Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy

6 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

georgiabee's review

emotional 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

I really enjoyed this book. The switching POVs weaved together interesting story elements and illustrated the parallels between the characters despite the 50 year time difference. The characters voices are very similar, but I found that the switch between Deirdre's 3rd person narration and Gracelynn’s 1st person narration made it easier for me to keep details straight between the two storylines and I never had to go back to figure out whose chapter I was reading. While it did require a little suspension of disbelief,

I did like how it turned out that all the women were tied together by blood, and connected by their experiences with Bellflower.

The writing is beautiful! This book gave me a new appreciation for the dictionary/wikipedia capabilities on Kindle — I got to learn about different herbs and gained some shiny new vocab words! Also, gay witches!!!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Violence, Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Racism

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

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

jenmcreads's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book was a wonderful and immersive read. The sense of setting is extremely vivid and atmospheric, and it is clear the author writes from a lot of deep knowledge and respect for the region. I found the voices of the women to be distinct and nuanced. The gender dynamics of the book were very moving, particularly the difficulties of queer love in the times this book was set (1881 and 1931, primarily). The folkloric style of the magic involved felt right to the setting and the story. I loved this book, and look forward to its release date so I have others to discuss it with!

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Medical content, Abortion, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Incest, Misogyny, Death of parent, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Outing, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Infidelity