Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

11 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

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality, Medical content, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Incest

Minor: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, War, Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Ableism, Confinement, Gore, Suicide, Transphobia, and Vomit

Ableism warning is to err on the side of caution, for disability framed as a punishment near the end.

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

bookskassadie's review

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

‘Pet’ by Akwaeke Emezi is not for the light of heart. Shorter than others at only 203 pages, this story follows Jam and the creature from beyond the painting’s borders as they hunt for monsters in a seemingly perfect utopia. The poetic passages and skilled metaphors were only matched in excellence by the society and characters that the author wrote inside. Despite having stumbled upon a spoiler to this story long ago, as well, it still had me shocked and disgusted when the actual plot twist came to light.  My only complaint about this book is that I didn’t pick it up sooner, because it delivered on every front and deserves more recognition than I can even say.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape

caelinsullivan's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Murder

hyperpension's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

Imaginative but hits terrifyingly close to home. Couldn’t help but think I wish I had this book as a kid. Beautifully written in a heart-wrenching way that makes you fall in love with Jam, Redemption, and Pet. The ways Emezi writes humanity is so lively and you can feel warmth in every page. Recommend to anyone!! Monsters and angels look like all kinds of things.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Body horror

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, War, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Mental illness, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Ableism, Addiction, and Rape

bookishandjoyceful's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Thank you for this book from your blind date with a book  @cant.liv.without.books

This book was fun and different. There are monsters that have walked this town in the past, and in order for them to not return, you must always remember them. But when something happens a monster comes and makes a demand and now Jam a young girl must figure out what to do. This is a fun quirky story that was interesting and I enjoyed Jam’s character, however, this story did not move as quickly as I would like especially for a YA book. This book also goes at some tough topics so beware of the trigger warnings. The ending is also brutal and I was a little shocked for it being a young Adult book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse

julesadventurezone's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Child abuse, Gore, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, and War

ashesbrooke's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Murder

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Gun violence, Police brutality, Child death, Murder, Suicide, and Hate crime

Minor warnings mostly apply to backstory/worldbuilding information provided early on. Child abuse (emotional, physical, and implied sexual) is heavily discussed and thematically relevant but not actually shown on-page, nor is it described in explicit detail.