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archaicgambit's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Mirantius's POV was super fascinating. I loved how every character made difficult choices, and even worked against each other at different points, but you could feel their reasoning was completely sound. Irina and Miryem are brilliant and cutthroat but in different ways. I loved Miryem's selfishness borne out of her parent's selflessness, and how it was both a flaw and a strength. These characters are so rich and complicated.
Graphic: Torture and Antisemitism
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Rape
scoulson2011's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Moderate: Death of parent, Antisemitism, and Child abuse
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
misssophiereads's review against another edition
- 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
My favourite part was definitely the moral strength and determination of the three main female characters. They all did the best they could with the situations they were faced with, relying on their intelligence and experience, trying to make the best choices while not betraying themselves or their families. Found family also plays a huge role, as do kindness and empathy. I already know this is a book I will want to reread as soon as some of the details have faded.
My only complaint would be that I would have liked to see a bit more of the love stories, but then this is not a fantasy romance, so it is not the fault of the book at all.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Alcoholism and Rape
ktb071's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Rape
edict's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Rape
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Rape
selenatothemax's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child abuse
Moderate: Classism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Rape, and Domestic abuse
amkleio's review against another edition
- 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
It is a tale of debts unpaid and compensated; of friendships and families powerful enough to conquer trials and misfortunes; of women who are forces to be reckoned with and aren’t just women—they contradict men’s beliefs that a woman’s purpose is only to marry and bring life and they’re much more than how the society sees them. This is about strong women who aren’t afraid of facing challenges on their own.
Miryem has grown tired of their poor life, and also of her father’s inability to collect debts from the people whom they lent their money with. She started doing things on her own by taking over her father’s job and collecting debts. But gossips scatter so easily that the Staryk king awaits her on their doorsteps.
The book is said to be a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, but honestly, it felt very subtle. It wasn’t a lot like the original fairytale—which I, indeed, quite expected—as it was almost entirely different. The only similar elements were one character has the ability to turn things (silver) into gold, a plot where there is a greedy king who tests a young maiden’s abilities and then marries her after, and the huge importance of names. Yet those were enough. I loved that Novik didn’t stick a lot with the original tale, and she created a unique story with great representations and exquisite storytelling.
There are six POVs, which were confusing (if you don’t pay much attention), but I quickly identified them, as each character has their own voice. For example, when it’s Wanda or Stepon’s POV, it usually has the word “Da” in it (a term they use for their father).
Spinning Silver has three main protagonists: Miryem, Wanda, and Irina. Miryem is smart. I loved her ways of getting a good bargain and being merciless to bring back a comfortable life for her family. Irina is tough. Her determination to protect Magreta is admirable. Wanda is strong. To be honest, she’s the character who touched me the most. Dealing with an abusive father and taking care of her other siblings made me think, “I wish I'm as strong as her.” I love these characters. No matter how hard and terrible their life can be, they always find ways to get out of any unfortunate events. And if it’s anything, I find the novel “female-empowering”, which is a great aspect since the female characters here share the same challenging life.
This was such an escapism! It was as if I felt the winter season through this book. I was easily swept along the extraordinary world together with the charm of the characters, magical mirrors, and the never-ending winter world. Novik, you have my heart.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment
kaziaroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Animal death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
lunep's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Minor: Rape