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emzhay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-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? No
1.0
This book screams 2015 Tumblr from its humor, references and characterization to its feminism, narrative critique, and logic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Moderate: Rape
crunchycrystals's review against another edition
adventurous
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
the humor was a bit cringey at times but i thought the message behind it was really nice and the descriptions of the characters emotions made me genuinely cry its fun. also i love fairytale retellings and thought the way those aspects were incorporated were really cool especially in the last half and enjoyed zinnia's personality i really like her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Medical content, Rape, Blood, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion
gillian_aftanas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
witcheep's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.0
This novella is a fresh take on fairytale retellings: it not only retells a classic tale of the Sleeping Beauty, but also acknowledges that there already are numerous iterations of the same story. If you are interested in folklore, you'll enjoy the witty commentary on traditional roles of fairytale characters, agency, and other tropes in this novella.
The main character Zinnia has a rare medical condition that makes her life expectancy only 21 years ("the curse"). This has made her relate to the tale of Sleeping Beauty and even get a degree in folklore to dive deeper in all it's iterations. Zinnia's interest in the tale makes her likeness to it explicit.
The main character Zinnia has a rare medical condition that makes her life expectancy only 21 years ("the curse"). This has made her relate to the tale of Sleeping Beauty and even get a degree in folklore to dive deeper in all it's iterations. Zinnia's interest in the tale makes her likeness to it explicit.
And maybe the dying girl rules are garbage, and in stead of us trying not to die, we should be trying to live.
On her 21st birthday, a drunken dare has Zinnia prick her finger on a spike of a spindle, and she finds herself transported to another dimension.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Violence, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Abortion
cerise_floryn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Going into this book, I was enticed by a relatively quick read and fantasy novel that appeared different than the usual spin on fairytale I hadn't seen in a while. Going into it, I was certainly stunned when I was faced with a story that made me face mortality, chronic illness and its battle, oppression and constant fight against it, the community of women, and tales of fate and reality.
Suffice enough to say that this story was rather... comforting. The story stayed true to its fictional world and fairytale basis, and yet mixed in a hard set of reality that was rather therapeutic. I left this book feeling calmed. One would expect to be panicked when discussing the hard-hitting truths that this novel tells, and yet, does not sugar coat. But it was the opposite. I'm quite glad I picked this up. Oddly enough, this book somehow reframed my perspective on life at the moment... Wouldn't have saw that coming from a fantasy novel picked up on a whim!
All in all, it was a splendid read! The author covered a series of heavy topics in a way that still held onto hope that didn't feel stretched or naive.
Suffice enough to say that this story was rather... comforting. The story stayed true to its fictional world and fairytale basis, and yet mixed in a hard set of reality that was rather therapeutic. I left this book feeling calmed. One would expect to be panicked when discussing the hard-hitting truths that this novel tells, and yet, does not sugar coat. But it was the opposite. I'm quite glad I picked this up. Oddly enough, this book somehow reframed my perspective on life at the moment... Wouldn't have saw that coming from a fantasy novel picked up on a whim!
All in all, it was a splendid read! The author covered a series of heavy topics in a way that still held onto hope that didn't feel stretched or naive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Chronic illness
Minor: Rape and Violence
risten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Rape, Blood, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
strewnsunlight's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy and Rape
asahome's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
4.75
TL;DR: A dying girl retells her story by grabbing it by the horns.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Terminal illness
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol and Domestic abuse
oatmeal_oatmeal's review against another edition
2.5
Not a bad read, I just didn’t vibe with it. The narrator’s quips and references were a little too on-the-nose and #relatable for my tastes, but I’m sure other people would enjoy it. (Referencing the spider-verse outright was a little much, imo.) The characters felt a little flat as well.
It’s a very minor thing, but I read the physical copy which has illustrations throughout, and it just didn’t work for me. They’re silhouettes of fantasy characters and vines, but they never seem to align thematically or literally with what’s happening on the page. At best it’s misguided, at worst it’s meant to pad out an already short novella. I wish there had been more care there because it would have added to the storybook/folktale ideas at the core of the story.
It’s a very minor thing, but I read the physical copy which has illustrations throughout, and it just didn’t work for me. They’re silhouettes of fantasy characters and vines, but they never seem to align thematically or literally with what’s happening on the page. At best it’s misguided, at worst it’s meant to pad out an already short novella. I wish there had been more care there because it would have added to the storybook/folktale ideas at the core of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Rape
mirandyli's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Cute retelling of Sleeping Beauty where Sleeping Beauty is a lesbian who was blessed rather than cursed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Cancer, and Medical content