Scan barcode
Reviews
The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism by Ryan Green
jinmichae's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was very well written and an incredibly bizarre and tragic, as well as horrifying, story.
mnboyer's review against another edition
4.0
Human bodies make decent soap, maybe
Ryan Green does I again, exploring a crazy true crime story (this time from Italy) that follows a woman who thinks she is cursed. She'll eventually do anything to save her children, especially her son, even if it means killing a few women and turning them into soap. And if you think that the first recipe for human soap turned out perfect, well... And of course, there are some cannibalistic tea cakes.
Fascinating and disturbing at the same time!
Ryan Green does I again, exploring a crazy true crime story (this time from Italy) that follows a woman who thinks she is cursed. She'll eventually do anything to save her children, especially her son, even if it means killing a few women and turning them into soap. And if you think that the first recipe for human soap turned out perfect, well... And of course, there are some cannibalistic tea cakes.
Fascinating and disturbing at the same time!
mjh3's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Minor: Suicide attempt and Gore
wolfshine's review
5.0
Leonarda Cianciulla was a different kind of killer. She lived her life terrified by superstitions. That fear eventually drove her to murder.
Like most serial killers, Leonarda had an awful childhood. To me though, she wasn’t like other serial killers. She didn’t kill for joy, but rather to placate the belief that if she killed someone, she would be able to keep her children safe. It’s too bad her story occurred before mental illness aware was a thing because I think it would’ve been interesting to study her mind and see everything she had going on.
Narration by Steve White is perfect as always.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Like most serial killers, Leonarda had an awful childhood. To me though, she wasn’t like other serial killers. She didn’t kill for joy, but rather to placate the belief that if she killed someone, she would be able to keep her children safe. It’s too bad her story occurred before mental illness aware was a thing because I think it would’ve been interesting to study her mind and see everything she had going on.
Narration by Steve White is perfect as always.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
brokensporty's review
3.0
This is a fascinating trip into the mind of a cold blooded killer with no remorse. The story and its details are disturbing, graphic, and downright heartbreaking. Leonarda's story and that of her mother are ones of a different time when women were rarely acknowledged for anything. Mental illness was not spoken of or treated.
This is well researched account of the life of Leonarda Cianciulli. It is chronologically organized and doesn't leave any part of the story to the imagination.
This story includes rape, victim blaming, forced marriage, child abuse, murder, the occult, and a host of other very sensitive topics. Nothing has been sugar-coated.
I give it three stars because the writing is very simple and choppy. It reads like it was written by a twelve year old. If you like true crime it would be a way to pass a few hours.
This is well researched account of the life of Leonarda Cianciulli. It is chronologically organized and doesn't leave any part of the story to the imagination.
This story includes rape, victim blaming, forced marriage, child abuse, murder, the occult, and a host of other very sensitive topics. Nothing has been sugar-coated.
I give it three stars because the writing is very simple and choppy. It reads like it was written by a twelve year old. If you like true crime it would be a way to pass a few hours.
skyfox24kd's review
4.0
I might be in the minority here, but this woman; all I could do most of the book was pity her. It’s an incredible story and also heartbreaking story because it starts at her mother and leads you through the circumstances of Leonardo’s birth. From there, Green takes you through her life, if someone can call it that.
Of course, I severely disagree wholeheartedly with what she did and I abhor her actions! But how can I not feel that she was made into what she was?
I will definitely be reading more of Green’s True Crime research novels because they are written in such a straight forward and truthful way.
At some point; Leonardo’s mind left reality and Green has his opinions on that and now so do I.
This is a fascinating story. It’s not until the end that I can’t decide some things.
When she killed, it hurt her. She lamented about the life wasted. She did it for love of her son. She cried. She believed she was saving him. She did things that hurt her and she confessed. Then she was proud of it. Don’t throw things about me, but trying to fit myself in her crazy mind... I get it, but only after reading this.
I will say things like this, and abuse, neglect, how she even came to exist make me boiling mad. Never take something out on someone else ! I know it’s hard, but geez!
And if it’s not yours can’t you just not touch it!
This is what happens ! If ... that is you bother to read. This was a poor soul that I can only hope was delivered somehow ...
Of course, I severely disagree wholeheartedly with what she did and I abhor her actions! But how can I not feel that she was made into what she was?
I will definitely be reading more of Green’s True Crime research novels because they are written in such a straight forward and truthful way.
At some point; Leonardo’s mind left reality and Green has his opinions on that and now so do I.
This is a fascinating story. It’s not until the end that I can’t decide some things.
When she killed, it hurt her. She lamented about the life wasted. She did it for love of her son. She cried. She believed she was saving him. She did things that hurt her and she confessed. Then she was proud of it. Don’t throw things about me, but trying to fit myself in her crazy mind... I get it, but only after reading this.
I will say things like this, and abuse, neglect, how she even came to exist make me boiling mad. Never take something out on someone else ! I know it’s hard, but geez!
And if it’s not yours can’t you just not touch it!
This is what happens ! If ... that is you bother to read. This was a poor soul that I can only hope was delivered somehow ...
brokensporty's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fascinating trip into the mind of a cold blooded killer with no remorse. The story and its details are disturbing, graphic, and downright heartbreaking. Leonarda's story and that of her mother are ones of a different time when women were rarely acknowledged for anything. Mental illness was not spoken of or treated.
This is well researched account of the life of Leonarda Cianciulli. It is chronologically organized and doesn't leave any part of the story to the imagination.
This story includes rape, victim blaming, forced marriage, child abuse, murder, the occult, and a host of other very sensitive topics. Nothing has been sugar-coated.
I give it three stars because the writing is very simple and choppy. It reads like it was written by a twelve year old. If you like true crime it would be a way to pass a few hours.
This is well researched account of the life of Leonarda Cianciulli. It is chronologically organized and doesn't leave any part of the story to the imagination.
This story includes rape, victim blaming, forced marriage, child abuse, murder, the occult, and a host of other very sensitive topics. Nothing has been sugar-coated.
I give it three stars because the writing is very simple and choppy. It reads like it was written by a twelve year old. If you like true crime it would be a way to pass a few hours.