Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Witherward by Hannah Mathewson

5 reviews

lennie_reads's review against another edition

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

3.75

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

This book follows Ilsa, a magician's assistant with a difficult upbringing, who also has the power to shapeshift. 
One day someone shows up to take her to another world, the Witherward, as she is being hunted.  

So I would definitely agree that this has aspects that are similar to A Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab, especially at the beginning but it quickly veers off into something entirely it's own. 

I really liked the world building and magic in this book, especially all the different factions. The characters are all very layered and intriguing and I really liked the found family aspect.. 

However, I do feel like it took a while to get to the climax for it then to end quite abruptly leaving many of the plots still wide open. 

I am very much looking forward to seeing what else this world has in store for Ilsa and everyone else if / when we get a sequel!

CW: Panic attacks, Blood, Death, Injury, Child abuse, Murder, Gun violence, Confinement, Torture, and Violence, Drugs, Drug Addiction, Grief, Death of a Parent (past mention)
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han_mahoney's review

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

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alice_clay's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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beckycarter97's review

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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ballgownsandbooks's review

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adventurous mysterious 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

3.75

I'm honestly so surprised I haven't seen more hype for this! Not because it's the best book I've ever read, but it seems like exactly the kind of thing that would become a book community darling: it's got the spunky heroine who's out of place in her own life; the parallel magical London; family secrets; the dark, mysterious, initially-antagonistic love interest...

I found a lot of the worldbuilding quite confusing - I really struggled to keep all the different factions and types of magic straight, and the fact that Witherward has all the same place names as regular London, but in a different arrangement, really threw me off! On the other hand, we got a lot of details about the intricacies of shapeshifting, and I really loved those granular details about the rules of the magic!

I enjoyed Ilsa's character, and the friends she makes in Witherward (especially Fyfe!) - found family will always get me! It also seems to be setting up for the sequel to have one of my favourite romance tropes, so I'm excited to see where the story goes next! 
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