Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

60 reviews

violetends's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

This was as warm and lovely as I had anticipated from all the reviews I had previously read. I am so happy to have access to all these cozy stories and be able to indulge the cold winter months that I am spending still healing from a longer illness with these types of narratives. This was is intricately crafted, with each character being lovely in their own way. And honestly, I am so very much here for a grumpy-sunshine romance arc! Especially if it happens in a found family setting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcohol

thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book has been on my fall TBR since it published, and it absolutely delivered on the promise of a cozy fall read! This is such a feel-good book with a lovely English setting and a charming cast of characters. At times, it does suffer from having too many characters, but each of them is so lovely and feels so fully realized that it's hard to stay mad about it. 
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here! 
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol

lunep's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Abandonment, and Classism

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a very welcome softer read.  It had the found family, the magic, life passions/ambitions, the kids were cute, and let's not forget the swoony words!

I don't know if I would change the rating if I reread it but since it's the first in a series I will continue when more books are released, there's a chance.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, Confinement, Outing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence

pixelpigeon's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. I loved it so much. Such a sweet story about found family. Some very good twists towards the end! Some I saw coming, but others I definitely did not expect.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and Confinement

Minor: Alcohol, Body horror, and Death of parent

I was so worried after Jamie and Mika hooked up that she would get pregnant and we would have to worry about the curse that killed all witch mothers but thankfully that did not happen.

clarabooksit's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing 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

4.25

I couldn’t put down this sweet story of a lonely young witch bonding with a houseful of strays that have made a home in each other.

This gem of a feel-good story was a very happy surprise, for me. I just loved it.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a cozy, engaging and diverse read with a likable lead, cute kids, found family and a soft enemies-to-lovers romance. I fell hard for the way Mandanna wove loneliness and whimsy together in her writing and I’m really looking forward to the sequel coming out this year.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

margaret_k30's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Grief

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Physical abuse

britwalsh16's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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’m only giving it 4 & a half stars because there are a couple things I wish they had figured out. Like I was seriously hoping they would somehow break the curse that orphaned young witches in the end! Like come on!!! But honestly, besides that, I absolutely LOOOVED this book! It was a great book, especially for the month of October & all my witchy wants! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol and Cursing

elledanie's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Cursing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, and Sexual content

rayreyes's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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? No

4.5

Good natured, grounded characters. Loved having nonwhite witches to fall in love with. Story flowed well and moved along steadily, which I loved. The characters were lovely and warmly, self possessedly addressed conflict. It felt honest and easy and the ending wasn’t rushed. I’d recommend suspending hypotheses and trying to guess thibgs just to enjoy the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Confinement, Death, Child abuse, and Cursing