Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

15 reviews

kwthor's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

3.75


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abbymcclure's review

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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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risaleel's review

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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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jcruppert's review

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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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macliffe's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5


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crystalsparkles's review against another edition

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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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chandelierskies's review

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adventurous dark emotional tense slow-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

4.0


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nerdyfantasyreader's review

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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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koistyfishy's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

This is hauntingly beautiful…

I recently watched an interview with two authors and they touched on the topic about the main differences between writing for YA and writing for Adults and one aspect stuck with me that I absolutely loved. It stuck because to me it’s the quintessential line between the two and ultimately is the essence of this book and what makes this book so strong and striking to read.

The main aspect in YA is it’s about firsts: first kisses, first relationships and first experience. It’s also about taking those first major steps at finding who you are as a person as you live through these experiences. 

There is a simple quote from this book that stands out to me in its simplicity as it reinforces this aspect of firsts and really emphasised how characters can change as they learn the about world for themselves… 
“I’m sorry” I murder. “I’m sorry I was so ignorant…and wrong when I first came here”

I am not going to lie and say this was an easy book as there are moments in this book that are difficult to read. There were times I gasped out loud at outrage and had to put the book down for a moment to let the moments sink in. There were also times when I was incredibly angry at what I was reading… but I appreciate that the author did not shy away from describing atrocities or behaviour… so many authors ignore or don’t touch on it enough and knowing what we have in our own tainted history of the Holocaust and Apartheid and what horrendous acts occurred when racial and religious purity is concerned…real people are terrifying and not shying away from that in a book should be commended not punished.

What I didn’t like about this book is that it took very long to get to the end and the major action was the last few pages… it was very slice of lifey in aspects and I wasn’t sure where the plot was going until about 3/4 quarters into the book.

Overall very good book and happy to have picked it up… stepping right into book 2. 

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fireheart_2010's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad 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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