Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

64 reviews

rivercat0338's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

Minor: Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Homophobia

crow_familiar's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Death of parent

brigid_reads's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Classism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Death

Minor: Homophobia and Murder

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

One of the coziest books I've ever had the pleasure of reading, the pages were filled with wit, laughter, and found family.
Mika is one of the few Witches in Britain, and only gets to see her fellow Witches once every 3 months in a changing location. (Witches congregating and being friends is a big no no!) She posts videos on her socials pretending to be a Witch, but when she is invited to teach magic she wonders if she has been discovered.
There is not a single thing I would change about this story, the vibrant cast of characters made it come to life and it just resonated with such love and hope. If I had to choose a favorite character it would have to be Ian. He is so dramatic and over the top, everytime he was in a scene I was laughing.
I just really really love Sangu Mandanna's writing style. The descriptions, the magic scenes, it was just so incredible to read!  The romance was so sweet, Mika is so real for being obsessed with Jamie's forearms. (I for one, am a huge forearm fan as well!)
Truly one of the most uplifting and cozy reads I have ever experienced, I highly recommend this book!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

chrisljm's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing fast-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

3.75

loved every character in this book, but i didn’t enjoy the second half of the book as much as i enjoyed the first half.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Confinement, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racism, Classism, and Murder

brinnet's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

Slow start, but at the halfway to two-thirds point, the pacing picks up.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content

Minor: Emotional abuse and Death

mayaism_01'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? It's complicated

5.0

This was tooth-achingly sweet, with a deeply rich center, and the most heartwarming cast of characters. The perfect balance of humor, emotional depth, and charm. I loved this rag-tag bunch, and this story was well-paced and beautifully written, I really enjoyed this!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, Physical abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

leilah_m's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

angelmoo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

3.5

It felt like not a lot happened in this book when it came to the plot but if you like all comfort no hurt reads then this is the book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship

dodecashedron's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was so cozy!! The characters were so loveable, the stakes low but high enough to be deeply invested.

The magic system is delightful, I loved Mika, Jamie, and everyone else. This is the epitome of found family and it made me all warm and cozy. 

I do feel that I have to warn people, I did she'd a few tears during this book, and I had not expected it and was on a train. So be warned. (they were so worth it though). 

It's also proof that the chipper protagonist gets with grumpy, mean, seemingly uncaring person with heart of gold is not a bad trope, if you actually make sure the person is just grumpy, does like the protagonist and has a heart of gold! Instead of just being awful to the protagonist all the time and then all of a sudden also being in love???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Gaslighting

Minor: Xenophobia, Body horror, and Racism