Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa

14 reviews

frankenstens13's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really liked the style of it and it was really engaging! But it wasn't exactly what I was looking, There was also not a lot of magic, I was expecting a fantasy world travel sort of book (with a queer romance along for the ride) and I got a contemporary queer romance which don't get me wrong was quite good! It just wasn't what I was looking for

If you'er looking for a contemporary queer romance (with it's fair share of drama) with a little fantasy music mixed in then I would highly recommend! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, and Bullying

Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

julesthebookdragon417's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

caitlyn_drago_1226's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Sexual assault, Blood, and Addiction

beavivi's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Homophobia, and Cursing

Minor: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Abandonment

thecatconstellation's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I have really mixed feelings about this book. I like the set up with the tarot card chapters interspersed throughout the story. But I hate the main character. I don’t know if it’s because she’s a teenager or what, but her view on relationships and

being in a relationship with Pix magically curing her pot addiction

feels so toxic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Stalking, Alcohol, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Bullying, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Vomit, Addiction, Medical content, and Violence

Minor: Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry

lonely_tardigrade's review against another edition

This book was a lot more depressing than I expected. A lot of the problems I had with it could be attributed to the imbalance of what I thought the book would be like and what it actually ended up being. I just don’t have the mental capacity right now for the kinds of heavy topics it introduced, which is why I didn’t finish it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Medical content and Sexual content

kyahfae's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Addiction, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Rape, Chronic illness, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit

cyan_altaria's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Addiction, and Chronic illness

Minor: Vomit, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Homophobia, and Alcohol

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

3.5

This is going to be the perfect October book, honestly! I loved the witchy vibes and the way that the story was framed overall by tarot cards. I learned a lot about tarot cards that I didn't know before, and I loved the setting of Salem. Given what Salem is associated with, seeing Eleanor's perspective and the way it's been made so commercial really gave the book a fall feel. I loved that.

There's a lot of a buildup in this book to something, but not a ton of resolution? A lot of the reviews on here are mad about the excessive marijuana smoking and it not being addressed, but that honestly didn't really bother me. I think I just wanted to see a little more of Eleanor's healing process there at the end; it overall just felt a little rushed to me.

But, if you're looking for a sapphic witchy book to read this fall, I'd definitely recommend this one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Rape

uraveragelesbianreader's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

I picked this book up on a whim because it was on sale at my local bookstore and I was not disappointed. It was a fun modern love story with a unique concept and an important narrative hidden beneath it. The book itself was beautiful and the way Tarot cards before chapters gave you an idea of what would occur within the chapter was beautiful both in design and in concept. I think because I came into this book with very few expectations I enjoyed it. My advice is don't make this book anything its not and don't come in expecting wonderful prose and a captivating deeply realistic story line, read it the way you would watch a 90s romcom and you will have a good time. That being said I don't think this book is lacking depth. Though the L word is never said explicitly our main character is a lesbian and has experiences that I feel many of us can relate to. That conflict in the book feels very realistic and relatable but where I think this book struggles is it attempts to fit into a mould that was not made for it. It tries to fit a very typical romance book format when that's not really what this book is this leads to the pace feeling a bit janky and some of the later conflict between the main characters feeling contrived and unnatural. Overall this book is fun but I would not reccomend paying full price for it, get it from the library or pick it up on sale. I would specifically recommend this book for those who want an atypical romance book and those who feel like reading a book about a lesbian sceptic and a bisexual witch falling in love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, Addiction, and Drug use

Moderate: Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Medical trauma