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madiekvv's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
kmgard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
kanadrallegria's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria
woweewhoa's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
solenekeleroux's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Transphobia, Medical content, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
elmo_isnotmyname's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
The protagonist's 'fractured selves' spoke more than the protagonist themself -- though: what even is a self?, they end up wondering.
Instead of telling a lifetime of traumatic events through the eyes of the person battling against their ensuing 'madness' (as it is called here) -- we follow 'the madness' battling against the human body it is bound to. Outrageous lust and anger splitting the Ada (the protagonist) and their memories into multiple versions. Ultimatly as to protect the Ada.
So this can be read as a story about Dissociative Identitiy Disorder; weaving in tales of Igbo gods, myths, and spirituality.
There are many graphic scence of violence. The latter endeared this book to me (-- I'm sorry, as a reader I'm just craving for mirrors of myself, but I don't want to spoil this work of art by mixing in my own ego.)
I'm looking forward to reading Emezi's other work!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
thebakersbooks's review against another edition
- 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
It's odd to call such a dreamlike book relatable, but the main character of Freshwater was easy to connect to even when her specific struggles weren't ones I'd experienced. Ada's exploration of gender and sexuality were particularly special to me as someone with similar experiences. I'd be remiss not to mention that intersections of cultural and sexual/gender identity are unique to those who live them; as a white U.S.ian reader, I'm sure much of the nuance of being Black, Nigerian, an immigrant, etc. AND queer went over my head. That didn't diminish my enjoyment of reading it at all, and I hope will add to the richness of the experience for readers who do share those identities as well.
Freshwater is a short book but not necessarily a quick read; it grapples with a number of serious topics including rape, trauma, and grief. Nevertheless, the hints of magic and myth, whether real or allegorical, add a bit of lightness and much-needed distance from events that happen to Ada. There is joy amidst the pain that overshadows much of Ada's life, and the payoff when she eventually begins to understand herself more and come into her own feels like its own kind of magic. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time, a standout as both a literary work and a fantasy novel. I highly recommend this book to adult readers.
Content notes: accidental child injury (graphic); self-harm throughout; rape; eating disorder/anorexia; abusive relationships; drug use; alcohol addiction; gender dysphoria; outing a trans character; mild/brief homophobia; child sexual assault; suicide attempt
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Transphobia, Outing, and Dysphoria
laynemandros's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria