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rosatulipan's review against another edition
The concept of the vanishers is really good
consumed_by_mold's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A post-apocalyptic world, left broken by alien invaders, in which words are magic and being useful is the only way to survive.
I found this while looking for sapphic human x dragon romances - with, you know, an actual dragon. Vu Côn did not disappoint, she has a dragon and a human form, but uses them both frequently.
Though I'm usually not a fan of insta-lust, here it aided the otherworldliness of the dragon. Still, I wish their relationship had been more fleshed out and given more depth, the romance was definitely lacking. There's also one fade-to-black sex scene.
The descriptions for the world were both beautiful and confusing, done so very much on purpose. I wouldn't last a single day in that palace, just imagining it gives me a headache.
I really liked the children and their story, though all together the book did feel somewhat unfinished. It's a very unique retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and an interesting take on post-colonialism - just a bit short is all.
I found this while looking for sapphic human x dragon romances - with, you know, an actual dragon. Vu Côn did not disappoint, she has a dragon and a human form, but uses them both frequently.
Though I'm usually not a fan of insta-lust, here it aided the otherworldliness of the dragon. Still, I wish their relationship had been more fleshed out and given more depth, the romance was definitely lacking. There's also one fade-to-black sex scene.
The descriptions for the world were both beautiful and confusing, done so very much on purpose. I wouldn't last a single day in that palace, just imagining it gives me a headache.
I really liked the children and their story, though all together the book did feel somewhat unfinished. It's a very unique retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and an interesting take on post-colonialism - just a bit short is all.
ainsi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
youshouldreadthisif's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
2.5
This was a odd little tale of a teacher who is sold off to a dragon. Yen's world is broken, left in tatters after a race known as the vanisher's destroyed it for their own pleasure. When her healer mother calls on the dragon to heal the head villager's daughter - the dragon does but there is a cost. Yen is given to the dragon to die or to serve and yet what she finds in the palace is not what she expects. I needed a bit more plot in this story and better pacing. It's not awful just needed more polishing.
mitabird's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
kaiyakaiyo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
done! I’ve decided that I really dislike novellas. they always feel rushed, incomplete. there is soooo much going on here, but it feels like the author just shoves info into our brain and starts the story. there was also a lot of repetitive language; how many times can one person write the word “broken” before it loses meaning. I didn’t have time to love any of the characters, or even dislike any. they were such bare sketches that I felt nothing as they moved through the story. maybe novella-lovers like the shortcut to action, but I just like buildup, showing vs telling. probably a me issue
pacing and char development issues aside, this is a really interesting world that could be great with some building, and girl/dragon is my new favorite sapphic trope. the kisses were A1!!!! would’ve liked some more logistics on how a dragon lady fucks a regular lady but maybe im just unimaginative. anyways, this took me a while to get into, and even longer to finish; not sure why i keep picking up novellas. last time, for real!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Colonisation, Blood, and Body horror
tricapra's review against another edition
4.0
I'll read more De Bodard after this. Charming characters, interesting world-building and didn't overstay it's welcome.
emilyrandolph_epstein's review against another edition
5.0
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast that examines power dynamics. Brilliant and beautiful with the lush language I've come to expect and love from Aliette de Bodard.
lalexvp's review against another edition
2.0
While this is more of a fantasy tale, it read much like a sci-fi and I always struggle with sci-fi. I can’t place what it is about the genre, but my brain just can’t GET it. I think I see the themes and the messaging in this book, but I felt exactly nothing for the characters. And without that character attachment, I’m completely lost. I loved the idea of the plot but I didn’t enjoy how it developed. It felt very surface.