Scan barcode
discocaptain'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
3.5
just. the most brutally freeing exploration of mental illness and spirituality. emezi understands what its like to be toeing the lines of everything, from gender to sanity to cultural boundaries to religion. its a story about being an ọgbanje from its core to its toes. its horrible. like its actually horrible to read it is uncomfortable and voyeuristic and it all happens from the perspective of spirits that are inside ada's mind so just knowing that we aren't even seeing the whole picture makes my stomach drop. but that means we don't see all of the joy. the love, not just the heartbreaks. ada claws for every second on earth and heir nails are bleeding.
this book also has my faaavorite chapter on transness ever. the top surgery that ada decided as an ultimatum. ugh. beautiful. its just really beautiful in the way any well written horror piece is.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore
naicrix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, Vomit, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia
cleansky7's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death, Child abuse, Blood, Gore, Rape, Eating disorder, Grief, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
jdors00'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Eating disorder, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Alcohol, Body horror, and Infidelity
ekgolden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident and Domestic abuse
orlagal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Racism, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, Homophobia, Stalking, Body horror, Colonisation, Drug use, Mental illness, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Medical content, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Child death, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
abijmieds'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria
pm_me_book_recs'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
An amalgamation of Nigerian folklore and spirituality, psuedo-autobiographical origin story, examination of mental health, sexuality, and gender expression, and deep effects of multiple traumas. Despite coming from a completely different situation and life, I found reflections of my experiences, which helped me feel real and seen. I think many other Queer and/or non-conforming folks could find cathartic comfort here as well. I wouldn't call this a "happy" story, but cathartic (emotionally purging). You're gonna cry, ugly sad mortified cry, but also warm hug after a bad day cry.
I'm so excited to read EVERYTHING else by Akwaeke Emezi, their new novel "Little Rot" comes out this Spring, and they're currently releasing a new album 🔥
CW: rape, disordered eating, suicide, self-harm, addiction, gaslighting, psychosis, dysmorphia, emotional/physical abuse, medical trauma, trans/homophobia, death, miscarriage. Definitely check StoryGraph for more in depth analysis of content warnings if there are specific topics you wish to avoid.
Graphic: Transphobia, Blood, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Abandonment, Grief, Self harm, and Suicide
michaelion'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
They peeled my scalp back, cracked my skull open, and wrote exactly what's going on in my brain. What the heck Akwaeke Emezi my future spouse. How dare you. I love you. I guess I'm an ogbanje? Is it appropriative of me to say that even though I know my ancestry comes from Nigeria I'm just not sure which people group? Anyway anyway. I am her and they is me and I am we. Amazing. I'm so glad I chose to pock this up this month. THIS IS Black history NOW !!!
Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Self harm, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Violence, Death, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Transphobia, Biphobia, Pedophilia, and Medical content
snaileton'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: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Transphobia, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Homophobia