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melinajoy's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.5
This was good. It was dark and challenging and informative and hopeful and good and bad and justice and magical/mystical and Black and very interesting and everything. There's also a lot of trauma in this book, so make sure to read the content warnings.
I think Bitter's character is well named. I loved the teacher and the school and the fight. I appreciated hearing everyone's different accents in the audiobook.
The second half of the book was fantastic, the first half was a little confusing learning everyone's names and relationships (not because the names are hard, but because they're all different genders and who's dating who and who is at the school and who is not, etc). But it's totally worth reading.
I love books that teach us about different backgrounds and real life injustices and still pull us into the book as an escape into a different reality. 4.5 stars!
I think Bitter's character is well named. I loved the teacher and the school and the fight. I appreciated hearing everyone's different accents in the audiobook.
The second half of the book was fantastic, the first half was a little confusing learning everyone's names and relationships (not because the names are hard, but because they're all different genders and who's dating who and who is at the school and who is not, etc). But it's totally worth reading.
I love books that teach us about different backgrounds and real life injustices and still pull us into the book as an escape into a different reality. 4.5 stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse
vampire_burrito's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Homophobia
miniingrid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Si os ha gustado Mascota, tenéis que leer Bitter. Y si no habéis leído Mascota, no sé a qué estáis esperando.
Es duro, pero no se recrea ni hurga en el dolor. Y te recuerda que la esperanza es una disciplina, es algo que se tiene que trabajar y por lo que vale la pena hacerlo.
Es duro, pero no se recrea ni hurga en el dolor. Y te recuerda que la esperanza es una disciplina, es algo que se tiene que trabajar y por lo que vale la pena hacerlo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism
theoceanrose's review against another edition
hopeful
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Violence
puggreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Police brutality, War, and Injury/Injury detail
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
The prequel to Akwaeke Emezi's bestselling novel Pet, Bitter is the prequel to Pet and tells the emotional story of a social revolution and what it costs those in it and around. Bitter is one of the lucky few able to live and create at Eucalyptus, a school dedicated to teaching and protecting creative teenagers. The city around them is ravaged day and night by protests, corruption, and police brutality. Bitter has no desire to join in the protests, she just wants to stay safe, as opposed to some of her friends who risk their lives every day fighting to have a voice. Tensions continue to rise and soon Bitter reaches her breaking point, pouring all of her emotions, anger, and blood into a painting, the consequences of her pain and desire for change have dire results that will change the city forever.
I haven't read Pet yet and all this book did was make me want to read it so badly! I didn't expect the twists and turns this book took, and while I wish I had started with Pet so I would have gotten a better idea of the magic in this world, it was nice to get a foundation for how events were set in motion. Emezi is a fantastic storyteller, her writing drew me in and I felt as helpless and powerless as Bitter and her friends did. A book like this is so relevant to our current political climate, the utter and complete failure of our government and "police protection" that we have in place.
The Cover
There is a scene in the book where Bitter's friend, Blessing, takes a photo of her against a backdrop, which is what the cover looks like. I think it works perfectly. Bitter stares right at the viewer, unabashed, and almost challenging in a way. The vibrant colors, character expression, and everything about the cover makes an eye catching composition that perfectly nails the book.
Cover art by Shyama Golden
I haven't read Pet yet and all this book did was make me want to read it so badly! I didn't expect the twists and turns this book took, and while I wish I had started with Pet so I would have gotten a better idea of the magic in this world, it was nice to get a foundation for how events were set in motion. Emezi is a fantastic storyteller, her writing drew me in and I felt as helpless and powerless as Bitter and her friends did. A book like this is so relevant to our current political climate, the utter and complete failure of our government and "police protection" that we have in place.
The Cover
There is a scene in the book where Bitter's friend, Blessing, takes a photo of her against a backdrop, which is what the cover looks like. I think it works perfectly. Bitter stares right at the viewer, unabashed, and almost challenging in a way. The vibrant colors, character expression, and everything about the cover makes an eye catching composition that perfectly nails the book.
Cover art by Shyama Golden
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
I’m not sure what to say. Pet was an incredible read and I had some trepidation as to whether Bitter would be able to follow through. Well, it absolutely did. Wow! I am blown away. Akwaeke once again has proven what masterful storytelling they are capable of. The way they intertwine real problems, and the human condition, with magic, soul, and heart. Brava.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
Minor: Death of parent
displacedcactus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
This prequel to Pet provides more context about how the city of Lucille got rid of its monsters. Unfortunately, I felt like it just shone a light on the holes in the world building. Based on references to real-life people and events, it feels like Lucille is a city on Earth, probably in the US? But the city seems to exist in a void, with no reference to county, state, or federal organizations.
Bitter shows us the start of how Lucille got rid of its monsters. Pet shows us a Lucille that believes the monsters are gone. But what I really want is the story of how Lucille appears to operate as an autonomous city. What is going on in the rest of the world? Has this revolution rippled out into the rest of the country or the world? Is the rest of the world watching Lucille as a sort of case study?
Just like Pet, Bitter ends up being a story about justice, vengeance, crime, and punishment, about what monsters deserve and the fine line that we have to walk to protect the vulnerable among us while also trying to minimize the stains on our own conscience. But just like Pet, I felt like Bitter could have spent a bit more time sitting with these ideas rather than rushing the resolution.
I feel like you can probably read these two books in whichever order you want -- they each spoil certain elements of the other.
Bitter shows us the start of how Lucille got rid of its monsters. Pet shows us a Lucille that believes the monsters are gone. But what I really want is the story of how Lucille appears to operate as an autonomous city. What is going on in the rest of the world? Has this revolution rippled out into the rest of the country or the world? Is the rest of the world watching Lucille as a sort of case study?
Just like Pet, Bitter ends up being a story about justice, vengeance, crime, and punishment, about what monsters deserve and the fine line that we have to walk to protect the vulnerable among us while also trying to minimize the stains on our own conscience. But just like Pet, I felt like Bitter could have spent a bit more time sitting with these ideas rather than rushing the resolution.
I feel like you can probably read these two books in whichever order you want -- they each spoil certain elements of the other.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Violence
Minor: Blood
The drug use in question is marijuana being smoked by 17ish year old characters. It's not really specified whether or not weed is legal in Lucille, but one would presume it still wouldn't be for minors.l_prelas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.5
I loved the worlds of Pet and Bitter, their characters, and overall points and politics. However, Bitter is much less focused. It is simultaneously painfully slow and too rushed. The pacing is awkward, world-building lacking. Regardless, the world Emezi built has a special place in my heart.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, and Police brutality