Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

99 reviews

r_a_bell's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I liked the premise of the book, however, I was expecting it’s characterization of the witches to be different. I was disappointed that it didn’t subvert the traditional role of the witch as a villain. I do think it did what it was trying to do, but nothing more than that. The story itself was intriguing and tense, making it difficult to put down. I also really appreciated the dark gothic vibes  which made it a perfect fall read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail

If you have any triggers surround the mistreatment/death of animals, DO NOT read this. The first paragraph has the graphic details of animal death and it is all throughout the book. After the first 2 or 3 instances of animal death, I skipped multiple chunks of text any time an animal was mentioned. Which was incredibly frequently. If I had known just how often this content is discussed, and in such graphic detail, I would’ve passed on reading it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book! But in my opinion it’s not worth it

nightmarebees's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this is a DEBUT?? my jaw is hanging open. i knew i would love this from the first few chapters, and i was not disappointed. exactly the witchy, cultish, don't-go-in-the-woods read i needed to kickstart yearning for fall. i personally was destined to love this book just based on vibes and wheelhouse items, but it also twisted classic themes in a new enough way to feel fresh.

"Some of them were innocent, others complicit; still more were caught in the gray between right and wrong. Few were wholly blameless, and none were free of sin. But there wasn't a single soul in that sanctuary she would condemn to the ruin that now lay before them." 

the overarching conflicts of this book are, at a glance, rather dichotomous. black vs white, church vs occult, women vs men, etc. however, henderson has written them into the world of bethel with careful thought and complexity. immanuelle herself is a study in plurality: mixed race, both witch and faithful. the sides of her family aren't pitted against each other with a clear 'bad guy'. vera accepts immanuelle entirely, doesn't conform to the violence of the church, but also hesitates to help save the people who her granddaughter loves. the moores are outwardly loyal to a corrupt prophet, but they still love immanuelle, have raised her as their own and do eventually stand by her in the end. even ezra is the rebellious son, the heir who claims to see everything wrong with his father's reign, but is willing to try and run away, protect himself and immanuelle alone at the expense of those still oppressed in bethel.

there wasn't a moment of this i wasn't excited to be reading. alexis henderson you are an auto-buy author now for sure

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Pedophilia, and Racism

simplyammee's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

annabellw06_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I wish the ending was stronger. I understand that setting up for a sequel is important but so is ending a book properly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Religious bigotry, and War

amy_is_a_monster's review

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, and Physical abuse

spy_indeed's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Torture, Blood, and Death of parent

entre_fanon_y_weil's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

roxyloraine's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

I knew the book took place in a Puritan setting but the title gave me the impression it was more about witches. It’s more of a buildup so if you are reading this and about to give up, skip to the last hour for the best part.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

skelleybean's review

adventurous challenging dark 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

3.75

This book was so dark and raw, and I loved it all… until it tripped at the finish line and kind of turned into an after school special.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic

aortiz09's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and War

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault