Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

19 reviews

abbymcclure's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.0

Similar to Harry Potter (at a school, an evil force coming into power, main characters parents no longer around)  but with huge focus on systematic issues, including racism, sexism, and homophobia. 

I really struggled with the main character for the first half of this book but that is kind of the point. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Classism, and War

Minor: Homophobia

risaleel's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: Trafficking, Blood, and War

jcruppert's review

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Mental illness, Death of parent, Gore, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Animal death, Classism, War, Death, Physical abuse, and Self harm

vdspreads's review

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Why aren't more folks talking about this book? I am several years behind, but once I picked it up. I could not put it down. Laurie Forest's world and character building are glorious. 

The commentary on religious zealots and government policy is front and center in this adventure that leads to rebellion. Other themes include racism with supremacy, misogyny, and sexuality. Forest's storytelling combines all these through the lens of discovery for Elloren, her siblings, and friends.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Xenophobia, Torture, Slavery, Misogyny, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, and Racism

Moderate: Animal cruelty

Minor: Homophobia

mlottermoser's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Great world building, solid magic system, and believable creature classes. Immersive political background moves the story along. 
Sheltered “chosen child” goes to University only to be treated as an outsider and imposter. Her eyes are opened when she realizes people are not as she is taught in school. 

TW: Light kissing and barbaric treatment of lower classes. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Racial slurs

Minor: Religious bigotry, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Animal death

r_clark's review

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Animal cruelty

Minor: Homophobia

crystalsparkles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Slavery, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Bullying, Death of parent, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Racism, War, Murder, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Genocide, and Medical trauma

intothestarrysea's review

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

In a world with all magical races, the premise is basically: what if Hitler won, and his granddaughter who’s supposed to inherit his magical power slowly realizes that her family and race/species are, well… Nazis. 

It started out really rough (I mean, the MC is super privileged and doesn’t realize her race are Nazis), but I’m surprised at the character growth. Elleoren seldom has the “right” reaction and makes a lot of mistakes, but she grows. 

Still not a fan of the author’s writing style though. I really wanted to edit this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Slavery, Homophobia, Colonisation, Bullying, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, and Racism

nerdyfantasyreader's review

adventurous mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

I cannot put into words how amazing this book is!
The world building is phenomenal! The characters and their development is fantastic. I loved watching Elloren's character and others evolve to what they were at the end. Fallon and Elloren's banter makes you hate Fallon but love the depth of her character and Elloren. The suspense and small plot twists were immaculate! It doesn't feel like you are reading 600 pages, it is so fast paced, however you understand everything that is happening and don't get lost.
This book reminds me a lot of the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling from the setting of the University to Fallon Bane being like a female version of Draco Malfoy. It also reminds me a lot of The Empirium Trilogy by Claire Legrand with the angels and Iracnals to the complex religion along with the ancient prophecy that surrounds the main characters. If you like either of these books read this!!!
If I could rate this 100/5 stars on this app I would! This book I'd such a delight and I cannot wait to see where The Iron Flower takes Elloren and her friends. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Bullying

frantically's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

2.25

NHIE understood why fantasy authors have this burning desire to replicate the Nazi regime and manage to do it terribly every. single time. Please leave writing about The Third Reich to the historians and the victims.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Religious bigotry, Self harm, War, Bullying, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Murder, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Torture

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence