Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

55 reviews

some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

That was really well done and the execution was splendid. However, the theme about monsters not looking different fell a little flat since 

the monster got mutilated

  during the finale 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Acephobia/Arophobia, Blood, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Torture, Child abuse, and Gore

midnightcomets's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

 The truth does not change whether it is seen or unseen, it whispered in her mind. A thing which is happening happens whether you look at it or not. And yes, maybe it is easier not to look. Maybe it is easier to say because you do not see it, it is not happening. Maybe you can pull the stone out of the pool and put the moon back together. 

Be Not Afraid.
I loved this with my entire heart. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racism and Transphobia

dustghosts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This is the first book by Akwaeke Emezi I’ve read/listened to (though I also have Freshwater on the docket when my attention span is ready for it) and what. A. Treat! Listen, the Tiktok girlies (gender neutral) aren’t always on the ball— in fact they frequently are not— but this book? Rules.

So far this year, I’ve been reading a lot of shorter books. One thing I find with works this brief, and with this much plot, is that it can be hard for authors to balance building an emotional connection and moving quickly enough that everything happens as it needs to. Emezi masterfully balances these things: we’re gently thrust into Jam’s world, an adverb and verb that don’t usually go together, and we’re kept there with heart and action both. 

There’s a lot of respect for the reader inherent in this book— Emezi trusts the audience to make inferences and draw lines, both in the context of the book and as far as wider themes go. We’re allowed to be partners in the worldbuilding. It’s ambitious, this horror-fantasy-utopia-YA romp, and it pays off wonderfully. What could feel heavy-handed instead is weightless, and Emezi’s lyrical turns of phrase feel like dessert for the well-woven plot and complicated sort of allegories at the core of the book. Going back to respect: I really love a YA book that treats its intended audience like the emotionally-intelligent, sharp-witted, curious readers they can be, and this one does exactly that. 

Not a lot of flaws to list here— I wish that we saw, maybe, a teeny bit more depth to Jam’s character, a fuller view of her life on the day-to-day in Lucille. But that’s about it. Pet is bite-sized and keeps the scope (in time, cast, and conflict) pretty limited as a result, but you get a sense of scale of the wider world that feels satisfying and appetite-whetting all at once. I’ll be excited to read more, in this universe and the next that Emezi has to offer.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit and Violence

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death, Ableism, and Blood

miniingrid's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

Todo el mundo debería leer y releer Mascota. Porque olvidar es peligroso.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

amre23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Incest

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Ableism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Deadnaming, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Dysphoria, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Medical content, Suicide, Police brutality, Cursing, and Sexual violence

myfbusters's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense 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

god DAMN.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, Child abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual violence, and Body horror

hickorynut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.75

What a fascinating read that blended a blissful, progressive future with the dark realities of twisted humankind. The exploration of a society that believes victims and punishes all abusers felt like a bit of a dream at times, while also balanced with reminders that no society is without its dark secrets. Religion is uncommon and the idea of angels versus monsters is explored in secular ways. There was a glimpse into polyamory within a family unit, as well as multi-generational households and the complexities of the trust within those relationships. The main character Jam transitioned at a young age and all expressions of gender and sexuality seem to be common and accepted. I would have loved an illustration of the difficult-to-visualize creature Pet. Overall I was captivated and intrigued by the premise and plot. Check trigger warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

Minor: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror

cadence99's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book left me in awe. Emotionally packed to the brim, heartbreaking while still somehow hopeful for the human race. I will be convincing everyone I know to read this book, and I look forward to reading more of Akwaeke Emezi’s work

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault and Pedophilia

allapaz's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

Oh boy, what a great story, what a beautifully-written book, what wonderful symbolism. The book feels mysterious but familiar at the same time, and I absolutely loved the main characters and how full and real the cast felt. The themes were heavy, and the allegory of seen things versus unseen things and the terrifying climax really left me reeling. I enjoyed this book, and I will read this book again. Only thing holding me back from that full 5th star is my selfish wish for more--this book went by so fast for me. I want more of Jam's family, of the fun and love between Bitter and Aloe and Jam. I want more of the good and more of the friendship and more paranormal and world-building and lore....but I think the fact that we got what we got is beautiful too. I'll for sure be thinking about this one for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Dysphoria, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

Discussions about child abuse and child sexual abuse are left vague but the implication is clear. Strikes me as a level of discussion that lets the reader fill in the blanks appropriately--the fact that abuse is occurring is clear, but the details don't need to be spelled out. This I think leaves the book open for younger audiences as well, as the explicit mentions are of bruises and secrecy, so younger audiences may interpret the issues as less severe, if that makes sense.