minniestronni's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
lbelow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.0
Keep in mind that I'm not the ideal readership for this book—largely, YA is not my thing. And there were things about this book that dragged for me or seemed transparent. For the most part, though, I found this a very unique take on necromancy. I loved the complex character relationships and how Katrell grows throughout the book. This is a challenging book, with all the physical and domestic abuse and the death of the dog, but a compelling one. I had tears in my eyes by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
wannaseeafrog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This book was thought-provoking and dealt with some very heavy themes I didn’t expect, but seamlessly fit into the storyline and the character motivations. There were some loose ends I wish had been tied up at the end. I also felt like the beginning was slow-paced, but it picked up very quickly and then it was hard to put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
joy_kba's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
3,5 stars - Short review: I wish I read this book in October bcs the season/setting would have matched the book's. I liked the paranormal aspect and the power Katrell (protagonist) has. Despite all the trauma, I'm still willing to rate this 3,5 stars bcs of the topics and experiences mentioned as Katrell has to make decisions to not end up in poverty .
Long(er) review: Okay... I read this book bcs of a YouTuber who wanted to read it. It is described as BGM (Black Girl magic) and the YouTuber said that the author sent it to her, who said that there is "no trauma" in this book. Tell me why, from the very first page to the very last, there was nothing but trauma? Yes, there is one trigger warning at the beginning ("Content note: this book contains depictions of child and animal abuse), but then why would the author say that there isn't any trauma...? I mean, a lot of people dnf'ed bcs of this very reason.
When I hear BGM, I think of Amari (Amari and the Night Brothers), Zélie (Children of Blood and Bones), and Deka (The Gilded Ones). This is not that, at all. I've watched other reviews on YouTube and one person said that this isn't a heavy book. Let me tell you now: this book is very heavy and emotionally taxing;
Idk who the target audience was, but if you're looking for BGM like the books I've mentioned above, this is not it. Just be (emotionally) prepared, bcs I wasn't, and I had to put the book down several times.
Spoiler
or in foster careLong(er) review: Okay... I read this book bcs of a YouTuber who wanted to read it. It is described as BGM (Black Girl magic) and the YouTuber said that the author sent it to her, who said that there is "no trauma" in this book. Tell me why, from the very first page to the very last, there was nothing but trauma? Yes, there is one trigger warning at the beginning ("Content note: this book contains depictions of child and animal abuse), but then why would the author say that there isn't any trauma...? I mean, a lot of people dnf'ed bcs of this very reason.
When I hear BGM, I think of Amari (Amari and the Night Brothers), Zélie (Children of Blood and Bones), and Deka (The Gilded Ones). This is not that, at all. I've watched other reviews on YouTube and one person said that this isn't a heavy book. Let me tell you now: this book is very heavy and emotionally taxing;
Spoiler
from the physical abuse of Katrell's mom's boyfriend towards Katrell, to him shooting her dog in front of her, to him pointing a gun at her, to Katrell having to provide for both her mom and her mom's boyfriend, to her mom putting her boyfriend above Katrell, to her mom neglecting Katrell, gaslighting her & letting her boyfriend physically abuse her daughter.Idk who the target audience was, but if you're looking for BGM like the books I've mentioned above, this is not it. Just be (emotionally) prepared, bcs I wasn't, and I had to put the book down several times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse
egmamaril's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, and Murder
amberlen's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This just wasn't my cup of tea. I just don't like novels in which the main character has to go through bad experience after bad experience without catching a break. I mean shit was just being piled on the protagonist, Katrell, in this one. It's totally legitimate to tell such stories, specially because it seems like the author went through tough times herself as a teenager, but it's just not for me. Additionally, I found the story dragged in the middle because Katrell is stuck for so long in her own unhelpful behaviours . I totally get that she's a teenager in over her head but even though her behaviour may be realistic, watching her make the same mistakes over and over again just didn't make for a great reading experience, in my opinion.
Spoiler
She's poor, she has to support her manipulative asshole of a mother, she's abused, she's threatened by homelessness, she's sick for most of the novel, she almost dies.Spoiler
like continuing to resurrect people even though it's clearly not a good idea or pushing people away even though she needs help
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
sharib's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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 book surprisingly made me cry alot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Animal death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
kayladaila's review against another edition
It’s really dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, and Gun violence
corvidprince's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.0
This book needs a massive trigger warning. The plotline was enjoyable, but personally, I really struggled with just how graphically domestic violence, child abuse, abandonment, etc. are described. It was very hard for me to get through, but not because the book was bad, it was just very heavy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Abandonment and Suicidal thoughts
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: animal death, parental neglect
Bad Witch Burning put my heart through the emotional wringer. From Lewis exploring toxic family members to the fear and doubts of letting people in? Everything is emotionally intense and gripping. Katrell's story of how she is put into the parental role - when no child should have to be - and the desperation of poverty. We are able to see Katrell on the page in all her mistakes, loves, and doubts. To witness her emotional journey and character arc.
There are moments that break your heart from the small all the way to the large. From the internal narration in our own heads, to the fights with our best friends, to the toxic relationship with her mother. Bad Witch Burning is a book that has us fall so deeply in love with the characters, all their nuances and intricacies, and then watch the action take off. I struggle to figure out whether I love the story line - the supernatural - or the characters more. But they work so seamlessly together to create a narrative you can't put down.
TW: animal death, parental neglect
Bad Witch Burning put my heart through the emotional wringer. From Lewis exploring toxic family members to the fear and doubts of letting people in? Everything is emotionally intense and gripping. Katrell's story of how she is put into the parental role - when no child should have to be - and the desperation of poverty. We are able to see Katrell on the page in all her mistakes, loves, and doubts. To witness her emotional journey and character arc.
There are moments that break your heart from the small all the way to the large. From the internal narration in our own heads, to the fights with our best friends, to the toxic relationship with her mother. Bad Witch Burning is a book that has us fall so deeply in love with the characters, all their nuances and intricacies, and then watch the action take off. I struggle to figure out whether I love the story line - the supernatural - or the characters more. But they work so seamlessly together to create a narrative you can't put down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence