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Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'
Magic Lessons: A Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
8 reviews
loonysaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Stalking, Antisemitism, Colonisation, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Racism, and Abandonment
Minor: Classism and Sexual content
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Genocide, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual content, Infidelity, Infertility, Death, Dementia, Child abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Stalking, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pedophilia, Blood, Medical content, and Violence
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A recurring line is that what you put out into the world will come back threefold. And I love that it really makes you reflect on your own choices, on your own energy. The book also repeats the line that what has been done cannot be undone. How are you living your life? What can you change?
I love that it made me think and hit me right in the chest with insights and self-reflection right along with the characters. I constantly had a highlighter handy because there was so much that stood out to me that I wanted to go back to. I went back a few times throughout the novel and saw deliciously perfect morsels of foreshadowing, which makes it perfect book to reread and get something new out of it or notice something that you missed the first time.
I highly recommend this book!
Graphic: Misogyny, Animal death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, and Murder
citrinuke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Torture
julianalo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Murder, Colonisation, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion, Sexual assault, and Slavery
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned to you threefold. Fall in love whenever you can."
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman is the prequel to Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic. Although this was an enjoyable read with Hoffman's classic style, I definitely enjoyed Practical Magic more, mostly because I've read so many books on the Salem Witch trials, that some elements felt too familiar to other books.
We follow the life of Maria Owens, the original Owens witch. We follow her from Essex County England to Curiçao to Salem to New York and back to Salem. We also learn of her Daughter Faith, who turns to left-handed magic.
We get to see Maria struggling to figure what (romantic) love is, and though she vows not to ever fall in love (spoiler alert) she does, although what she thinks is love, isn't. Unfortunately this leads her to avoid the person who is her true love. She even calls down a curse on any man who falls in love with an Owens' woman.
Although this was a story about the Witch Trials and how women didn't get to do as they as they please, ultimately, this was a story about love: how it can destroy you when it goes wrong and how it can save you when it's true. Similarly it's also the story of a Mother's love and the complicated relationship between mother and daughter that witches and non-witches alike can relate to.
The 3rd person omniscient that Hoffman uses is a bit impersonal and feels a bit like you're floating above the characters. There was also a lot of repetition of the same descriptions and listing out the same ingredients throughout the book. I'm glad I read this prequel and now. Looking forward to seeing where the Owens women go in The Rules of Magic.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, and Slavery
lit_with_lauren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, and Violence
hrhacissej's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hoffman's fans will appreciate this prequel. Her signature storytelling provides the background to the Owens bloodline in Massachusetts which we were introduced to in Practical Magic.
The mix of history, magical realism and horticulture (this reader would appreciate some of the recipes for the various teas...) captured my interest and kept me up past my bedtime.
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry