Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
17 reviews
ashleycmms's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Child abuse
morgsreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
This book was the biggest warmest most wonderful hug full of magic and found family and the most adorable golden retriever sidekick. I fell so in love with all of the characters, and . My only complaint (and reason for -.5 stars) is that it flew by too fast! Some of the dialogue and especially the scenes at the end was very quick-paced with little descriptive narration. Since it comes in at 316 pages I think there could have been room for more scene-building in those faster moments. Overall though it was a delightful, easy read — a good palette cleanser and sort of like a slightly more adult version of The House in the Cerulean Sea (but witchier, of course).
Spoiler
especially in love with the dynamic between Jamie and Mika
Content Warnings
Minor: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
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
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
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
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
atamano'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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Injury/injury detail, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent
iamsammie27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Moderate: Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Death
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
anna_23's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Xenophobia
Minor: Ableism and Death
heydebigale'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? Yes
5.0
Perfect book for spooky season. I loved this book so much!
I loved the concept of intersectionality applied to witches.
Sometimes I’m so annoyed that so many paranormal stories are so white and they are like weird allegories for exclusion based on race, ethnicity, etc.
It was absolutely lovely reading about several witches who were not white and Mika explicitly discussing that they would deal with exclusion based on being a witch AND because they are not white.
I may edit this later because I want to go back and double check the text, but my only issue was that I missed any discussion of birth control when the sex scene happened and like—if it’s likely she will die if she gives birth to a witch, there better be explicit discussion of birth control.
But hopefully Mika Moon has that all under control so that I’m not stressed about it 😅
Notes: takes place in England. Mika is originally from India. Jamie is white.
I loved the concept of intersectionality applied to witches.
Sometimes I’m so annoyed that so many paranormal stories are so white and they are like weird allegories for exclusion based on race, ethnicity, etc.
It was absolutely lovely reading about several witches who were not white and Mika explicitly discussing that they would deal with exclusion based on being a witch AND because they are not white.
I may edit this later because I want to go back and double check the text, but my only issue was that I missed any discussion of birth control when the sex scene happened and like—if it’s likely she will die if she gives birth to a witch, there better be explicit discussion of birth control.
But hopefully Mika Moon has that all under control so that I’m not stressed about it 😅
Notes: takes place in England. Mika is originally from India. Jamie is white.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Xenophobia