Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

123 reviews

madiekvv's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Drug use, and Rape

imlfox's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Transphobia, and Sexual assault

kanadrallegria's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

A very unique approach to mental health and spiritualism. Dark yet hopeful. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Rape, and Cursing

Moderate: Mental illness, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, and Abandonment

Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

bleepbloop's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Child abuse and Homophobia

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-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

Freshwater, Emezi's debut novel, isn't exactly as fresh and delightful as its title suggests. It's a raw, violent, disturbing book about identity - or rather, identities. I'm quite certain I didn't understand it fully, and I'm not sure it's a book to understand. It's an experience, the experience of a radically other way of being. I won't even try to write a review because that's not my place. I just appreciate this book for existing, and for opening my eyes to sheer possibility. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Dysphoria, Rape, and Self harm

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

lauraq's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

kumquats87's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Child death, Colonisation, Self harm, Body horror, Biphobia, Mental illness, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence, Transphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

liannaengland's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Violence, Rape, Child abuse, and Eating disorder

woweewhoa's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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? Yes

4.75

An incredible book about identity and how it intersects with spirituality, trauma, and living. Akwaeke Emezi's writing is really vivid, and most of the explicit scenes, while yes they are explicit, they don't feel voyeuristic. I think this book very good, though please exercise caution as the book is very dark, though it does end on a hopeful note. A lot of heavy subject matter in present in this book, and I feel like most of it is done very well and with a caring hand. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual content, Self harm, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Addiction

Minor: Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Fatphobia

soph_ward's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-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? Yes

5.0

Beautifully written. A challenging but incredibly valuable read. The exploration of oneself, culture, mental health and gender and sexual identity throughout the novel was done in a way I’ve never seen it done before. Definitely a must read and another incredible work from this author, I would just recommend checking trigger warnings before reading. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault