A review by millysreads
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

  ọgbanje are as liminal as is possible - spirit and human, both and neither. I am here and not here, real and not real, energy pushed into skin and bone. I am my others; we are one and we are many. Everything gets clearer with each day, as long as I listen. With each morning, I am less afraid. 

A truly beautiful novel about discovery of self, discovery of the spiritual, and most importantly redemption.

The overlapping and non-chronological narratives were at time confusing, but were far more instrumental in demonstrating the complexities of this character's mind and everything she was going through.

I really loved the explanation of gender dysphoria, sexual identity, and mental self through the lens of the ọgbanje, it was truly a fascinating perspective that made perfect sense. Through the use of these different spirits that represented different parts of Ada's self, you got a real sense of the fracturedness of the self, but also acted as a way for the reader to visualise the different identities. 

Thought-provoking, powerful, and beautifully constructed. I would deeply recommend this novel.
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