Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

39 reviews

cristinacastillo's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

a_new_elisabeth's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

So many things I'd like to say. Most of them opinion based, which I don't typically share, but one I feel is important enough to mention.

This writer keeps brushing past any and all trauma. It happens, or you hear about it, then it never or almost never gets mentioned again. Your only friend gets raped at 13? How awful, but I have to talk with the rapist's son real quick. Let me abandon you in this hallway, byebye. And the next time I see this rapist? I don't even think once about the abuse my best friend suffered... I mean, what? Immanuelle is supposed to really care about the innocents, that's her entire motivation for everything, so I have to assume weird writing. Especially because this happens with all the tragedies. 

The plot for this book was really intriguing, so I'm open to giving this first time author a second chance, I can see her becoming better at her craft. Just, more on emotion on the page, please!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Homophobia, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

doomluz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Loved this historical, fantasy, horror mix. It reminds me of The VVitch film in aesthetic, but set in a world the author created. The themes were strong. I kind of get how it felt like a YA because of the love story, but I didn’t mind it.

I like that it connects and explicitly talks about the menstrual cycle. It shows how women are seen through their fertility, but it also connects it to a curse.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

irisfromthevillage's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

4.0

What I enjoyed most about the book was the setup and the atmosphere. Immanuelle was a great guide into Bethel’s society and I enjoyed following her lead. The book was 5 stars for me, until I got to the end. I would’ve liked a bigger pay off/twist. Still, the book is mysterious, tense, and swoops you up in it. Sidenote: per the recommendation of booktuber @megwithbooks, I read the book while listening to the Far Cry 5 game soundtrack. Highly recommend that!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Minor: Rape

lesbe_reader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Self harm, Misogyny, Gore, Death, Body horror, Blood, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

lauracousineau's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Domestic abuse

jenna0289's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Gore, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

gwen_c's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Minor: Pedophilia and Domestic abuse

booksthatburn's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Year Of The Witching ties together sexism, racism, and patriarchal religion into a dark and bloody horror story of a girl fighting to escape the constraints encircling her world since her birth. 

I have an active fear of childbirth and a general revulsion to portrayals of it. That means this won't be one I personally want to re-read, but if you don't have that aversion and you like horror, this book is fantastic (make sure to check the CWs). It takes a lot of elements common to cults and religious horror and turns them into a powerful personal story about engaging with legacy and standing against abusive systems. It never lets you forget that this is a horror novel, but there are stretches where the intensity abates to focus on quieter moments between characters. A lot of the horror is found in silence and complicity in the highly abusive system which dominates the MC's existence and guides most significant events in her life, while the high-stress moments are when she takes steps to challenge everything she's ever known. It rides a fine edge of discomfort, usually without becoming more than I could handle. 

I'm torn between wanting to re-read it and knowing that I'll have to be in a very calm space before I can handle reading it again, but horror fans should love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Blood, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Torture, and Pregnancy

Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Vomit

CW for vomit, blood, racism, mass death, mutilation, non-consensual relationships, sexual assault, pedophilia, domestic abuse, childbirth, animal death, plague, torture, major character death.