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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
243 reviews
jpaulp90's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I did not enjoy this book as much as many of my friends even though I flew through it.
I'm finding reviewing it tricky. I think the book is probably genre-defying, but not in a way I found engaging, and very much at odds to how it is pitched. There is too much grief for it to be a fun, sexy romance, but too much sexy romance and not enough depth for it to be a tale about clinging to life.
The second half feels a lot like a classical tragedy, but it has a happy ending (definitely by romance standards).
I'm finding reviewing it tricky. I think the book is probably genre-defying, but not in a way I found engaging, and very much at odds to how it is pitched. There is too much grief for it to be a fun, sexy romance, but too much sexy romance and not enough depth for it to be a tale about clinging to life.
The second half feels a lot like a classical tragedy, but it has a happy ending (definitely by romance standards).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Injury/Injury detail
lisalenton's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Very easy to read, quite predictable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
withlivjones's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A gorgeous, steamy, messy, emotional read about love and grief. I loved Feyi’s character, how she’s so straightforward and to the point with everyone she talks to and how she uses her grief to power her art, and I really felt for her with everything that happens/has happened to her in the story. I do wish we got to see more of Joy and had her character be a little more fleshed out, but I understand that’s hard to do when she’s on Facetime for most of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
batbaby's review against another edition
Just had no motivation to find out more about the characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident
leatherlee's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Up to this point, I'd have said Akwaeke Emezi was one of my favorite writers but I had to force myself to finish this book. Whereas their other works were weird and fantastical and riveting, this one was just not interesting to me. A big part of it is that I am apparently always annoyed by romance genre, even if it's thoughtful, (nominally) queer, and written by someone whose other works I adore.
As a "queer" novel, I feel especially let down because the sex all is very heteronormative. Nothing especially interesting to me personally about a conventionally attractive cis-het couple pairing. The fact of their queerness is downplayed which was a missed opportunity. Bisexuals having unconventional sex could have been explored to great effect and would have probably merited at least one more star from me.
As a "queer" novel, I feel especially let down because the sex all is very heteronormative. Nothing especially interesting to me personally about a conventionally attractive cis-het couple pairing. The fact of their queerness is downplayed which was a missed opportunity. Bisexuals having unconventional sex could have been explored to great effect and would have probably merited at least one more star from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
illustratorsoph's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
I loved this book. I found it hard to get into at the start, but purely because the pages are very dense with text.
This book address grief, loss and trauma brilliantly and the fragility of falling for someone you shouldn't. A person that truly understands that individual and what they've been through, shares their own trauma. Hot & intense build up throughout, so amazingly written. A great book!
This book address grief, loss and trauma brilliantly and the fragility of falling for someone you shouldn't. A person that truly understands that individual and what they've been through, shares their own trauma. Hot & intense build up throughout, so amazingly written. A great book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, and Car accident
felixmarauder's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
Beautifully written and gripping. My only complaint is that I wish Feyi and Alim's story was more developed. That we saw more of what makes their relationship tick, outside their shared experience of grief. I really enjoyed the descriptions of her art, her artistic process, and would have loved to learn more about that, even though I know it's not necessary to the story. The queer representation was a beautiful example of inclusion without exploitation and avoiding the common tropes and clichés. Very well done. I was entranced throughout, and I would have happily read another hundred pages to flesh it out more. I will be hunting down more of Akwaeke Emezi's books because I love their writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Violence
sadhbhprice's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Absolutely floored by this book, by its unflinching perspective on love and grief and how we can keep living through any kind of mess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Violence
em_h_ma's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The story was rich, opulent, hot but I hated the main character so much. Even with all the reasoning, I just couldn’t get behind her actions. The story was quick and easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief