Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

9 reviews

nicoles_reading_corner's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy and Physical abuse

a_novel_craving's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

imds's review

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gun violence, Confinement, Grief, Blood, Abandonment, Cancer, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy

phoenixlovesbooks's review

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I loved the story and the mystery of it all, but the thing that made me the most frustrated was all the talk of secrets. It felt like everyone had a secret and it got to the point where I didn't even care anymore

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cancer and Suicide

slvt4b00ks's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.5

I read this book very fast so I would say I was invested in how things turned out but the only wow factor was really the twist at the end.  The author does paint a very vivid picture with beautiful words which I can appreciate, but I just felt like it fell flat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Murder, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

kates_books's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A perfect spooky season read. The setting of the island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest was vivid and darkly beautiful. The entire story was deeply atmospheric. The mystery, its twists and turns and all the secrets of the novel were entrancing. The secrets of all the characters made each one so deep and complex. 

 Other thoughts:

• Genre: magical realism mixed with mystery with a sprinkle of romance 
• I liked how natural the magic was and how seamless it was interwoven throughout the story. It was never really explained as to its origins, it was just part of the setting. 
• It would have been interesting to hear more of the relationship between Hannah, Eloise, and nixie 
• I get that the orchard was the backbone of the community, but resorting to murder for it seems a little dramatic. Especially when it was pretty clear that august would have been fine giving it to the town
   
• I think Dutch’s character was perfectly written. A deeply flawed individual but his anger issues are easy to understand. His actions are messed up but make sense. 
• once we found out lily was pregnant, I had a feeling that her death would be self-caused. But I was surprised that it was caused by such hatred. I think this was the most unbelievable part of the story / the least thought out. We kind of got SMALL glimpses that lily was an erratic, irresponsible, impulsive girl — but I didn’t see any signs of hate or apathy. Jealously, insecurity, and maybe loneliness would be easy to understand, but her cruelty, maliciousness, and hatred seemed too out of character.
   
• Emery and August’s love was so pure 
• Emery’s grandmother was a fantastic character
• I think this story did a great job at taking off the rose colored glasses people have on for small, rural towns. It shows that they can just as dark and corrupt. People turning a blind eye to harm they know is happening because of power and money. 
• I wish we had returned to the part of Jakob beating august before he and his mom left town. It was only alluded to once and I think it needed more reflection. Similarly, we never found out how started the fire on the truck.
• We never really find out what the birds mean. It kind of seems like they are actors of the island. But whether they are good or bad omens is unclear.  But maybe that is just the magic being something beyond explanation. 
• I was just about to write that we never really get an explanation for emerys dream. The one where she hears screaming and is holding someone down to drown them only to realize it’s herself. But I think knowing that lily intended to kill emery through drowning explains it. It mirrors the horror of lily murdering herself.
  . 
• The setting gave spooky twilight vibes 
• 
  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Murder, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Death, Pregnancy, and Suicide

Minor: Domestic abuse

map_to_neverland's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

“There are spells for breaking and spells for mending. But there are no spells for forgetting”

Book Details:
-Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Magical Realism
-written by the author of Fable
-Setting: Island town (called Saoirse) in the Pacific Northwest
-features mystery, tragedy, witches, and fall vibes

Told across two timelines, this is the story of an unresolved murder, love, and how far people will go to protect their home. I am so glad I got the chance to read an ARC of this book! It was everything I wanted it to be. It was very atmospheric and mysterious. 

I also loved how magical was incorporated in a casual way. It was just an accepted and normal part of life on this island, which made the setting feel even more mystical.

I think I need to read Fable now, since I enjoyed this one so much. I also may have to buy a physical copy of this one. So, if you enjoy a mysterious, mystical book (that feels perfect for a foggy and/or rainy day), this is absolutely the book!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Stalking, Violence, and Pregnancy

Minor: Terminal illness

lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Young's adult debut is a masterpiece of mystery and intimacy. The prose saturates, immersing the reader in the sights and autumnal Pacific Northwest feel of Saoirse Island and the magnetism between Emory and August. Magical realism at its finest, where the reader is never quite sure where to draw the line between fantasy and reality. The gripping mystery at the heart of the story kept me glued to the page (which is especially difficult for me with ebooks, rarely happens even with some of my favorite authors).

Hoping this is only the first of many adult novels from Adrienne Young.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Child death, and Alcohol

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Child death

Moderate: Suicide, Alcohol, and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy and Domestic abuse