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puggreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Police brutality, and War
kbairbooks'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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
fareehareads's review
- 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
I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book !
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death
ofbooksandechos'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
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Death, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Child abuse, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
CW: depictions of self harm for magic purposes,cadence99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Child abuse, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Ableism
gen_wolfhailstorm'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
Bitter brings us back to Pet's world of monster filled Lucille... but is it the monsters you're expecting, or a much more sinister kind? The type with a friendly face, & unexpected urges? This story throws us into Bitter's life. Sick & tired of seeing protests & bodies bruised & battered outside the safety of her school, she throws herself into her art... slowly finding hope again, & her own role to play in the fight against the monsters of Lucille.
I really enjoyed this. I love seeing more of this world, & how it affects a different set of characters.
Bitter comes across very standoffish but I enjoyed seeing that hard exterior slowly chip away.
I felt so comforted by Miss Bilphena's care of checking everyone had substantial food I'm their stomachs & the simple question of "you eat meat" made me kind of emotional. I think it was that kindness to care for everyone's dietary needs were cared for, regardless of the chaos happening out in Lucille.
It was great to see more of these hunters & more back story to the magic of the blood/paint. That's something I was really curious about whilst reading Pet & Bitter has answered so many questions.
I loved the message that everyone has a role to play in revolution and you don't have to be in the front line to be doing worth while work. It doesn't make you weak or a coward, everyone has their place and is valued in their effort of changing the world for the better.
This was a powerful & impactful novel.
Graphic: Classism, Abandonment, War, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Grief, Torture, Police brutality, Mental illness, Gun violence, Genocide, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
marioncromb'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
3.75
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, Child abuse, Grief, Police brutality, and War
Minor: Gun violence
bookishmillennial'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
• teen fiction fantasy centered around gifted artist, Bitter
• companion novel to Pet — Bitter is Jam’s mom
• this is set in Lucille when Bitter attends Eucalyptus, a residential school for young artists, run by Miss Virtue
• she just wants peace and quiet, after a childhood spent in foster homes, but young activists involved with Assata, including some of her classmates, are protesting racial & economic injustice with hopes for a better Lucille
• Bitter meets Aloe, who is friends with her ex, Eddie
• Her friends get Injured and one dies, infuriating Bitter into painting a creature called Vengeance, bringing it to life by using her own blood & dealing with the aftermath
• I totally empathized with Bitter, wanting to choose peace — it’s exhausting work but choosing joy ✨is✨ a form of resistance! We all play our roles in activism!
• Nice to see the beginning of Bitter & Aloe’s relationship
• reflections on what activism can look like, including music & art as representations of protest & resistance
• cw: police brutality, violence, death, gun violence, murder, abuse, homophobia, death of parent
I loved this prequel to show how Lucille was before the society we come to know in Pet! A short, powerful, absolute must-read 👏🏽
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Police brutality
Moderate: Death and Violence
anniereads221's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Murder, War, Death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
lindseyhall44'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
4.0
Bitter follows its titular character as she navigates themes of art, social justice, and activism . Set against the backdrop of youth protest, Bitter decide must if leaving the safety of her boarding school, Eucalyptus, is the best way for her to create the change she desires.
The characters were definitely the strongest point of the novel, as Akwaeke did an amazing job creating flawed and complex narratives. Bitter’s character development was a master class itself, but the side characters also added an important outlook into the practice of youth activism, and the many different routes there are!
That being said, I do wish we had gotten a more developed look into Aloe and Bitter’s relationship, but that is just a personal preference, because I love them together!
Overall, I would 100% recommend reading Bitter, but maybe pick up Pet first:)
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm