Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay

19 reviews

sergeant_lemon_pepper's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

Slow pace through much of the beginning to establish the many plot threads and historical details of New York City in the 1880s. The rich details of place and Victorian culture are one of the book’s strengths. Another is the fascinating and believable details on Eleanor’s herbal kitchen witch practice. Eleanor is a good character, Adelaide is a bit obnoxious, and Beatrice is, unfortunately, such a “Mary Sue” (i.e., two-dimensionally perfect) that she’s uninteresting). The pace is slow and meandering, picking up speed toward the ending. Fans of Dark Academia fiction might enjoy this. But so many loose ends trail off, unresolved! I suspect the author wanted to do a sequel but maybe her publisher quashed it because it’s been ten years since publication.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, and Religious bigotry

megpratt's review

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and Religious bigotry

explorachel's review

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

The world building, character introductions, and descriptions of various spells, potions, and superstitions made the first half of this book very interesting. However, about halfway through, the plot becomes very predictable and lackluster. I would recommend listening to this via audio book as something interesting to have on in the background as opposed to investing more time reading a copy of the book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse

remokelly's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Murder

kay_greene's review

adventurous hopeful 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture

probablytoolate's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder

taylorthewitch's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia

The slur “G*psy” is used frequently throughout the book. Unclear if the character being described with the word is Romani.

jrose151's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

manonh90's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

I liked the setting, the story, the descriptions, the characters. And yet, it wasn't quite a 5 star read for me, although I'm unsure why. I'll have to give that some more thought. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, and Murder

elsebeok's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol