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lildark1's review against another edition
- 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
I wish I had picked it up sooner. This is one of the best books I've read in a very long time.
The world building in this story is some of the best I've seen. I love how Harrow takes what is familiar (nursery rhymes and children stories) and gives them more meaning and gravitas and fits them into this world flawlessly. The three sisters were so well flushed out and flawed and lovable. Their character arcs of not only coming into their own power, but their power of being sisters, was a huge part of the book, though the outside forces that kept trying to stop them was equally dangerous.
The diversity of this book was also extremely refreshing. There are different races, sexuality, and walks of life. Since this takes place back in the 1800s there is quite a bit of racism, homophobia, and the sisters have to deal with their own privileges and thoughts challenged and they grow from this.
Despite the fantasy and alternate reality setting of the story, a lot of it still rings true for now. The desire to come into one's power, a want for better for yourself and your loved ones, and being constantly ground down by people (more often then not men) in higher power who only are looking out for their own gains.
This story left me with a feeling of hope and a desire to find my own ways and circle.
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment
ali_k0's review against another edition
- 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
In the ashes of Old Salem is New Salem, a city free from witches and where every street is named after a saint, and hidden in those streets are women who have held on to the dying dregs of witchcraft by weaving it into their quilts and whispering it in each other's ears. All dream of a time where they have more then penny pinching and abusive husbands, but with the exception of low level house magic there is little left for them to use.
But the sufferage movement has women organizing, talking out of shadows, and the winds have blown three sisters back into the city. The sisters alone won't be enough to bring back the Lost Way, but with their new sisters (and romances) they'll find the way.
This book is for every spitfire with a habit for finding trouble, girls who draw their circles large enough for only themselves, anyone whose ever dreamed of being a magic librarian (I know I'm not the only one) or anyone looking for a story about organizing, finding a way when there's a will, and the power of intersectional allyship.
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Genocide, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Ableism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, and Alcoholism
littki's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Abandonment, Misogyny, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood, Religious bigotry, Racism, Police brutality, Abortion, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Violence, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Rape, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, and Transphobia
lemonwrlds's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Abortion, Abandonment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Classism, Colonisation, Torture, Animal death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Slavery, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Stalking, Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, Sexual content, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Grief, Self harm, War, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
calicat42's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Self harm, and Suicide
jnl0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Excrement, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Abandonment, Blood, Classism, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion, Racism, and Sexual harassment
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
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.
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
kickitupanotch7's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
abicaro17's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Classism, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Transphobia, Racism, Police brutality, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gore, Gaslighting, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Suicide, Misogyny, and Homophobia
llamallama527's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Racism, Murder, Grief, Child abuse, Police brutality, Blood, Abortion, Death, Cursing, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry