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erin_lusk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This magical, tarot-driven, coming of age queer witch novel is everything I wish I had as a teenager beginning to understand who they were. Now I’m a 36 year old nonbinary witch obsessed with grief (I’m also a widow), tarot, self-acceptance and compassion towards others - and this book made me cry with its graceful portrayal of queer people.
While that isn’t the main focus of the story, it plays an incredibly important role. One that many like me needed to have put on paper. For that, I am incredibly grateful to Caroline O’Donoghue.
As for the meat of this story…it was so deliciously written. Powerful and beautiful and dangerous are the words that come to mind to sum-up the plot. Maeve, with her lack of book smarts, instinctively drawn to the tarot after finding a mysterious deck in her schools basement/storage area, begins to give readings to her fellow classmates at the all-girls catholic school she attends. In the process, she gives a reading to her ex-best friend who ends up disappearing.
What follows is Maeve’s attempts to find her as well as Maeve’s own self-discovery about who she is and what it means to love those around you. She falls for ex-BFFs brother only to find out the boy she knew isn’t a boy at all but a generous and beautiful nonbinary person trying to make their way in a world turning more violent and dark. Maeve also makes friends with Fiona, an aspiring actress who is fighting her cultural connection to healing and caring for others in order to be her own person.
This diverse and stunning cast of characters have left an imprint on my soul. Thank god the next two books are already available.
While that isn’t the main focus of the story, it plays an incredibly important role. One that many like me needed to have put on paper. For that, I am incredibly grateful to Caroline O’Donoghue.
As for the meat of this story…it was so deliciously written. Powerful and beautiful and dangerous are the words that come to mind to sum-up the plot. Maeve, with her lack of book smarts, instinctively drawn to the tarot after finding a mysterious deck in her schools basement/storage area, begins to give readings to her fellow classmates at the all-girls catholic school she attends. In the process, she gives a reading to her ex-best friend who ends up disappearing.
What follows is Maeve’s attempts to find her as well as Maeve’s own self-discovery about who she is and what it means to love those around you. She falls for ex-BFFs brother only to find out the boy she knew isn’t a boy at all but a generous and beautiful nonbinary person trying to make their way in a world turning more violent and dark. Maeve also makes friends with Fiona, an aspiring actress who is fighting her cultural connection to healing and caring for others in order to be her own person.
This diverse and stunning cast of characters have left an imprint on my soul. Thank god the next two books are already available.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia
klee1317's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Hate crime and Homophobia
claireclimbstrees's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
se_wigget's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
This was wonderful and hard to put down--though the anti-queer Christofascists pissed me off. They need to be hexed.
44%: Wow--a sea monkeys reference... about an hour after I finished listening to an American Hysteria podcast episode about Sea Monkeys!
44%: Wow--a sea monkeys reference... about an hour after I finished listening to an American Hysteria podcast episode about Sea Monkeys!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Lesbophobia, Racism, Homophobia, Self harm, Biphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Bullying, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death and Grief
btorsi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
super fun and not at all what i was expecting! it feels a little weird to have a privileged straight white cis girl at the center of such a queer story, but that is my only real complaint. it was so easy to get through, i couldn't put it down. roe and fiona were incredible characters and so easy to love. maeve was harder, but i felt myself rooting for her too, despite her flaws.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Self harm
oddduck's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Blood, Homophobia, Violence, Deadnaming, Bullying, Lesbophobia, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol and Domestic abuse
senwithers's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Self harm
ramblingravioli's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Bullying
Moderate: Classism, Blood, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
threadybeeps's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Overall an extremely fun read. I am always a sucker for stories about girls falling down the witchy rabbit hole. Fell apart a bit for me towards the end though. Really hated how the final ritual went down..........all I could think about was poor Fiona being traumatized for life after saving her two friends like that but?? I guess she bounced back??? Guess I'll wait to see how she fares in book two (yes, I will be reading it). Anyway it just gave me the ick and it felt really dramatic and unnecessary. Also kind of rolled my eyes at the whole you-call-the-southern-watchtower-because-you're-a-sagittarius thing..........tired...........
I really did like the characters, and how they cared for each other. Maeve's little flashes of self-awareness!!! What a kid. (less)
I really did like the characters, and how they cared for each other. Maeve's little flashes of self-awareness!!! What a kid. (less)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Hate crime, and Homophobia
copper_ink's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Blood
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse and Xenophobia