Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue

54 reviews

lucyyaga's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Hate crime, Biphobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Religious bigotry

veggiestrawenjoyer13's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

Overall, this book was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading the second one. The plot twists were unpredictable and I liked the mystery/suspense. The modern media references threw me off a lot, but they were funny. Some of the dialogue was awkward, but teens are going to be awkward so I can get over that. The romance was cute, I like that it wasn’t the main plot but added more emotional depth to the characters. The diversity and inclusion felt authentic, not forced. The witchy vibes were cool and I leaned a lot about Wiccan traditions. The supernatural aspect was also cool, and it all tied together very well. The only major issue I had was the pacing at the end. It felt rushed after the main conflict was resolved. The concepts of everyone’s gifts were really interesting, I just wish it didn’t seem so sudden. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a casual read who likes modern magical books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death and Cursing

Minor: Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Suicide, and Domestic abuse

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Self harm

oddduck's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Blood, Homophobia, Violence, Deadnaming, Bullying, Lesbophobia, and Racism

Minor: Alcohol and Domestic abuse

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

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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) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Hate crime, and Homophobia

elliereadsthings's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

3.0

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

“I lean my head on his shoulder and wonder just how much easier life would be if I weren’t in love with Roe O’Callaghan. But, oh god, how boring.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Vomit, Violence, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Cursing, Colonisation, and Blood

Moderate: Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Racism, Mental illness, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Bullying, and Alcohol

Minor: Stalking, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Outing, Murder, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Sexism, Kidnapping, Grief, Excrement, Death, Infidelity, Deadnaming, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Classism, and Child death

vaughtgn's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia

Minor: Self harm and Suicide

vespera's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Biphobia, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm