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dottiewankenobi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.25
I struggled to finish this one because there were times that one of the main characters, Kai, was a bit too cynical for my tastes. To be clear, I definitely understand why he was that way and I think it makes the most sense for him, but it just made it a bit difficult for me. On the whole, I liked the hopeful thread throughout this book and I really liked what we saw of the world these guys lived in
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
btwnprintedpgs's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent
Death of a grandparentpaperbackwaffles'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
e_flah's review
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
After the Dragons was a quiet, thoughtful story that looks at love, grief, and belonging. The narrative alternates between exchange student Eli and dragon expert Kai to tell a slice-of-life story. The synopsis is a bit misleading as After the Dragons raises more questions than it answers but I really enjoyed the contemplative nature of the book. If you like thought-provoking speculative fiction and/or stories about climate change, I'd definitely recommend After the Dragons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
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