Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

19 reviews

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

tense

5.0

“Monster’s don’t look like anything, doux-doux. That’s the whole point. That’s the whole problem.” 

In Pet by Akwaeke Emezi after a revolution that changed so many of the terrible things to come before, Lucille is a peaceful utopian-like place. But in its success is still shadow. The same blind spots, the same even stronger disbelief. Not here. Monsters are not here, those bad things are long past, they do not happen here. But like a fairy tale or the innermost of nightmares out of a painting comes the powerful creature Pet, a hunter. Is Pet a monster or an avenging angel? What is justice? Seventeen-year-old Jam, her friend Redemption, their families, and the whole community will be challenged with questions and the remedies thought of long resolved. 

One of the most fascinating yet only touched upon aspects of this novel is the radically changed society, greatly improving the lives of the people. It’s certainly better for a selectively mute trans girl like Jam. Yet among the many shifts one was especially thought provoking. History is full of conflicts around religion. Yet, the loss of religion through conflicts or prohibitions is usually a bad sign. So, this was an early red flag that something is very wrong in the book’s world. Further in the real world it doesn’t work. People just go underground. It made me more certain about what other hidden things were going on in Lucielle, not just the monster Pet came to hunt. Also, there are differences between religion and faith or belief. Even a reader can see how concepts persist like the subject of angels, human or otherwise, in the book. Most of the issues around religion boil down as Redemption puts it to a battle for control. Power, over property, people, bodies, thoughts, religious bigotry or hate and intolerance masquerading under the guise of religious conviction. 

It’s interesting as well how much Lucille puts on librarians to assist since material on monsters, angels, holy texts etc. is in the library where one must go with such questions, not other sources. School education around some topics is minimal at best. Most adults are hesitant or uncooperative when asked. Indeed, sometimes a library is the only source available. It too makes one think about how in reality institutions like libraries, schools and their workers are under attack. Then Pet also has become a banned book. The failure of this lack of representation and education is also another part of the problem in Lucille. This is a story when being able to recognize the signs of an abuser, the abuse, and the victim comes late. Or is just ignored. Until made to. And how it affects many. 

Emezi manages to write heavy topics with subtly and sensitivity. This YA novel is well deserving of every accolade. Pet is a book that only speaks more to very real problems that must be faced. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Blood, and Gore

Minor: Death, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Ableism, Transphobia, Slavery, Cursing, Police brutality, Racism, Classism, and Gun violence

azalia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, and Child abuse

Minor: Body horror, Cursing, and Gore

andrewhatesham's review

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Violence, and Child abuse

abbyluvsfrogs444's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am in complete awe. What a brilliant novel. I will be thinking about this book until the end of time. Perfect. Just perfect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cursing and Vomit

greenedreader's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Blood and Child abuse

vaguely_pink's review

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Pet uses allegory very impactfully to discuss topics of abolition, abuse, and accountability, however it’s hurt a bit by the straightforward narrative and often feels overly didactic. However, the Black, queer, trans, disabled, and autistic representation is *awesome* and the prose is gorgeous. I’m looking forward to reading the prequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Child abuse

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Cursing

Minor: Ableism, War, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Police brutality, and Pedophilia

amre23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Incest

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Ableism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Deadnaming, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Dysphoria, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Medical content, Suicide, Police brutality, Cursing, and Sexual violence

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Incest, Cursing, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Dysphoria and Mass/school shootings

saffyre's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Pedophilia and Incest

corar's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I really liked this young adult book about a city that had a revolution and banished all monsters. When a creature comes out of Jam's mothers painting and tells her it is here to hunt a monster, Jam can't believe it. How can there still be a monster when they have all been destroyed. Now Jam must help the creature find the monster, before it can hurt someone she cares about. This was an interesting and unique story. I liked the characters of Jam and her friend, Redemption. I liked the different kinds of diversity in the book and how it was just there and not what the story was about. It really made me think about denial and how sometimes people want everything to be OK so bad that they blind themselves to the truth.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia

Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Cursing