A review by blueseadragon
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

dark emotional reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

CW: incest, transphobia, homophobia 

I don’t actually know how to rate this.

The Death of Vivek Oji tells the story of the titular character and how Vivek’s family deals with grief and loss. At the end of the book, we learn Nnemdi (her chosen name) was a trans woman and was likely murdered because of it. It’s a well-told story and it’s not very long. I just don’t think I’m in a position to give this story a rating, but that’s not to say it’s bad or that I disliked it at all. 

I went into this book knowing there was incest in it, but what I was not expecting was a two-chapter long sex scene between cousins. If I were to rate it, the length alone would be enough to deduct a few points.  I also didn’t find any characters particularly likable, including Nnemdi, at times.