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hazelwood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
This story felt realistic, even though there was the mystical element of dragons being real (Amazing and cute!!!) everything else felt very grounded. It dealt with questions that I ask myself every day, like no matter what I do, will it ever be enough to change things? And the climate change effects were visible throughout the story but it wasn't preachy about it. Lots of really good gut-punch moments. Ow, my heart hurts. But the romance that develops between the characters is sweet and teaches both of them valuable lessons. I was so happy to see Kai get loved and cared for despite his insistence on not helping himself. And the demisexual (?) representation with Eli was unexpected but really well done! I would have liked to know what happens with the dragon research though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Self harm
scarroll178's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
The author did a great job crafting the world this story takes place in. I just wish more story had happened in this world. The story feels very unfinished, like the author gave up on writing an ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Blood, and Chronic illness
notsobinaryart's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.5
Struggling between knowing what amount of my feeling for this book is it being not for me and what amount is me having some valid criticism.
Starting off, this book is a lot more literary fiction than a traditional fantasy story, which would have been better to know going into the book to set my expectations. It tries to make a balance, but falls a bit short on both aspects. It is a bit too on the nose for literary fiction, too light on fantastical elements and impersonal for most fantasy, leaving it in an awkward middle state.
The author reveals in the back of the book that this story was originally a short story but expanded upon to be a novella; I wish I could read that to compare. It again feels like it exists in a weird in between, not enough space to take on a more nuanced take yet the style and directness could be more impactful as a short story.
A much higher focus on character than any plot, which ultimately leaves the conclusion as unfinished on purpose. Even if the ending was purposely open ended, it lacked the directness of the rest of the book, making it feel less finished than intended. I was almost expecting to turn the page and there be another chapter, even while I was watching the page count dwindle before my eyes. This in part is me not used to reading character-only center books with no real focus on plot, so maybe the ending would leave those more used to literary fiction satisfied.
With all of those criticisms and complicated thoughts aside, this was still a beautiful book examining the strange tension created by loved ones and the person experiencing a condition disagreeing on medical care, processing feelings of newfound illness and limitations, complications of queer relationships amongst various levels of accepting crowds, racism, grief, and climate change. The latter of which impacts all of the other themes, showing how insidious climate change is and the intersectionality of issues on everyone and your psyche.
I might recommend this to someone who is looking for a character-driven literary low fantasy dealing with climate change and grief for yourself and loved ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Homophobia
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
AFTER THE DRAGONS by Cynthia Zhang is set in a Beijing much the same as today only there are pet-sized dragons and climate change has led to a new terminal illness due to air pollution. In this city where wealth towers over crumbling poverty, two young men, one a grief-stricken med student, the other a snarky, chronically-ill dragon rescuer, fall in love over dragons.
I loved this slow, easy story about the unfairness of life, the necessity of hope, and the importance of connection. There’s a small plot but what moves this story are the characters.
I loved Kai’s disillusionment and complete inability to back down or give up on dragons when he’s essentially given up on himself. And Eli’s contemplation of place and self, his grief and languid discovery are near perfect. They’re both persistent and stubborn in pursuing what’s right and good, but in very different ways. Kai is all heat and Eli is stone.
The writing is equally gorgeous. From page one, I was hooked on the world-building that lovingly painted Beijing in all its flaws and light. The way Zhang wove mythology and dragons seamlessly into a modern world is stunning and there are so many threads that build and build.
It’s only 142 pages but I lived in those pages for a few hours yesterday. I couldn’t put it down.
It’s immersive, contemplative, full of warmth and life, and a little sad but in away that’s heartfelt and feels right. In a word, it’s lovely.
This book is everything I love in storytelling. I adored it. Please go read it.
I loved this slow, easy story about the unfairness of life, the necessity of hope, and the importance of connection. There’s a small plot but what moves this story are the characters.
I loved Kai’s disillusionment and complete inability to back down or give up on dragons when he’s essentially given up on himself. And Eli’s contemplation of place and self, his grief and languid discovery are near perfect. They’re both persistent and stubborn in pursuing what’s right and good, but in very different ways. Kai is all heat and Eli is stone.
The writing is equally gorgeous. From page one, I was hooked on the world-building that lovingly painted Beijing in all its flaws and light. The way Zhang wove mythology and dragons seamlessly into a modern world is stunning and there are so many threads that build and build.
It’s only 142 pages but I lived in those pages for a few hours yesterday. I couldn’t put it down.
It’s immersive, contemplative, full of warmth and life, and a little sad but in away that’s heartfelt and feels right. In a word, it’s lovely.
This book is everything I love in storytelling. I adored it. Please go read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Police brutality
archcon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicide attempt, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical content, and Sexual content
buttermellow's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Animal cruelty
nostoat's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Short, sweet, and beautiful. Loved having a main character with a chronic illness and found many of his moments of stubbornness painfully relatable. The book ends before the story really feels complete, which I also liked. Open-ended, refraining from telling you how it all ends, though you can likely guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
szuum's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts
paperbackwaffles's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This is such a short and sweet fantasy that will be wrapped so tightly around your heart.
Instead of the usual giant destruction monsters we're so used to in fantasy fiction - dragons are instead kept as pets. There is no epic battle, no insane magic system, no tyrannical leader. But there are two main characters that will certainly leave an impression on you.
There is something about the way that Cyntha Zhang writes that I absolutely adored. Something so simple and yet so atmospheric and gritty. It doesn't shy away from difficult topics, from being LGBTQ+ within China, living with a terminal illness, coping with grief. And that's on top of a novel centered around climate change, pollution, and the environmental and health issues that arise because of it. There is so much packed within such a short page count, and it's all truly impressive.
What stood out most to me was how well Cynthia ties everything together. Although it's short, I felt like the length fit the novel and story perfectly. And that ending... I sat there and just stared at the page and then re-read it again about five times. It was brilliant and layered, and have been thinking about it non-stop since I finished the book (nearly 24 hours ago).
Instead of the usual giant destruction monsters we're so used to in fantasy fiction - dragons are instead kept as pets. There is no epic battle, no insane magic system, no tyrannical leader. But there are two main characters that will certainly leave an impression on you.
There is something about the way that Cyntha Zhang writes that I absolutely adored. Something so simple and yet so atmospheric and gritty. It doesn't shy away from difficult topics, from being LGBTQ+ within China, living with a terminal illness, coping with grief. And that's on top of a novel centered around climate change, pollution, and the environmental and health issues that arise because of it. There is so much packed within such a short page count, and it's all truly impressive.
What stood out most to me was how well Cynthia ties everything together. Although it's short, I felt like the length fit the novel and story perfectly. And that ending... I sat there and just stared at the page and then re-read it again about five times. It was brilliant and layered, and have been thinking about it non-stop since I finished the book (nearly 24 hours ago).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
nillech's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Animal cruelty