Reviews

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

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be_emvi_ous's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

katel1970's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

3.5

knod78's review against another edition

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5.0

I really just loved this story. It was an original story for this world rooted in witchcraft, feminism, racism, and LGBTQ rights. How witches are just women. Yes, there are bad ones like there are bad people, but mostly they are good. I loved the tales in between some chapters; these tales are tales we heard as children, but they are the actual tales. The rhymes we sang as children are different; they are also the originals. Both come from something that truly happened and over time, it changed to the wicked witch or something awful. But it didn't stop the women from passing down the stories for generations. Because in the end, you can burn the books all you want, but you won't stop the stories.

The sisters were beautiful. And at first, Agnes, well, I just wanted to punch her in the face. I did start to get annoyed with the book, because I'm like for Gods sake, just pick a side. But she started to come around and was better for it. There were so many likeable characters...Cleo and her mom, Mr. Blackwell, Jennie, Inez, Electa...so many to name really. I mean the big surprise about Jennie, well let's just say I didn't see it coming. I had my eye on her. There were some downpoints obviously. I mean in one day, less than 24 hours, they have to weave a bunch of spells, create a new library, get a hold of people, come up with a solid plan, and then execute said plan. I mean, that was a bit of a stretch. But I forgive.

I can see a lot of things happening in today's society that rings true. Maybe we have our own Gideon Hill creeping his shadows amongst us, creating the militant hate. But in all honesty, this is a book to make you feel for women throughout history. It makes you want to help more, learn more, fight more, and for Gods' sake, WEAR MORE POCKETS. Now, I have to go find some Rowan wood and practice my new spells.

leonplaysintheuniverses's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

I just wanted mini boss battles because the bad guy was bad but the men complicit should also have names that are known and known so that in the future they’re remembered for what they did to the towns women

sarah196's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

danacanterino's review against another edition

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3.0

3/5

Si tendrá que calificarlo por cuánto me gustó, le pondría dos o hasta una estrella. Pero siento que sería muy injusta con el libro y la autora, porque sin duda todo lo que me aburrió y no me gustó del libro, es más por el hecho de que, si bien lo sospechaba ya, confirmé que las brujas es un tema que no me interesa para nada, por lo que voy a evitar lo máximo que pueda a futuro.
Dicho esto, creo que el libro es muy recomendable si te gustan las brujas y te interesa el feminismo, porque la autora se apoya mucho sobre la lucha de la mujer en sus distintas esferas, apñicando la brujería como forma de emancipación femenina del yugo patriarcal. Esa parte fue la que más me ha llamado la atención, y considero que la autora manejó muy bien esta parte de la historia. Creo que se enfocó de forma acertada a un feminismo interseccional, marcando las distintas formas de la opreción de la mujer y los distintos niveles de la misma (ser negra, lesbiana, pobre, madre, etc).
La parte de la magia, como ya dije, no me interesó para nada. Pero eso ya es muy cosa mía. Fue una mágia muy clásica (posiones, encantamientos y demás), por lo que si te gusta esa clase de brujería en libros, este es tu libro.