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seriouslynerdy's review against another edition
- 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
The book is slow paced, things happened gradually and not suddenly. The book follows 17 year old seamstress Francis Hallowell taking in 1911 New York City. She is in the process of grieving her brother who was mysteriously found dead and she is unable to search for answers as to what happened. While working one night an act of violence causes law enforcement to be involved and Francis thinking she will be hauled away by them, she was correct that she was being hauled away but it was to a sanatorium in Queens instead of prison. The sanatorium isn’t what she originally thinks it is, it’s an academy for witches and Francis had triggered her magical ability.
The book is well written, it took me a while to get into it around 100 pages they only reason it's loosing .5 stars in my opinion but once the world was built, the magic became known and the characters started to grow. Once I emerged into the story I could not put it down, their emotions felt raw through the pages and I hurt for them or laughed with them. There was love, and heartbreak, a coven, spells and betrayal and I couldn't have asked for more with this book.
I highly recommended this book to anyone who loves magic and history.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, and Alcohol
artimas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Murder
tranquiltides's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m in my early 30s now, and YA fiction doesn’t always capture me the way it used to. It’s hard to find the protagonists relatable when they are half your age.
But this book. Man… This book sucked me in. I wanted to do nothing but read it.
The story was well written and engaging. There were little twists and turns through the whole thing, and while I never claim to be the kind of person who can smell a plot twist from a mile away, the twist at the end of this book really truly and genuinely caught me by surprise.
A great book to get lost in, cozied up under a blanket with a hot tea. High recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, fantasy, magic, and mystery.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Dementia, and Gaslighting
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
However, for fans of witch novels, boarding school settings, and novels about sisterhood, I would still recommend reading:)
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
aesthetic_bookreader's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Murder, Alcohol, and War
courtnoodles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness and Abandonment
annabellw06_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
imcourtneymarie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Also, I’m sad that Finn is the bad guy, but I also love it. 😈
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Vomit
anoveldestination's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Stalking
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, and Classism
shyleek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another 5 star book for me!
You ever finished a book and hated the author because that is NOT how the story was supposed to go? This was that for me.
Fast paced (if I wasn't reading this for October book club I would have had this done in probably less than a week).
I can't wait to pick up the second one.
Seriously if you like witchy magical things this book will keep you guessing.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship