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adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
This is a beautiful book with delightful characters, a well paced and imaginative plot and so much heart. Written with grace and humor I was entertained and enraptured the entire time, invested in the characters and transported into their world. I love the tapestry of abilities and disabilities, challenges and strengths and different experiences of family woven through the main characters. It brings authenticity, beauty and richness to the text.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
I have been waiting for this author to release her second novel after loving The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. The story was wonderful and I really enjoy the way Sangu is able to fill out a whole ensemble of side characters. My only criticism is that the end felt rushed and I wanted more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Classism
Minor: Racism, Xenophobia
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Xenophobia, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
I thought I couldn't possibly find a cozier book than Sangu Mandanna's Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.... And I was proven wrong. LOVED IT. It was perfect. The side characters charmed me, the plot had me invested without being stressed, and it was bursting at the seams with found familial love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia
Minor: Death
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Grief, Abandonment
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
Delightful, magical, sassy and soft.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Classism
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Xenophobia
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
For about 75% of the book I was a bit conflicted about how to rate it. It's is super cozy and I liked most of the characters, the writing was funny and engaging. The only problem I had was I couldn't really connect with the romance. Generally, I think this is a bit of a general issue with cozy books that rely very heavily on a lot of snark and genuinely funny banter. It's just difficult to really connect with the characters and be invested in the romance, because the humor acts as a bit of a barrier. So, mostly I was thinking that the book itself was good, just maybe not exactly for me. But then the last 25% hit.
Without spoiling the ending, I have to say it absolutely sucked. It completely soured the entire book for me. It felt like I went through the whole journey for nothing and invested in the story just to be let down. It didn't even particularly make sense to me. I didn't think much about the world building before the ending, but because of it, the magical system of the book completely fell apart for me. Just absolutely disappointing and honestly, I was so mad about everything. Because of how much I hated the ending, I don't even really wanna get into the characters. It just feels pointless. I will say though that Clemmie (the witch trapped as a fox) is the absolute worst. In the beginning I thought she'd be a bit of a counterbalance to all loveliness of the other characters by being a bit more selfish and snarky. Then she started annoying me a bit, then I started realizing she genuinely was selfish in big ways. And then she turned into an all out villain. Straight up a bad person. Sure, she does something nice at the end, but like.... Too little too late. Her ending put me over the edge. Just so so disappointing how the entire story turned out, there was so much potential.
I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.
Without spoiling the ending, I have to say it absolutely sucked. It completely soured the entire book for me. It felt like I went through the whole journey for nothing and invested in the story just to be let down. It didn't even particularly make sense to me. I didn't think much about the world building before the ending, but because of it, the magical system of the book completely fell apart for me. Just absolutely disappointing and honestly, I was so mad about everything. Because of how much I hated the ending, I don't even really wanna get into the characters. It just feels pointless. I will say though that Clemmie (the witch trapped as a fox) is the absolute worst. In the beginning I thought she'd be a bit of a counterbalance to all loveliness of the other characters by being a bit more selfish and snarky. Then she started annoying me a bit, then I started realizing she genuinely was selfish in big ways. And then she turned into an all out villain. Straight up a bad person. Sure, she does something nice at the end, but like.... Too little too late. Her ending put me over the edge. Just so so disappointing how the entire story turned out, there was so much potential.
I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia