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booksofaim's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia and Domestic abuse
noriboo's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
However, once we've gone past all the proverbial introductions, I felt that the real story finally began. This is a story about finding yourself and what makes a home. Fin has had a rough life, growing up as a witch due to the stigma attached to it, and it feels like he has to keep people at a distance.
This story has everything that I like about cosy fantasy: even though there is a threat of war brewing in the background, it's never gloomy and manages to stay hopeful and uplifting.
The women are no damsels in distress. They can hold their own. And there's a lot of sassy comebacks and word puns sprinkled throughout, which made me laugh out loud several times.
This is more a slice of life story, there is a romance storyline, but it isn't primary.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, but nothing too concerning. It is a cosy, after all.
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
cozyscones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Murder, Miscarriage, and Homophobia
Minor: Hate crime, War, and Racism
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Classism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Minor: Miscarriage and Biphobia
k_bb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Vomit, Classism, and Domestic abuse
wanderonwards's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Vomit, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
chrisljm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Xenophobia, Stalking, Infertility, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Medical content, and Homophobia
Minor: War, Religious bigotry, Murder, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
garbage_gremlin_wasabi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Sexual harassment
lackyducks's review against another edition
- 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
The rest of the characters similarly are quick to become favourites. The kitchen aides are funny and it's heartwarming to watch them grow and learn throughout the story. There's a lot of side relationships that switch and change throughout the story. Even the antagonists are written well, intimidating in the scenes they appear but still multidimensional.
Despite the light-hearted and humourous nature of the book, there's also darkness to balance it out. The story follows a country on the verge of war, with all the court drama and political espionage that comes with it. We also delve into Fin's backstory, discovering his origins and how they are coming back to haunt him.
The main romance took a while to grow on me, and the 'will they won't they' dominates the latter half of the book. But I found the conclusion to this enjoyable and look forward to seeing how the relationship develops in the sequels. Both of the characters keep the core aspects of their personality whilst learning to make room for the other.
The worldbuilding for the magic is basic and understandable, built on the elements. There are ruling covens that play a minor role in the plot. A level of depth, though, comes from the mutations away from the four elements and the realisation Fin may be a lot more powerful than first appears.
Also, the cat has his own point of view and political drama. This is with an entirely separate cast of characters (cats) whilst still tying into the main plot. It's incredible.
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, War, Bullying, Violence, Alcohol, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Slavery and Body shaming
One of the main characters is pregnant and has suffered miscarriages before, which is one of the key plots through the book. There is an arc where one of the characters is attacked by the world equivalent of a religious group for being gay. Another character suffered persecution due to magic in the past. One of the characters briefly discusses being a victim of slavery. Alcohol is present in many scenes and characters get drunk.thewellbitch's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Hate crime, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Bullying