Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

162 reviews

bookishfaye's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

An absolutely devastating, gut-wrenching, & traumatizing trans story. 

Be warned, it is absolutely riddled with very uncomfortable incest.

TW: *Graphic and on page depictions* Incest, Rape, SA, non-consensual sexual encounters, violent homophobia/transphobia, violent hateful depictions of extreme hateful religion, death, mourning a loved one

*not on page, but mentioned* transphobic lynching 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

lucystolethesky's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Transphobia, and Grief

Moderate: Incest, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

lobrookslovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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: Homophobia, Incest, and Transphobia

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Infertility

gorgeousdreamerreads's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

This narrative, a poignant and intricate masterpiece, revolves around the profound themes of secrecy, acceptance, and protection. The Death of Vivek Oji delves into the pervasive nature of stereotypes, the intricate dynamics of family relationships, and the stark realities that confront individuals within the confines of contemporary societal norms. The pervasive theme of family secrets serves as a catalyst for self-discovery, emphasizing the paramount importance of authentic friendships. The extensive exploration of these secrets underscores the significance of protecting and honoring them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

justabat's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Infidelity and Violence

just_remy's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

From the very beginning, you know Vivek is going to die but, of course, you don't know how or why. As you read and the characters begin to reveal themselves, you start to piece things together and dread creeps in. I had a hard time putting this book down because I just needed to know. A heartbreakingly beautiful story, especially the ending. 
I would've loved to read a bit more from Vivek's POV

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Incest, and Transphobia

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, and Outing

belladonnashrike's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad

4.75

oh :(

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

callme_tippy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

2.0

This book is hard to review. I love Akwaeke Emezi's writing style, if there is one thing they can do, it's write. However, I found this one hard to read. 

I so wish that the two main characters were not related. I found the incest storyline very off-putting. It made it impossible for me to feel happy about their "love story", it just feels traumatizing and wrong. 

This story could have been beautiful and heartbreaking had the love interests not been so closely related. I feel that the incest doesn't add anything to the story and actually takes away from it. I would have felt more connected to the characters, and rooted for them had they not been related. It would have been so easy to make Osita a best friend instead of a first cousin. A first cousin that was raised as Viveks brother and that he often calls brother. 

I am baffled why Akwaeke chose this dynamic. It makes me wary to read more of their work. 
I also find it weird to make a trans character that has some type of mental illness going on, also be in an incestuous relationship. Not that it is right, but people already view trans people as taboo and wrong, so I find it strange to add a taboo and strange relationship to the mix. I don't know, something about that feels weird to me. 

We don't get any insight, information, or answer about what what type of mental illness going on with Vivek. She has these black outs that get brought up but not explained which I found frustrating. I wanted to know what that was about and why she has no recollection of these episodes. 

This book was just not it for me. I liked Vivek the most out all the characters, but I really had no favorites, the cast of characters was interesting to say the least. 

1 star for good writing, 1 star for well fleshed out characters. The incest ruined this one for me. I so wish they made the simple change to make them best friends instead of first cousins, I just could not connect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

atelarico's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Incest

Minor: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Blood, and Grief

jmiles758's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail