Scan barcode
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
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
totallytasha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: War
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: War, Police brutality, Self harm, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Child abuse
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
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
thisthat100'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
3.5
Graphic: Violence and War
Minor: Rape
cookiecat73's review against another edition
- 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
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
haylzno'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
As much as I loved Pet, I think I loved Bitter more!! (Both are 5 start books though).
I enjoyed getting more backstory about the Angels and learning more about Aloe and Bitter. I think a re-read of Pet is a must, with all this new info.
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Classism, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Violence, Gun violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: War
overbooked207'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
1st book of July 2022 and 15th book of the year:
This was such a powerful, fantastic, and relevant book and prequel to one of my all-time favorites, Pet. You don’t have to read Pet in order to understand this book, but I highly recommend doing so anyway because it's also such an amazing and important book. I loved that we got to go back in time to see the events talked about in Pet in this book and follow Bitter’s story this time, and it felt more mature and heavier than Pet. The writing and world-building are always phenomenal in Akwaeke Emezi’s books, and this time was no different. The themes/topics that the book brings up including revolution, healing, generational trauma, mental health, found family/coming together as a community to help each other, using art as activism, the cycle of violence, and more are all super important to talk about nowadays and always, the making it a book that I think absolutely everybody should pick up. The audiobook was also done beautifully, and it felt more mature and heavier than Pet, which was already dealing with very heavy subject matter. I highly recommend reading this and everything by Akwaeke Emezi, and I am absolutely in love with all of their book covers! TW for blood, death, self-harm/cutting, police brutality, racism, homophobia, war, hate crimes, dissociation, panic attacks, gun violence, gore, fire/fire injury, vomit, ableism, injuries/injury description, abuse, abandonment, mention of the death of a parent, mention of rape, medical content/trauma, eye mutilation, body horror, mental illness, child abuse, and grief📚🎨
Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, Gun violence, Self harm, Vomit, War, Child abuse, Death, Ableism, Rape, and Violence