Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

24 reviews

nataliereadz's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Incest, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Outing, and Death

isleoflinds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, and Incest

lilcoppertop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Blood, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

lettucelaugh's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Outing, Incest, Grief, and Deadnaming

miachalupa'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

ok7a's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Transphobia, Homophobia, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Incest

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Infertility, Rape, and Pregnancy

lpleitera's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

This book was unspeakably sad and bleak. Like, I recognize that no book owes anyone a happy ending, but given the subject matter of gender expression and identity, I was expecting for there to be some moments of joy or transcendence, even if you know the subject is going to die at some point. Before Vivek dies, you know, I wanted to see them live. Instead, there's barely a single moment of respite, it's just one traumatic "reveal" after another.

Spoiler: And, yes, the narrative builds up to the death scene as if it's a "reveal," in a manner that I honestly found to be in poor taste. Like, there's this powerful moment where Vivek finally says, "My name is Nnemdi," and the omniscient narrator begins using "she/her" pronouns to describe her... and not even a page later, she trips and falls to her death?!? Doesn't this outcome undercut her entire character arc? Doesn't that say to readers that the minute Nnemdi becomes her full, authentic self, some cataclysm immediately befalls her?

Anyway, there were some individual scenes I really enjoyed, but certain choices and themes felt underdeveloped.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Transphobia, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

kudzi1'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? Yes

3.5

This story explores trans life, sexuality, incest, loss, family dynamics, and most of all guilt. Not my usual book choice but still a very engaging read and thought provoking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

jojo_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, and Infidelity

Minor: Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

thelegendofshelbi's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Death, Homophobia, Incest, and Infidelity

Minor: Rape