Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

234 reviews

spilled's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Kidnapping, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Body horror

It is part of witch lore that they are all orphans, and parent death is mentioned in passing throughout. Main female character has had people (former caregivers and a boyfriend) take advantage of her witchy skills in toxic ways. Main male character experienced physical abuse as a child at the hands of his brothers after his father died. A secondary character has a natural death pre-narrative, but there is discussion of burying her, unburying her, and animating her bones. A minor character is locked in a tool shed and has his memories modified.

gnukiwi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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: Sexual content and Physical abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Classism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Cursing

Minor: Murder and Racism

nicospitsjive's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

I think this is probably a 4 star book for folks who truly enjoy this genre, I'm exploring to see if it's for me, and I believe it may not be. Really sweet and fun! Moments of emotion peeking through at times. Would make a great film, it almost felt like reading an adaptation of one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Death of parent

bemaline's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent

mairead_parade's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

3.0

This is pretty much a TJ Klune book, which is not a bad thing, I just kept hoping it would surprise me a bit more. (If, on the other hand, you enjoyed this and have somehow not read Klune, you’re missing out). It’s sweet, cozy and peripherally Christmas-y, and the characters are very lovable - it is a pleasant if not especially challenging read. The audio narrator was quite good, especially in differentiating the three children without getting too cloying. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and Child abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Homophobia

rorikae's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

'The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches' by Sangu Mandanna is a cozy fantasy about one witch finding the family she's always dreamed of. 
Mika Moon lives alone, isolated from other witches but using her 'magical abilities' on her YouTube channel. But one day she gets a strange request in her inbox. She has been invited to tutor three young witches living under the watchful eye of a few people in an isolated house. Mika takes up the offer but the girls and the situation surrounding them may be more than she can handle. 
Mandanna does an excellent job of creating a whole cast of characters that it is easy to care for. They each have their our faults and positive traits that makes them easy to love. Mika and her background in particular, make her easy to root for, especially as she starts to believe she's found a family after so long. The plot itself isn't overly complex but I think this book is best for people looking for something with a lot of heart and coziness. I do wish that more time was spent with the three girls. Their dynamic with Mika was wonderful to see. This book is a great read for the cozier, winter months and there is even a scene during the Winter Solstice. I'm very excited for the second book in this series as this was a truly cozy, heartwarming book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Racism

thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

This book has been on my fall TBR since it published, and it absolutely delivered on the promise of a cozy fall read! This is such a feel-good book with a lovely English setting and a charming cast of characters. At times, it does suffer from having too many characters, but each of them is so lovely and feels so fully realized that it's hard to stay mad about it. 
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here! 
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol

lunep's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Abandonment, and Classism

thekeyescollection's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a very welcome softer read.  It had the found family, the magic, life passions/ambitions, the kids were cute, and let's not forget the swoony words!

I don't know if I would change the rating if I reread it but since it's the first in a series I will continue when more books are released, there's a chance.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, Confinement, Outing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence