Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

74 reviews

suz_n_van's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse

nieenkee's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Child death, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Rape, and Blood

oesterzwamsnack's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Torture, Death, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury

meowster18's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Blood

Moderate: Gaslighting and Racism

Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, and Rape

mooshake's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Blood, Racism, and Body shaming

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

albon's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Animal death, Rape, and Animal cruelty

sdsmith80's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

***Spoilers***

I put this book on hold because it was a book club pick, although I didn't get it in time to participate. I'm always a fan of religious horror though, so was somewhat looking forward to this. My first thoughts with it were that Bethel has shades of the FLDS and other local sects that subjugate women. I was pretty sure that the author was going to make the point that women are oppressed to strip them of their power, and that the witches would ultimately be forces of good. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book has a level of nuance in its characters, and the battle between good and evil, that isn't normally seen. I'll let the author tell it in their own words:

"Some of them were innocent, others complicit; still more were caught in the gray between right and wrong. Few were wholly blameless, and none were free of sin."

The fact that in the end, the witches weren't good, although their actions weren't fully evil either, was such a good choice. I truly loved the fact that everything in the end comes down to the choices of the characters. While I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed in places, the hopeful note I think was the perfect tone to leave on.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Xenophobia

pagesofash's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Blood

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Rape

jessn13's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Rather dark story about a puritanical community buried deep in a history of using religion as an excuse for systemic problems of violence and abuse. I enjoyed the main character development from a follower to a leader, and thought the story was one about the power of feminism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Religious bigotry, Racism, Violence, Gore, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse

erkietheturkey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, and Confinement

Minor: Medical content