Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan

7 reviews

lindsaymck's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

I read the second book first, but am so glad I went back to this one! Emmaline Bluewater is a shy, introverted witch living in Chicago where she owns/operates a bar with her two  very funny and supportive best friends, Tia (a witch) and Leah (a human). Despite her best attempts to leave witch Society behind and protect her secret half-sister, Sloane (born of her late father’s affair), her long-lost fiancé returns after 7 years to fulfill their marriage contract. 

Emma was betrothed as a child to her best friend, Bastian Truenote, an extroverted only-son of a Higher family. Emma’s “wicked witch” of a mom only values her for what that marriage could do for their family’s social standing and manipulated and belittles Emma in unbelievably cruel ways in an attempt to mold her into the perfect future wife worthy of a Higher family. It’s a little hard for me to believe that the Truenotes would agree to this betrothal when there are these crazy clauses that would give the Bluewaters access to Bastian’s magic AND would kill Bastian’s mom if he doesn’t marry Emma. Like… are witch lawyers not a thing?!  Did anybody actually read this contract before signing?! The plot is so dependent upon this mysterious marriage contract that there has to be some serious suspension of disbelief to ignore why on Earth it was ever agreed upon in the first place and why all of its secrets are only dramatically revealed so much later. 

Bastian Truenote is described as looking “like sunshine and sin” and that paints quite a picture! It’s as if “the man was always on, like a lightbulb that had no dimmer setting,” but he soon realizes that the pedestal Emma once placed him on is now a ditch he has to dig himself out of. The adoring girl he left behind is much different from the sassy woman he is trying to rekindle a relationship with… and he kinda loves it. Bastian definitely started out in the doghouse, but really worked his way inside to the couch (and eventually the bed 😉). Words and charm come so easily to him that Emma’s got her guard up - literally, she guards her mind because he is a master at mind magic - and only agrees to the marriage if it’s in name only. Emma says that “For Bastian, handing out compliments was like passing around a bowl of popcorn. They had no substance and you felt hungrier after.” She decides she won’t fall for his ‘golden boy’ act again, but forced proximity, a marriage of convenience, and a mutual attraction than has only intensified over time have something else to say about that. The flirty banter and spice between them takes their relationship to the next level, the physical intimacy being so much easier than the emotional kind. 

Their simultaneous lack of trust and desire to trust one another fuels the story from start to finish. The family dynamics at play are intense with more than a little mystery causing them to withhold the complete truth from each other. How can Emma trust Bastian when he abandoned her before their wedding 7 years ago, without even a note, and left her to handle to ridicule of Society and disappointment of her mother all alone? How can Bastian trust Emma when he thinks she might have been aware of the Joining clause - that her family is trying to use the marriage to funnel his magic for their own gain? With questions this big spinning around their minds, it’s no wonder their insecurities often overpower their honesty and the miscommunication trope reigns supreme! 

The challenge for them both is threefold: 
  • Don’t drown in their heartbreaking history while they create a foundation of friendship for their not-so-fake marriage.  
  • Somehow find out what the other person knows about the secret(s) you can’t say anything about. 
  • Keep your emotions close to the vest so that this person can’t emotionally destroy you all over again. 

The mystery of who cast the silencing hex was an unexpected plot twist and there was a lot of emotional damage to unpack as all of the truths being hidden came to light. The “it’s always been you” ending was very fitting for this second chance couple who could finally choose their happily ever after. I hope Tia & Henry and Kole & ??? get their own stories to continue this series! 
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wendahh324's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It was a fun premise but the last quarter or so got pretty repetitive and convoluted. 
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callidoralblack's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
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jordanez's review against another edition

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

3.0

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megs1328's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

What began as a fun, witchy romcom turned into a surprisingly deep and satisfying trauma-resolving story. 

Two childhood friends have always been contracted to marry, but when Emma turned 21 and they began planning their wedding, Bastian suddenly left with no word and Emma has moved on. She has built a new life far from home when he turns up again begging her to marry him to prevent his mother from dying as a result of the broken contract. There is no trust left between them, but she agrees on the basis of friendship only. 

Emma and Bastian go from friends to enemies to friends to lovers, with a arranged marriage of convenience. I enjoyed their journey and was surprised at the twist which led to the third-act breakup, but was happy with the resolution. In the end the feelings and situations holding them back from truly becoming husband and wife are resolved and they get their HEA. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 
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levesc17's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted 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

3.5

If you liked “The Ex Hex” this is for you! Second chance romance and a really cute animal familiar. Emma and Bastian overcome an emotional history to become friends then lovers in the present day. I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
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milehightbr's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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

5.0

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