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jessicaludden's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Child death, Police brutality, Death, Blood, Hate crime, and Body horror
wormiebrains's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Police brutality, Ableism, Hate crime, Death, and Classism
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Abandonment, and Body horror
Minor: Trafficking, Antisemitism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
calamitess's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Xenophobia, Racism, Police brutality, and Hate crime
rorikae's review against another edition
- 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
The story follows Jam’s mother Bitter as a young woman starting her art career as a student at Eucalyptus. Lucille is far from the peaceful city that is present in Pet. Instead, it is racked by protests against the police violence and systemic issues that plague the city. Bitter is trying to find her place in the world while exploring her art. She isn’t sure how to relate to her peers who are actively protesting. When Bitter releases a monster from one of her paintings in response to a cruel act of brutality, she will have to decide where she stands in this battle and what she will do next.
'Bitter' is the perfect prequel to Pet. Where Pet sets up a city that has come through hardship and become a more forgiving and open place, 'Bitter' gives us insight into the beginning of what transformed Lucille into that city. In 'Bitter,' Lucille much more clearly represents our current situation so when it is put in contrast to Pet, it becomes clear that Emezi is hinting at one possible way that we can move to a liberated future. Bitter is a great central protagonist, not only because we have already met her in Pet but also because she is caught between her art and comfort and making real change in the world. Her place is a highly relatable one and her considerations ones that many people are going through during this day and time. Paired with Emezi’s evocative writing, fully fleshed out characters, and ability to tell so much story in a short amount of time, 'Bitter' is another triumph of their skill. I hope we will see more in this world because it feels like there are more stories that could be told and a further piece in this city’s story that Emezi could explore. If you haven’t read Emezi’s work before, I think you can read these connected novels in either order. Please read this if you have any interest (and even if you don’t), Emezi is celebrated for a reason and it’s because they are a truly skilled storyteller.
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Death, Mental illness, Police brutality, Violence, Blood, Grief, Hate crime, and Racism
overbooked207's review
- 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
1st book of July 2022 and 15th book of the year:
This was such a powerful, fantastic, and relevant book and prequel to one of my all-time favorites, Pet. You don’t have to read Pet in order to understand this book, but I highly recommend doing so anyway because it's also such an amazing and important book. I loved that we got to go back in time to see the events talked about in Pet in this book and follow Bitter’s story this time, and it felt more mature and heavier than Pet. The writing and world-building are always phenomenal in Akwaeke Emezi’s books, and this time was no different. The themes/topics that the book brings up including revolution, healing, generational trauma, mental health, found family/coming together as a community to help each other, using art as activism, the cycle of violence, and more are all super important to talk about nowadays and always, the making it a book that I think absolutely everybody should pick up. The audiobook was also done beautifully, and it felt more mature and heavier than Pet, which was already dealing with very heavy subject matter. I highly recommend reading this and everything by Akwaeke Emezi, and I am absolutely in love with all of their book covers! TW for blood, death, self-harm/cutting, police brutality, racism, homophobia, war, hate crimes, dissociation, panic attacks, gun violence, gore, fire/fire injury, vomit, ableism, injuries/injury description, abuse, abandonment, mention of the death of a parent, mention of rape, medical content/trauma, eye mutilation, body horror, mental illness, child abuse, and grief📚🎨
Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, Gun violence, Self harm, Vomit, War, Child abuse, Death, Ableism, Rape, and Violence
sadiefc's review
3.0
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Police brutality, Drug use, Genocide, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Abandonment, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, and War
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The audi is read by one of my favorite narrators, Bahni Turpin🤍🤍🤍
I did not read the synopsis upon starting and was surprised to learn that the Mc's name is bitter😂😭 poor thing....
I enjoyed this unique piece and that Bitter has the magical artistic ability to bring her drawings to life, which is AWESOME!!!
Bitter is a relatable character and genuinely needed to get their frustration out. But there is always a plot twist and sometimes your creation has a mind of its own🔮
Graphic: War, Racism, Blood, Vomit, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, and Violence
sonaea's review against another edition
- 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
My only critical points are of the storytelling-kind: Some of the conflicts between the characters that first seem huge are suddenly not important at all anymore. They forgive and forget and while they do talk about it, it's easily solved (especially thinking about
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Gun violence, War, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, Ableism, and Death of parent