Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

32 reviews

lauralouise93's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Terminal illness

nzmerchant's review

dark 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? No

5.0

Breathtaking, bewitching, and utterly magical. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve been so caught up in a book that I haven’t noticed the time (or the fact that I have to cancel my gym session because it’s way too late in the night). Truly kept me at the edge of my seat and even now, my heart is beating wildly as I type my review.

This book was gorgeous from start to end. The reviews are right - the setting was crazy atmospheric, with incredibly complex characters. And the ending - omg the ending!! I was a little underwhelmed at the jump from chapter 59 to 60 but right when I felt an inkling of disappointment, Young drew me back in with her hauntingly beautiful magic. I love stories where there are so many layers of secrets, drama, and it all boils down to the ugliest human traits (which are also the most raw). Perhaps my favourite character was Saoirse itself and the looming presence it had throughout the entire book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy

catorureads's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

I've read a lot of Adrienne Young's work and with the majority of them, I've had a really good time. This one definitely had the autumn witchy vibes I was looking for. I've seen a few complaints that there wasn't really 'witchy' or 'magic' vibes. The magic in this book is not the kind where people wave with their wands or conjure fire out of nowhere. It's more the wicca kind of spells with herbs, the moonphases et cetera. I enjoyed the magic part but there could have been a bit more of it. 

The main story is more a mystery novel than a witchy novel. I've read most of this on the bus and while waiting for the train. It did its job of keeping me occupied and interested. I wanted to know who had done what. I don't dislike this book but with her other books, especially Fable and Namesake, I enjoyed it a lot more. I had fun with those books while this one was just good for the autumn vibes. I willl still read Adrienne Young's other works because I do really love her as an author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Animal death

czoltak's review

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? Yes

4.0

Perfect Autumn Vibes 🍂🍁🍂

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Animal death, and Death of parent

brewdy_reader's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Atmospheric and autumnal with a side of spooky. 

Lyrical prose transports us to an island off the coast of Cascadia, where tourists ferry to the local  orchard for apple picking, sampling locally made tea and herbal remedies from the local apothecary, and admiring the fall foliage. Where there's an apothecary, there are tea readings, and the local folklore whispers of magic and witchery.

But before you think this is a small town romance where nosy neighbors manufacture drama, spread gossip, and generally are up in each others' business (which they are), get ready for an ominous edge: a local girl was murdered 14 years ago and the prime suspect is back in town. Is this an opportunity for rekindling first loves or is something more sinister abrew...

The twists and turns were a wild ride, the pacing is on target, and the beautiful descriptions and love story made this a really fun read. I wanted more spells and magic and for the adults to grow up and start communicating. Despite that, Adrienne Young has quickly become one of my must-buy authors. Beautiful fall read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, Misogyny, and Alcohol

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

yruss972's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

More a mystery book than anything else. Similar to Harlan Coben books- mystery from the past comes to light in the present.
Very little magic involved.
Pseudo-suspenseful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Pregnancy

sharron_joy_reads'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

On the night of the high school graduation in the close knit community of Saoirse a fire rages through the orchard that is the lifeblood of the island. Once the fire is extinguished the body of Lily is found, drowned on dry land between the apple trees. August is accused and is taken from the island by his mother away from his sweetheart, Emery, and the plans they had to escape together. 14yrs later he returns to bury the remains of his mother and old wounds are opened and secrets revealed. 

I read this as a buddy read with the lovely Gen and it was an interesting read. The islanders are secretive, paranoid and cult like. Everyone has a secret from the night of Lily’s death and some will stop at nothing to stop August and Emery finding the truth. 

The story is told through multiple POV’s and I liked this, although this did cause the story to slow down a little for me. The island itself is steeped in magic and folklore, it resonates through the prose how deeply the pagan roots stretch beneath the earth. The tourists come every year to see the “witchy island” and shop for teas and tinctures. This mystique and the orchards keep the island alive. This is a mystery and unravels slowly as the story progresses but it also a story of love and longing, grief and family ties. The writing is lovely, it flows beautifully, a gentle read with a witchy edge. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy

heatherjchin's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

Review on my IG -> @Katie_the_Wandering_Reader

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Content Warnings

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