Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Freshwater, by Akwaeke Emezi

81 reviews

adryonsk'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault

livlosiewicz's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.5

 Pros: 

·The writing is phenomenal- so unique, poetic, and powerful. 

·The concept is fascinating and has been stretching my brain in all kinds of ways. There’s a lot to unpack in this book and it will make for a good discussion 

Cons: 

·This book is HEAVY and pretty depressing 

·While I think they do a good job with this, the concept matter is pretty confusing, so it takes a lot of effort 

 

Recommendation: I recommend to those who like challenging and dark books that really make you think. This book was fascinating and I’ll be thinking about it for a while. HOWEVER, it’s also a lot, both emotionally and like, conceptually. So make sure you’re in the right emotional place for it (content warnings: sexual abuse/rape, suicide) and also ready to think about it. Avoid if you want something light, fun, or with a main driving plot. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Rape, and Suicide attempt

natgoe's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

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

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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

dwejra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is, without a doubt, one of the most original novels I've ever read. In this gripping autobiography Emezi blurs the lines between the events from their life and their emotional journey of dealing with trauma, and accepting their nature as ogbanje.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death

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

solenekeleroux's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Eating disorder, Child abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Transphobia, Car accident, Biphobia, and Medical content

boba_n_books's review

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? Yes

3.0

This book was wild, to say the least. I was intrigued with the concept but felt a little lost towards the end. Definitely not my favorite book, but it was not a bad book by any means. It’s different from any other book I’ve read before, and I enjoyed being able to branch out in this way! 

Make sure to check CWs for this one as there is a lot of triggering material. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Rape, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

dekilein's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

All the trigger warnings you can think of.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders