A review by kwolfie
PET by Akwaeke Emezi

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

As an LGBTQ disabled woman, I always appreciate diversity in books. But here, it felt like every single character had to have at least one disability, mental disorder, or less common sexuality or other status that just felt so forced.  Also, I really didn't understand the world here and I feel like this book would have benefitted from actually being a normal novel length. What is with all of the weird names? Why are the thoughts/writing so incongruous with the dialogue? Why is Jam partially mute? I have so many questions that were never answered. Maybe I was just too stupid to understand this book or what I'm sure are many metaphors hiding beneath it's surface, but it simply felt like a story about a supposedly perfect society with a hidden "monster", which is honestly overdone at this point. Read Omelas if you want that kind of vibe, also a short story but hit a lot harder (for me). There are absolutely audiences out there that will enjoy this, it just didn't happen to be me.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings