Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Acquadolce by Akwaeke Emezi

433 reviews

saint_eleanor's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The writing style of this was really cool, like 'Beloved' meets 'a Certain Hunger' meets 'Bless the daughter raised by a voice in her head' (i.e. lots of the royal "we" , lots of lust, and all the prose) . I loved listening to it on tape so i could hear the Igbo read by the author and the pronunciation of stuff, Igbo is so beautiful to listen to! But I feel like i had known that this was autobiographical before i read it i would have liked it more, but i was definitely expecting a novel so it definitely felt really slow. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Sexual assault

_tannel's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I loved this book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Blood

Minor: Death

nathalienadamas's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Emezi’s writing is so thoughtful and descriptive making this a hard read if you are triggered by some of the topics featured in the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Eating disorder

Emezi’s writing is one of things that makes this a difficult read. The writing throuhyThe content can be particularly troubling to read so check

mosope21's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, and Sexual harassment

cheesy_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

jill_holly's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

It feels impossible to review this book because it is so hard to describe. It had me in a chokehold the moment I started it and didn't let up. I was breathless by the end. Both devastatingly dark and heartwrenchingly beautiful, it dives headfirst into the lasting impacts of sexual trauma, the struggles of mental health, and the splitting of a fractured identity. It pulls from Igbo mythology, which I enjoyed learning more about. I was riveted, heartbroken and aching from the prose, weirdness, and intensity of Ada's story. I need to go read everything else Akwaeke Emezi has ever written. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse

lizlee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

bisexualbookshelf's review against another edition

I was doing this on audio, which often doesn't work well for me. It's been weeks since I was interested in listening to it, so I'm calling it a DNF for now. This also has a lot of detailed triggering content relating to sexual violence and self-harm, which may be why I've been disinclined to pick it back up. I'd like to revisit it via physical or eBook, but it may have to wait until I have a healthier relationship with my nervous system. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

vklyle99's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Suicide attempt

molsherlaw's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt