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A review by art_books_chemistry
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
There are a lot of witchy books out there and I've read a fair share myself (some of them over and over and over again (*cough-cough*Harry Potter), but Marais goes in a wonderfully different direction with The Witches of Moonshyne Manor. For one thing, I don't think I've ever read a supernatural/paranormal book with 6 80+ year old women as the main characters! And it was honestly hilarious reading about that carefree dgaf of of the old.
I do think that after the initial craziness at the beginning of the book, there was a bit of a lull that dragged on until we started getting more of the flashback story. I really enjoyed how Marais wrote her twists where she didn't hide anything from you, except by not including extra details. From the very beginning Ursula is constantly saying how everything was her fault but the more details we're given, you think it's survivors guilt...until you don't anymore. She was also very clear on how diverse her characters were without it being in your face obvious every other page. I also really liked how everyone had powers but in different ways, though they could all do some of the same spells, there were certain things that only each individual could do which made them stronger as a group.
There were lots of fun, and intense life lessons interspersed with this rollercoaster of a story, which was awesome since it alluded to the long lives the women lived and all the things our elders have to teach us. But it also highlighted the fact that we may know a lot of things when we get old, we don't know everything and we should still listen to those younger than us to continue to learn.
I do think that after the initial craziness at the beginning of the book, there was a bit of a lull that dragged on until we started getting more of the flashback story. I really enjoyed how Marais wrote her twists where she didn't hide anything from you, except by not including extra details. From the very beginning Ursula is constantly saying how everything was her fault but the more details we're given, you think it's survivors guilt...until you don't anymore. She was also very clear on how diverse her characters were without it being in your face obvious every other page. I also really liked how everyone had powers but in different ways, though they could all do some of the same spells, there were certain things that only each individual could do which made them stronger as a group.
There were lots of fun, and intense life lessons interspersed with this rollercoaster of a story, which was awesome since it alluded to the long lives the women lived and all the things our elders have to teach us. But it also highlighted the fact that we may know a lot of things when we get old, we don't know everything and we should still listen to those younger than us to continue to learn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Dementia, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Transphobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Infertility, Racism, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry