Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'
Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
20 reviews
franzis_buecher's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
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.
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
librarymouse's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Toxic relationship
amy_reading_23's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Death, Racism, and Domestic abuse
lucystolethesky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual content, Death, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
gmolina's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Death, Cancer, Homophobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Sexual content, and Murder
Minor: illness, menstruationalotte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse
maryellen's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, and Death of parent
angelmoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship