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A review by giulianasbooks
The Coven by Harper L. Woods
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is not a bad book, but maybe it just isn’t for me. Because I’m entering my romance era, I decided to read this one because I was seeing everyone reading it so I wanted to give it a try, but maybe this book wasn’t good to start with romance and that’s totally my fault😅
The plot is what definitely made me read it: who doesn’t like witches? not only that, but the book is really short so I was like “fuck it, let’s read this”. At the begging it had me hooked because the tension between the MC and the love interest was superior, but as I kept on reading my enthusiasm went downhill… Given the fact that it’s about a school of witches, I expected more interactions and people to appear, or just more teachers, classes, etc as it felt she forgot the whole book was set on A SCHOOL, but right in the middle of the book it was just pure sex and I felt like the author completely forgot about the important part of it all (Willow’s purpose).
Another thing that I really didn’t enjoy at all was the fact that Willow was basically a possession to Gray: I can totally get the fact that this is a romance book but I draw the line there, and her being compulsed is just rape, and I can’t support that. I also cannot support toxic relationships of any kind, and all of that just threw me off completely. I was sure I was going to give this book more stars but after I read the whole virginity sex I completely changed my mind (I will never think being a virgin is a bad thing because that’s NOT what I’m saying, but the whole “I’m going to be a virgin just to have my first time with the fuckboy love interest” is not my thing).
Is this a dark romance? Are dark romances always like this? I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know! I’m new to the genre and I was surprised such things like that were described as a normal thing🤷🏻♀️.
Again, I don’t think is bad but there are a lot of plot holes (I know there’s a second part coming up this summer) and it’s just too much for me.
The plot is what definitely made me read it: who doesn’t like witches? not only that, but the book is really short so I was like “fuck it, let’s read this”. At the begging it had me hooked because the tension between the MC and the love interest was superior, but as I kept on reading my enthusiasm went downhill… Given the fact that it’s about a school of witches, I expected more interactions and people to appear, or just more teachers, classes, etc as it felt she forgot the whole book was set on A SCHOOL, but right in the middle of the book it was just pure sex and I felt like the author completely forgot about the important part of it all (Willow’s purpose).
Another thing that I really didn’t enjoy at all was the fact that Willow was basically a possession to Gray: I can totally get the fact that this is a romance book but I draw the line there, and her being compulsed is just rape, and I can’t support that. I also cannot support toxic relationships of any kind, and all of that just threw me off completely. I was sure I was going to give this book more stars but after I read the whole virginity sex I completely changed my mind (I will never think being a virgin is a bad thing because that’s NOT what I’m saying, but the whole “I’m going to be a virgin just to have my first time with the fuckboy love interest” is not my thing).
Is this a dark romance? Are dark romances always like this? I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know! I’m new to the genre and I was surprised such things like that were described as a normal thing🤷🏻♀️.
Again, I don’t think is bad but there are a lot of plot holes (I know there’s a second part coming up this summer) and it’s just too much for me.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail