Delicate Condition

This book is phenomenal.
It’s so dark, the fear felt within is palpable and powerful.
I don’t want to Rex but Anna was a great protagonist. All the bit players, Talia, Cora, Dr Hill they all had their parts to play.
The darkness and deftly woven claustrophobic feeling was really vivid. I’m looking forward to recommending this heartily.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher,
#DelicateCondition #Netgalley

Likened to "Rosemary's Baby", "Delicate Condition" by Danielle Valentine is definitely giving off sinister supernatural and cult-like vibes from the start. As Anna is an actress she is used to being noticed but is she being stalked? Are the mysterious messages she's receiving a threat or warning against others' actions? How much of the pregnancy is down to paranoia or is there gaslighting or even something worse afoot? So many questions went through my head as the book progressed and the answers I got didn't disappoint. A great horror book about pregnancy. A must-read but maybe not if you are trying to conceive or about to give birth.

Synopsis

Anna Victoria Alcott is an actor who finds her success a little later in life. She’s married and trying to conceive and undergoing IVF treatment when her career really soars. This newfound taste of fame combined with a parental hyperawareness leaves Anna feeling paranoid and fragile. As her pregnancy progresses so do her strange antenatal symptoms until she becomes convinced she’s carrying a monster…

Review

This book is so dark and disturbing, it’s safe to say I loved it! After finishing the book I read that the next AHS series is going to be based on this book and it is going to be INCREDIBLE if it’s even half as good as the book.

The paranoia Anna experiences is so well written. Where so many books in this genre play up to the unreliable female protagonist trope this book explores a woman who is frequently dismissed and disregarded as exactly that, but is she really?! Through the lens of women accessing healthcare; where they are often fobbed off, downplayed and ignored, this book explores the female experience of medical gaslighting in such a nuanced way. I felt it was totally relatable in that sense. Of course is it hyperbolised here, mingled in with some good old gothic horror and a bit of domestic thriller action but it says something bolder than the usual thriller.

I thought this book was so gripping with perfectly paced chapters and twists. It had such a touching ending too, I shed a few tears. Definitely one for your TBR list!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Delicate Condition" is a captivating horror/thriller that skillfully combines elements of "The Push" and "The Silent Patient" to deliver a chilling narrative. The story revolves around Anna Alcott, a woman desperate to conceive, who becomes convinced that someone is determined to sabotage her pregnancy. Despite her increasingly alarming experiences, the men in her life refuse to believe her, leaving her isolated and terrified.

Danielle Valentine demonstrates her storytelling prowess by seamlessly blending suspense, horror, and mystery throughout the novel. From the very beginning, readers are hooked, and the tension continues to escalate with each turn of the page. The book offers a page-turning experience that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the resolution of Anna's haunting predicament.

One of the book's strengths lies in its exploration of sensitive topics such as miscarriages, pregnancy, childbirth, and the mistreatment of women by the medical profession. The author handles these themes with thoughtfulness, presenting readers with poignant and insightful dialogue. The author's note, in particular, delves deeper into these issues, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

Delicate Condition also impressively incorporates historical background into its narrative, shedding light on the dismissive and disregardful approach of the medical establishment towards female patients. The exploration of this historical context is both eye-opening and enraging, as it highlights the struggles women have faced and continue to face in seeking proper healthcare. It adds depth to the story, elevating it beyond a simple thriller and making it a powerful commentary on the female experience.

The portrayal of Anna's paranoia is masterfully executed, giving readers a glimpse into her tumultuous mindset. Unlike other thrillers that rely on the unreliable female protagonist trope, this novel takes a different approach. It delves into the experiences of women seeking healthcare, where they are often dismissed and gaslighted. This nuanced exploration of medical gaslighting makes the story relatable, even amid its hyperbolized elements. Delicate Condition challenges the status quo and offers a bolder message than most books in its genre.

As a reader, I found myself drawn to the characters and their evolution throughout the story. Anna's journey through infertility, IVF, marital stress, and the unimaginable events she experiences is gripping and equality terrifying to someone who's terrified of anything pregnancy related.
The book successfully engages with the reader's emotions, providing a rollercoaster ride of suspense, tremendous suffering, and unexpected twists. It's comparable to classic horror novel "Rosemary's Baby" but with a modern and distinctly feminist approach.

In conclusion, it's a remarkable thriller that delivers suspense, horror, and social commentary in equal measure. Its ability to captivate readers with a compelling narrative while addressing important societal issues is commendable. I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre, just check trigger warnings before! With its skillful blend of suspense and social commentary, Delicate Condition solidifies Danielle Valentine as an exciting voice in the thriller genre. I can't wait to see an adaptation to this in one of my favorite shows!

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Anna Alcott is an actress who is well known in the public eye. She is also on a journey in trying to get pregnant using IVF with her husband Dex. Things start to take a weird turn as someone breaks into her room and steals the baby scan photo. Mummy brain… could Anna be experiencing this before the baby is born? Could she tell the difference between things that were happening and what others were doing to make her so on edge? Anna gets messages from someone warning her not to trust anyone. What’s really happening?
This captivating story of the journey into Anna’s state of mind, had me gripped from start to finish.

Haunting, terrifying and disturbing. I had a knot in my stomach the entire time I was reading. This is such an unexpected twist on an old trope, it had me utterly gripped. Highly recommended!

This book is so original and so dark and yet compelling. I was immediately drawn in. An excellent story.

I am speechless after reading this book. Very dark with vibes of Rosemary's baby and so much more. So well written and the fear that the mother endures is palpable. This read was not what I was expecting it literally blew me away. Paranoia, terrifying and the impending birth. A horror story about pregnancy is the only the beginning. Loved It!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

A very well-written book with a lot of characters all playing their own part in the story.

A tale of pending motherhood and all it entails and more. The question of loyalty of friends and husbands/partners.

A book I could not put down just had to finish it. Gripping, dark but nice at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

"Delicate Condition" by Danielle Valentine is a gripping and chilling thriller that delves into the harrowing journey of Anna Alcott, an indie actress desperate to have a family. As she faces the challenges of IVF and a series of unsettling events, Anna becomes convinced that someone is determined to prevent her from becoming a mother. The suspense builds as crucial medications go missing, appointments are tampered with, and Anna feels like she's being stalked. When she finally becomes pregnant, the nightmare intensifies as someone breaks into her home and steals her ultrasound photograph. Despite her anguish, no one, not even her husband, believes her claims. Isolated in a remote town, Anna's fear escalates as she realizes that her life and the life of her unborn child are in grave danger. Valentine masterfully weaves a tale of psychological suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking truth is revealed.

Amazing book kept me intrigued and guessing all the way through!!!think this could lead to a book number 2 in this!!!! Woild love it:) twists galore :) very happy Reader here°°°°

DELICATE CONDITION


Like a mix of both Stephen King and American Horror Story, Delicate Condition was a beautifully, dark novel.

Reading the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it. And I was not disappointed.

Fantastically written with a fast pace it exceptionally blended between the thriller and horror genres, whilst still managing through thoughtful dialogue to deal with sensitive issues in pregnancy such as childbirth and even miscarriage.

Thank you #Netgalley and both the author Danielle Valentine and the publishers for my E-arc of #DelicateCondition giving me the opportunity to read this outstanding novel, in exchange for my honest review .

A superb novel an highly recommend.

Wow!! This was not what I expected - literally couldn't put it down as I had no idea what was going on

Anna and her husband Dex are going through IVF treatment but sadly Anna loses the baby and has a miscarriage. But just a few weeks later, during a bourbon filled night, she's convinced she feels something moving inside her

Another scan reveals that she is in fact still pregnant and is delighted! However, there are some very strange going on's through her pregnancy and she has no idea who to trust.

She's not sure If she's being paranoid but feels as if she's being followed, worried her food is being poisoned and finds dolls of her placed around the property they are staying at

What I found interesting was how woman are treated by the medical staff and almost gas lighted in believing their pain was not that bad - "what would it take for our husbands and doctors to take our seriously?"

"The tendency to assume that women can't be trusted to accurately convey their symptoms comes from the historical diagnosis of 'hysteria', which was once thought to be a medical condition said to only affect women"

Creepy, haunting and addictive read!!

First of all: whoa, that was intense! Goodness me, it’s a good thing I read those final 100 or so pages in the morning or I wouldn’t have slept all night!

To me, Delicate Condition felt very much like a Rosemary’s Baby for the 21st century, with the same eeriness, the same mystery, with the same central question: is-this-delusion-or-something-dark-and sinister-at-work?

For me, the thriller and horror aspects stand out, but Delicate Condition also offers an insightful and thought-provoking look at pregnancy and all its challenges, including difficulties to become pregnant in the first place, and the not always appropriate attitude of husbands and friends, as well as healthcare professionals.

Delicate Condition holds its cards incredibly close to its chest. Where would this story take me? I didn’t have the foggiest. And let me tell you, it was EXHILARATING! Of course we know the narrator, Anna, is at least somewhat unreliable, she is having hallucinations after all. But just how unreliable is she? Are we to believe her husband, her doctor, her friends, is she losing the plot? Or is she more in tune with her own body than she even dares to believe herself? Has she become entangled with a Satanic cult, or is she just having a tough pregnancy? Is she pregnant with a who? Or with a what?

Yikes, what a story! It starts on the slower side, but then the tension ramps up and meanwhile, I was kept in the dark, pondering all my questions. If work and life in general had allowed it, I would have binged it in a day. As it stands, I had about 20% left and promised myself I would start my day off by plonking myself in a chair and reading until I knew what was what. Which is exactly what I did, and what a perfect start to the day it was!

Delicate Condition is a suspenseful thriller with quite a bit of body horror involved and I just gobbled it up all the way to its satisfying conclusion. Recommended!

No spoilers from me for this page turner! Ana and Dee have been struggling with infertility and finally, finally, she's pregnant thanks to IVF. Oh, and her movie is doing unexpectedly well. And then,,,,,a miscarriage shakes her. But she feels something, something like a living child inside her, which no one else believes in. She's being stalked, there are weird things happening and....I'm not going any further, This does indeed have Rosemary's Baby vibes but Valentine has created an entirely new horror. She's got great storytelling skills. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Great read.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I read the blurb for this and had to request it. Then I found out it is possibly the baseline story to AHS season 12 so was even more excited to read it.

Anna Alcott is managing a new found fame as a leading actress while going through IVF for the baby she has always longed for. Finally pregnant after moved appointments, the feeling she's being followed and a break in where her scan picture is stolen it's like someone doesn't want to her to be pregnant.

When the doctors tell her she has miscarried she is devastated but back home the baby starts moving, yet no one will believe she is still pregnant. Not knowing who to trust Anna moves away with husband Dex to a remote holiday home to protect her unborn daughter. But as her symptoms become more and more strange and extreme she begins to wonder exactly what is growing inside her and will they both survive.

I read this in two sittings and would highly recommend.

A haunting, beautifully written book that drew me in from page one and left me wanting more, absolutely brilliant

Definitely one to read! I felt this was a first class, heart stopping story with a different take on dealing with pregnancy and all it entails. So good it was hard to put down, wishing and hoping that all would turn out okay for Anna. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this novel.

Thanks netgalley and publishers for arc
Not a nice story about being pregnant this one, oh no! This is truly horrifying, gripping and very gruesome in places. Does have a ring of Rosemary’s Baby to it very slightly!
Story follows Anna Alcott a famous Hollywood actress who is desperately trying to get pregnant with her husband Dex. They are having one final IVF attempt with their doctor Dr Hill and surprisingly to them both Anna gets a positive pregnancy test, but from then on things get strange
They had already been odd: missed appointments on calendar, drugs left out of fridge all things Anna knows she has done properly but know she swears she is being followed, their apartment is broken into so they involve the police
They move to country but Anna finds it harder Dex disappears for hours at a time leaving her with just security guard kamal. But it’s getting worse Anna has seen women on the beach following her then she has a miscarriage which is just terrible and she slumps into depression a few days later she is in shower when she sees her belly move how can it? She insists on her doctor flying in to perform ultrasound so following week she does and there is a baby there! Must have been twin pregnancy
After that Anna has horrific hallucinations and sees people everywhere she feels this creature inside her ripping her apart what is she going to give birth to???

wow this was a wild ride! I loved how the writer conveyed Anna's paranoia and made me totally unsure of who to believe. Super fast-paced and a perfect example of the horror/thriller genres working together. It's such a dark read so definitely check tirgger warnings beforehand!

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @viperbooks for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

#delicatecondition #netgalley

With a chilling mystery, heart-pounding horror, and a powerful exploration of fertility and pregnancy, Delicate Condition is a brilliantly captivating story that leaves both your heart aching and your stomach churning. It's no wonder that it's the influence for American Horror Story Season 12, and there's nothing you can say than that to get me more excited for a book!

The book begins with some trigger warnings, and I think it's important to highlight that the book does focus on fertility issues and includes descriptions of miscarriage. But the book also brilliantly gives a platform for women to talk about the pain they experience in pregnancy and labour from all experiences.

I absolutely loved how Valentine used this as a backdrop to a horror thriller, cleverly blurring the lines of demonic hallucinations and heightened reality. The fact that she merely mentioned the fact that women aren't often believed when they discuss their pain during pregnancy/labour had me applauding. I had fairly easy-going pregnancies and labours, but I always like to mention that my midwife refused to give me more than a paracetamol during my second labour as she was adamant that I wasn't in labour. I mean, I'm pretty sure that labour is slightly more painful than a headache, but who am I to comment?!

And as I say, my own story is a positive one, so I found so much power in the experiences that Valentine details here, emphasising the need for us to share, understand, and be made prepared for the shared common side effects and negative experiences that women need more support with at this time. Because while flaky dry skin, hair falling out, and unreasonable cravings are normal pregnancy symptoms, it's easy to see how they could be mistaken for being possessed by the devil!

There is a lot that's being said behind the curtain, but most of all, Delicate Condition is a gripping mystery with many creepy and gruesome scenes that had me absolutely gripped. I had no idea how the story would play out, but I'm so glad that Valentine didn't take the easy way out with her explanations.

It turns out that there were many threads being weaved together here. At first, I didn't think the revelations answered all of my questions, but then things are explained further, and I ended up fully satisfied.

Delicate Condition most definitely left my skin crawling and my mind blown, with its masterful mix of genres and Valentine's risk-taking boldness leaving me massively impressed.

I really loved Delicate Condition. I look forward to the next AHS series which is based on this book. I hope they do it justice. This is the perfect blend of horror thriller and mystery. I was gripped from the first few lines and didn’t want to put the book down until I reached the end. The book is told from Anna’s POV, so you get inside her head when this disturbing things are happening to her. It made me angry how often her fears are dismissed because she’s a woman. The people around her far too often tell her to get some rest and have a cup of tea rather than listening to her as if she’s being hysterical. Why are women, even intelligent women dismissed so easily? They seem reluctant to believe her even when there are physical manifestations of her fear such as the creepy dolls left around the property. There are so many twists and turns I was never such what was really going on. I also locked the sucker-punch ending.

I wanted this baby so badly. But she may be the death of me…

This book was so brilliantly CREEPY 😱 - a disturbingly psychological horror and I absolutely loved it!! I don’t want to give too much away as I feel the less you know going in, the better.

Anna is desperate to have a baby. After gruelling IVF attempts and odd things happening, she feels someone is trying to make sure it doesn’t happen 🤔 Then she finally falls pregnant and that’s when everything becomes absolute CARNAGE! 😵‍💫😵‍💫

The descriptions are visceral and at times I was sitting there with my heart in my throat 🫣🫣 - there was one part where I thought “no, please NO!” 😅 But it was all good. Like proper eye bulge moment 👀👀

This one had me utterly gripped and at times questioning just wtaf is real and what isn’t???! 🤯

The author’s note at the end was so insightful and highlighted how often women can feel misheard or simply ignored in terms of their bodies, and how much more needs done, both medically and educationally, to understand our bodies.

Please do be mindful of the trigger warnings - miscarriage, IVF, infertility, implied animal cruelty - this book absolutely needs it.

It’s dark, it’s gripping, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s HORRIFYING - and in my opinion simply amazing and worth every one of these 5 stars 🤩🤩

Anna Alcott is an actor in her late thirties. Her latest film The Auteur was a huge hit, something that Anna has worked for her entire life.

She’s happily married to Dexter, however the couple cannot conceive naturally, hence they’ve been undergoing IVF treatment for quite a while.

Anna notices strange things happening around her: someone keeps messing with her Google calendar and changes the appointment hours, then she spots a woman wearing a blue baseball cap and oversized sunglasses that appears to be following her.

When Anna finally gets pregnant, a woman breaks into their house and steals their baby photo. Dexter is very sceptical when Anna mentions what’s been going on. It’s clear that he reckons she’s blowing the whole situation out of proportion.

Then, sadly Anna loses the baby at 15 weeks. The doctors tell her that her baby is gone, so the couple recuperate in their friend’s house in a secluded location.

However, Anna is sure she can feel the baby move. Yet again, her husband and the medical professionals refuse to believe her and tell her that she’s imagining things.

Anna’s pregnancy develops in a strange fashion: when the baby moves she is in so much pain, it’s almost like the growing baby inside of her is possessed by a demon. She has strange cravings for raw meat – she wants to eat the neighbourhood cat and the dead raccoon at the back of the house.

What is happening to Anna? Is she hallucinating? Is she even pregnant? Is she pregnant with a baby… or something else?

I loved this book from start to finish.

After I finished it, my reaction was “Wow. What have I just read?”.

This book explores the themes of medical professionals not believing their patients and dismissing their symptoms. Throughout the book, Anna is told to take a bath, relax, or take a low dose painkiller. Even her husband doesn’t believe her – if I was married to Dexter, I would definitely be giving him some piece of my mind!

Anna’s pregnancy is very exaggerated, but as she has nothing to compare it to, at the start she thinks her symptoms are normal. But later on, she starts to acknowledge that things aren’t right and someone is out to get her. She just needs to work out who, but that’s easier said than done.

This book is compelling and absolutely gruesome in parts. I loved how the chapters were intertwined with other women’s stories of their childbirth and pregnancy experiences. I had no idea how they linked to the main story, but it all came together in the end.

Delicate Condition made me think of my own experiences with pregnancy, childbirth, chronic pain and endometriosis – I was dismissed by medical practitioners for over a decade before I got my diagnosis. I was also told to take a bath or paracetamol for my pain.

This book is an absolute treasure. It’s a thriller that soon progresses to horror, think of it as Rosemary’s Baby meets Stephen King.

I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Viper Books for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

This is an important book because it talk about maternity without sugarcoating or sort of fairy tale moment. Being pregnant means facing doctor who an believe you or not, is the changes in your body and how you feel the changes.
It can be dangerous, it can be risky, it can be a moment of happyness. There's so much involved and there's also fear.
This is a terrifying book. There's no classic monster but there's enough to made me bless menopause.
It kept me on the edge, hoping for the best, hating the misoginy of the doctors and loving the storygelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine