Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

28 reviews

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

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

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

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

miniingrid's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

Si os ha gustado Mascota, tenéis que leer Bitter. Y si no habéis leído Mascota, no sé a qué estáis esperando.
Es duro, pero no se recrea ni hurga en el dolor. Y te recuerda que la esperanza es una disciplina, es algo que se tiene que trabajar y por lo que vale la pena hacerlo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

booksandteatime's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Police brutality, War, Violence, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Ableism

ofbooksandechos's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Death, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Gun violence, Child abuse, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

CW: depictions of self harm for magic purposes,

mmccombs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5

I might be unfairly comparing this book to Pet and the rest of Akwaeke Emezi’s work, but it didn’t really do it for me. There were moments that sparked  for me and captured what I love so much about their writing, but I finished this feeling like it was unnecessary and kind of forced. I never really cared about the characters, though I was compelled by how they all dealt with and felt about revolution and the various parts people can play in it. I don’t really know what it was, but I just did not enjoy this book very much and I’m sad about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Grief, Murder, and Police brutality

longhairzuko's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.0

I was unsure about Bitter in the beginning, but it definitely grew into itself. I'll always be touched by Emezi's writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Self harm

Moderate: Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Gun violence, and Kidnapping