Reviews

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

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allvibes_noplot's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

questionablereads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

My fear and hesitancy with reading Bitter was unfortunately my reality. This book removed the wonder that I originally had from Pet. This is not to say that I did not find relevancy in Bitter. Emezi’s writing is beautiful and poignant, and Bitter’s struggle to want better for the world, but not knowing how to do so is so relatable with modern times. While the beginning of the book started strong, the middle and end felt lackluster, and I struggled to get through it.

ameliabee33's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

"Bitter" is an immersive prequel that gives ao much wanted context to the first book, "Pet". In "Pet" we got snippets of conversations, eluding to Bitter's past with bringing forth Angels but that was it. I remember the from the first time I hears that sentence I wanted to know more, so this book was incredibly satisfying.

Readers get background into what Lucille looked like while monsters ruled it and how that was affecting young adults. Lile Bitter. Bitter was a product of a monster and was surrounded by them in the foster system. It is haunting how the monsters of Lucille are the same monsters in real life, currently. Lucille can be any town, any city. I could see these situations happening anywhere.

Bitter's entire character was painful. She was brought into the world with pain and experienced pain until she found her haven in the special school Eucalyptus. The angels being brought forth are a product of her pain. She is a character that definitely can't catch a break.

This book also discusses the people who can't be out in the streets protesting for the world to change. Not everyone can take to the streets, whether that be for their own mental health, like Bitter, or from a disability or something else, they are no less important to the cause. There are ways to support a movement without getting into physical altercations with people in positions of power and that is important too. It was an interesting conversation to see.

cuartolimon's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

kdahlo's review against another edition

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4.0

I read a large chunk of this before I realized it was a prequel to Pet. I enjoyed it and continue to be a big Emezi fan. Quick, good YA read

ethanzo's review against another edition

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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

Perhaps minor spoilers. Bitter is such a hauntingly beautiful, soft yet harsh story with so much heart and tragedy and healing. I think it's a wonder when a prequel can make you want to go back and recontextualize the original story. I feel like I've seen the world of Lucille differently, and I want to experience it again for the first time with new eyes. Extraordinarily, I think an argument for reading orders for both books can be made. On one hand, reading the prequel gives you more information about the world and how it works and the magic of that world, but on the other, reading Pet first gives a sense of childlike whimsy that I feel you may have less of if you decided to read Bitter first. This book, in particular, redefined so much of what I thought I knew about Pet. Beyond all of this, the story of Bitter is very heartfelt and moving, and its messages of unity, strength, revolution, and morality are so inspiring and thought-provoking. There is no black and white in war. Evil can and will exist, but individuals need not fight against it with evil themselves, and I think this book showcases that justice is subjective and soldiering equality, acceptance, freedom, and community does not have to be fought for with blood. I think that this book is especially poignant with what is going on in the world, and it really puts into perspective how each individual can make change, regardless of whether or not they're on the frontlines. This was an amazing read.