A review by musingsonliving
Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

dark hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 The words, unique, ground-breaking and inspiring do not even begin to cover how utterly amazing these books are! I am completely in awe of the world Akwaeke Emezi has created. 

While BITTER is a prequel to Akwaeke Emezi’s PET they can be read in any order, with BITTER being the darker and more mature novel (check CW’s). 

Bitter is a young queer Black girl attending Eucalyptus, a school that provides a safe place for the talented and ostracised youth. Meanwhile outside Eucalyptus’s walls the streets of Lucille are regularly filled with protesters asking for change and social justice. When Bitter’s art is brought to life she is forced to decide where she stands and if she can step away from her safe haven. 

The layers and depth of this book is unreal! I loved that Black queerness is an integral part if it, yet how it is also beautiful and accurate in it's portrayal of society and the prejudice and injustice that exist within it. With the message that fighting oppression must be something everyone does in whatever way they can. 
There are many aspects of BITTER that will standout to different people in different ways, for me it was how realistic and heart-breaking it was to read someone battling anxiety, agoraphobia and disassociation. 

"Aloe knew the truth about how Bitter did want a better world, but also about how hope had been beaten out of her, how it was safer to curl up in the pessimistic dark because then none of the horrific things would hurt as much because you’d made part of yourself dead to them, dead to anything else.”

I can’t read this quote without becoming emotional. The writing is phenomenal and there are so many nuances in how each character has been developed, some who will be recognisable from PET and are fascinating to read about in their younger selves. As well as how much more of Lucille is included, we learn how the society we previously read about was created and the monsters and angels that shaped it. 

I would definitely read more from this world but would be more than happy to reread BITTER for it's realistic themes, vibrant friendships, found family and romance alone.


IG: @musingsonliving
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