Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'
Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
108 reviews
ktv's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Loved the diversity. The twist at the end was a little predictable. I loved the found family trope so +0.5 stars for that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
rachelmerrie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Cozy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
emfass's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Grief
Minor: Xenophobia
franzis_buecher's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Very wholesome, this book kind of feels like a warm hug<3
I loved all of the characters a lot!
One of the plot twists I saw coming, the other one I was totally suprised by.
The only two things that irked me a tiny bit were the dialogue of the children which seemed a bit too mature for a seven- or eight-year-old at times, and the sex scene which I could have done without and which kind of didn't really fit the vibe of the book.
Anyways, I too now want to live in a house on the coast in Norfolk (a place where according to Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, lost things are found, which I found wonderfully fitting) with witches, grumpy librarians, gay elders, a housekeeper, pets, and a lot of magic.
I loved all of the characters a lot!
One of the plot twists I saw coming, the other one I was totally suprised by.
The only two things that irked me a tiny bit were the dialogue of the children which seemed a bit too mature for a seven- or eight-year-old at times, and the sex scene which I could have done without and which kind of didn't really fit the vibe of the book.
Anyways, I too now want to live in a house on the coast in Norfolk (a place where according to Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, lost things are found, which I found wonderfully fitting) with witches, grumpy librarians, gay elders, a housekeeper, pets, and a lot of magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
kassidyreads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Child abuse
passionatereader78's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
This is a refreshing read during the fall season where I'm reading creepy spooky books. I loved the plot and the characters. The children were well done. I could see my sisters and I in those little girls. This book is so heartwarming. Mika is asked to help three little girls explore their magical powers in a safe environment. She is there to protect them from themselves and the outside world. Mika has never had a family, so when she joins Nowhere House she is surprised by all the love she feels between the girls and their caretakers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Family, children, witch(es), nontraditional family, LGBTQIA, romance, spells, contemporary, London, minority characters, womenhello_lovely13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
rayreyes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Good natured, grounded characters. Loved having nonwhite witches to fall in love with. Story flowed well and moved along steadily, which I loved. The characters were lovely and warmly, self possessedly addressed conflict. It felt honest and easy and the ending wasn’t rushed. I’d recommend suspending hypotheses and trying to guess thibgs just to enjoy the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Death, Child abuse, and Cursing
librarymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book so much! It was such a fast and addictive read, and each and every character is so very easy to love!
I might need to come back to edit this review later. I don't know that I can currently explain all the feelings I'm having about this book, other than to say that I waited two days to read the last chapter, after reading the rest of the book in one day because I was bereft at the thought of leaving this world and these people behind.
Spoiler
The way in which the author navigates difficult social issues, and integrates addressing them into the story itself is gorgeous. She fits the necessity of self-representation and seeing oneself in one's mentors/seeing someone who looks like you thriving in a life you'd like to live when you grow up into the narrative in a way in which it is recognizable, but also slots neatly into the narrative like the rest of the lessons taught to the characters. The evolution of Mika and Jamie's relationship, the history of Ian and Ken's and the nuance given to all of the characters in the book make them all so round and lovable! Knowing this to be fantasy, and having read one too many fantasy novels with a prevalent male gaze, I was really pleasantly surprised with how the characters' traumas were explored, addressed, and healed. I should have known better than to expect the worst, but I was so pleasantly surprised that Mika's traumatic experience at University was not a sexual assault. I also really appreciated how the characters spoke to one another. Miscommunication tropes are some of my least favorite, but the way in which Mandanna explores what in Mika's past could cause her to misunderstand her being deserving of love and the idea that she is loved added so much depth to the story.I might need to come back to edit this review later. I don't know that I can currently explain all the feelings I'm having about this book, other than to say that I waited two days to read the last chapter, after reading the rest of the book in one day because I was bereft at the thought of leaving this world and these people behind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse
percervall's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship