Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

30 reviews

julieyael's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was absolutely not what I was expecting (I bought it as a horrir book. Well, it’s about another, more real, kind of horror)
I enjoyed the way it’s written bringing tension to the story. 

I would have liked a deeper character building, but the novel is quite short, so maybe there was not space for it. 

I also felt that the particularities of the characters were a bit forced. It’s interesting and nice to find such a diverse set of characters and families, but sometimes it felt a bit artificial. 

Maybe if it had been written as an adult novel, not YA, it would have been more to my taste. 

Overall, the book finds its purpose and is a good read, and I am sure it will find a good audience and be useful and meaningful to a lot of people. 
It just didn’t « click » for me. 
I am glad I read it once, but it probably wonnt go on my list of novels that I can read twice (or more). 

Also, the subject is pretty heavy and the warnings should be taken seriously. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Rape, and Violence

starsnstitchin's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

Spoiler

What i liked: the normalacy of a poly partnership and queer characters without that being what the story is about. Its as significant as somebody having brown hair. 
What i didn't like: i thought this would be a fantasy story but its more just normal life with metaphorical terminology labels. I also didnt really enjoy the simple everything wrapped up neatly and perfectly ending or the not so subtle christian undertones.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Incest, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Violence

savhardt's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia

Minor: Vomit, Transphobia, Homophobia, and War

There are a few descriptions of the world of the past, these contain the issues of today such as homophobia, racism, etc. The plot majorly follows the main characters trying to find who is harming (vague but implied sexual violence) a supporting characters little brother. This turns out to be done by

Spoiler

a relative

.

some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

That was really well done and the execution was splendid. However, the theme about monsters not looking different fell a little flat since 

Spoiler

the monster got mutilated

  during the finale 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Acephobia/Arophobia, Blood, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Torture, Child abuse, and Gore

velvetreads_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness

midnightcomets's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

 The truth does not change whether it is seen or unseen, it whispered in her mind. A thing which is happening happens whether you look at it or not. And yes, maybe it is easier not to look. Maybe it is easier to say because you do not see it, it is not happening. Maybe you can pull the stone out of the pool and put the moon back together. 

Be Not Afraid.
I loved this with my entire heart. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racism and Transphobia

riverlasol's review against another edition

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The shortness of this book made the pacing a little weird in my opinion. The beginning was pretty slow and focused mainly on the main character whilst the second half introduced her best friend and had several beats within fifty pages. I think had this been a little longer some of those beats could’ve been more explored, but that said the story did work with the quick time frame. Despite craving some more depth from the characters, I did enjoy getting to read from Jam’s unique perspective (her selective mutism impacted how the story was told in cool ways) and the worldbuilding was fascinating. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to read a book that will make you think!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

yedikedi2k03's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse

georgialaurette's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Really loved this. The trans perspective, the neurodiverse perspective (it was particularly nice to read someone experiencing dissociation). I was captivated from the moment I picked it up and couldn’t put it down.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

_analisa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This book is so good! As a YA, I felt it encapsulates its messages in such a clear, understandable way. The metaphors within were amazing. Same with it’s overarching message that even if you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there. I did find there to be a lot of repetition, but for me it didn’t really take way anything or feel misplaced. Overall, it’s just an amazing book! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and Racism