Reviews tagging Child abuse
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
30 reviews
victoriousbookworm's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Child abuse
hanna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
Typical "it's not you, it's me". This had everything I usually love — found families, grumpy x sunshine, witches!! — it just didn't work out for me in the end. It felt like the book itself didn't know what genre it was trying to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
roget's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Where to begin with this...
Mika Moon is a 31 year-old witch living in a world where magic people must hide to avoid danger. The only interaction she has with other witches are her adopted guardian's meetings, which are held briefly and sporadically a few times a year. Mika calls their group "the very secret society of witches," though Primrose (aforementioned distant-guardian and leader of the group) resists the idea that they are a society at all. Primrose doesn't like anything that promotes dangerous unnecessary connection and its resultant, potential reveal of witches. She loathes that Mika has taken to uploading magical videos online, even though all the viewers assume the magic is simply good editing.
It's a surprise, then, when Mika is identified as magic through the content she'd uploaded. The message asks her to come to Nowhere House to tutor three young witches and help them gain control of their rambunctious powers. Nudged to accept by her instincts and magic, Mika travels to this place to meet the house's caretakers, Ken, Ian, Lucie, Jamie, and the three little girls they look after--Rosetta, Terracotta, and Altamira (named by their adopted guardian and fellow witch, Lillian, who spends most of her time away from home). (It must be mentioned that all witches become orphans shortly after their birth, due to an unfortunate magical backfiring centuries before). Lillian hasn't taught the girls anything about how to use their powers, and the wards on the property can only hide so much. The greater the number of witches together, the more reactive and difficult to manage the magic becomes. With a mundane solicitor and his many prejudices coming for a visit soon, the grown folks at the Nowhere House beg Mika to stay, tutor the girls, and help them get a handle on things, lest the children be discovered. (Jamie does not quite beg. He seems reluctant to invite anyone new into their home).
Mika accepts, and what follows is one of the most precious stories of acceptance, belonging, found family, and love that I've read this year.
The characters.
Ian
An absolute gumball of a goober. Definitely gets ahead of himself and has some poor decision making moments, though we get enough development for him that we're able to understand his motivations, I think. I loved his knitting, his penchant for getting carried away, and his never-ending, unfinished projects. If a craft store exploded into a human being, it would be Ian.
Ken
Ian's husband, and also the gardener. I think the book said it best: he is "kind and nice." Ken is not a loud character, but he is a much needed sensible and calming presence in the Nowhere House. One of Jamie's surrogate dads (that one talk made me emotional), and if I had to pick someone to get a hug from, it would probably be him.
Lucie
Probably the least developed of the main bunch, but still lovely. A mix of pragmatic, humorous, good-natured, and stubborn. I appreciated her maternal nature and the caretaking she does, as well as some of her more forthcoming moments of comedy or honesty.
Jamie
The house's librarian (there is a library extension on the house that now operates digitally and through post) and the primary caretaker/guardian of the children. He's got a backstory that I found both harrowing and heartbreaking, but not melodramatic. A perfect example of "grumpy-with-a-heart-of-gold" played out to its full effect. The book does a great job balancing his reservations and grouchiness with the softer sides of him. He doesn't do things for no reason. He genuinely loves the children, and the book never has to tell us that, because it's so obvious through what he does. His development unrolls at a steady, well orchestrated pace, and by the end, I adored him. (I adored him even at the beginning, but my appreciation deepened quite a lot).
Rosetta (10), Altamira (7), and Terracotta (8)
I'm grouping the girls together because I don't want to give too many spoilers. But, you should know that they each have their own growth moments. They aren't convenient little props, and you can see the unique traces love has left on them just as you can see the effects of displacement, loss, and other traumas. If you're like me, you'll be wholeheartedly invested in making sure they get to stay together, no matter the magical risks.
Mika
This character's arc is not revolutionary. It's not the first time I've seen a lonely-loner-finds-a-home style story. But her conviction, her insecurities, and her values are quite well balanced and tested. I think the story's conclusion really put her growth on display, and I appreciated that.
This book is cozy. It's kind. It's got some swearing and a few, brief mature scenes (which are skippable if you are not one for those). The magic is an interesting element that seems to provide a good foil for many kinds of difference, and I'm sure many people will connect with Mika's descriptions about struggling to be normal when she is not.
What puts this over the top for me was the balance. The pacing is excellent, all the way through. The plot moves at a steady, good clip, and the characters are all unique and filled in. They all have a distinct role, and that role is never "ticking a checkbox." Hard topics are explored with kindness and lots of support. It's very uplifting, and there are well-put lines throughout it that make you stop and go, "Mm. Yeah."
It's not often that I find a book with strong plot, strong characterization, and strong pacing--especially one that's this short. I really did enjoy it, its hopeful message, and the family at its core.
Mika Moon is a 31 year-old witch living in a world where magic people must hide to avoid danger. The only interaction she has with other witches are her adopted guardian's meetings, which are held briefly and sporadically a few times a year. Mika calls their group "the very secret society of witches," though Primrose (aforementioned distant-guardian and leader of the group) resists the idea that they are a society at all. Primrose doesn't like anything that promotes dangerous unnecessary connection and its resultant, potential reveal of witches. She loathes that Mika has taken to uploading magical videos online, even though all the viewers assume the magic is simply good editing.
It's a surprise, then, when Mika is identified as magic through the content she'd uploaded. The message asks her to come to Nowhere House to tutor three young witches and help them gain control of their rambunctious powers. Nudged to accept by her instincts and magic, Mika travels to this place to meet the house's caretakers, Ken, Ian, Lucie, Jamie, and the three little girls they look after--Rosetta, Terracotta, and Altamira (named by their adopted guardian and fellow witch, Lillian, who spends most of her time away from home). (It must be mentioned that all witches become orphans shortly after their birth, due to an unfortunate magical backfiring centuries before). Lillian hasn't taught the girls anything about how to use their powers, and the wards on the property can only hide so much. The greater the number of witches together, the more reactive and difficult to manage the magic becomes. With a mundane solicitor and his many prejudices coming for a visit soon, the grown folks at the Nowhere House beg Mika to stay, tutor the girls, and help them get a handle on things, lest the children be discovered. (Jamie does not quite beg. He seems reluctant to invite anyone new into their home).
Mika accepts, and what follows is one of the most precious stories of acceptance, belonging, found family, and love that I've read this year.
The characters.
Ian
An absolute gumball of a goober. Definitely gets ahead of himself and has some poor decision making moments, though we get enough development for him that we're able to understand his motivations, I think. I loved his knitting, his penchant for getting carried away, and his never-ending, unfinished projects. If a craft store exploded into a human being, it would be Ian.
Ken
Ian's husband, and also the gardener. I think the book said it best: he is "kind and nice." Ken is not a loud character, but he is a much needed sensible and calming presence in the Nowhere House. One of Jamie's surrogate dads (that one talk made me emotional), and if I had to pick someone to get a hug from, it would probably be him.
Lucie
Probably the least developed of the main bunch, but still lovely. A mix of pragmatic, humorous, good-natured, and stubborn. I appreciated her maternal nature and the caretaking she does, as well as some of her more forthcoming moments of comedy or honesty.
Jamie
The house's librarian (there is a library extension on the house that now operates digitally and through post) and the primary caretaker/guardian of the children. He's got a backstory that I found both harrowing and heartbreaking, but not melodramatic. A perfect example of "grumpy-with-a-heart-of-gold" played out to its full effect. The book does a great job balancing his reservations and grouchiness with the softer sides of him. He doesn't do things for no reason. He genuinely loves the children, and the book never has to tell us that, because it's so obvious through what he does. His development unrolls at a steady, well orchestrated pace, and by the end, I adored him. (I adored him even at the beginning, but my appreciation deepened quite a lot).
Rosetta (10), Altamira (7), and Terracotta (8)
I'm grouping the girls together because I don't want to give too many spoilers. But, you should know that they each have their own growth moments. They aren't convenient little props, and you can see the unique traces love has left on them just as you can see the effects of displacement, loss, and other traumas. If you're like me, you'll be wholeheartedly invested in making sure they get to stay together, no matter the magical risks.
Mika
This character's arc is not revolutionary. It's not the first time I've seen a lonely-loner-finds-a-home style story. But her conviction, her insecurities, and her values are quite well balanced and tested. I think the story's conclusion really put her growth on display, and I appreciated that.
This book is cozy. It's kind. It's got some swearing and a few, brief mature scenes (which are skippable if you are not one for those). The magic is an interesting element that seems to provide a good foil for many kinds of difference, and I'm sure many people will connect with Mika's descriptions about struggling to be normal when she is not.
What puts this over the top for me was the balance. The pacing is excellent, all the way through. The plot moves at a steady, good clip, and the characters are all unique and filled in. They all have a distinct role, and that role is never "ticking a checkbox." Hard topics are explored with kindness and lots of support. It's very uplifting, and there are well-put lines throughout it that make you stop and go, "Mm. Yeah."
It's not often that I find a book with strong plot, strong characterization, and strong pacing--especially one that's this short. I really did enjoy it, its hopeful message, and the family at its core.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Classism
abigailgrims's review
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia
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
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
jen_b's review
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Sweet book, great representation across race and a few cis gay couples. To me, read more like a romance/ personal growth novel and also there's magic, rather than magic being the main thing, which is what I tend to gravitate to. Still an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Racism and Death of parent
bassbotics's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
thepeonyinink's review
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
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