Reviews with content warning for Death - You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

This book had a lot of promise and started with a 'bang' with a very intense first chapter. I got the book through the Rare Birds Bookshop advent calendar so had expected good things, but I have to say I found the main character Feyi's choices hard to believe or relate to. There has been a lot of talk in other reviews about how it feels unbelievable and in slightly poor taste that her somewhat poor decisions in the book are down to the trauma she has experienced and that this is a little reductive and I would hasten to agree. Also, after a lot of build-up throughout the book, the pivotal sex scene was really disappointing from a feminist perspective! I think the book could have been much better with more character development and a more heart-warming story.

Content Warnings

faithbee's review

Go to review page

dark emotional tense 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

4.0

Content Warnings

pm_me_book_recs's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

Akwaeke Emezi is such a dynamic author- I'm all in.

Romance is def not my typical area of enjoyment, but this was so entertaining and the overall message was heartfelt. I really want to see this on screen! There also seems to be a pattern of me enjoying food focused romance??

The amount of growth and healing that happens across the board, even with periphery characters, is so good to see. With the numerous shenanigans and circumstances Feyi gets into, it does get comedic, but never degrading. I love the honest and upfront relationship Feyi and Joy have, we all need someone like Joy! The family drama is raw and painful, the matter of consent is constant and normalized, the writing and descriptions are gorgeous. I also loved that we get to see closure across the board and that Feyi is not the only focus!

The beginning is hot and heavy, but the rest of the story is mostly steam-free aside from imaginings and a few happenings later on.

Content Warnings

rexpostfacto's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Content Warnings

bibble_kingly's review against another edition

Go to review page

The book started off incredibly messy and the mess was just a lot for me.
Things to note:

The main character is supposed to be unlikable
Almost all of the prominent side characters are incredibly messy in their own way. (Yes, people can be messy in real life and fiction. The behavior is also really toxic despite the fact, we are told our main femme characters are in therapy)

This book just wasnt for me and that's okay.

Content Warnings

boba_n_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

Spice Rating: 🌶️ .5 / 5

This is one of the most raw and complex novels I've read in a while. Emezi is a phenomenal writer with a knack for diving into the unknown.

It's been 5 years since the car accident that killed the love of Feyi's life. Now her best friend and roommate, Joy, is insisting that Feyi get back onto the dating scene. Once she gets a hang of things again, Feyi starts seeing someone who has potential to be a long-term partner. Even better--he invites her to come with him for a few weeks to the tropical island where he grew up.

I don't want to give away too much because I'm really glad I went into this book blind and hope you do as well. Emezi somehow tackles the huge subject of grief and pairs it with a romance that was messy but beautiful. I'm really glad I gave this one a chance.

Content Warnings

More...