Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

9 reviews

maeverose's review

5.0

I love this so much

I feel so stupid for ever thinking I wasn’t interested in this book. I don’t tend to like romance genre books, so I found it so refreshing that this completely subverts all the tropes I hate in romance. They actually communicate. I could cry. The third act conflict is a completely understandable conflict and is resolved quickly. There’s absolutely zero pettiness between the love interests. And it has tropes I like! Grumpy / sunshine!! Semi-dislike to love!!! I’m actually screaming internally. This was so good.

It’s definitely cozy fantasy, but it does have stakes and plot (which I personally prefer). It’s very much a comfort book.

I loved all the characters, they all had distinct personalities and quirks. They’re the found family I wish I had. Jamie was my type of love interest. Wouldn’t mind one of those for myself thank you.

It’s also really funny, and I don’t often find funny books to be funny. But the humor worked for me in this.

My only very minor not very serious complaint is I wish it was just a tad steamier… but I’ll take what I can get.

I had a stupid smile on my face the whole time reading this (except for when I was crying). If you like romance books, witchy books, or cozy fantasy, please read this. I don’t even tend to like any of those things, hence why I wasn’t interested initially, but this is now one of my favorite books. I need to go buy a copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Body horror, Homophobia, and Racism

Plot twist spoiler, but kept vague:

the main love interest and the rest of the family lied to Mika about something pretty big that we don’t find out about till last third, but it does make sense why they lied to her, and I felt it was resolved well.

lawmixitup's review against another edition

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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Body horror and Racism

spilled's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, and Abandonment

It is part of witch lore that they are all orphans, and parent death is mentioned in passing throughout. Main female character has had people (former caregivers and a boyfriend) take advantage of her witchy skills in toxic ways. Main male character experienced physical abuse as a child at the hands of his brothers after his father died. A secondary character has a natural death pre-narrative, but there is discussion of burying her, unburying her, and animating her bones. A minor character is locked in a tool shed and has his memories modified.

pixelpigeon's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. I loved it so much. Such a sweet story about found family. Some very good twists towards the end! Some I saw coming, but others I definitely did not expect.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement and Abandonment

Minor: Body horror, Death of parent, and Alcohol

I was so worried after Jamie and Mika hooked up that she would get pregnant and we would have to worry about the curse that killed all witch mothers but thankfully that did not happen.

spacestarberry's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.25

A wonderfully cozy book, the prose is light and funny, and the characters are a very loveable cast. A tale of finding your own belonging and family in the face of loneliness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia

-Most of the content warnings listed about abuse have to do with Jamie's past, where there is a non-graphic but still potentially triggering dicussion during a car ride to visit his mother about -The main character's adoptive mother, as well as the adoptive mother of the 3 children in the cast, are described as being very absent in their lives. -Very early on, the worldbuilding describes that witches are typically orphans. -a late reveal in the book reveals a character is , and that

dodecashedron's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was so cozy!! The characters were so loveable, the stakes low but high enough to be deeply invested.

The magic system is delightful, I loved Mika, Jamie, and everyone else. This is the epitome of found family and it made me all warm and cozy. 

I do feel that I have to warn people, I did she'd a few tears during this book, and I had not expected it and was on a train. So be warned. (they were so worth it though). 

It's also proof that the chipper protagonist gets with grumpy, mean, seemingly uncaring person with heart of gold is not a bad trope, if you actually make sure the person is just grumpy, does like the protagonist and has a heart of gold! Instead of just being awful to the protagonist all the time and then all of a sudden also being in love???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body horror, Racism, and Xenophobia

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content

thedevilsivy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

4.75

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is an utterly charming book. It’s sweet and funny whilst also laced with longing, secrets, and a heroine I would love to be best friends with. 

Mika Moon is a quirky vlogger, embracing the witchcore aesthetic whilst hiding the fact that she actually is a witch. She lives a secretive life, never staying long in any one place, obeying the Rules of witching imposed on her by the imposing yet sort of maternal Primrose, until one day she receives an invitation to move to Norfolk. An invitation headed ‘Witch Wanted’. It’s all too mysterious to ignore, so she packs up her magical teas, her dog and her pond and off she goes. 

The story is paced just right, as we are introduced to a family of magnificent characters from the outrageous Ian, to the gorgeous yet guarded Jamie. We follow Mika as she joins their household and gets to know each of these wonderfully diverse people. 

A cosy, fantastical adventure with a rising level of urgency, twists which don’t feel forced, and a very tidy wrap up – it’s a perfect autumnal read, to be enjoyed with a steaming mug of tea whilst watching the leaves begin to fall. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Minor: Body horror