Reviews tagging Racism
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Bonus Epilogue, by Sangu Mandanna
28 reviews
owlieali's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse
brontesauruses's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Racism, Classism, Alcohol, and Xenophobia
wilybooklover's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
This book is simply delightful. A lonely witch finds love and acceptance when she agrees to tutor three children in all things witchcraft.
I absolutely loved this story. Mika uses her sunshine-y nature as a mask to keep the world – and her loneliness – at bay. Jamie, the librarian she falls in love with, similarly uses grumpiness as his mask. Ultimately, though, this was a story about found family. As the book progresses Mika becomes intertwined with this quirky, endearing family and it was so wonderful to see her walls come down and accept all of these wonderful people into her heart. I’m not always a fan of children in books, but I really enjoyed their inclusion in this story. They were maybe a little precociously funny but they had some lovely moments of connection with Mika. The whimsical way that the witchcraft was written was the cherry on top and really fit the vibe of the story.
Just a beautifully written cosy and romantic story that made me smile as I read it. I really needed something uplifting when I picked this up and it fit the bill perfectly. This is one for the comfort re-read pile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Minor: Xenophobia, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Racism
kylieqrada's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
I already did my Top Ten of 2022 and then I read this book and I'm like 😬😬😬. I LOVE HER. Major House in the Cerulean Sea vibes but with casual diversity, this was seriously just so cozy and sweet. Easy 5 ⭐️s from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Cursing, and Child abuse
Minor: Racism and Homophobia
shaipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
🥺🥺🥹 omg this is literally one of the most adorable things I’ve ever readd!! This is definitely going up into my top books of the year and potentially one of my favorite books I’ve ever readdd - literally so adorable and everything I could ever want
I did find the first quarter or so slightly slow and I wasn’t sure where it was going but once I got back into it I was obcesseddd and finished it in less than a day lol
I did find the first quarter or so slightly slow and I wasn’t sure where it was going but once I got back into it I was obcesseddd and finished it in less than a day lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Death, Racism, and Homophobia
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
This was so cute and warm. I spent the last chapter happy sobbing. Found family, magic, and learning that you are enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Bullying
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Minor: Classism, Xenophobia, Injury/injury detail, Homophobia, and Racism
sarah_plemmons's review against another edition
funny
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? Yes
3.5
This book has been on my fall TBR since it published, and it absolutely delivered on the promise of a cozy fall read! This is such a feel-good book with a lovely English setting and a charming cast of characters. At times, it does suffer from having too many characters, but each of them is so lovely and feels so fully realized that it's hard to stay mad about it.
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here!
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months.
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here!
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Racism
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Racism and Homophobia
ramalam98's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was a quick cute and cosy read and I really enjoyed it. If you want diverse found family with adorable characters and sweet magic then this is for you.
The world building is top notch especially for such a short book. I really hope we get more books set in this world because I loved the magic!
The writing style is nice, emotional and whimsical. It was a bit ‘YA but lots of swearing and sex references’ though which I guess comes from the author writing primarily YA.
The characters were good too, though occasionally falling victim to “hyper aware self-pathologising of why they have issues” which made everyone sound like a therapist. It did well working with themes such as loneliness though. I would have loved to know more about the older adults. I do think that it had one or two characters too many considering the length and pace of the novel, 50 more pages of character development would have sorted it out.
I don’t think I particularly liked the romance but that’s more of a me thing.
It was so easy to read and I really did adore all of the characters. Personally I need to be Mika and open up a tea shop thanks.
My main criticism is the actual plot itself. The pacing wasn’t consistent and I found the resolution to be a bit too easy
The world building is top notch especially for such a short book. I really hope we get more books set in this world because I loved the magic!
The writing style is nice, emotional and whimsical. It was a bit ‘YA but lots of swearing and sex references’ though which I guess comes from the author writing primarily YA.
The characters were good too, though occasionally falling victim to “hyper aware self-pathologising of why they have issues” which made everyone sound like a therapist. It did well working with themes such as loneliness though. I would have loved to know more about the older adults. I do think that it had one or two characters too many considering the length and pace of the novel, 50 more pages of character development would have sorted it out.
I don’t think I particularly liked the romance but that’s more of a me thing.
It was so easy to read and I really did adore all of the characters. Personally I need to be Mika and open up a tea shop thanks.
My main criticism is the actual plot itself. The pacing wasn’t consistent and I found the resolution to be a bit too easy
Spoiler
especially when it came to Mika forgiving everyone and Primrose immediately agreeing to letting the girls stay together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Child abuse, Murder, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Body horror, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism, Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Sexual content