Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

The House Witch by Delemhach

10 reviews

emerentina's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Blood, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Violence, Child death, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Addiction, Racial slurs, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: War

torturedreadersdept's review

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Classism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

Minor: Miscarriage and Biphobia

wanderonwards's review

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

I loved the concept of a male domestic witch, especially one working as a royal cook! I'm also excited to see more slice-of-life, low stakes fantasy. However, this was originally webfic and it still reads like something that was written in installments rather than one cohesive narrative, and some chapters with different POVs really read like filler rather than building depth or advancing the plot. While the premise was wonderful, the novel would have benefited from more polishing and a sensitivity read for some problematic things. My biggest issues were with the supporting characters (of which many felt like caricatures rather than developed individuals) and the world building (which acknowledged that things like homophobia, sexism, and strict class divides were awful and shouldn't exist in the world...but then went ahead and included them anyway and didn't satisfactorily address them).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Classism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood

hopemays_library's review

funny lighthearted relaxing 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

Finlay Ashowan is a witch who has a skewed self perception of not being aligned with a particular element. His talent appears to be more domestic than elemental. He is what's known as a house witch. He has an awareness of what makes people comfortable and what foods they crave and can heal them. His powers only extend to what he considers the borders of his home, and they're as strong as his home is large. Finlay Ashowan just became the cook for the kingdom of Daxaria. Not only is FIn learning more about his abilities but he is also learning that he doesn't have to spend his life in a lonely solitude. 

Fin knows the rough history witches have with being hunted and abused for their powers. His estranged father and teacher have taught him that deficient and mutant witches such as himself are insignificant, and that's something that gives him an affinity for others who are being abused or are hurt. So he tries to keep to himself all the while quietly seeing to the comfort and safety of the people around him. However, Fin soon finds  a family and home that has grown around him. He even learns that he is worthy enough to fight for those he loves.

This is a medium paced, cozy, and light hearted book. The author did a wonderful job creating strong characters with depth and complexity who learn to truly be themselves throughout the story. The book is somewhat diverse, with a couple of gay and bi characters, and several cultures are represented. It should be noted that though Daxaria accepts LGBT+ there are still people there in one religion who are awful about it and at one point attack someone over it. This happens offscreen and they are dealt with, but it does happen. It's part of a pattern of hurt people being defended by a growing circle of people, meant more to show that as unacceptable, and the growing friendships and acceptance between the characters.

The book ends at a good spot, if you wish to not read books 2 and 3, you could easily call it a happy ending. However, I'm very intrigued to see how the next chapter of fins story unfolds!

 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, and Homophobia

It should be noted that though Daxaria accepts LGBT+ there are still people there in one religion who are awful about it and at one point attack someone over it. This happens offscreen and they are dealt with, but it does happen. There is also murder and abuse depicted but its all part of the character development

chrisljm's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.0

Really enjoyed the book when I first started reading, and the coziness it evoked, but it started feeling dragged out after half way. I think it could’ve been improved with less side stories and more investment in showing the romance develop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Xenophobia, Stalking, Infertility, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Medical content, and Homophobia

Minor: War, Religious bigotry, Murder, Racial slurs, and Sexual content

lackyducks's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted slow-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

5.0

This book was engaging from start to end. On the first page, when Fin is introduced, he makes a big impression. His characterisation makes him a delight to read as he stands off against other characters. He's the lovable asshole written right, and this is only cemented as the book continues and you learn more about him and see him soften. As a neurodivergent person, I saw a lot of my own traits in him.

The rest of the characters similarly are quick to become favourites. The kitchen aides are funny and it's heartwarming to watch them grow and learn throughout the story. There's a lot of side relationships that switch and change throughout the story. Even the antagonists are written well, intimidating in the scenes they appear but still multidimensional.

Despite the light-hearted and humourous nature of the book, there's also darkness to balance it out. The story follows a country on the verge of war, with all the court drama and political espionage that comes with it. We also delve into Fin's backstory, discovering his origins and how they are coming back to haunt him.

The main romance took a while to grow on me, and the 'will they won't they' dominates the latter half of the book. But I found the conclusion to this enjoyable and look forward to seeing how the relationship develops in the sequels. Both of the characters keep the core aspects of their personality whilst learning to make room for the other.

The worldbuilding for the magic is basic and understandable, built on the elements. There are ruling covens that play a minor role in the plot. A level of depth, though, comes from the mutations away from the four elements and the realisation Fin may be a lot more powerful than first appears.

Also, the cat has his own point of view and political drama. This is with an entirely separate cast of characters (cats) whilst still tying into the main plot. It's incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, War, Bullying, Violence, Alcohol, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Slavery and Body shaming

One of the main characters is pregnant and has suffered miscarriages before, which is one of the key plots through the book. There is an arc where one of the characters is attacked by the world equivalent of a religious group for being gay. Another character suffered persecution due to magic in the past. One of the characters briefly discusses being a victim of slavery. Alcohol is present in many scenes and characters get drunk.

Fin was abused as a child by his father, as was his mother. There is a scene including this. He was also discriminated against by his teacher for the strength of his magic. Another character is violently threatened by her brother frequently throughout the book.

strange_little_ranger's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Sexism, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and War

princesspumpkinhead10's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Bullying

the sexual harassment was handled well

krisalexcole's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Body shaming

purplepenning's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

Hmm.…nope. This was a great idea with excellent potential and some genuinely interesting and endearing characters. The plotting and pacing need quite a bit of work, however. The end is not nearly as satisfying or resolved as it should be for a book this length and the description of book two isn't particularly promising in that regards. There's also an uncomfortable thread of humor running through it that uses homophobia, sexual assault and harassment, and binge drinking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Alcohol, Classism, and Hate crime

Moderate: Medical content, Outing, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Vomit, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Bullying, Biphobia, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse, War, Miscarriage, and Racism