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cyan_altaria'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Addiction, and Chronic illness
Minor: Vomit, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Homophobia, and Alcohol
irisestacansado's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.5
I really, really wanted to like this book, and for the most part I did. However, the use of the predatory lesbian trope made me uncomfortable and I found myself having to skip through some parts. I feel like the conflict between Eleanor and Chloe could have been created without Eleanor becoming the predatory lesbian - Harrison was already spreading that she was an obsessed lesbian, perhaps on her walks she didn't stop at Chloe's house, but he spread the rumor that she did, if the trope was completely necessary
I also didn't enjoy the depiction of Chloe as a kind of discount bisexual and as some other negative interpretations. This story relied on using tired tropes to further characters, including having a manic pixie dream girl (albeit sapphic), which made it feel a little dull. However, the MC has an interesting family life, and I appreciate a relatively healthy non-nuclear family being depicted.
I was drawn into this book, finishing the audiobook in a day, and I enjoyed the shorter chapters about the major arcana framing the themes of the chapter after it. The ideas shown about paganism and witchcraft were also really nice to read about.
I also didn't enjoy the depiction of Chloe as a kind of discount bisexual and as some other negative interpretations. This story relied on using tired tropes to further characters, including having a manic pixie dream girl (albeit sapphic), which made it feel a little dull. However, the MC has an interesting family life, and I appreciate a relatively healthy non-nuclear family being depicted.
I was drawn into this book, finishing the audiobook in a day, and I enjoyed the shorter chapters about the major arcana framing the themes of the chapter after it. The ideas shown about paganism and witchcraft were also really nice to read about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Stalking, Infidelity, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying
Minor: Toxic relationship and Sexual assault
e_flah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eleanor is trying to navigate her relatively new lonely life in Salem after a fallout with her former best friend, Chloe. When she receives a mysterious tarot book at the gift store she works at, it seems like Eleanor's life may be starting to change for the better.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches does a great job balancing a lot of interesting storylines. There's Eleanor's relationship with her mom, a very sweet romance, an interrogation of past trauma, and new friendships to navigate. These storylines came together to make Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches feel like a slice-of-life contemporary with a wonderful hint of magic.
I was a bit surprised by how heavy parts of this book are. (view spoiler) The romance between Eleanor and Pix was a nice counter-balance to the heavier parts of the story without attempting to erase them, which was well done.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches was an atmospheric slice-of-life contemporary that blurs the lines between reality and magic. If you're looking for a book that addresses a lot of themes well while also being a tightly-plotted story, this is definitely the book for you.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches does a great job balancing a lot of interesting storylines. There's Eleanor's relationship with her mom, a very sweet romance, an interrogation of past trauma, and new friendships to navigate. These storylines came together to make Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches feel like a slice-of-life contemporary with a wonderful hint of magic.
I was a bit surprised by how heavy parts of this book are. (view spoiler) The romance between Eleanor and Pix was a nice counter-balance to the heavier parts of the story without attempting to erase them, which was well done.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches was an atmospheric slice-of-life contemporary that blurs the lines between reality and magic. If you're looking for a book that addresses a lot of themes well while also being a tightly-plotted story, this is definitely the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Chronic illness, and Bullying
Minor: Stalking and Sexual assault
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Abandonment, Grief, Stalking, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
suspicioussherbet4's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault
qraveline's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Stalking, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting
aiyam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
There is nothing I love more than a good high school lesbian relationship, Pix and Eleanor absolutely hit the spot in this book. Kate Scelsa is an amazing author, I will absolutely be coming back for more of her books.
The format of this book is so fun. There is a different tarot card before each chapter, along with a small description of what the card represents. As someone who knows next to nothing about tarot I loved this. The book is rather fast paced which I enjoyed, there is no real filler and I was on the edge of my seat trying to uncover the secrets Eleanor was hiding from the reader. She is definitely a sympathetic main character, before I knew what it was she had done wrong I absolutely was on her side.
The story line is a bit more depressing than I had been expecting. The buildup to the reveal of what exactly went down between Eleanor and Chloe is appropriately done, I really felt drawn in. When the reveal happens I was honestly in shock, but I think that having a protagonist who is not one hundred percent in the right is important. It toed the line of forgivable in my book, but Scelsa did an amazing job of writing it and showing everyone as people. And as we all know, people are never the clear cut villains or heroes that we would like them to be.
Overall, I would recommend this book with no hesitations. I hope to see more in this vein from the author.
The format of this book is so fun. There is a different tarot card before each chapter, along with a small description of what the card represents. As someone who knows next to nothing about tarot I loved this. The book is rather fast paced which I enjoyed, there is no real filler and I was on the edge of my seat trying to uncover the secrets Eleanor was hiding from the reader. She is definitely a sympathetic main character, before I knew what it was she had done wrong I absolutely was on her side.
The story line is a bit more depressing than I had been expecting. The buildup to the reveal of what exactly went down between Eleanor and Chloe is appropriately done, I really felt drawn in. When the reveal happens I was honestly in shock, but I think that having a protagonist who is not one hundred percent in the right is important. It toed the line of forgivable in my book, but Scelsa did an amazing job of writing it and showing everyone as people. And as we all know, people are never the clear cut villains or heroes that we would like them to be.
Overall, I would recommend this book with no hesitations. I hope to see more in this vein from the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness
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