Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

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**MY REVIEW IS BASED OFF OF AN ARC COPY**

Synopsis

There are no more monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. With doting parents and a best friend named Redemption, Jam has grown up with this lesson all her life. But when she meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colours and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. 

Hated It At First

It took me a minute to warm up to this book. Some of the dialogue just didn’t make sense to me. I kept getting the feeling that the author was trying to be profound in her writing, but wasn’t executing it well. For the first half of the book i found myself saying, “What does that even mean?” I think she was going for astute but really it was just cryptic. Especially when Pet would talk. Everything was in code. It was just overkill. 

But as the story progressed it got better. Or maybe I  just got used to it? I’m not sure. 

I just know that the further I got into this book, the more I was eager to know what would happen. 

Couldn’t Stop Reading

The synopsis of the story already had me hooked. Emezi has a killer concept here which she absolutely captures in her writing. The book was pieced together very well. I love the elements of culture here. The indicators laced within the story telling us where this family is from. From the mother’s broken english to the dad’s saltlfish buljol in the morning for breakfast. 

I also liked the wide variety of peculiar names. Whisper, Glass, Bitter, Aloe.. it’s a clear sign that the book is set in a different age. 

I loved the blend of magic realism and modern day struggles; the reference to monsters and angels. The magic realism was a great element to add and I appreciate that it didn’t overpower the other elements in the story. 

Quotes 

• A lot of things were manageable as long as they were honest. You could see things clearly if they were honest. 

• “Good and innocent , they not the same thing; they don’t wear the same face.” 

• “But unpleasant things must be done for unpleasant purposes out of unpleasant necessity.”

• He’d taught them how to disagree, reminded them how important it was to do so while still showing care and respect for the person you loved. 

• “That’s precisely the point, little girl. Your knowing, you think it gives you clarity, sight that pierces. It can be a cloud, a thing that obscures.” 

• “But the truth does not care about what you want, the truth is what it is. It is not moved by want, it is not a blade of grass to be bent by the wind of your hopes and desires.”