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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
While I found this book interesting & at times intriguing, I did not find it compelling enough to eat it up as quickly as I could have. I thought it was interesting and I liked the characters but I think it just lacked a certain spark that I can’t really identify.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
fandomsandfiction's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It took me a few chapters, but I eventually fell in love with this magical and heart-warming family saga following the lives of four generations of Creole women who are haunted by a vengeful curse. There's voodoo, hoodoo, generational trauma, and LOTS of drama as secrets unravel. It made for a captivating and emotional read.
The multiple povs are an excellent narrative choice as the story holds so much depth, understanding, and intimacy when viewed through the eyes of different women of varying ages. I would've loved to see the story from Madelyn's pov as well, but I can only imagine how ridiculously challenging it would be to write from FIVE different povs (and possibly confusing for the readers too!). Embodying four characters and telling the story from four separate viewpoints must be challenging enough as it is.
One thing that bothered me about this book is that Nickie (the youngest of the women) frequently skipped meals and it was completely normalized as if teenagers don't need food to survive. I do not think it is a healthy portrayal. (But I am just sensitive to these things, and it might not bother other readers at all).
The ending was slightly anticlimactic, but overall, this is an engaging and well-written debut novel! I heard it's been picked up for a tv show adaption and I am SO EXCITED to see it on screen 🤩
The multiple povs are an excellent narrative choice as the story holds so much depth, understanding, and intimacy when viewed through the eyes of different women of varying ages. I would've loved to see the story from Madelyn's pov as well, but I can only imagine how ridiculously challenging it would be to write from FIVE different povs (and possibly confusing for the readers too!). Embodying four characters and telling the story from four separate viewpoints must be challenging enough as it is.
One thing that bothered me about this book is that Nickie (the youngest of the women) frequently skipped meals and it was completely normalized as if teenagers don't need food to survive. I do not think it is a healthy portrayal. (But I am just sensitive to these things, and it might not bother other readers at all).
The ending was slightly anticlimactic, but overall, this is an engaging and well-written debut novel! I heard it's been picked up for a tv show adaption and I am SO EXCITED to see it on screen 🤩
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Death of parent, and Abandonment
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
calicat42's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
As a young woman who was raised by a single mom and her grandma, after being named in honor of three generations of grandmas, I felt like I was part of this family. The family unit the women have created is unbelievably relatable in terms of emotions, the strain of conflict, the village mentality in raising children, and the recognition of their strength and empowerment as women. What a beautiful story to be shared with, I hope, many generations of women to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, publisher, and HearOurVoices book tours for the arc of this book. Black Candle Women follows several generations of women in one family. They all reside in a home together and stay to themselves. Mostly because of a curse, which will kill anyone that the women fall in love with. 17 year old Nickie is having a hard time with the rules that her mother is putting on her especially after she meets a boy that she likes. Her mother does everything she can think of to get them apart even hoodoo. Nickie doesn’t understand because no one in the the household has told her about the curse. That is until someone lets it slip out but they still never tell her the full story so she searches for answers herself. While reading this book, I kept asking myself why don’t any of the women in the house just explain to Nickie about the curse especially her mother. If you’re trying to protect a child from something you have to be able to explain it to them because they are naturally going to have questions. Yes she probably would have still made some rash decisions to try and rebel against her mother’s reins but it wouldn’t have been as bad as them sitting her down and talking to her. Like she’s 17. She should have been told about the curse when she hit puberty. The ending was a bit abrupt for me. And I don’t want to give any spoilers but I agree with Willow about the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Car accident, and Abandonment