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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
211 reviews
horizonous's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Very whimsical and magical with a cast of loveable characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Bullying
Minor: Blood, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
maeverose's review against another edition
5.0
I love this so much
I feel so stupid for ever thinking I wasn’t interested in this book. I don’t tend to like romance genre books, so I found it so refreshing that this completely subverts all the tropes I hate in romance. They actually communicate. I could cry. The third act conflict is a completely understandable conflict and is resolved quickly. There’s absolutely zero pettiness between the love interests. And it has tropes I like! Grumpy / sunshine!! Semi-dislike to love!!! I’m actually screaming internally. This was so good.
It’s definitely cozy fantasy, but it does have stakes and plot (which I personally prefer). It’s very much a comfort book.
I loved all the characters, they all had distinct personalities and quirks. They’re the found family I wish I had. Jamie was my type of love interest. Wouldn’t mind one of those for myself thank you.
It’s also really funny, and I don’t often find funny books to be funny. But the humor worked for me in this.
My only very minor not very serious complaint is I wish it was just a tad steamier… but I’ll take what I can get.
I had a stupid smile on my face the whole time reading this (except for when I was crying). If you like romance books, witchy books, or cozy fantasy, please read this. I don’t even tend to like any of those things, hence why I wasn’t interested initially, but this is now one of my favorite books. I need to go buy a copy.
I feel so stupid for ever thinking I wasn’t interested in this book. I don’t tend to like romance genre books, so I found it so refreshing that this completely subverts all the tropes I hate in romance. They actually communicate. I could cry. The third act conflict is a completely understandable conflict and is resolved quickly. There’s absolutely zero pettiness between the love interests. And it has tropes I like! Grumpy / sunshine!! Semi-dislike to love!!! I’m actually screaming internally. This was so good.
It’s definitely cozy fantasy, but it does have stakes and plot (which I personally prefer). It’s very much a comfort book.
I loved all the characters, they all had distinct personalities and quirks. They’re the found family I wish I had. Jamie was my type of love interest. Wouldn’t mind one of those for myself thank you.
It’s also really funny, and I don’t often find funny books to be funny. But the humor worked for me in this.
My only very minor not very serious complaint is I wish it was just a tad steamier… but I’ll take what I can get.
I had a stupid smile on my face the whole time reading this (except for when I was crying). If you like romance books, witchy books, or cozy fantasy, please read this. I don’t even tend to like any of those things, hence why I wasn’t interested initially, but this is now one of my favorite books. I need to go buy a copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Cursing
Minor: Homophobia, Body horror, and Racism
Plot twist spoiler, but kept vague:singalana's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I badly wanted to like this book, but it fell a bit short for me.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a fantasy novel about Mika Moon - a witch who has been taught not to attract any attention to herself. Until she attracts attention and is invited to a strange household to teach three small girls - all of whom are witches as well. Mika has to teach the girls how to control their magic, and while she does that, she gets to know the unconventional family living in Nowhere House.
I’m unfamiliar with the author’s previous work, but she has some interesting ideas, so it might be worth checking out. The cover art is absolutely stunning, and the typesetting was very pleasing to read. The magic in this book is charming and earthy, but there's one bit that felt a bit strange to me and needed more explanation.
Now, on to the characters: Mika Moon, our protagonist, is a loner out of necessity. She is the sunshine in this sunshine vs. grumpy romantic trope. The grump of the story is Jamie, the Nowhere House’s librarian. Other characters include Ian - a meddling ball of elderly energy, and his spouse, Ken. Then there is the housekeeper, Lucie, and finally, the three little witches: Altamira, Rosetta and Terracotta. It’s hard to describe the characters because it feels like they’ve been written with one defining characteristic, and that’s it.
The story itself feels quite low-stakes. It’s more about the vibes: the found family and the sunshine versus the grump. There are a few twists at the end, one of which I guessed, but I didn’t mind. You don’t pick up a cosy book to be sucker-punched with unexpected plot twists. The tension feels slightly lacklustre, and I wonder if the book could have maybe even done without it? Or could it have been better to focus entirely on the relationships within the Nowhere House?
Then there’s the romance. I didn’t quite feel the attraction, but I wasn’t opposed to it either. The book is not very spicy. Again, it’s mostly vibes. There are some sweet and romantic moments, but maybe if the story's focus had been a little bit different, the romance would have had more time to grow and be more convincing. It’s a charming book that has its moments, but to me, it needs something more. bit
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content
lisavandonselaar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Grief
jspells's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a good read. It’s pretty lighthearted. I found the characters likable and I loved the way magic was explained and spun into the storyline. I definitely would classify it as a cozy read while I know others do not. All in all it is a fun, quick, and easy fall or winter read. 3 stars because it wasn’t anything spectacular but it was good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death
smsegal's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Death
dahud's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Violence
britishbelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
korpney's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.75
Very cozy, found family read sprinkled with magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment
rwsmith's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
truly, i could not put this book down. it just got better and better the more i read. a wonderful and heartwarming story.
i loved the worldbuilding of the magic - just as you expect, and it aligns with all the familiar fairy tales, but with a touch of uniqueness to this fictional world.
the romance was also SO GOOD. ive never been into the romance genre, and i wouldnt say this is necessarily a romance novel, but the romantic plot was incredibly well done - relatable, funny, emotional, perfectly paced, and incredibly satisfying.
the representation in this book is lovely as well. the different races of the characters are simply stated, but the differences between each are acknowledged and deemed important at the same time.
anyone who loves love, magic, and silliness - and a happy ending - should give this book a read.
i loved the worldbuilding of the magic - just as you expect, and it aligns with all the familiar fairy tales, but with a touch of uniqueness to this fictional world.
the romance was also SO GOOD. ive never been into the romance genre, and i wouldnt say this is necessarily a romance novel, but the romantic plot was incredibly well done - relatable, funny, emotional, perfectly paced, and incredibly satisfying.
the representation in this book is lovely as well. the different races of the characters are simply stated, but the differences between each are acknowledged and deemed important at the same time.
anyone who loves love, magic, and silliness - and a happy ending - should give this book a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Grief, and Sexual content