Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

64 reviews

blckandread's review against another edition

funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Physical abuse

dancing_dryad_85's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Death

Minor: Cursing, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime

spilled's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Kidnapping, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Body horror

It is part of witch lore that they are all orphans, and parent death is mentioned in passing throughout. Main female character has had people (former caregivers and a boyfriend) take advantage of her witchy skills in toxic ways. Main male character experienced physical abuse as a child at the hands of his brothers after his father died. A secondary character has a natural death pre-narrative, but there is discussion of burying her, unburying her, and animating her bones. A minor character is locked in a tool shed and has his memories modified.

gnukiwi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Physical abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Classism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Cursing

Minor: Murder and Racism

lunep's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Abandonment, and Classism

margaret_k30's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Grief

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Physical abuse

periwinkle_flora's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

The novel felt like a fast-medium paced, simple indie film. 

I agree with 2 things 2 others have said. The book is conversational and the book didn't feel like a warm hug.

but rather... a simple, light, and casual read. 

Mika Moon has a rough life. Her family she finds, Ian, Ken, Lucie, Jamie, and the sisters, had rough lives too. Personality and backgrounds appear frequently throughout the chats between the cast. 

We read what's happening to the characters. but we don't really feel what's happening to the characters.

We are told what's happened in their pasts, but we don't get transferred back in time, to see what it was like. 

Personally, I would've preferred if the book showcased more emotional depth to make me feel something… versus briefly glowing over key relationships that make them who they are. 

Another aspect that felt less cosy were the swearing – which in any other book *works*, but not here – and the shift in the main romance/ conflict towards the end. 

Would I read it again? Likely not. Did it keep me engaged? Yes. 

Overall:
A strong 3. (3|5).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Grief, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

emfass's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Grief

Minor: Xenophobia

bodagirl's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

Very cute. I don't think this story is finished though, it felt much more like an introduction to a world rather than a complete story. The plot point I'm most concerned about is the curse that witches dies shortly after they give birth - doesn't give me a lot of hope for Mika and Jamie, unless they decide not to have biological children (which is totally valid).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

cassielaj's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

I finished this book with a literal tear in my eye. It is perfect, and I have nothing to say about it beyond that. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Grief, and Xenophobia

Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse