Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

105 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

audaudaud's review

emotional inspiring 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: Drug use, Police brutality, and Violence

scarletthequeen's review against another edition

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

Minor: Police brutality, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

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

archiveofrasa's review

dark fast-paced

3.5

this book properly nailed it in that I've almost grown out of YA. it's good for someone young who is into human rights storylines and themes, but literally everything felt a little underdeveloped. maybe it was because so much was going on. this book was too thin for an in-depth look into a revolution; I would've loved this if it was longer and spent time exploring the different topics discussed.

but overall this wasn't bad! I preferred Pet due to its focus into a fewer selection of themes and how much more it explored them

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, and Child abuse

Minor: Homophobia

karoliiine'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

notapenguin's review against another edition

challenging dark 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: Violence, War, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Gun violence