Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay

13 reviews

sergeant_lemon_pepper's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Slow pace through much of the beginning to establish the many plot threads and historical details of New York City in the 1880s. The rich details of place and Victorian culture are one of the book’s strengths. Another is the fascinating and believable details on Eleanor’s herbal kitchen witch practice. Eleanor is a good character, Adelaide is a bit obnoxious, and Beatrice is, unfortunately, such a “Mary Sue” (i.e., two-dimensionally perfect) that she’s uninteresting). The pace is slow and meandering, picking up speed toward the ending. Fans of Dark Academia fiction might enjoy this. But so many loose ends trail off, unresolved! I suspect the author wanted to do a sequel but maybe her publisher quashed it because it’s been ten years since publication.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, and Religious bigotry

cwerber's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

It started off slow for me and unfortunately, I got Eleanor and Adelaide confused several times. 

But once I got to the middle then it picked up. I think the last quarter of the book with the preacher was the worst because he was an odious character. 

Anyway, I recently discovered that there is another book. So, I guess I will check it out and read it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

probablytoolate's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder

jrose151's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

xandrav's review against another edition

dark inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

elsebeok's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

frantically's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.5

this was so beautiful and felt so real. sapphic witches and found family have my heart <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Homophobia, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual content

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

abominablesnowaro's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation

jourdanicus's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious reflective 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

This book was just what I didn't realize I wanted from a story about witches. I love when there's a balance between magic being a normalized part of the world vs many characters still being skeptical/persecuting of those who do magic, and McKay for sure brought that. She wrote about witchery in a way that makes you believe in it for real, at least in the magic women's power and knowledge can hold. Many other elements of the story make this a great read - found family, normalizing/accepting disability, a well researched historical setting, and interesting but not too flowery prose. And the fact that it's set in October is just the icing on the cake for a perfect spooky season read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Domestic abuse and Misogyny