Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

29 reviews

robinks's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense 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? Yes

5.0

This hit soooo close to home. While there were definitely some scenes that I wish could’ve been drawn out a bit longer, I loved getting a glimpse into Bitter’s youth. I read Pet so long ago, and I feel like I’d have a better appreciation of the characters’ journeys if I had read it more recently.
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leafilys's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

I liked this book. It began as magical realism, which I loved, before turning pretty sharply into more of a modern fantasy.
Vengeance and the angels
are incredible metaphors that I’m sure will only become deeper or more interesting upon re-reads, but I wish they had been integrated a little more smoothly into the grounded world of Lucille.

Bitter is an amazingly well rounded and relatable character and her development was so engaging to read about. Her relationships with her friends, boyfriend, and mentors are so wholesome but still realistic. Each side character has a distinct personality and voice, none of them are shallow or simply used as plot devices. 

Reading about Assata was both a beautiful lesson in hope and community, and a brutal examination of the violence that protestors face. I like that this book is somewhat empathetic towards those that turn to violence because of the violence inflicted on them, but still drives home the message that love for your comrades will always be more important than hatred for your enemies.
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gdulecki's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This prequel was so beautiful and special!!! I read pet earlier this year, really enjoyed it, and loved this look back into what came before. I love your mind Akwaeke Emezi!!!!! 
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dominosmum444's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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chrisb913's review against another edition

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challenging 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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mandi_lea's review

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dark hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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glitterdeww's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I shouldn't be surprised that this story is just as brilliant as its predecessor. Emezi's writing is as sharp as a knife, as forceful as gravity. I love these books. They are so important. ❤️

Named for its protagonist, and reluctant revolutionary, Bitter takes place in pre-utopian Lucille. In this prequel we see agitators and artists grappling with a city set on devouring itself through corruption. The Lucille of this time feels all too familiar with reality. Bitter and her friends portray everything from the hope of revolution to the fear, numbness, and rage that lurks on the other side of their trauma.
 
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cameronreads's review against another edition

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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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lynxpardinus's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective tense

4.5

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lena_krysiak's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

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