Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

12 reviews

lisacanteven's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This book is so much more than the 258 pages it contains. I have no idea what magic Emezi used, but this book is so developed for its length. Maybe it is because I read Pet first, so I was familiar with what was happening going into it. Since Pet was published first I chose to start with that one, and it was a great reading experience. I am so intrigued in how my experience would have differed had I read Bitter first. I do want to go back and reread Pet already (a week later) just to see what I missed out. I think either way you read this series, you will enjoy it. But you will miss certain things either way, and that's what I love about this series.

Bitter probably had the best ending I've ever read. Those last 50 pages were immaculate. I will be thinking about that ending for months. I found myself getting really emotional because of how beautiful everything was during the last 1/5 of the book. My heart was pounding, and I felt like I was really seeing it play out in my mind like the most exciting movie. I wish I could go to film school, become a world famous producer just to produce this movie like it played out in my mine. Emezi is a genius. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Racism, Gore, Blood, Classism, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail

re_oanslay's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Body horror, and Panic attacks/disorders

therewillbenewsuns's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this even more than PET, which I really did like. It’s tricky reading books that relate to revolutionary practices— are the ideas in the book a reflection of the author or the characters? Or both? Just interesting questions that I ask when reading books of this genre. Although, it’s hard to limit this to one singular genre. Like Pet, I was drawn to the blurring of reality and fantasy. I found that this was better paced and detailed than PET. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Gore, Police brutality, Violence, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Police brutality

cameronreads's review

4.5

For some reason I was sceptical that I would like this as much as Pet but I absolutely did; perhaps even more. The discussions in this book were genuinely so necessary and powerful, but also handled with an incredible nuance. There were conversations about responsibility to make change, when you should prioritise yourself, whether eventually peace is worth present violence, etc. I loved Bitter’s character and the friends she made. The representation, as always, was fantastic. This was a great prequel, and I think this duology is a must-read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Child abuse

vampire_burrito's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Death, Gore, and Homophobia

booksandteatime's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Police brutality, War, Violence, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Ableism

cadence99's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

I loved Pet, and Bitter certainly didn’t disappoint either. it’s truly such a fulfilling experience to fall into their writing. 

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Content Warnings

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

mondaysshelf's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. It packs such a punch in just under 300 pages. It made me tear up, laugh sometimes and even find really warm tender hearted moments. Aloe and Bitter? Such a sweet dynamic. Everyone should read this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Self harm, Police brutality, and Gore

Minor: Homophobia and Child abuse

anniereads221's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Murder, War, Death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

cookiecat73's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Self harm, War, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Classism, and Mental illness

Minor: Drug use and Rape