Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

146 reviews

tostita's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Death of parent, Cancer, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual harassment and Physical abuse

machenn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Misogyny, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Cancer

mandi_lea's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Misogyny, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity

cryfest's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia

antimony's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

good!! i liked the writing style a lot and i really liked the ending as well :) also i know goodreads got rid of the recommendation feature but i think this would be so good for fans of the once and future witches

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Cancer

Minor: Alcoholism

snowhite197's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Lesbophobia

miniingrid's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Esperaba otro tipo de historia, y sigo pensando que tiene mucho potencial desperdiciado. Pero me alegro de no haberlo abandonado porque en realidad no es una mala historia, simplemente no es la que me habría gustado leer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism

heidi_grey's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Cancer

alibookedup's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Went back and forth between 3.5 & 4 starts so we will just go with 3.75.

Unexpectedly historically cool and enjoyably bonkers. I loved the idea of wronged or just joyful women turning into dragons. It was such an interesting premise with historical accuracy of how women have been treated in comparison to men. You can imagine I was surprised when you find out dragons can still talk and knit and carry purses. Just another fun unexpected twist to the story. 

Our main character, Alex, was also interesting especially in relation to her family and Beatrice. Sometimes for being the top of her class, she could be a bit dumb and thick in the head. It drove me crazy and I sometimes found her dull. I think my one con would be that the author focused more on her aunt or mother and sometimes forgot to give Alex more personality the older that she got.

Some things felt generally unfinished and unsatisfying. I feel like the first half started off really strong for me and the second half lost it’s lacquer. But still an interesting book if you’re looking for feminist content and dragons!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Death of parent, and Cancer

emmyanne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I loved the concept of this book and the writing style was delightful. I do sort of wish that the dragons remained mystical. I understand why the author chose the route she did but it definitely lost me a little bit toward the end. I found so much enjoyment in how I FELT reading the earlier parts of the book and that fizzled out toward the end as she stopped illustrating and started explaining.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, and Death of parent

The book has a strong focus on the impact/trauma of loss and abandonment