Scan barcode
mogojojo1013's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Trigger warnings: Violence, blood, weapons, vomiting, trypophobia, insects, spiders, snakes, parent loss, suicide, drug overdose, alcoholism, mentions of war, a clown, hospitalization (there may be more that I missed, this book was A LOT)
This book was an experience from start to finish there is so much thrown at you. Just the horror aspect it feels like she takes every possible terrifying thing and puts it in here. I love all of the characters, I thought that for how many there are they were well developed and I was immediately connected to all of them. I love the diversity and the fact that many of the characters are queer.
I love that this book is discussing a lot of difficult topics like grief, loss, mental illness, addiction, disability but we are also getting a really creepy and somehow fun story at the same time.
There were some chapters that seemed to go on for a little too long unnecessarily, like when the kids were walking home from school, but for me that didn't detract too much from the experience.
At times I think the grossness went a bit too far, but maybe that's just a me thing. I did, however, think it was entirely unnecessary to specifically state that the coven's one spoon has a swastika and was stolen from Hitler, just struck me as icky.
All in all though, the book was entertaining and had me hooked and reading furiously to the end, I'm sure I will pick up the rest of the books at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Vomit, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, War, Suicide, Alcoholism, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Cancer, Gun violence, and Pedophilia
thehal's review against another edition
I really tried. But this was giving me reading burnout.
Just because you (seem to) know alot of words you don't need to cram them all into one page...
Just because you (seem to) know alot of words you don't need to cram them all into one page...
ankylia's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book! It had the promised Supernatural vibes, but also so much more. The horror elements were creepy and awesome, and the many details Hunt describes - which at first I wasn't so sure about - managed to really capture the atmosphere of Georgia in the fall.
There were, however, a few things that bothered me. The first one was the cliché and super negative portrayal of a clinic for the mentally ill. I just hated this. Also, while all the side characters were very likeable, interesting and three dimensional, I had my problems with connecting with the MC Robin. For me she felt like the one that was the least consistent and fleshed out, and I found myself caring much more for her friends. This book admittedly had its lengths, as it ultimately felt more like an introduction.
All in all, the story, the atmosphere and the characters are what kept me reading. If you are a fan of horror, Supernatural, Stephen King and the like, this book might just be the thing for you. I for myself will be looking forward to the next installment in the Malus Domestica series.
I really enjoyed this book! It had the promised Supernatural vibes, but also so much more. The horror elements were creepy and awesome, and the many details Hunt describes - which at first I wasn't so sure about - managed to really capture the atmosphere of Georgia in the fall.
There were, however, a few things that bothered me. The first one was the cliché and super negative portrayal of a clinic for the mentally ill. I just hated this. Also, while all the side characters were very likeable, interesting and three dimensional, I had my problems with connecting with the MC Robin. For me she felt like the one that was the least consistent and fleshed out, and I found myself caring much more for her friends. This book admittedly had its lengths, as it ultimately felt more like an introduction.
All in all, the story, the atmosphere and the characters are what kept me reading. If you are a fan of horror, Supernatural, Stephen King and the like, this book might just be the thing for you. I for myself will be looking forward to the next installment in the Malus Domestica series.
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
If you like urban fantasy, but feel like the fact that characters know about magic and monsters takes away some of the fear and power, this book is probably for you. If you're into horror but wish the main characters had a bit more agency, this book is probably for you.
The story opens with Our Heroine, Robin Martine, coming back to her home town. She's been hunting down witches, which very few people know really exist, and posting videos of her exploits on YouTube. The populace thinks she's just a CG wizard posting a popular web series, but revenue sharing keeps her creeper van running and her Holy Water stocked up.
She's returned home to tackle the thing that started her on this road to begin with - taking down the coven that murdered her mother.
Before long she reunites with Joel (Jo-ell), one of a pair of brothers her mother used to watch when they were little.
At this point the book kind of diverges into two stories in two different genres, with some interstitial material tying them together.
Robin's story is a dark variety of urban fantasy. Robin is the hunter, and she's preparing herself to take on dangerous prey in the form of the coven.
Joel, along with Wayne and Leon (a father and son living in Robin's old house) are the focus of a horror story. Like most horror stories, their parts are reactive. They don't understand what's going on, and they're victims of forces and beings beyond their understanding. They aren't hunting anything, just trying to survive.
The stories come back together for the final third and blend very well.
The writing was pretty good, including some Classical reference Easter eggs in the form of certain characters names and such. However, like the Outlaw King book I reviewed before ([b:The Whirlwind in the Thorn Tree|22882007|The Whirlwind in the Thorn Tree (The Outlaw King, #1)|S.A. Hunt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407385274s/22882007.jpg|24253191]) it suffered from a lack of good copy editing. A few continuity problems, some misuses of words, and a few homophone swaps made it into the text. Enough to notice, but not enough to pull me out of enjoying the story. It did, however, drag a very nicely crafted story from 5 stars down to 4.
The story opens with Our Heroine, Robin Martine, coming back to her home town. She's been hunting down witches, which very few people know really exist, and posting videos of her exploits on YouTube. The populace thinks she's just a CG wizard posting a popular web series, but revenue sharing keeps her creeper van running and her Holy Water stocked up.
She's returned home to tackle the thing that started her on this road to begin with - taking down the coven that murdered her mother.
Before long she reunites with Joel (Jo-ell), one of a pair of brothers her mother used to watch when they were little.
At this point the book kind of diverges into two stories in two different genres, with some interstitial material tying them together.
Robin's story is a dark variety of urban fantasy. Robin is the hunter, and she's preparing herself to take on dangerous prey in the form of the coven.
Joel, along with Wayne and Leon (a father and son living in Robin's old house) are the focus of a horror story. Like most horror stories, their parts are reactive. They don't understand what's going on, and they're victims of forces and beings beyond their understanding. They aren't hunting anything, just trying to survive.
The stories come back together for the final third and blend very well.
The writing was pretty good, including some Classical reference Easter eggs in the form of certain characters names and such. However, like the Outlaw King book I reviewed before ([b:The Whirlwind in the Thorn Tree|22882007|The Whirlwind in the Thorn Tree (The Outlaw King, #1)|S.A. Hunt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407385274s/22882007.jpg|24253191]) it suffered from a lack of good copy editing. A few continuity problems, some misuses of words, and a few homophone swaps made it into the text. Enough to notice, but not enough to pull me out of enjoying the story. It did, however, drag a very nicely crafted story from 5 stars down to 4.
itputsthebookupontheshelf's review against another edition
5.0
I gave this book a 4.5 Stars
I'm all for anthing about witches, so when I saw this book about a YouTube sensation Witch Hunter, I knew I needed to check it out.
This book has got some really intersting descriptions... It makes the story super fun/ny while getting into the horror of these awful witches that suck the life out of the areas they settle in. The way that they are able to control humans through overtaking their bodies with their feline familiars was pretty cool. It was also an interesting concept that they grow their own "life fruit".
I really enjoyed the characters and their backstories.
Robin is a badass! I love her style and the fact that she has such a crazy past. She was taken in as a teen from a mental institution and trained to destroy the witches that tore her family apart. She has made a good living making YouTube videos taking them down one at a time, though no one knows they are real.
It was a blast to watch Robin grow as a character, share her story and make some friends along the way. I can't wait to get to the next book in the series (which I was also able to obtain through Netgalley
I'm all for anthing about witches, so when I saw this book about a YouTube sensation Witch Hunter, I knew I needed to check it out.
This book has got some really intersting descriptions... It makes the story super fun/ny while getting into the horror of these awful witches that suck the life out of the areas they settle in. The way that they are able to control humans through overtaking their bodies with their feline familiars was pretty cool. It was also an interesting concept that they grow their own "life fruit".
I really enjoyed the characters and their backstories.
Robin is a badass! I love her style and the fact that she has such a crazy past. She was taken in as a teen from a mental institution and trained to destroy the witches that tore her family apart. She has made a good living making YouTube videos taking them down one at a time, though no one knows they are real.
It was a blast to watch Robin grow as a character, share her story and make some friends along the way. I can't wait to get to the next book in the series (which I was also able to obtain through Netgalley
billymac1962's review against another edition
3.0
Boy, what a see-saw of opinions I had throughout this one.
The good points:
There were some flat out brilliant ideas in this story. S.A. Hunt throws in history, mythology and theology and comes up with a very cool world where real witches exist.
He made me laugh out loud with his sound effects. This was something you'd expect from perhaps a sixth grader but it worked here and it was a silly but fun way to read this.
There were moments where his descriptive prose approached literary greatness. A description of a Subway restaurant seeming to appear embarrassed at its location immediately comes to mind.
Some not-so-good points:
This novel really needed an editor. There was one character, Ashe, who was described as a veterinarian almost every time he was introduced (my Kindle counted 8 times).
As fun as the novel was, it was much too long. The action got pretty ridiculous and the pacing was very uneven for the last third of the story. As good as the story was, and the crazy-good ideas, I confess to skimming the final 100 pages. I really had had enough and was losing patience.
I think if this would have been trimmed down this could have been a five star read. This was a five star read for a good half of the book.
So, I'm glad I read it, and I have no regrets skimming to the end. I'm rating this right down the middle, at 3 stars.
The good points:
There were some flat out brilliant ideas in this story. S.A. Hunt throws in history, mythology and theology and comes up with a very cool world where real witches exist.
He made me laugh out loud with his sound effects. This was something you'd expect from perhaps a sixth grader but it worked here and it was a silly but fun way to read this.
There were moments where his descriptive prose approached literary greatness. A description of a Subway restaurant seeming to appear embarrassed at its location immediately comes to mind.
Some not-so-good points:
This novel really needed an editor. There was one character, Ashe, who was described as a veterinarian almost every time he was introduced (my Kindle counted 8 times).
As fun as the novel was, it was much too long. The action got pretty ridiculous and the pacing was very uneven for the last third of the story. As good as the story was, and the crazy-good ideas, I confess to skimming the final 100 pages. I really had had enough and was losing patience.
I think if this would have been trimmed down this could have been a five star read. This was a five star read for a good half of the book.
So, I'm glad I read it, and I have no regrets skimming to the end. I'm rating this right down the middle, at 3 stars.
ellsea's review against another edition
5.0
Could not put it down.
I have lost sleep over this book, and I'm so glad I did. I was easily pulled in and attached to the characters. Breakneck pacing, but it's authentic to the story, and keeps you embroiled in the middle of all the action. Wonderfully planned out, masterfully executed.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a smoke, a drink, and a nap.
I have lost sleep over this book, and I'm so glad I did. I was easily pulled in and attached to the characters. Breakneck pacing, but it's authentic to the story, and keeps you embroiled in the middle of all the action. Wonderfully planned out, masterfully executed.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a smoke, a drink, and a nap.
whatsmacksaid's review against another edition
3.0
This was sort of a weird book—it was good writing, but really slow after the first chapter, and it ended in the middle of a scene without resolving literally anything.
xfirefly9x's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Malus Domestica is dark, gory, intense, and taste-the-dust atmospheric. The atmosphere sinks under your skin and embeds itself there. To use a metaphor, the atmosphere sinks under your skin in much the same way as how the witches use their powers to "familiarise" people by inserting cats into them; unless you're protected by an algiz, you'll probably not escape it.
The story itself was... one thing after another... same as any other story. But each thing that came builded on what came before, until a town filled with vibrant characters came to life. The characters are all unique and vivid in their behaviours and needs, and the way their individual stories connect is so compelling that by the end, you won't want to let them go.
An excellent read.
Not recommended for animal lovers (especially cat lovers) or anyone who dislikes gore.
Malus Domestica is dark, gory, intense, and taste-the-dust atmospheric. The atmosphere sinks under your skin and embeds itself there. To use a metaphor, the atmosphere sinks under your skin in much the same way as how the witches use their powers to "familiarise" people by inserting cats into them; unless you're protected by an algiz, you'll probably not escape it.
The story itself was... one thing after another... same as any other story. But each thing that came builded on what came before, until a town filled with vibrant characters came to life. The characters are all unique and vivid in their behaviours and needs, and the way their individual stories connect is so compelling that by the end, you won't want to let them go.
An excellent read.
Not recommended for animal lovers (especially cat lovers) or anyone who dislikes gore.