Reviews tagging 'Incest'

PET by Akwaeke Emezi

59 reviews

yofrere's review

dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Incest and Child abuse

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Violence and Vomit

starsnstitchin's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

What i liked: the normalacy of a poly partnership and queer characters without that being what the story is about. Its as significant as somebody having brown hair. 
What i didn't like: i thought this would be a fantasy story but its more just normal life with metaphorical terminology labels. I also didnt really enjoy the simple everything wrapped up neatly and perfectly ending or the not so subtle christian undertones.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Incest, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Violence

lynxpardinus's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality, Medical content, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Incest

Minor: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, War, Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Ableism, Confinement, Gore, Suicide, Transphobia, and Vomit

Ableism warning is to err on the side of caution, for disability framed as a punishment near the end.

azalia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, and Child abuse

Minor: Body horror, Cursing, and Gore

oddlyghoul's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence, Police brutality, Transphobia, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Classism, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Islamophobia, Violence, and War

mnkeemagick's review

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This was a fun, interesting, whimsical read with a much darker ending than expected. With undertones of the price spent for achieving worthwhile goals, the importance of remembrance, and a general feeling of awareness throughout, this was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. 

Set through the eyes of Jam, a (mostly) non-verbal and fully trans young woman living in a pseudo-utopian, post revolution world as an accident in her mother's art studio shifts her perspective and changes her world forever. Emezi brings laughs, light, and magic to complex topics regarding LGBTQ identity, community, and family in a seamless and natural format that makes the post revolution society feel not only attainable, but a worthwhile goal that should be strived for. There's a broad and easy acceptance of trans identity, the power of community, fighting for what you believe in, and beautiful, world shaping change with just the right dose of magic. 

Even as they highlight the faults of their world, unveiling the lack of perfection and of a missing acceptance from the characters that such faults can still exist, Emezi handles a harsh and complicated ending with grace and satisfaction. While I would definitely recommend checking the content warnings for any potential triggers, this book had me laughing, hoping, and deeply satisfied in the face of even great tragedy and should definitely make reading lists everywhere. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Incest, and Sexual assault

ivyshack's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape

clhtdr's review

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship

mayaism_01's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I honestly don't know how to describe why this book is so brilliant. I've only heard great things about Akwaeke Emezi so I've been looking forward to (and slightly intimidated by) their books. I think Pet is one of the most intelligent presentations of how we confront change and progress in society. 

We see everything through the eyes of Jam - who is such a loveable and empathetic character - living in a world that is seemingly perfect and we watch as that idea of a perfect and safe world slowly crumbles. This book would be a great way to introduce children to activism, but also great at reminding adults that activism is never finished. Emezi makes you confront what you think is the wrong and right thing to do, what evil and monsters look like, and forces you to learn to be okay with being uncomfortable. This was just so so so good, I can't wait to read more of Emezi's work.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault