Reviews tagging 'Blood'

In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker

5 reviews

theespressoedition's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity

Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Death of parent

chelseylb1988's review

dark emotional medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Murder

caseythereader's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Thanks to Forever for the free advance copy of this book.

 - IN THE SHADOW GARDEN is cozy, magical, and heartbreaking.
- I loved following the saga of the Haywoods and the Bonners as they unraveled their own shadowy histories, and as love and magic bloomed.
- This book is such an interesting exploration of grief and memory, and whether it's better to remember or forget the pain, especially if it means forgetting the love, too.
- And I must note that there are some secondary queer characters, and I loved how warm and inclusive this story is for a book set in rural Kentucky. Queer folk are everywhere. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Blood, Child abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, and Domestic abuse

our_bookish_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-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

5.0

I really have a hard time writing this review. Not because the book is bad in any way, but because it was a fantastic adventure! 

• Told in multiple POV; present and past. The past is in italics, so it's super easy to decipher the timelines.
• Generations of green witches.
• Feuding families.
• Magic
• 2 whole decades lost to the entire city of Yarrow.
• A garden that takes pain away.
• Bourbon that makes you feel/relive things.

There is a lot going on in In the Shadow Garden, but it was a very quick read and I enjoyed it. Very reminiscent of Practical Magic.
At points it was a little difficult to keep track of some of the characters and which family they were connected to, thankfully the author provided a family tree.  The ending felt a bit rushed, but it was tied together very well and beautifully written otherwise.


Thank you Netgalley, Liz Parker and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Infidelity

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Vomit

sallenreads's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

First of all: the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous. I'm in awe. I preordered this book because I need it on my shelves.

Secondly: what's between the covers is equally gorgeous. We have a multigenerational story about (mostly) women as they sort through all of their trauma, most of which they don't even remember the source of. The descriptions of the shadow garden and grief and summertime in Kentucky were all lush and beautiful. And by the end, I was a complete and utter mess because I just had so many feelings all at once.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Sexual content