alyssaxfantasybooks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Bad Witch Burning | Jessica Lewis
Do I Recommend this Book: Yes
Things I Loved About It:
-TW: Abuse of minor, Trauma due to codependent relationship, Death of children, poverty
-The Dedication 🖤
-Katrell's Powers
-The Warning
-Will being an amazing friend
-It's pace
-Real emotions and situations
-Conrad 🐶
-Resurrections & The Reverence
-Hive Mind
-POC Filled Book
-Mike the counselor
-Will's Idea about the Reverence
-The Conclusion
Person I loathed:
*Katrell's Mother*
This book was very reminiscent of certain traumas I had as a child and it hit me super hard. I loved it but it did make me emotional at times. The author did an amazing job navigating these topics while also intertwining magic.
#ReadersgunnaRead #MoodsaregunaMood #Diversebookstagrammersread #POC #reviewer #Readingisfundamental #BlackWomanAuthor #YA #Witches #Readingwhatiown #2023 #Audible #JessicaLewis #Trauma #ToxicParents #Codependant #Katrell #Will #Conrad #Voiceactors #Magic #Resilience #Lifeaftertrauma #Reverence #Undead
Do I Recommend this Book: Yes
Things I Loved About It:
-TW: Abuse of minor, Trauma due to codependent relationship, Death of children, poverty
-The Dedication 🖤
-Katrell's Powers
-The Warning
-Will being an amazing friend
-It's pace
-Real emotions and situations
-Conrad 🐶
-Resurrections & The Reverence
-Hive Mind
-POC Filled Book
-Mike the counselor
-Will's Idea about the Reverence
-The Conclusion
Person I loathed:
*Katrell's Mother*
This book was very reminiscent of certain traumas I had as a child and it hit me super hard. I loved it but it did make me emotional at times. The author did an amazing job navigating these topics while also intertwining magic.
#ReadersgunnaRead #MoodsaregunaMood #Diversebookstagrammersread #POC #reviewer #Readingisfundamental #BlackWomanAuthor #YA #Witches #Readingwhatiown #2023 #Audible #JessicaLewis #Trauma #ToxicParents #Codependant #Katrell #Will #Conrad #Voiceactors #Magic #Resilience #Lifeaftertrauma #Reverence #Undead
annknee's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
monica_85's review
5.0
This book was truly incredible. It has depth, heart, humor, horror, and a relatable quality you don't often see. I'm shocked that this is a debut novel. The author's talent really shines through, and I can't wait to read more from her!
rue_reads's review
5.0
WOW. Jessica captivated me from the first sentence of this book. You want to strangle main character Katrell because she refuses to believe she’s not alone but at the same time you have the greatest empathy for her because she’s just this young girl trying to do everything on her own. Her mom, if we can even call her that, was so well written because I literally wanted to jump through the book and give her a piece of my mind. We ALL need a best friend like Katrell’s best friend Will. She was there through thick and thin. Will told Katrell the truth even when she didn’t want to hear it and when Katrell lashed out at her for being right when it came down to it and Katrell really needed her she was there. She talked Katrell off the ledge and convinced her, her life was in fact worth living and she had more love around her than she realized. The scene in particular where she does this is heart wrenching. Will literally has to talk Katrell out of letting her demons destroy her and take her life. She convinced Katrell not to give up and pleaded with her to keep fighting. I 100% understand why Katrell made the choices she did and why she tried so hard to keep it together when she so clearly was in over her head. Her character arc was written so beautifully and the ending gave me hope. Even though we may burn everything to the ground we can always start anew. Thank you for this story Jessica. It spoke to my heart and let me know I’m indeed not alone.
anuajit's review
5.0
One word: Addictive and to top that, for once I could not fathom an ending!! left me in WTF mode!
4loveofbooksnkc's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? No
5.0
The book is excellent, but I would love to be a part 2. I want to know the background of the main character powers. But otherwise, the book was good.
aamna_theinkslinger's review
4.0
Bad Witch Burning had been one of my anticipated releases this month, and I am so happy to say that I was not disappointed at all.
This story had everything I was looking for and exceeded my expectations with the intense emotional impact that it had on me. I was truly unprepared for how deeply I cared for the characters and what they go through, and even the general themes in this book. As you could have seen in the Content Warnings, it does have quite some heavy topics, but they've done well.
I expected this book to be a fun, witchy story about a young girl who can commune with the dead, and decides to make some cool cash with her talent, but it was so much more than a fun ride.
Don't be get me wrong..this book wasn't in any way boring and a plain sob story. It was the story of our main character, Katrell, a young girl who is living in a terrible situation and has to survive an ignorant and irresponsible mother and abusive step-father, and us working thirty hours a week to make ends meet.
But that doesn't define here.
She also has a rare gift that allows her to talk to dead people, and as desperate but also smart that she is, she finds a way to make money out of it. She takes on clients who lay her in exchange for her letting them talk to their relatives or loved ones. Until one day, she manages to completely resurrect a person from their grave. And that's when things take a turn. She starts getting people back from the dead and being paid by their loved ones just so she can pay her bills and breathe.
But she's strong and stubborn and resilient and doesn't let that define her as well.
Katrell is also a poet. She has a way of making words flow. She could get straight A's in English and creative writing. She is an artist.
I absolutely loved her, if you couldn't tell from my long rant. In one word, she's badass.
But she's not the only one...
Will, Katrell's best friend and Queen #2 in this book, is amazing and the best friend anyone could have. Will has gone through a terribly tough time herself, but she's a side character who is complete and still growing.
There were also a couple of characters I absolutely despised, but they were meant to be that way.
Overall, I loved everything about this book. I had a fantastic time reading it, with its plot and magic and setting and characters, and if you like urban fantasy with cute animal companions and unstoppable intrigue, this book is perfect!
This story had everything I was looking for and exceeded my expectations with the intense emotional impact that it had on me. I was truly unprepared for how deeply I cared for the characters and what they go through, and even the general themes in this book. As you could have seen in the Content Warnings, it does have quite some heavy topics, but they've done well.
I expected this book to be a fun, witchy story about a young girl who can commune with the dead, and decides to make some cool cash with her talent, but it was so much more than a fun ride.
Don't be get me wrong..this book wasn't in any way boring and a plain sob story. It was the story of our main character, Katrell, a young girl who is living in a terrible situation and has to survive an ignorant and irresponsible mother and abusive step-father, and us working thirty hours a week to make ends meet.
But that doesn't define here.
She also has a rare gift that allows her to talk to dead people, and as desperate but also smart that she is, she finds a way to make money out of it. She takes on clients who lay her in exchange for her letting them talk to their relatives or loved ones. Until one day, she manages to completely resurrect a person from their grave. And that's when things take a turn. She starts getting people back from the dead and being paid by their loved ones just so she can pay her bills and breathe.
But she's strong and stubborn and resilient and doesn't let that define her as well.
Katrell is also a poet. She has a way of making words flow. She could get straight A's in English and creative writing. She is an artist.
I absolutely loved her, if you couldn't tell from my long rant. In one word, she's badass.
But she's not the only one...
Will, Katrell's best friend and Queen #2 in this book, is amazing and the best friend anyone could have. Will has gone through a terribly tough time herself, but she's a side character who is complete and still growing.
There were also a couple of characters I absolutely despised, but they were meant to be that way.
Overall, I loved everything about this book. I had a fantastic time reading it, with its plot and magic and setting and characters, and if you like urban fantasy with cute animal companions and unstoppable intrigue, this book is perfect!
smortimer's review
4.0
Burned right through this book! Loved the themes and metaphors explored. Felt immersed for many parts. Really connected with the main character and her journey.
Cw: dog harm, but it’s not gratuitous and fits into theme of the story
Cw: dog harm, but it’s not gratuitous and fits into theme of the story
sometimesleelynnreads's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Netgalley, and Delacorte for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
If I was able to talk to the dead, or even anything remotely supernatural that was rare, I would probably do the same thing that Katrell did: find a way to make money off of it. Nothing wrong with a side hustle, okay? Isn’t that what everyone keeps talking about these days? Can’t even have a fun hobby without people telling you to make that a side hustle, so here you go.
I also understand why she went to such lengths, and why when she finds out that she’s somehow able to bring the dead back to life and make even more money off of it, she doesn’t heed the previous warning she got about burning everything down. People will do whatever they can to survive, especially when they are one of the main sources of income for their family. I understand that, and I don’t even blame Katrell for pushing the boundaries as far as she can with her powers. It just sucks that that warning may actually turn out to be valid, and things may turn for the worse if she keeps it up.
It doesn’t help that I recently finished another book with a daughter dealing with abuse from her mother’s numerous boyfriends – although in The Girls I’ve Been, the boyfriends were marks until the final one… but that’s another story of course – but reading about these kinds of relationships has been super hard for me. Katrell has been dealing with a string of her mother’s boyfriends abusing her until they’ve had their fill. On to the next, the abuse doesn’t seem to end. It also doesn’t help that Katrell’s mother doesn’t seem to actually care since this constant stream of boyfriends hasn’t actually improved in personality. I mean, the main reason why Katrell resorted to using her powers to make money is because that’s what her mother makes her do in order to support both of them. So not only is Katrell having to deal with the repercussions of her powers in the supernatural world, but dealing the natural world of a negligent mother and men that shouldn’t have ever been in that household in the first place.
Is it almost some sort of reprieve for her to deal with her clients and the dead? You tell me.
I’ve seen Goodreads also label this story as a horror novel, and I totally agree with that one. Not just because of what happens when you use magic to bring the dead back to life – the Monkey’s Paw, anyone? – but just Katrell’s home life. It is horrible, and something that nobody should have to deal with, but is more common than it should be. This will be something to keep in mind as you read it, and since all magic comes at a price, don’t trust all that you see. Let’s just leave it as that. It’s still giving me chills!
If I was able to talk to the dead, or even anything remotely supernatural that was rare, I would probably do the same thing that Katrell did: find a way to make money off of it. Nothing wrong with a side hustle, okay? Isn’t that what everyone keeps talking about these days? Can’t even have a fun hobby without people telling you to make that a side hustle, so here you go.
I also understand why she went to such lengths, and why when she finds out that she’s somehow able to bring the dead back to life and make even more money off of it, she doesn’t heed the previous warning she got about burning everything down. People will do whatever they can to survive, especially when they are one of the main sources of income for their family. I understand that, and I don’t even blame Katrell for pushing the boundaries as far as she can with her powers. It just sucks that that warning may actually turn out to be valid, and things may turn for the worse if she keeps it up.
It doesn’t help that I recently finished another book with a daughter dealing with abuse from her mother’s numerous boyfriends – although in The Girls I’ve Been, the boyfriends were marks until the final one… but that’s another story of course – but reading about these kinds of relationships has been super hard for me. Katrell has been dealing with a string of her mother’s boyfriends abusing her until they’ve had their fill. On to the next, the abuse doesn’t seem to end. It also doesn’t help that Katrell’s mother doesn’t seem to actually care since this constant stream of boyfriends hasn’t actually improved in personality. I mean, the main reason why Katrell resorted to using her powers to make money is because that’s what her mother makes her do in order to support both of them. So not only is Katrell having to deal with the repercussions of her powers in the supernatural world, but dealing the natural world of a negligent mother and men that shouldn’t have ever been in that household in the first place.
Is it almost some sort of reprieve for her to deal with her clients and the dead? You tell me.
I’ve seen Goodreads also label this story as a horror novel, and I totally agree with that one. Not just because of what happens when you use magic to bring the dead back to life – the Monkey’s Paw, anyone? – but just Katrell’s home life. It is horrible, and something that nobody should have to deal with, but is more common than it should be. This will be something to keep in mind as you read it, and since all magic comes at a price, don’t trust all that you see. Let’s just leave it as that. It’s still giving me chills!