Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

5 reviews

craftysnailtail's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I could see a certain type of person really loving this book, but it absolutely wasn't for me. The neverending tragic backstory reveals felt incredibly tropey. Show me a woman in this novel and she will be "strong" because she survived so much abuse. Everything in this book was traumatic, depressing, and often ended poorly for all the women involved. I understand the fight against injustice, but it felt too heavy handed for me. 

3.5 stars because the plot was interesting (though far too drawn out), and I enjoyed how magical knowledge is passed down through generations. I even liked the sisters themselves. But for a book with witches and lesbians, I thought I would've enjoyed it much more than I did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Sexism, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

Moderate: Outing, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Alcoholism, Grief, Sexual assault, Murder, Transphobia, Racism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Classism, Abandonment, Abortion, and Addiction

eve_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The maiden/mother/crone metaphor can be hit or miss in most witchy tales. I LOVE that Harrow uses it to explore how differing phases of life and priorities may affect the ways women relate to the suffragist movement.

⁕ Harrow’s style is very unique. She mashes together the extremely poeticized language of traditional western fairytales with quirky, sometimes vulgar dialogue. For some this may be an acquired taste, but I found it to be both hilarious and refreshing.

⁕ I appreciate that Harrow approaches feminism from an intersectional lens. HOWEVER, the story is still presented from mainly a white, western European perspective. Characters that deviate from this narrative feel haphazardly thrown in to advance the plot for the 3 sisters and aren’t given the in-depth arcs and development they deserve.

To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Police brutality, Sexual violence, and Violence

smoothgoat's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Racism, and Torture

Minor: Abortion, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Miscarriage, Slavery, Transphobia, Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Colonisation, Infidelity, Outing, Rape, and Sexual content

mo345's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

lais's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• 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: Death, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence

Minor: Torture, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Hate crime, Cursing, Alcoholism, and Addiction