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rae_diant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Confinement and Death
Minor: Sexual harassment and Emotional abuse
epsyphus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, War, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
fatherprozac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, and Vomit
allmight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Blood, and Violence
shieldbearer's review against another edition
- 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 also can't say I liked the reveal about the origin of the Wood Queen and the reason the wood is attacking. I think the Staryk were handled with more nuance in Spinning Silver.
However, I would still strongly recommend this novel.
Graphic: War, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Murder, Medical content, Death, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, and Animal death
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Vomit
halfelfschollar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
The book also has a slight issue of an age difference. While not always a deal breaker, Agnieszka is 17 at the beginning of the story and it is unclear as too when her birthday is and if she turns 18 prior to her romantic relationship with The Dragon growing.
A final complaint is, again, the romance sub-plot. While I don not dislike Agnieszka and The Dragon, her interactions with her best friend Kasia feel entirely romantic. For much of the book (if not all of it) I felt that the two girls were in love with each other and in many ways make a better match than The Dragon does.
In the books defence, the character arcs for Agnieszka, The Dragon, and Kasia all felt whole and well thought out. They all ended in ways that were satisfying and spoke to who they were or who they wanted to be (if begrudgingly on the part of The Dragon). Agnieszka in particular has a very satisfying arc that is well established with her connection to Baba Jaga. She's also an incredibly loveable and strong lead.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
bookishchef's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Ancient creature x barely legal teenager romance.
I know that there is no equivalent to this irl so I should stfu, but it still makes me uncomfortable, even if it is later revealed that the MC is immortal as well. It is even mentioned within the text by Sarkan that this has weird undertones (right before he has sex with the MC anyway, so he obviously was not too concerned).
- Best friend character that should have been the love interest instead but is not because heteronormativity says no.
I did not dislike Sarkan as a love interest. Gloomy, grumpy, bookish boys are a weak spot of mine. But Kasia x Agnieszka would have been immaculate. Super strong sword fighter girl x witch? I want that story dammit!
- Ancient magical objects and places getting a thorough explanation instead of staying mysterious.
Stories with fairy tale vibes do not need to explain everything. Why can the bears in Goldilocks talk? Because they can. Why do they eat porridge? Because they do. Not everything needs an explanation in fairy tales. And for me explaning why The Woods existed felt a bit unnecessary.
It is an enjoyable read nonetheless! And there was much I did enjoy!
- Uneasy allies to lovers
- Well written friendship
- A fairy tale esque feeling
- Female characters calling men out for their bullshit
- "Being strong" not being linked to violence or traditionally masculine tasks and features
- Eastern european influences (Baba Jaga, the food, the names of the characters, hell maybe even the Woods itself)
- Everything about the Summoning
- That singular smut scene
I don't love the ending of the book either, but somehow it did not take away from the rest of the story for me. There is just too much to enjoy here.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Death
monsterperi'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
larissabooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War, Gore, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Confinement
Minor: Vomit and Slavery