Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

68 reviews

bookish_hollyx's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Violence and Murder

puddleshoes's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Murder

phoenixlovesbooks's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I loved the story and the mystery of it all, but the thing that made me the most frustrated was all the talk of secrets. It felt like everyone had a secret and it got to the point where I didn't even care anymore

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cancer and Suicide

brewdy_reader's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Atmospheric and autumnal with a side of spooky. 

Lyrical prose transports us to an island off the coast of Cascadia, where tourists ferry to the local  orchard for apple picking, sampling locally made tea and herbal remedies from the local apothecary, and admiring the fall foliage. Where there's an apothecary, there are tea readings, and the local folklore whispers of magic and witchery.

But before you think this is a small town romance where nosy neighbors manufacture drama, spread gossip, and generally are up in each others' business (which they are), get ready for an ominous edge: a local girl was murdered 14 years ago and the prime suspect is back in town. Is this an opportunity for rekindling first loves or is something more sinister abrew...

The twists and turns were a wild ride, the pacing is on target, and the beautiful descriptions and love story made this a really fun read. I wanted more spells and magic and for the adults to grow up and start communicating. Despite that, Adrienne Young has quickly become one of my must-buy authors. Beautiful fall read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

victoriawl93's review against another edition

dark reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism

krystlethegreat's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Adding 0.25 for great audio narration by a cast of narrators.

Definitely atmospheric. Loved the setting and feel of the location. I great up on Puget Sound and ferries and can totally picture this little island that tourists flock to, but that is draped in magic and mystery. 

Looking through the lense of our main characters, I can see how we have such limited information. 
As a reader, I felt like, since we had multiple points of view, we should have known our older generation characters better.

Overall, a great cozy, atmospheric mystery/thriller that will keep you guessing without giving you anxiety.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Drug use

fionamatilda's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

hellodebbies's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Fall in love with the book and the MC, I read the book in one sitting and while I can understand why people didn't like it, I certainly loved it ! The way the grief was portrayed was so good and the mystery in itself was quite interesting thanks to the fantastic side of the book. If you don't read a lot of mystery book I think you will enjoy this one as much as I did 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Cancer

slvt4b00ks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I read this book very fast so I would say I was invested in how things turned out but the only wow factor was really the twist at the end.  The author does paint a very vivid picture with beautiful words which I can appreciate, but I just felt like it fell flat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

heatherjchin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy