Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

60 reviews

edenclam's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This was a prequel I don’t think we really needed. I did enjoy seeing characters from Pet and understanding how they developed into the kind adults that later surround and support Jam. However, I think that Pet would’ve stood alone just fine without this story to accompany it. I almost feel like the way that Bitter delves more into the world of the angels almost takes something away from the mystery and otherworldliness of the angel in Pet. All of that aside, I still love Emezi’s graphic and transcendental writing and can’t wait to read more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Police brutality, Self harm, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Rape

cameronreads's review against another edition

4.5

For some reason I was sceptical that I would like this as much as Pet but I absolutely did; perhaps even more. The discussions in this book were genuinely so necessary and powerful, but also handled with an incredible nuance. There were conversations about responsibility to make change, when you should prioritise yourself, whether eventually peace is worth present violence, etc. I loved Bitter’s character and the friends she made. The representation, as always, was fantastic. This was a great prequel, and I think this duology is a must-read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Child abuse

bryelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

5.0

Such a good book. Students make “angels” that come and fight for them. But at what cost. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Violence, War, and Blood

alexisgarcia's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

WOW wow. this book has such diverse and well rounded characters. the story is interesting and has very important underlying themes. i didn’t realize this was written after Pet but i recommend reading this first for some world building and a linear story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, and Grief

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Abandonment, and Body horror

Minor: Trafficking, Antisemitism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

discarded_dust_jacket's review

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

3.75

This story grapples with the perils of using vengeance against the oppressor as a means of achieving social justice. As usual, Akwaeke Emezi’s writing is thoughtful and imaginative. 

I loved Aloe’s character in Pet and I loved him again in Bitter—an example of masculinity that is tender, nurturing, and multidimensional.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, and Self harm

Moderate: Police brutality

lana72905's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, and Blood

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Child abuse

eni_iilorak's review against another edition

challenging 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Cursing

Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Homophobia, and Biphobia

bootrat's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Blood

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Prequel to Pet (which I enjoyed more than expected). Once again I loved the characters and Emezi’s writing style! I also enjoyed how the story showed the power that young people have plus the great look at how everyone can do their part in their own way, and the burnout that activists can experience.

I didn’t love it quite as much as Pet, I wasn’t pulled in the same way and I listened to it while multitasking so that could be why. Overall a powerful story with well developed characters!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

TW/CW: violence, police brutality, blood, death, murder

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Death, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Murder and Blood