Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
15 reviews
rakkaussipsi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.0
I absolutely loved this for the first half but was so disapppointed with the romance and the awful plot-twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Toxic relationship
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
bettysbookishworld's review against another edition
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
It was a beautiful cozy fantasy about the found family where a society of witches is taught to live in an isolation. It was quite emotional at parts as well, however, the cozy and whimsical vibes were the most present throughout the book. It's a perfect read to feel hopeful and to be happy for the characters that they found their happiness. I recommend it if you want to fully relax with a book that provides only the good vibes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
morningtide's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
This was cute!! Thank you!! This was such an enjoyable, cozy, hopeful read while I was home sick and had just read some denser books. I fell in love with Mika so quickly, and wanted her happiness so strongly after being told her past. I liked that the personal issues in the relationship felt realistic to the characters while also not feeling too overly dramatic. The kids were cute, and I loved that the concept of the whole family felt more crucial than just the romance. Jamie was perfectly adequate as a romantic interest but I adored him as the father figure to the kids.
Spoiler
One of my favorite aspects of this is that neither Primrose or Jamie's mothers are painted solely as bad people - just messy ones who made a mistake. I loved that Mika and Jamie finally found where they belonged, but also was glad to see that they gained closure as well. Jamie in reconnecting with his mother and knowing it's too late for them, but losing the fear of his brothers and getting his fathers journals back. And Mika in realizing Primrose was doing what she thought was best, but chose wrong, and they can try to be better to one another here on out. Knowing that the characters get their happy ending but also get to continue healing the injuries of the past gave me those extra fuzzies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Toxic relationship
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
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
kcelena's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Toxic relationship
booksthatburn's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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
THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES is a funny and heartwarming story of found family, starring a lonely witch and a house full of people working to protect three very young witches.
The setting is almost real-world England, but where magic and witches are real while the rest of history seems to have been unaffected. Mika was born in India but was taken to England by Primrose after her mother died (all witches are orphaned soon after birth due to a spell that went wrong sometime in the past). There are various themes of bigotry, marginalization, and even colonialism which are invoked by the characters, but only the magical counterpart is specifically explored. Since a lot of heavy lifting for the worldbuilding is implied by the contemporary setting and setting most of the book at Nowhere House, this has the room to focus mainly on characterization.
Ian is a retired actor who resides at Nowhere House with Ken, his husband and the house's gardener. Lucie is the housekeeper, and Jamie is the grumpy and protective librarian who originally came to the house as a teenager. The children (Altamira, Terracotta, and Rosetta) are very young witches who were adopted by the house's absent owner, Lillian, a witch and archeologist. Ian finds Mika online and invites her to stay at the house for several months and teach the children to control their magic. Mika, who has led a very lonely life due to her former guardian's ideas about witches and the dangers of spending time with one another, agrees to stay but keeps feeling a bit on the outside.
The story is generally heartwarming, focusing on Mika's interactions with the inhabitants of the house. Jamie is grumpy in a way that's initially annoying to Mika but which starts being a bit sexy as she gets to know him better. Mika was invited to the house because there's going to be a visit from Lillian's lawyer and they need the children's magic to be under control (or at least hidden) during the event. They haven't been able to get in touch with Lillian, and none of the other adults are magical, so they have to hope that Mika can help them.
This was fluffier than I usually like, but I ended up enjoying it (especially once Jamie and Mika start really talking). The late-book twist was handled very well and led to some of my favorite scenes in the whole thing.
The setting is almost real-world England, but where magic and witches are real while the rest of history seems to have been unaffected. Mika was born in India but was taken to England by Primrose after her mother died (all witches are orphaned soon after birth due to a spell that went wrong sometime in the past). There are various themes of bigotry, marginalization, and even colonialism which are invoked by the characters, but only the magical counterpart is specifically explored. Since a lot of heavy lifting for the worldbuilding is implied by the contemporary setting and setting most of the book at Nowhere House, this has the room to focus mainly on characterization.
Ian is a retired actor who resides at Nowhere House with Ken, his husband and the house's gardener. Lucie is the housekeeper, and Jamie is the grumpy and protective librarian who originally came to the house as a teenager. The children (Altamira, Terracotta, and Rosetta) are very young witches who were adopted by the house's absent owner, Lillian, a witch and archeologist. Ian finds Mika online and invites her to stay at the house for several months and teach the children to control their magic. Mika, who has led a very lonely life due to her former guardian's ideas about witches and the dangers of spending time with one another, agrees to stay but keeps feeling a bit on the outside.
The story is generally heartwarming, focusing on Mika's interactions with the inhabitants of the house. Jamie is grumpy in a way that's initially annoying to Mika but which starts being a bit sexy as she gets to know him better. Mika was invited to the house because there's going to be a visit from Lillian's lawyer and they need the children's magic to be under control (or at least hidden) during the event. They haven't been able to get in touch with Lillian, and none of the other adults are magical, so they have to hope that Mika can help them.
This was fluffier than I usually like, but I ended up enjoying it (especially once Jamie and Mika start really talking). The late-book twist was handled very well and led to some of my favorite scenes in the whole thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Alcohol, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Classism, Racism, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Animal death
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
4.5
I adored this. The found family, y'all. PERFECTION. And gotta say, I didn't see a twist coming!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Child abuse and Homophobia
astropova'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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so sweet!! A witchy book about found family and healing, with some grumpy/sunshine trope thrown in. Also has House in the Cerulean Sea vibes. I loved every single character (except Edward lol)!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship and Child abuse
All of these are only for mentions in characters' pasts.