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pixelpigeon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The twists! The turns!
I love stories about women saving each other.
Graphic: Stalking, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
shyleek's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another 5 star book for me!
You ever finished a book and hated the author because that is NOT how the story was supposed to go? This was that for me.
Fast paced (if I wasn't reading this for October book club I would have had this done in probably less than a week).
I can't wait to pick up the second one.
Seriously if you like witchy magical things this book will keep you guessing.
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, and Sexism
tessduets's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault
caitlin_doggos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, and Forced institutionalization
toofondofbooks_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
It's the early 1900s, and Frances Hallowell is a seventeen year old seamstress reeling from the loss of her older brother who was murdered. One night, when her boss attacks her in the empty shop, something Frances can't explain happens and her boss ends up dead. Before the police can cart her away on a murder charge, she is taken by two nurses to HaxaHaven "sanitarium," but it's not a sanitarium at all, but a school for witches. Magic ensues.
There is a lot to like about this book! I thought the writing was simplistic, but beautiful. The vibes of the writing reminded me a bit of one of my favorite authors, Sarah Waters. I wrote down a ton of quotes from this in my reading journal. The side characters, particularly Frances' friends at the school, were probably the highlight for me. I appreciated that Haxahaven is a place that includes people from all backgrounds and identities (more on that later). This book was easy to get lost in and by the end of it, I was excited to read the sequel (releasing in October 2022).
I have some qualms though, and I wish I didn't. This was going to be a 5 star, and then a 4 star, and then a 3.5. Hear me out. While this book has characters from diverse backgrounds and identities, I don't believe that you can claim that this book is incredibly diverse. If the non-white , non-straight characters took center stage at any point, you could. However, that never happens. Two of the non-white or non-straight characters get significant page time, but only in relation to the white main character. At the end of the book, we get a bonus chapter about a lesbian character in the book, and while that's great, it would've been nice to see her actually get to be queer outside of passing mentions of it and then just that one chapter.
Another thing that cost this book a star was the twist. I hated it. I felt as betrayed as anyone else in the book did. I normally wouldn't take off a star for a plot point, but I feel VERY strongly about it, and that's why I'm doing it.
Despite my qualms, I really did like this book and I am interested in the sequel.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Murder, Death, Classism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, and Violence
faitherslibrary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
levesc17's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
molliemoments's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Rape, Gaslighting, and Death
Minor: Forced institutionalization
clovelatte's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Stalking
betweentheshelves's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement and Mental illness