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helenaeoftroy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia
smittonwith's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0
“Pet” is such a great novella that I would recommend to anyone! This book covers such important motifs that are often not spoken about enough. The story is the perfect blend of fantasy and real-world elements combined. This is a short book but has so much important and valuable representation. I can’t wait to re-read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Pedophilia
chewblockya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
janeeivorie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Well written but so so heavy. I wish I would've read the synopsis before I started this book because I was not in the right mindspace for it. It took so long for me to finish it because it reminded me of my traumas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
berryydiaries's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
An interesting exploration of “monsters”. It was heartbreaking & heavy at times, but it felt like one of those fables that teach a lesson at the end (in a good way). Jam goes on a journey with a seeming monster called Pet to hunt monsters in a place built on having no monsters, but that’s because no one wants to look. It also breaks down the classic conflict of good vs evil. What is good? What is evil? What is a monster? Pet looks like a monster, but he is a savior.
TW: child abuse, S.A, violence, pedophilia
TW: child abuse, S.A, violence, pedophilia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
chrisb913's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Pedophilia
galaxies's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia
james1star's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
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? No
4.0
I was very excited to start this book and it most definitely didn’t disappoint. The story follows a teenage black trans girl called Jam living in the city of Lucille. After a revolution, the angles apparently got rid of all the monsters but when a creature called Pet comes into her life through the strangest of circumstances, she starts to think differently. With the help of her best friend Redemption they set out to hunt a monster.
At first I thought the subtleties around the revolution, ‘monstering’ someone, statues of monsters and references to the mainland and island were possibly alluding to slavery and the civil war. Which they could be and I think with an older mind and some historical context these parallels are apparent. But then the idea of what a ‘monster’ is broadens with there being (at least) one in the current timeframe. That’s because the monsters are lurking in plain sight and because the government and adults are so convince they’ve been eradicated, their monstering is allowed to continue. Tackling it head on, not being afraid to admit your wrong because no matter how much you want something to be true won’t make it true and talking to children about bad things is the real message of the book and overall I think Emezi does a great job of portraying this.
The characters are really great, Jam, Pet and Redemption have a lot to them and so too Jam’s parents Bitter an artist and Aloe a paramedic. I would have maybe preferred more (but this will likely come when I read the prequel) and to get to know Redemption’s family a bit more too, his brother Moss, parents Malachite and Beloved and their non-binary lover Whisper. I enjoyed the outward queerness present which was great to see. Jam is selectively mute but we don’t really get much context on why this is which is a bit of a shame. I’d also say as the book went along I didn’t exactly lose interest but it didn’t go in the direction I had initially thought but was still good. Overall I’d for sure recommend giving this a read no matter what age you are and I’ll definitely be reading more Emezi books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
jays_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
laurensgaylife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse