Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

152 reviews

witcheep's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

This is a book with a lot to say on heavy topics of equality and human rights, from the point of view of the many oppressed groups of people: women, workers, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people – and witches. The representation of different identities is in this book is woven into the story respectfully. The Once and Future Witches presents a past where the rich white men rule the world and don't want to share that power with anyone. So they have made it illegal and therefore almost impossible for anyone to have power that could diminish their own.

 "Seems to me they're the same thing, more or less."
     "What are?"
     Juniper's eyes reflect the bronze shine of Saint George's standing in the square. "Witching and women's rights. Suffrage and spells. They're both..." She gestures in midair again. "They're both a kind of power, aren't they? The kind we aren't allowed to have." The kind I want, says the hungry shine of her eyes. 

The book shows the ugly reality of seemingly hopeless situations for anyone oppressed, but brightens it with the hidden hope that friends and fellowshp can bring into the picture. The main message of the book seems to be that surrounding oneself with loved ones, as well as relying on and caring for each other, is the best thing life has to offer to anyone. When your motives for action change from personal revenge to love for others, you have found true power. For power of the many is always stronger than even the power of the most powerful one alone, and the power of many is what is able to begin a change for the better, for more equal opportunities for all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Torture, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Outing and Sexual harassment

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This may be the best book i've ever read. I laughed, I cried, I felt seen. This book is what it's like to be a woman. Anything you do is demonized but when a man does it he's praised. Alix E. Harrow writes about how "behind every witch is a woman wrong." (445) and creates beautifully complex characters like Agnes that show a true beauty and a true darkness in femininity. Juniper is a feral, selfish, and damaged girl but

her final act is to do something so selfless it saves all future witches. She bears the burden so that the future of her niece and all other mothers and daughters won't have to.

I could spend hours describing my love and adoration for this book. The emotional and storied complexity for even minor characters like Jennie and Mr. Blackwell are so outstanding and enriching. I think Harrow needs all the awards and I'm devastated i'll never be able to read this book for the first time again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kingkorok's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Really enjoyed the way this book linked women's rights and the patriarchy to witches, magic, and fairy tales. Fun exploration of the women's suffrage movement through a fantasy lens. I appreciated that the author acknowledged the discrimination within the suffrage movement and made attempts to acknowledge diversity within womanhood. I do think it was a bit white-feminism-y, though. Overall solid read though, and fits within the genre of womens-magic books like Circe by Madeline Miller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Abortion

llamallama527's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Wow. What a tale. Marvelous! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder

moderndaymama's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring fast-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

oonagh_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense 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: Child abuse, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Racism, Murder, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Sexual harassment

felofhe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

queclecumber's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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: Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

woodsofthebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

i’d give this book 17 billion stars if i could. i don’t think this book will ever truly leave my thoughts, and it will certainly never leave my heart. every twist and turn, every lost girl and foolish hope will always be with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment

the author’s website also contains content warnings, so go check that out too. MAJOR content warning for pregnancy, abortion, childbirth

blueyogi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury