Reviews with content warning for Incest - Pet

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I got through the first 50 pages or so, I didn't want to put it down. It's a stunning poignant and dark tale about the way humans view good and evil, angels and monsters.

Content Warnings

epically_bookish's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

Content Warnings

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad 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

4.25

Akwaeke Emezi doesn’t miss.

This story is both tender and gut-wrenching. I loved Jam as a protagonist and her relationships with both Pet and Redemption. I loved the depictions of dissociation and non-verbal communication.

The theme of justice, especially in a post-prison society was also handled really well, I think. I just really appreciated all the different elements of the story, from the building of the town of Lucille and the quasi mythology surrounding its revolutionary history, to the magical realism, to the character relationships. It was all so well-crafted.

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giulsfloris's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

Triggering but good. This wasn’t long or difficult to read and I actually liked it a lot because of how simple and direct it was!

Akwaeke Emezi wrote a beautifully explained story of real monsters in everyday life and delivered a great message: talking and communicating is necessary, but listening is what is relevant and important in order to make the world a better place.

Can’t wait to read Bitter and other works by this author!

Content Warnings

booknchaoswithmarz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

What makes a utopian society? How do you maintain that society? What if the monsters remain, hidden away?

The city of Lucille is monster free after a revolution, no more corrupt cops, no more predators, no more hate crimes, you are safe.
But when Jam releases Pet from her mother's painting, her world is upended as they are forced to hunt a monster that Pet insists is hidden away, the one no one admits even exists.

Even with the content warnings, I found this to be a heavy read. The words gentley woven, turn you to reflect on hard truths. Crafted with subtlety but the reality hits like a blow from a sledgehammer.
I found the message of the unseen poignant, we often don't want to acknowledge the unseen, the unsaid however complacency is a danger, as a society we must reflect internally consistently.

Content warnings: Veiled but clear references to sexual assault, paedophilia. Mentions of off page racism, violence, hate crimes, school shootings, etc

Content Warnings