Mazel

We’re years ahead from Bitter and the teenagers we’d met and seen face the horrors of Lucille are all grown and have families of their own. Life after the years of protest and of fighting back against the monsters they’d endured is good.. I do love it when we get to meet familiar faces and their journey has grown as they’ve matured and found another purpose, especially when their younger years have been as chaotic as Bitter and Aloe’s. Now, as parents to their teenage daughter - Jam who we discover is transgender (and is accepted and loved by all; as it should be) the two are wanting to leave history where it is. Their daughter on the other hand, is as curious as you can get over things because the adults in Lucille seem to have perhaps hidden some truths away when the books were written. Jam is a great leading character and is a good mix of the personalities of her parents, with a fierce desire for truth, and to protect those she cares for. I recognised some of her mother’s reticence at times from Bitter, because she doesn’t want to rock the boat for people she cares for; whether that be her parents or others in her life. The problem is, and it’s explained by Pet; an angel determined to bring justice to those who need it; in such a manner that is simple but makes so much sense. “There is no right thing,” Pet replied. “There is only the thing that needs to be done.” As soon as I read that - I couldn’t help but nod and highlight it because it’s valid not only for tale of Jam and Pet, but also a worthwhile way of seeing the actions you may have to take. For me, Pet is a harder read than Bitter but just as good as its prequel. The subject matters are hard, and Emezi’s evocative and thought provoking writing manages to  capture so much story into such a short book (204 pages in the paperback edition). I would suggest paying attention to content warnings on places like Storygraph etc to check that the subject matters aren’t harmful for you. On a lighter note, I also have to say how wonderful the representation is within Pet, of course, we have Jam who is transgender but there’s also her best friend Redemption’s family set up because his parents are a in a committed polyamorous relationship and one of the parents, Whisper is nonbinary too. Having characters who you can relate to, even in a story that you can’t, is wonderful to happen and we’ve come so far from my young adult days!Overall, this is a dark book but there’s hope very much in among the moments that cause you to pause. Emezi once again has delivered a wonderful story. I loved Pet far more than I did the angels I met in Bitter. The city of Lucille is one cursed place - and I appreciated Jam’s maturity when she reasons with Pet over justice and trying to ensure people learn from their mistakes. I have a feeling I will be reading an awful lot more from Akwaeke Emezi.

4.5