Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

151 reviews

shelvesofivy's review

funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Cursing

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia

lmhowell's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Terminal illness

rubybastille's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-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

4.5

It’s not easy to create a long work based on a fairy tale and I think the novella length was just right for this. (Do I want an expanded multiverse edition with more sleeping beauties fighting back? Also yes.) I liked the cast of characters and the ways science gets used to (or can’t help) explain their situation. If it felt a little neat and tidy at points (especially with Zinnia’s parents), I chalk it up to being fairy-tale-adjacent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Terminal illness

Moderate: Homophobia

beth_taggard's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

You are accustomed to thinking of fairy tales as make-believe, but they have only ever been mirrors.

I came into this world a rough and tumble tomboy with no need to be rescued; therefore, I never related to fairy tale princesses — though even I could see how blurry the lines of consent are in being kissed while in a death sleep.

But I love a twist on a tale and what a fascinating meta-verse humanity has weaved for itself in telling and retelling tales over time. I'm grateful Alix E. Harrow can cross the worlds and reveal them to us in her unique way of spinning words into wonder.

Overall, I appreciate our flower-named heroines and the spin this tale takes on a modern classic (Thanks, Disney.) rooted in a tale or two (or three) from another time.

Of note: The pop-culture references make this short read feel like a fantastical episode of the Gilmore Girls and I can see this being off-putting to some readers, but I find it — charming. Excuse the pun.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

Minor: Cursing

offafaithe's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed it! Only serious when it needs to be, and fun all the rest of the time.
I actually always loved the story of Sleeping Beauty, and making a modern "princess" with a terminal illness was a great new take on an old tale.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual assault and Blood

dexkit10's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Sexual assault, Cursing, and Rape

tea_coffee_sam's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Rape

near constant thoughts of death (in relation to main character’s terminal illness), multiple allusions to rape/sexual assault

leila_reads_too_much's review

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Medical content

ruthiedr89's review

adventurous lighthearted tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Emotional abuse

prismatical's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness