Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies by Misha Popp

8 reviews

nathan_ryan's review

dark medium-paced

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

1.75

It was a mystery without any suspense. It was a romance without any tension. It was just all either really predictable or questions would resolve the page after they’re asked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Death of parent

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

Quick Synopsis: When Daisy is threatened with her "murder" pie business of abusive men being exposed, she finds a family she didn't think she needed or wanted, and maybe even a significant other. She finally discovered that maybe what she thought was evil was justice.

 Quick Review:
   I LOVE this book! The feminism, the Buffy references, the dark humor mixed with emotional depth! Just *a chef's kiss* I can't wait to read the next book! I also loved the mythos of her family's magic.

The one thing I didn't understand was why she didn't just tell her half-brother that their dad had turned into an addict who was causing so much pain and suffering. It may or may not have helped.

  I also loved the thinly veiled President Donnelly discussions!

Narrator Rating:  4.5 stars
   The narrator did an excellent job, but some voices were annoying. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

mandareads222's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Sexual harassment

alicelalicon's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death

lulu_canread's review

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

Magic Lies and Deadly Pies is a fantastic, cosy mystery about our entrepid magical pie girl, Daisy, who not only runs a pie business, but has a side hustle in murder. The mystery of this story is not how Daisy makes her magic pies infused with emotions, but on who is blackmailing her with information about her customers and the victims they order pie for. 
This is a fun, mostly lighthearted story with a great sense of humour and a strong message about empowering domestic abuse victims and not letting 'victim' define who they are. While some of the dialogue is a little awkward at parts, and the ending was a little predictable. This is still a fun read with a great change of the typical cosy, baking mystery tropes.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Minor: Murder and Sexual harassment

This book does contain mentions of domestic abuse (central to the plot of the story), along with some misogyny and mentions of addiction/alcoholism.

le_mur's review against another edition

dark lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, and Death of parent

idun_aurora's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

This book ticked many of my boxes. Cozy murder, mystery, HBTIQ+ and feminist themes, some romance, a sprinkle of magic, mouthwatering descriptions of pastries, and a cute dog. There are even recipes! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

The book is quite lighthearted, but deals with the listed CW's seriously, skilfully balancing the heavy content with, well, really cozy baking.

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

“To everyone working to dismantle the pastry-archy in their own way.”

 

Synopsis: Daisy Ellery is your friendly local vigilante pie lady, on her mission to exact justice on behalf of wronged parties through magical pies. 

I actually read this book in mid-April, but I’ve been holding off writing this review forever because I just loved this book so much and wanted to do it justice! This was such a fun read, I loved Daisy with her compassionate energy mixed with a whole lot of snark. 

This was such a unique spin on a cozy read, as there were strong feminist threads weaved throughout and an interesting examination of how principles of restorative justice could look (albeit with a magical bent). This book deals with some pretty serious issues though, so be sure to check out the content warnings. 

As well, while there are romances in this book, including some queer rep, this definitely takes a back seat to the larger storyline of Daisy’s magical pie business and mysterious blackmailer.

A final tip while reading this book: Don’t read this while you’re hungry! The descriptions of all the pies (yes, I would like a cutie pie) will have your mouth watering, and Misha Popp so graciously offers up some much needed recipes at the end. I can’t wait to see more in the Pies Before Guys series!

Pick this one up if you love: 

• the Finlay Donovan series or quirky, murdery leads
• Baking/baking competition shows
• Books that blend genres 

Thanks Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment