves each other to a woman who resents her husband who has been taking care of her for the death of their child decades earlier due to ??? an accident??? What kind of accident is unclear. But my greatest beef with this story is the fact that she doesn’t wish her cancer away. Like bro. You got a miracle cabbage garden on your hands. And instead of wishing away your cancer you go hm. Lemme get a horse. PARDON? a HORSE? And then you’re like well it made me a veggie horse. I bet it can resurrect my real life actual human being daughter. And of course I can’t take care of her cause I’m dying. Hm. This is a conundrum. If only miracles happened and I could wish the cancer out of my body. Let me instead wish for vegetable doppelgängers of me and my husband. And of course my real life actual human husband couldnt possibly care of a vegetable kid. So let’s bury his ass alive. Yeah. That’ll do it.
Overall you’ve wasted the magic cabbage. Dumb bitch.
Overall you’ve wasted the magic cabbage. Dumb bitch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
A short and succulent read, Cabbage by C.S. Fritz is perfect for horror fans new and old. On a picturesque farm, an elderly couple enjoys the little time they have left together by tending to their garden. After past traumas and current illnesses, they have long since stopped expecting miracles. But what if their little miracle just needs some time to grow?
“Do you think the seeds know they must die?”
What begins as charming and lovely quickly devolves into the creepy, bloody, eerie. The rising tension was very well done for such a short piece of work, and by the end I was filled with dread for what was to come. I would definitely recommend this one for fans of weird and surreal fiction, or those looking to dip a toe into the horror genre.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Do you think the seeds know they must die?”
What begins as charming and lovely quickly devolves into the creepy, bloody, eerie. The rising tension was very well done for such a short piece of work, and by the end I was filled with dread for what was to come. I would definitely recommend this one for fans of weird and surreal fiction, or those looking to dip a toe into the horror genre.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2024
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.
May 6, 2024
The short story novella “Cabbage” is just the thing to awaken your spring senses! Our gardens love us and will stop at nothing to reciprocate that adoration! Rosemary wishes to spend her last days battling her illness at home with her husband Thomas and among the flora and fauna she cultivated. What Thomas didn’t anticipate was the blooming life forces in the field, eager to both worship Rosemary in her finals hours and avenge those who have trespassed against her! The gorgeous cover art caught my eye for this book. What I liked best is that often when someone is going through a tragic terminal illness, we grieve for them and undergo a process of emotions with a sort of horror being one of them. That horror is wrapped up into thoughts like "I'm glad it's not me" and "that person must feel horrible" and "how are they facing death so soon?" We don't think about the impact of the loss people around the affected person will feel, and in this case Thomas confronts something even worse! As a plant person, it's also really satisfying to read about Rosemary's garden coming alive as she herself is perishing. All in all, a very fast and interesting read, can't wait to read more from the author! Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!
November 6, 2023
Never going to look at cabbage the same way....
such a fun read. listening to the playlist while reading actually had my scared in my bed.
such a fun read. listening to the playlist while reading actually had my scared in my bed.
February 28, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!
3 stars!
Ooo this was really creepy and really well described with the body horror and the garden!
I felt really bad for Thomas and I wanted to know what happened to their daughter but for a short story I really enjoyed it. Not too gruesome for those who don't like that sort of stuff, but really carried an unsettling atmosphere
3 stars!
Ooo this was really creepy and really well described with the body horror and the garden!
I felt really bad for Thomas and I wanted to know what happened to their daughter but for a short story I really enjoyed it. Not too gruesome for those who don't like that sort of stuff, but really carried an unsettling atmosphere
April 1, 2024
It’s not ideal, but I do have a tendency towards picking my books by how much I like the cover… which is what happened here - those beautiful shades of purple and that creepy looking eyeball.
I loved the premise but overall I just didn’t find it particularly creepy or compelling. It felt like being dropped halfway into a story, where past events (death of a child) played into current events without having the emotional connection to the characters to really feel any kind of way about it.
I loved the premise but overall I just didn’t find it particularly creepy or compelling. It felt like being dropped halfway into a story, where past events (death of a child) played into current events without having the emotional connection to the characters to really feel any kind of way about it.
March 9, 2024
Gorgeous little horror novella, fun little ideas. Basically an overgrown short story that worked so perfectly i feel it deserves that. thanks for the arc.
April 10, 2024
This short story follows 2 characters a man and his wife. They are both retired and one terminally ill. It touches on grief and how it isn't something your recover from but something you learn to live with, to cherish the memories you have, and hopefully those happy ones are never distorted.
If you want a short horror story that won't take too long and leave you with some questions with a little magic on the side I would recommend this.
As a dyslexic short stories that grip are amazing and lead me to wanting to read more, the font was easily adaptable in apps such as kindle which makes it easier to read thank you for taking this into account when publishing.
I read the ARC via net galley.
If you want a short horror story that won't take too long and leave you with some questions with a little magic on the side I would recommend this.
As a dyslexic short stories that grip are amazing and lead me to wanting to read more, the font was easily adaptable in apps such as kindle which makes it easier to read thank you for taking this into account when publishing.
I read the ARC via net galley.
April 9, 2024
A beautifully written grief horror with cosmic elements. Rosemary has terminal cancer, and husband Thomas creates the garden of her dreams for her before she returns home to hospice. When he accidentally spills blood in the cabbages, miracles seem to happen. When Rosemary mentions a dinner she would love, it appears. Rosemary begins to wish for more complex things, and as with a genie, be careful what you wish for.
February 29, 2024
Also on Snow White Hates Apples.
What would you do when you accidentally spill a loved one’s blood in your garden, only for it to birth a mind-blogging, horrific creature of sorts the next day?
For Thomas, he does what his dying wife wants. He takes more of her blood and sprinkles it over their garden — the one she dreamed of so he worked hard to turn into reality — and the next day, her wish comes true. She does this again and again, and it gets more ghastly the more she loses herself in this “miraculous” ability of hers that could give her what she has always, truly wanted: her deceased baby back to life and proper parents to care for the child.
In essence, this short story is hair-raising. It’s so creepy, so odd that imagining it brings shivers down my spine. Sadly, the juvenile execution does this short story no justice.
Cabbage suffers from writing with a flow akin to endless stumbling. It switches between moments of smoothness and moments when the imagery sticks out like a sore thumb. For instance, the usage of “thick, purple life” for blood coming out of a human’s veins makes it feel alien/sci-fi but it’s not? And, the phrase “his leaking wife” should sound scary but brings incontinence to mind instead of what’s actually intended.
Moreover, both Thomas and Rosemary aren’t fleshed out enough, even for a short story. Thomas feels too caricaturish. Rosemary has stronger wants, needs and desires but is relegated to side character status. Neither make me want to root for them even though I understand where they’re coming from. Nevertheless, I do think Cabbage would’ve worked better in Rosemary’s POV because of those aforesaid wants, needs and desires. There’s a lot of potential for it to have a stronger horror/gothic atmosphere too.
Also, this might just be me, but the playlist, poems and quotes were unnecessary. Sure, they’re cool but I believe that when doing this, they should be there to add to the short story. Instead, they appear as distractions here because they don’t really bring value or depth and rather, act more like an attempt to cover up the aspects that were lacking.
Everything considered, Cabbage could’ve been a haunting tale but ultimately fell short.
What would you do when you accidentally spill a loved one’s blood in your garden, only for it to birth a mind-blogging, horrific creature of sorts the next day?
For Thomas, he does what his dying wife wants. He takes more of her blood and sprinkles it over their garden — the one she dreamed of so he worked hard to turn into reality — and the next day, her wish comes true. She does this again and again, and it gets more ghastly the more she loses herself in this “miraculous” ability of hers that could give her what she has always, truly wanted: her deceased baby back to life and proper parents to care for the child.
In essence, this short story is hair-raising. It’s so creepy, so odd that imagining it brings shivers down my spine. Sadly, the juvenile execution does this short story no justice.
Cabbage suffers from writing with a flow akin to endless stumbling. It switches between moments of smoothness and moments when the imagery sticks out like a sore thumb. For instance, the usage of “thick, purple life” for blood coming out of a human’s veins makes it feel alien/sci-fi but it’s not? And, the phrase “his leaking wife” should sound scary but brings incontinence to mind instead of what’s actually intended.
Moreover, both Thomas and Rosemary aren’t fleshed out enough, even for a short story. Thomas feels too caricaturish. Rosemary has stronger wants, needs and desires but is relegated to side character status. Neither make me want to root for them even though I understand where they’re coming from. Nevertheless, I do think Cabbage would’ve worked better in Rosemary’s POV because of those aforesaid wants, needs and desires. There’s a lot of potential for it to have a stronger horror/gothic atmosphere too.
Also, this might just be me, but the playlist, poems and quotes were unnecessary. Sure, they’re cool but I believe that when doing this, they should be there to add to the short story. Instead, they appear as distractions here because they don’t really bring value or depth and rather, act more like an attempt to cover up the aspects that were lacking.
Everything considered, Cabbage could’ve been a haunting tale but ultimately fell short.
Thank you so much Albatross Book Co. and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
April 1, 2024
A/N: I received a copy of this book as an ARC on NetGalley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favorite kinds of horror are ones where something unsettling is happening that the characters don’t register as such. And the contrast between Thomas’ and Rosemary’s reactions was very entertaining.
Overall, I found the characters endearing and the plot captivating. I will definitely read from this author again!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favorite kinds of horror are ones where something unsettling is happening that the characters don’t register as such. And the contrast between Thomas’ and Rosemary’s reactions was very entertaining.
Overall, I found the characters endearing and the plot captivating. I will definitely read from this author again!
March 16, 2024
I loved 'Cabbage' so much that I find it hard to put into words, but I'll give it a try.
The story delves into grief and the extreme lengths we go for our loved ones. I'm a sucker for grief-driven narratives where protagonists venture into forbidden territories, and 'Cabbage' encapsulates that beautifully.
The writing was immaculate; I felt an instant connection with Rosemary and Thomas, as if I'd known them my whole life.
My only nitpick is that I wish the story were longer so that I could have romped in the garden.
~
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story delves into grief and the extreme lengths we go for our loved ones. I'm a sucker for grief-driven narratives where protagonists venture into forbidden territories, and 'Cabbage' encapsulates that beautifully.
The writing was immaculate; I felt an instant connection with Rosemary and Thomas, as if I'd known them my whole life.
My only nitpick is that I wish the story were longer so that I could have romped in the garden.
~
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2024
3.5 stars
Thankyou so much to Netgalley and Albatross book co. for giving me an ebook copy in return for an honest review.
When I saw the cover on Netgalley I knew I had to read it and it definitely met my expectations for how weird it was going to be. It certainly made me want to stay away from cabbages for a while. At only 56 pages long, the author does an amazing job at creating such a creepy atmosphere in such a short space, which was also helped by the playlist at the beginning of the story. Although this worked as a short story, I wish it would've been a bit longer to answer some of the questions that it was a bit vague about. I had worked out part of the ending but I still found it quite unsettling and I would like to read more from this author in the future.
Thankyou so much to Netgalley and Albatross book co. for giving me an ebook copy in return for an honest review.
When I saw the cover on Netgalley I knew I had to read it and it definitely met my expectations for how weird it was going to be. It certainly made me want to stay away from cabbages for a while. At only 56 pages long, the author does an amazing job at creating such a creepy atmosphere in such a short space, which was also helped by the playlist at the beginning of the story. Although this worked as a short story, I wish it would've been a bit longer to answer some of the questions that it was a bit vague about. I had worked out part of the ending but I still found it quite unsettling and I would like to read more from this author in the future.
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