Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa

12 reviews

j_nell's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

4.0

Protagonist was very whiny and very difficult to tolerate. Otherwise the plot was super cute and reasonable. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Alcohol, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia

ari_bryce's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad fast-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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

maresuju's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Stalking

Minor: Biphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Chronic illness

eggboybee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.5

I really enjoyed the first 3/4ths of this book, but after that, the pacing was all over the place.

Sclesa does a really great job of establishing the Salem atmosphere and explaining what "witchy" means without feeling like I was being hit over the head with it. I really liked that the focus of the coven was "this is a group of people who take care of each other and are connected to their surroundings" rather than "these teens think they're casting spells."

The way the narrative bounced between past and present felt really clean, and helped keep the tension even.

I also really appreciated that queerness was approachable but not overwhelming, and that characters' identities are allowed to be nebulous.

I read the audiobook narrated by Stacey Glemboski, and really enjoyed her work.

<Spoiler> If I found out my girlfriend was not only aware of a huge scandal in my past, but that it had been a driving force in her seeking me out, she would absolutely not be my girlfriend anymore. It was super unrealistic that Pix - who is previously a true believer in the human ability to communicate their intention - would be so dishonest about that!

Also, the quick resolution of "Aha, everyone doesn't actually hate me, it was just my anxiety all along!" made me feel cheated as a reader. I think there could have been a lot more foreshadowing about that to make Eleanor's acceptance that Chloe had been using her a way more natural progression.

Overall, I would have given this book 4 stars, up until the point where Eleanor realizes that the coven sent her the tarot book. I think it would have been way cleaner if Pix saw Eleanor's tarot guide for the first time when Eleanor found the draft of it. I don't think Pix should have known about Eleanor's past - the coven leader whose name I don't remember should have sent it to Eleanor as part of the larger effort that the coven was making to heal Salem. Pix should have asked Eleanor why the coven leader chose her, and Eleanor should have told Pix what happened, while the goth girl whose name I forget explained that Chloe was a manipulative creep. </Spoiler>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Minor: Emotional abuse

Chloe is actively manipulating Eleanor's emotions in an abusive way. There are multiple instances of teenage characters drinking to the point of illness.

powellki's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This book offers a strong perspective of how our negative thinking can warp our reality.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical content, Cursing, Violence, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Biphobia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Alcoholism, Blood, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

torikate7's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Bullying, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing and Emotional abuse

Minor: Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, Biphobia, and Drug use

tjazz's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Homophobia, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual assault

kyahfae's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Addiction, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Rape, Chronic illness, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

3.5

This is going to be the perfect October book, honestly! I loved the witchy vibes and the way that the story was framed overall by tarot cards. I learned a lot about tarot cards that I didn't know before, and I loved the setting of Salem. Given what Salem is associated with, seeing Eleanor's perspective and the way it's been made so commercial really gave the book a fall feel. I loved that.

There's a lot of a buildup in this book to something, but not a ton of resolution? A lot of the reviews on here are mad about the excessive marijuana smoking and it not being addressed, but that honestly didn't really bother me. I think I just wanted to see a little more of Eleanor's healing process there at the end; it overall just felt a little rushed to me.

But, if you're looking for a sapphic witchy book to read this fall, I'd definitely recommend this one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Rape

lizlogan's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

This book is unashamedly queer and shows great representations of witchcraft.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Abandonment, Grief, Stalking, Bullying, and Emotional abuse