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Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
56 reviews
dragon_named_fox's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
libellumartinae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
Alrightie, before going forward with the actual review of the book, I'd like to actively make two disclaimers: I have this book through the spawn of weeks and definitely not in the most brilliant of ways, alongside this, I have come to the conclusion that I am unable to fully enjoy cozy fantasies as it is not my thing.
With this being said, I can't deny that to me the major flaws of this book was that at time the book felt dragged along and plot incosequential, gaining acceleration only when the the thing passed the halfway mark and even there I'd like to state that I think that this book could have been plotted better. Alongside this, as always in the world where everybody is good and nice, I felt distrustful at traits of many characters and I felt a once too bonary air around it. Generally I don't think it's a problem of the book as much as my own preference. I also caught ontly a few plot twists.
Otherwise, I'd say it's a lovely and cute found family book (definitely heavy on that trope if it's your thing) and I am not going to lie but I did resonate often with the main characters and her ragtag family although at times they didn't feel relatable. Either way it's a very cute book if you ever been a breather from reality.
With this being said, I can't deny that to me the major flaws of this book was that at time the book felt dragged along and plot incosequential, gaining acceleration only when the the thing passed the halfway mark and even there I'd like to state that I think that this book could have been plotted better. Alongside this, as always in the world where everybody is good and nice, I felt distrustful at traits of many characters and I felt a once too bonary air around it. Generally I don't think it's a problem of the book as much as my own preference. I also caught ontly a few plot twists.
Otherwise, I'd say it's a lovely and cute found family book (definitely heavy on that trope if it's your thing) and I am not going to lie but I did resonate often with the main characters and her ragtag family although at times they didn't feel relatable. Either way it's a very cute book if you ever been a breather from reality.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Xenophobia
kaneebli's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
teabrewer's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
I chose this book because I needed a cozy lighthearted romance for a stressful week that was to come. This book was, mostly, cozy, lighthearted and romantic. The kids were funny, the love interest is a grumpy, but good, person who is raising these kids. It talked about some interesting topics like the difference between being nice and being good, the different ways people deal with trauma, particularly parental negligence, and feeling alone in the world. There was no gender essentialism and consent is very respected throughout the book, and not only in romantic situations, so it escaped my most common pet peeves in this genre. I liked the magic system. Magic is palpable and a bit personified and witches have actual conversations with it to use magic. It also interacts back with the witches. I know it has become a more common thing in this kind of book but seeing the casual representation of a lesbic couple made me happy and they felt like very natural characters. I also liked seeing an older gay couple, it is good to be reminded queer people can be alive and happy for that long. That being said, there were a few things I didn't like in this book. Ian trying to force Mika and Jamie's relationship felt, well, forced. The references to witchcore and TikTok at the beginning of the book felt out-of-touch. The main characters were all only a step away from stereotypes, and although that's not always necessarily a bad thing, in some cases it took me away from the book. Ian was the biggest offender but they all had dialogue that made me grimace at least once. The forest make out scene was cute and full of want but the sex scene in the house was clunky and weird. It felt more like a list of actions than someone's perspective. It also felt a bit out of place in the context of this book. The sudden "we buried a dead body in the garden" felt extremely out of place, like the author had planned that at first but forgot about it while writing the book and had to cram it in there somehow afterwards. And the "secret identical twin" twist just after that felt like a lazy, cliché band-aid, especially since before it appeared the plot was going in a way more interesting and relevant direction. I don't understand why that was included, there was no hole to be covered. A plot-hole was actually created because of it and had to be addressed with an even lazier excuse, that is the pictures with Lilian in them always being blurry. Lastly, what was, for me, the biggest elephant in the room: Maybe I'm expecting too much of a cozy lighthearted romance, and maybe having read Babel by R.F. Kuang recently affected my expectations and tolerance for this specifically.But it was a choice to include how the children, and the main character, were taken from their birth countries. How they were stripped of their original names raised by white people while completely isolated from anyone from their original cultures. How there were other witch societies in those countries and Primrose and Lillian had contact with them but still did all that. I don't understand why make that choice if you never planned to address the subject properly. With these last 4 topics, The Super Secret Society of Irregular Witches' problem is that it bites more than it could ever swallow being what it is. It didn't have to have a spicy scene, a "mystery" or to mention xenophobia and colonialism, but it did and couldn't do them all and the actual plot of the book at once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
angelsinbroadway's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
bronzel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Racism, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
moon_peach's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
Great read! Mika and the rest of the characters in the Nowhere house are wonderful. They all have their issues but it's a wonderful found family
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
theliteraryhooker's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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 book just feels like a warm hug from a good friend. It's so sweet without being saccharin, the found family element is so well-done, I just loved every bit of it! I wish I could be friends with Mika, she's a delight!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
mairead_parade's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.0
This is pretty much a TJ Klune book, which is not a bad thing, I just kept hoping it would surprise me a bit more. (If, on the other hand, you enjoyed this and have somehow not read Klune, you’re missing out). It’s sweet, cozy and peripherally Christmas-y, and the characters are very lovable - it is a pleasant if not especially challenging read. The audio narrator was quite good, especially in differentiating the three children without getting too cloying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
lunep's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism