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chloebrown13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Addiction
heatherjchin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Self harm, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Animal death, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, and Child abuse
ravenwolf_waf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Gun violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
sarahweyand's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think I would describe this book as "absolutely fine" and would definitely recommend it as a fall read; I don't have any rating-destroying gripes with it. I thought the plot twists and reveals were a little boring, and I found the romance between our two protagonists to be a little bland. Second-chance romance is fine by me but they seem to not have grown as people at all in the 14 years since they were together, so the believability was a little lost on me in that regard. Most of the characters, in fact, were pretty flat and didn't really grow or change over the course of the novel, but again, I had a good time so I guess I don't really care.
Graphic: Death and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
ashleyelizabeth's review
3.5
Pretty good story. I didn’t like the end though. I love the soul-binding love and all the witchcraft.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Child abuse
natsbooknook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Until August returns to bury his mother's ashes and the past catches up with all of Saoirse.
--
A beautifully crafted and atmospheric piece of magical realism, Spells for Forgetting was captivating from the start. The mystery is intriguing, the characters are morally grey and well thought out. The pacing is incredible; I found myself moving through half the book before I even realized it.
Moderate: Child abuse
el393way's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This blood bonded love story that’s supposed to be so compelling is just pretty ho-hum. Their whole relationship happened 14 years ago and they hardly interact in modern times but we’re supposed to believe in their connection. It’s not bad but I felt pretty indifferent to it. High school, first loves feel pretty silly and not so serious. So the fact that we only really see then interact a bit as teenagers makes me want to roll my eyes and act like the old person I am not, telling them they’ll get over their first lost love.
Overall, I guess this book would have been FINE if it was just a cold case, ancestral politics, mild thriller without any magical elements. But I spent 75-80% of the book waiting for something other than plain old fiction to happen. Even with the tiny bit of magic I got, the ending was so incredibly unsatisfying. I appreciate the attempt at a twist/reveal that is not already done to death. But again, it happens so quickly and then you’re left to deal with a very quickly executed wrap up that doesn’t feel satisfying. Plus you get some super random extra characters thrown in and info-dumping loose ends.
I think this book falls victim to the over-explanation that can be common with first person narration.
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It has so many things I love in stories. A mystery in the past that is being solved in the present. A small, isolated town (bonus points: on an island). Secrets everywhere. And witchy magic.
I absolutely loved the setting and atmosphere. The story takes place on a small fictional island near Seattle. It's autumn, it's moody, it's gloomy, windy, there are a lot of rain and storms. Mixed with the mystery of a dead teenager 14 years ago and the magical atmosphere in the air, it was perfect for me. Really loved the magic and supernatural elements here, I need more like this. Nature-based magic spells, spell books, herbs, every day witches just doing their thing. It was always there in the background the whole time, without being the main focus of the story.
I also enjoyed the plot a lot. Slowly piecing everyone's secrets together was engaging. I guessed the truth pretty early on, but I was still intrigued by the story until the very last page because it was actually well paced and made sense and everything fit nicely together at the end.
Was it overly dramatic for no reason? Yes. But somehow I didn't mind. I actually loved some of the more dramatic scenes because I could picture them so vividly in my head. And I was even rooting for the second chance romance. It just fit the vibes.
I have to say that it read more like a YA book, especially the way the characters behaved. But it really made sense to me, given the circumstances. And again, it fit the vibes.
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
amobrien's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Alcoholism, and Death
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
- 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
I had wanted to read Spells For Forgetting by Adrienne Young since I first heard about it. It sounded so mysterious, so atmospheric, I knew it was going to be right up my street. And I absolutely loved it!
Saoirse is an insular island. The people have magic, their own traditions and superstitions. They don't like outsiders, and yet depend on the mainlanders who come every autumn to pick apples from the orchard. It's what keeps them afloat. Fourteen years ago, Emery and August were going to leave. They were going to escape and find futures of their own, rather than accept the roles that had been given them.But on the evening before they're due to leave, everything changes. The orchard caught fire, risking the island's livelihood, and Lily, Emery and August's friend, is murdered. The truth about the fire and the murder are never uncovered, but August was the prime suspect. Never changed, he was nevertheless tainted by the accusation, and no-one trusted him. Except Emery. But when the island turns their back on you, and makes your life a misery, there's only one option. August and his mother leave the island - without Emery. Fourteen years later, the island is still haunted by that night. With the return of August to bury his mother's ashes, the hatred and suspicion bubbles up again. And with his return comes strange, unnatural occurrences on the island. It seems Saoirse is finally ready to reveal the truth.
Spells For Forgetting is mainly told in dual perspectives from Emery and August's points of view. Occasionally we get chapters from their perspectives from when they were teens, and occasionally we get chapters in the present day from other characters. This is such a stunning book! You know not everyone is being honest, that people at least know things that have yet to be revealed to the reader. You question everyone, including Emery and August; are they unreliable narrators? #AdrienneYoung has a brilliant way of keeping the reader in the dark, hinting at just enough to keep you turning the pages, with secrets and lies, things just below the surface, without really giving anything away. What actually happened that night? Who killed Lily? What is everyone hiding? It's so beautifully written, and so atmospheric, it was just gorgeous! Plot aside, I really enjoyed simply reading this book, revelling in it. It's all vibes, and those vibes are everything I want. Plus there's Emery and August's relationship. Their love was all encompassing. This epic love alongside Young's writing, it's just stunning. The yearning! The heartbreak! The chaos! I adored it!
As I said, Young manages to keep everyone's cards close to their chests until it's time to reveal them, so you're turning the pages wondering what the hell is going on. When the answers do come, there are some, "Ooooh!" moments. I did have a strong theory as to what happened to Lily, which was correct, but I never figured out the how or the why. And there were other aspects I found quite shocking. It's the kind of book that will always stick with me because of the vibes, so I've been thinking about it the past few days, and I have to be honest, there are something that just don't hold up to scrutiny. It doesn't make sense to me, given who the people on the island are and what is their norm, that the cause of Lily's death was never a consideration in the first place. Once you're aware of certain details, I feel like it's pretty obvious, but it isn't to anybody on the island. And with the other reveals, I had other questions. I could maybe understand the reasons behind certain things that happened in the past, but not about what happens present day. An antagonist's motivations in the present day just felt kind of flimsy, given the situation they find themselves in. Unless it was because of obsession, and they just couldn't let it go.
But it's not exactly clear, because the reveal happens so quickly, and then we're at the epilogue. Which I found quite frustrating, because I was left with certain questions. The real and actual truth comes out, and I would very much like to have known what the consequences of that were for the wider community of Saoirse, and all the other reveals that would have an impact, but we're never told. The focus is more on Emery and August, and what the truth means to them - for them. And yes, I was satisfied with that. But I definitely feel like there should have been more of a conclusion. So much is left open. Perhaps there are plans for a companion novel, I don't know. But that would definitely be my hope, because I want those answers. And there was another smaller thing that I was slightly disappointed in, and that is, for an island where the women have magic and family spell books, and real earthy witchcraft, there is quite the lack of magic actually taking place in this story. Honestly, I feel the magic could be removed, and certain elements rethought to a degree, and the story would still stand. I just expected and wanted more, especially with Spells in the title.
If you want a book that has a real thought out mystery that's tightly plotted and makes sense, and a lot of witchcraft, maybe give Spells For Forgetting a miss. However, if you're looking for a book that is all vibes and atmosphere and stunningly beautiful writing that you can float away on, Spells For Forgetting isn't one to miss. For all my issues with it, I bloody loved it, and I'll definitely read more by Young if she writes more books in a similar vein.
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Alcoholism
This book features sex shaming, sex scenes - one semi-vague & one not overly detailed, arson, and a person being burnt in a fire.