Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

108 reviews

ktv's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rachelmerrie's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

emfass's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

franzis_buecher's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kassidyreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

passionatereader78's review against another edition

Go to review page

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. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rayreyes's review against another edition

Go to review page

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. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

librarymouse's review against another edition

Go to review page

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!
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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

percervall's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings