Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy

13 reviews

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

This book has an intriguing premise and gets off to a good start. The settings are beautifully described, and some of the minor characters are quite vividly drawn. But the vast similarities between Deirdre and Gracelynn, as well as the large chunks of Deirdre’s story that we're told in Gracelynn’s sections made me feel like I was reading the same book twice at once. I really liked how the story(ies) resolve, but I definitely slogged through the middle.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Classism, Confinement, Racism, Stalking, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Cancer, Fatphobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gun violence

Graphic: Religious trauma Moderate: Slut shaming

dae_as's review

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Child abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia

Minor: Sexual assault and Pedophilia

readmorbookz's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Self harm

teatunesandtales's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Child death, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infertility, Hate crime, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Infidelity, and Misogyny

Minor: Abortion and Classism

cowmingo's review

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Rape, Death, and Violence

Minor: Incest

redheadorganist's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Stalking, Murder, Lesbophobia, Cursing, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape

srivalli's review

dark medium-paced

3.75

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Atmospheric but drags a little

1931, Arkansas 

Nineteen-year-old Gracelynn helps her adoptive grandmother, a healer and a midwife, treat the citizens of Tin Mountain. The arrival of Reverand Bellflower triggers a series of events that determine her fate and that of the land. Can Gracelynn understand the truth from the past and acknowledge her powers to settle the scores forever? 

 The story is presented in two timelines, with the third as an interlude. The narration is in Gracelynn and Dierdre’s POVs in their respective timelines. 

What I Like: 

The book starts with a bang. The prologue and the first chapter are equally engrossing. The setting comes alive on the pages. It has a solid spooky atmosphere (but I need more power, considering the themes). 

Gracelynn is definitely easier to like. Her adopted granny does what a witchy granny would do. I rather like Ebba’s character arc, though Esme shows potential before fading away. 

The hypocrisy of villagers (and people in general) comes out very well in how they interact with Gracelynn. The references to natives and the fear of ‘witches’ (while still approaching them for help) really stand out. 

The book deals with LGBT themes using multiple characters. While it feels repetitive, it is cohesive and blends into the overall plotline. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me:

The premise requires both timelines to have certain similar events. However, too many elements feel the same in both. Given how temperamental the narrators sound, it gets confusing to keep the tracks separate in my mind. Somehow, using first-person and third-person POVs didn’t help much. 

While I like books that can be speed-read, my primary intent as a reader is to NOT speed-read and enjoy the story. But this one reads better when I up the pace, which points out the drawn-out narration in some places (things seem to go in circles at one stage). 

The climax is the key books like this. I want that impact to resonate and linger for a while. Here, the build-up is stronger than the actual climax. (I slowed to a normal pace to savor the scene, but it was done a little too soon). 

To summarize, The Witch of Tin Mountain is an atmospheric novel that presents witch trials with an interesting plot. The author’s note provides more insights into the story and the land. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheWicthofTinMountain 

*** 

P.S: Rating this was hard as I continued to waver between 3.5 and 3.7 stars. The theme is something I like, and the fact that I could speed-read without missing vital information makes it a 3.7-star book. So, here we go and round it up to 4 stars.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

rylee2157's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.75

I had this book in my TBR list waiting for it to release, and I checked my email the to find it was a first reads pick from Amazon. I read this in one sitting and it was fantastic.

" Hidden inside his grandfather’s trunk, the boy remains. And the book remembers. "

The dual timeline is set in 1881 and 1931 and follows two girls. I liked how the magic wasn't the main focus considering it was the premise of the book. The author did a great job of explaining everything as it went along (medicine, tinctures, a succubus etc.) without making it feel like a textbook.

" What the hell kind of name is Bellflower, anyway? "

It was almost a fairytale ending which wasn't bad but I wanted to be emotionally destroyed after reading it. Overall, I think it was a great book, it isn't advertised as a queer book but that is the underlying plot in some areas. It worked well, but again was a bit fairytale.

" “Life’s just one burden after another, till we die. But it’s the happy things—the good things—that make it all worthwhile. Things like kisses.” "

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Abortion, Bullying, Child death, Medical trauma, Rape, Death of parent, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Murder, and Cursing

mhairi_reads's review

dark mysterious 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? No

4.5

Do yourself an favour - DON’T READ THE BLURB - IT CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

A definite 5 star read❤️! If you love yourself a witchy tale I would highly recommend Paulette Kennedy’s The Witch of Tin Mountain.

Steeped in Ozark folklore this story was hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric. A fantastic work of historical fiction, dipped in horror and fantasy. Steeped in witchcraft, dark folklore and full of powerful women this book is bound to keep you turning the page and will stay with you long after you closed the book.

An unforgettable story of family, witchcraft, love and power. I read this bad boy in two days. This is a story you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

POV: Dual - Deirdre (YEAR) & Gracelynn (YEAR)

⚠️ Content Warnings: As provided by the author. References to child abuse and neglect (including sexual and physical abuse). Sexual assault, dubious sexual consent, self-harm/suicide, addiction, alcoholism, death and dying, racism, homophobia, murder, attempted murder, fire/arson, and abortion. 

Adoption, and childbirth are also mentioned within this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Bullying, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol

Minor: Abortion, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Infertility, and Child abuse

abi224_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Homophobia and Child death

Minor: Child abuse