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sassyykassie's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Addiction, Car accident, and Death
ilaxaria's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Blood, Murder, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide and Vomit
Minor: Medical content, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Infidelity
arrowsartsandbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is about a family of witches who live in a town in the Appalachian mountains. The main character is trying to solve a series of connected, unsolved crimes that have affected her and others. There is a rumor going around in the town that the Moth-Winged Man aka Mothman may be responsible or a participant in some of the crimes. If you like the trope of a teenager being the one to solve a crime instead of the police, then you'll like this book. You can tell the author has done extensive research into folk magic and witchcraft because the information is very accurate. There is a romantic subplot in this book and I wish there was more time spent on it. Even though I don't like slow-burn romance, it was very well written. The ending was good and wrapped the story up very nicely. This story was interesting, dark, spooky, and had just the right amount of familial love in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was just okay for me. The writing overall is very atmospheric, and the idea of someone being able to taste the feelings of others was really cool. In general, the magic and the Linden's family was one of the best, most interesting parts of this book for me. And the baking! Always love a book that has some good baking in it.
However, the plot takes quite a while to get moving, and then the ending seems to come too quickly. The pacing really took me out of the story. There are other YA books that have a similar vibe that I think felt more unique than this one, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this particular story. Definitely could have been that, too!
All in all, if you like slower moving books with strong atmosphere, I'd recommend picking this one up!
However, the plot takes quite a while to get moving, and then the ending seems to come too quickly. The pacing really took me out of the story. There are other YA books that have a similar vibe that I think felt more unique than this one, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this particular story. Definitely could have been that, too!
All in all, if you like slower moving books with strong atmosphere, I'd recommend picking this one up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Child death, and Death
Minor: Self harm, Alcoholism, and Blood
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
In small-town West Virginia, a family of witches looks for answers in a decades-old disappearance after one of their own disappears and returns without her memory. Then a friend is murdered. Are they all connected? How? The town is beginning to turn against them out of fear, how far will their neighbors go to get rid of them?
I enjoyed this one, more than I thought I would. I loved the message of being a strong woman and owning your power. It was a great mix of emotions with just enough humor to ensure it wasn't too dark.
The mystery part was where it fell short parts of the mystery were predictable. I figured out that something was going on with two of the characters but not exactly who they were.
Overall a great book that was enjoyable and a pretty quick read.
Extra ratings: Fluff - NA Heartfelt- 3.5/5 Helpful-NA Horror-0.5/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance- 3/5 Mystery-4/5 Predictability- 3.5/5 Spice-0.5/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 1.5/5 Thrill- 2.5/5 Humor- 1/5
I enjoyed this one, more than I thought I would. I loved the message of being a strong woman and owning your power. It was a great mix of emotions with just enough humor to ensure it wasn't too dark.
The mystery part was where it fell short parts of the mystery were predictable. I figured out that something was going on with two of the characters but not exactly who they were.
Overall a great book that was enjoyable and a pretty quick read.
Extra ratings: Fluff - NA Heartfelt- 3.5/5 Helpful-NA Horror-0.5/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance- 3/5 Mystery-4/5 Predictability- 3.5/5 Spice-0.5/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 1.5/5 Thrill- 2.5/5 Humor- 1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Murder, Car accident, Alcohol, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content and Child death
Minor: Alcoholism
hobbithopeful's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thank you Penguin for this ARC
I started reading this book, and could not put it down! Absolutely enthralling, positively mysterious, and wonderfully magical, this is easily one of my top books of the year.
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, Bittersweet in the Hollow follows Linden and her sisters investigating a mysterious disappearance. As tensions rise and secrets are uncovered, what little love the magical family has from the town soons turns bitter...
This book is just such a fun read, it's tense and I love reading about the James family and their "practical magic". My favorite is Linden, her ability to "taste" what others are feeling leads to wonderfully written prose and descriptions that had my stomach growling. I am very grateful to live in Texas, because after reading about crispy fried chicken, fried green okra, and butter heavy desserts, I have quite the appetite! (Seriously I think my stomach growled for most of the book!)
There is also some romance, and there is chemistry, sweetness, and the perfect amount of tension between them.
Much like the namesake, this is quite a bittersweet book. Don't go into this expecting fluffiness and comfort, but do expect a supportive family of strong woman, and a town full of dark secrets. I did enjoy the ending, the payoff was perfect and the suspense that had me staying up late to read did not disappoint with the reveal.
I was planning on finishing this book tomorrow and reviewing it then, but I couldn't put it down! I had to find out what happened next, and the next thing I knew I had reached the conclusion and sadly the end of the book. Honestly I wouldn't mind if this wasn't a standalone and instead a series. (Perhaps focusing on each sister?) Also mostly because I really want to see the parents get back together. That was so heartbreaking to learn of sacrifices that were made. I wouldn't mind seeing "Hadrian" somehow getting a happy ending with Rowan either.
Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, Krystal Sutherland, or excellent books in general, I HIGHLY recommend this book! This is Kate Pearsall's debut novel, and I need more from her immediately!
I will say I am not crazy about the cover. In fact I very much dislike the cover, it has fair composition and design, but does not convey the theme or mood of the book well. It feels a bit plain and dry compared to how wonderfully dark and magical the story is. The author name being in a script font looks like it was added as an afterthought, and just looks completely out of place. (It makes it seem childish) I hope that this book receives the success it deserves, and perhaps at some point a new cover for a different edition.
I started reading this book, and could not put it down! Absolutely enthralling, positively mysterious, and wonderfully magical, this is easily one of my top books of the year.
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, Bittersweet in the Hollow follows Linden and her sisters investigating a mysterious disappearance. As tensions rise and secrets are uncovered, what little love the magical family has from the town soons turns bitter...
This book is just such a fun read, it's tense and I love reading about the James family and their "practical magic". My favorite is Linden, her ability to "taste" what others are feeling leads to wonderfully written prose and descriptions that had my stomach growling. I am very grateful to live in Texas, because after reading about crispy fried chicken, fried green okra, and butter heavy desserts, I have quite the appetite! (Seriously I think my stomach growled for most of the book!)
There is also some romance, and there is chemistry, sweetness, and the perfect amount of tension between them.
Much like the namesake, this is quite a bittersweet book. Don't go into this expecting fluffiness and comfort, but do expect a supportive family of strong woman, and a town full of dark secrets. I did enjoy the ending, the payoff was perfect and the suspense that had me staying up late to read did not disappoint with the reveal.
I was planning on finishing this book tomorrow and reviewing it then, but I couldn't put it down! I had to find out what happened next, and the next thing I knew I had reached the conclusion and sadly the end of the book. Honestly I wouldn't mind if this wasn't a standalone and instead a series. (Perhaps focusing on each sister?) Also mostly because I really want to see
Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, Krystal Sutherland, or excellent books in general, I HIGHLY recommend this book! This is Kate Pearsall's debut novel, and I need more from her immediately!
I will say I am not crazy about the cover. In fact I very much dislike the cover, it has fair composition and design, but does not convey the theme or mood of the book well. It feels a bit plain and dry compared to how wonderfully dark and magical the story is. The author name being in a script font looks like it was added as an afterthought, and just looks completely out of place. (It makes it seem childish) I hope that this book receives the success it deserves, and perhaps at some point a new cover for a different edition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, and Murder
kayceeisbookish's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, Death, Child death, Car accident, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Kidnapping
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