Reviews tagging 'Death'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

51 reviews

sirenenegra's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

This was my first Akwaeke Emezi novel, but I know it won’t be my last. It’s a painful, but beautiful story of loss, transformation, and an ultimate return to self that had me invested from the very first sentence. The writing is poetic, the characters complex and layered; I would recommend to anyone interested in spirituality and African ontology.    

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Medical content, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Death, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Abortion, and Pedophilia

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Dysphoria

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Body shaming

nicarhm's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Fascinating narrative perspective! I also loved how all of the spiritual/religious cosmologies were placed on equal footing, although they were pitted against each other in one mind

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Eating disorder, Blood, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

internationalreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Transphobia, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

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

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Content Warnings

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

allisonbrooke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Transphobia, Car accident, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Abortion, Biphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Incest, Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

hngisreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Death, Blood, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

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. 

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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

nicolescottwv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Rape, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Adult/minor relationship