Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Freshwater, by Akwaeke Emezi

265 reviews

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

warandpeace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

just wow. time to read every other book she’s ever written

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident

Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

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

linguisticali's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

I read this in one sitting and it's hard to find the words to describe it. Dark, emotional, and original.

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Content Warnings

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

phelpsg2021's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, 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

undersea's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Dysphoria, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder

sarahsbookstacks's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

My mind is reeling

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Infidelity and Child abuse

kaceyjoy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

Forceful, harrowing, difficult to read at times, poignant, sad, inspiring. I felt every emotion possible throughout this novel. Having read nearly all the author's other books before coming back to their debut prepared me for the heaviness. So worth the read. Definitely recommend.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Eating disorder, and Rape

emreads27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

This book is unlike any I’ve ever read, and I would highly recommend it (with content warnings in mind). Igbo religion/culture was entirely new to me, so it helped to research and translate phrases between chapters for context. The westerner in me wanted to label their experience as DID, but the more I read, the more I tried to let go of psychological diagnosis and focus solely on their story, their voice. At times, the intensity pressed me to stop, but the raw vulnerability always pushed me forward. The Ada’s weaponization of their body in its own defense/desensitization, the fury, and the self loathing/self empowerment called to those same parts in me and my primal urge to protect the people I love who’ve undergone trauma and abuse in its many forms. To use a quote from the book, “Understand this if you understand nothing: it is a powerful thing to be seen.” Akwaeke Emezi’s writing was exquisite, and it will stay with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse