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bookedandbusy's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book so much! Such a spooky and magical story. Can’t wait to rest the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book gave me The Owl House meets coming-of-age meets grief processing vibes and I loved it. The world building felt a bit slow to start for me, however once Frances's magic kicked in, the story picked up well. Once at Haxahaven, I chafed against the "boring" magic they were being taught along with Frances, Lena, and Maxine. What's the point in having this great and awesome power if you're just going to use it for chores?? But I also kept having to remind myself that, as said in the book, "The world doesn't like powerful women." Especially not back in the early 1900s.
To have a magic system that manifests in it's users after a traumatic experience was a powerful choice, and given the time frame the story is set in, traumatic experiences (especially for women and girls) abound. Frances's story was likely a similar and common one, unwelcome sexual advances by an older man, but then hearing stories like Lena's with the Indian school and being ripped away from her family like that; my heart ached. "What's the best way to kill an entire people? Take their children." And her response later in that scene when she "reclaimed" or at least restated that she was of her people (I listened to the audiobook, so I don't have the exact line to share), what a visceral moment. I started to tear up a bit in the car as I listened.
And the quasi-romance subplot with Finn and Oliver. Oh Frances, what options! Like Frances I, too, was taken by that sweet Irish brogue, mischievous smile, and sparkling eyes. But Oliver was such a solid choice too; steadfast, honest, and knew everything she'd been through, and had been just as heartbroken by losing William. Also the casual queer rep in the lovely kitchen witches as well as Maxine was lovely to see, even if it was swept a bit under the rug (which I also give a bit of a pass because, time period)
When Maxine told Frances "I don't trust him." (meaning Finn) I started to have some suspicions, since the sisters of Haxahaven always had each other's backs, especially when the chips were down. I wanted to trust Finn so much, and hearing he had been seeing Frances in his dreams for years had such a romantic air when he first shared it with her. And their date to Coney Island? So sweet!! But then when he just had the binding spell at the ready after the resurrection spell didn't work when Frances tried it alone, and when he didn't repeat the final binding words back to Frances, only for him to STEAL HER POWER FOR HIS OWN GAIN?? Readers, when I tell you I was LIVID and SEETHING on the couch as I listened to the complete change in character as he described his new world order. I was dumbstruck!! I raged with Frances and LOVED how the power of sisterhood was what ultimately brought him to his knees after the final fight at Haxahaven. That she ripped his power from him just has he had her, through the power of love and support from her coven.
I was so glad everyone survived, and that Frances and Oliver will have his time to convalesce to let her bring him up to speed on everything and what that means for them as a couple/pair in the next book. And then that epilogue??? The letter from Finn!! I'm at the same time, thrilled, terrified, and furious that he survived the final encounter and have no idea if his magic will be back the next time we see him, but I can't wait to find out!!
To have a magic system that manifests in it's users after a traumatic experience was a powerful choice, and given the time frame the story is set in, traumatic experiences (especially for women and girls) abound. Frances's story was likely a similar and common one, unwelcome sexual advances by an older man, but then hearing stories like Lena's with the Indian school and being ripped away from her family like that; my heart ached. "What's the best way to kill an entire people? Take their children." And her response later in that scene when she "reclaimed" or at least restated that she was of her people (I listened to the audiobook, so I don't have the exact line to share), what a visceral moment. I started to tear up a bit in the car as I listened.
And the quasi-romance subplot with Finn and Oliver. Oh Frances, what options! Like Frances I, too, was taken by that sweet Irish brogue, mischievous smile, and sparkling eyes. But Oliver was such a solid choice too; steadfast, honest, and knew everything she'd been through, and had been just as heartbroken by losing William. Also the casual queer rep in the lovely kitchen witches as well as Maxine was lovely to see, even if it was swept a bit under the rug (which I also give a bit of a pass because, time period)
I was so glad everyone survived, and that Frances and Oliver will have his time to convalesce to let her bring him up to speed on everything and what that means for them as a couple/pair in the next book. And then that epilogue??? The letter from Finn!! I'm at the same time, thrilled, terrified, and furious that he survived the final encounter and have no idea if his magic will be back the next time we see him, but I can't wait to find out!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Minor: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Stalking, Misogyny, Classism, Sexism, Violence, Abandonment, and Gun violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Colonisation, and Sexual assault
tessduets's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I’m giving this book such a high rating simply because of the vibes, lol. While it isn’t one of the best books I’ve ever read, I just enjoyed it so much and it was really fun. Scratches the Harry Potter itch just a little with a side of dark academia. However was surprised by the almost SA, for a YA book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Blood, Murder, Death, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Confinement, Racism, Gore, Vomit, and Sexual violence
Minor: Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual content
caitlin_doggos's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, and Forced institutionalization
elizajaquays's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? N/A
3.5
3.5 rounded up to 4
It's the early 1900s, and Frances Hallowell is a seventeen year old seamstress reeling from the loss of her older brother who was murdered. One night, when her boss attacks her in the empty shop, something Frances can't explain happens and her boss ends up dead. Before the police can cart her away on a murder charge, she is taken by two nurses to HaxaHaven "sanitarium," but it's not a sanitarium at all, but a school for witches. Magic ensues.
There is a lot to like about this book! I thought the writing was simplistic, but beautiful. The vibes of the writing reminded me a bit of one of my favorite authors, Sarah Waters. I wrote down a ton of quotes from this in my reading journal. The side characters, particularly Frances' friends at the school, were probably the highlight for me. I appreciated that Haxahaven is a place that includes people from all backgrounds and identities (more on that later). This book was easy to get lost in and by the end of it, I was excited to read the sequel (releasing in October 2022).
I have some qualms though, and I wish I didn't. This was going to be a 5 star, and then a 4 star, and then a 3.5. Hear me out. While this book has characters from diverse backgrounds and identities, I don't believe that you can claim that this book is incredibly diverse. If the non-white , non-straight characters took center stage at any point, you could. However, that never happens. Two of the non-white or non-straight characters get significant page time, but only in relation to the white main character. At the end of the book, we get a bonus chapter about a lesbian character in the book, and while that's great, it would've been nice to see her actually get to be queer outside of passing mentions of it and then just that one chapter.
Another thing that cost this book a star was the twist. I hated it. I felt as betrayed as anyone else in the book did. I normally wouldn't take off a star for a plot point, but I feel VERY strongly about it, and that's why I'm doing it.
Despite my qualms, I really did like this book and I am interested in the sequel.
It's the early 1900s, and Frances Hallowell is a seventeen year old seamstress reeling from the loss of her older brother who was murdered. One night, when her boss attacks her in the empty shop, something Frances can't explain happens and her boss ends up dead. Before the police can cart her away on a murder charge, she is taken by two nurses to HaxaHaven "sanitarium," but it's not a sanitarium at all, but a school for witches. Magic ensues.
There is a lot to like about this book! I thought the writing was simplistic, but beautiful. The vibes of the writing reminded me a bit of one of my favorite authors, Sarah Waters. I wrote down a ton of quotes from this in my reading journal. The side characters, particularly Frances' friends at the school, were probably the highlight for me. I appreciated that Haxahaven is a place that includes people from all backgrounds and identities (more on that later). This book was easy to get lost in and by the end of it, I was excited to read the sequel (releasing in October 2022).
I have some qualms though, and I wish I didn't. This was going to be a 5 star, and then a 4 star, and then a 3.5. Hear me out. While this book has characters from diverse backgrounds and identities, I don't believe that you can claim that this book is incredibly diverse. If the non-white , non-straight characters took center stage at any point, you could. However, that never happens. Two of the non-white or non-straight characters get significant page time, but only in relation to the white main character. At the end of the book, we get a bonus chapter about a lesbian character in the book, and while that's great, it would've been nice to see her actually get to be queer outside of passing mentions of it and then just that one chapter.
Another thing that cost this book a star was the twist. I hated it. I felt as betrayed as anyone else in the book did. I normally wouldn't take off a star for a plot point, but I feel VERY strongly about it, and that's why I'm doing it.
Despite my qualms, I really did like this book and I am interested in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Murder, Death, Classism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, and Violence
faitherslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
breekeeler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I loved the premise of this book, and the opening few chapters were phenomenal. I was immediately hooked and so excited to explore the world and magic system. Sadly, I didn't get much development of any of that. Because the book is written from the perspective of someone who is also completely uninformed about the magical universe she finds herself in, we are given very little information as readers as the story progresses. I would have loved so much more about the world and the way magic works in it. I also desperately wanted any of the side characters to be meaningfully developed. Maxine and Leena are intriguing characters, and I wanted to know more about them. There was potential here, but the focus on Florence and the murder mystery really hampered the story's ability to explore the richness of the world or to make interesting plot choices.
The middle of the book dragged so much that I almost didn't make it through. Florence, the main character, is incredibly obnoxious, and the middle third of the book is just her wandering around complaining about everything with no real purpose or agency. She has some emotional justification for her attitude since she's still grieving, but I would have liked to see so much more in that regard. Because all of her motivations are selfish (until the very end of the book) and don't actually acknowledge the circumstances of her arrival at the school, her annoyance with the school is grating.
The ending is dramatic, but entirely unearned since there is zero character development for Florence and we have very limited information about the other characters in the book. And any twists it contains could be seen a mile off. It also involves a last minute attempt to shift Florence's actions from selfish to community-oriented, but that just didn't feel believable at all. Throughout the book she repeatedly demonstrates that she does not care about anyone else, and by the point in the story that we are supposed to believe everyone at the school stands behind her, she hascaused her classmates to lose the stipends going to their families, accused several people at the school of murdering people, literally killed the headmistress, and, admittedly unintentionally, created the circumstances for a coup, a massacre, and attacks on all of her fellow students. Yet everyone just shrugs as if that's fine and pledges their love and support. It felt like none of the consequences of her actions or choices were treated with any seriousness, even though they often were incredibly serious for everyone around her.
The middle of the book dragged so much that I almost didn't make it through. Florence, the main character, is incredibly obnoxious, and the middle third of the book is just her wandering around complaining about everything with no real purpose or agency. She has some emotional justification for her attitude since she's still grieving, but I would have liked to see so much more in that regard. Because all of her motivations are selfish (until the very end of the book) and don't actually acknowledge the circumstances of her arrival at the school, her annoyance with the school is grating.
The ending is dramatic, but entirely unearned since there is zero character development for Florence and we have very limited information about the other characters in the book. And any twists it contains could be seen a mile off. It also involves a last minute attempt to shift Florence's actions from selfish to community-oriented, but that just didn't feel believable at all. Throughout the book she repeatedly demonstrates that she does not care about anyone else, and by the point in the story that we are supposed to believe everyone at the school stands behind her, she has
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual assault