Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

165 reviews

revolrootion's review against another edition

4.0

I was torn between 4 and 4.5 stars for this. This story was beautiful and emotional. The pace was really slow and I'd say the first third/half is quite repetitive. I get that is kind of the point but it was a little difficult to read at times.

The last few chapters though were about absolute masterclass in emotional storytelling. I cried a lot. Alex is a wonderful MC, flawed and honest.

I do wish there had been some explanation as to

whether the knots that Alex's mother gave her were one of the reasons she wasn't able to transform. It seemed to be suggested that was the case but this was never made clear.

Again, perhaps this was the point but it left me a little frustrated.

Overall this was a beautiful, feminist, queer story and I am so glad that I read it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mamaewalk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

Creative, unique, and utterly badass story. Reads like a memoir. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

ephermeyal's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexual violence and War

gabbishy's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Lesbophobia

lady_valhella's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

The societal challenges women face are  so briliantly and ridiculously exposed in this book. Well maybe not exposed. But the analogy of how we don’t talk about all of the issues that affect us because it is indicent or inappropriate to talk about our reproductive health or our desires or our pain. How the society we built prefers to pretend those things don’t exist and yet we persist and defy and thrive. Thank you for writing this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

alysereadsbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

I liked this novel. It’s a cool premise, and I think it pays homage to women’s rage/autonomy, especially in the 1950s. Parts of it felt disjointed, but on the whole, I did enjoy it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia and Misogyny

corabookworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

5.0

In 1955, in an event called the Mass Dragoning, thousands of women transformed into dragons and disappeared into the sky, leaving fire and destruction in their wake. Alex’s aunt was one of them. Shamed into silence, the girl struggles within the dynamics of her family and the oppressive world they live in.

When I read this book back in January, I expected exactly what the blurb pitched: a fiery feminist historical fantasy focused on female rage. Which I got. But (at least the first half of) this book was so much more. It covered complex themes of grief and motherhood and sisterhood and loss and love and shame and guilt and I devoured every single word. (And cried. Parts of this book struck close to home and OUCH.)

The concept itself is intriguing, and Barnhill’s execution is brilliant, packed with gorgeous prose and raw emotion. Parts of the story remain almost a mystery, unraveling through the passages between chapters and little clues scattered throughout the pages. 

This book definitely has its flaws, as well. A few other reviewers have pointed out that this book views feminism through a very white and middle-class lens, which is a fair criticism and something to think about while reading. There’s some events that stretch reality a little (not including the whole turning-into-dragons thing) and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea–it’s slow-paced, with lots of focus on characters and concepts. 

However, if you enjoy literary fiction and historical fantasy, with a focus on the complexities of girlhood and female relationships, I’d check this one out! (Also there’s women. And dragons. <3)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Fire/Fire injury

youngloveleroy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent

victoria29's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

There were aspects that I enjoyed. Overall, I felt like it was heavy handed. People and situations were either good or bad with little nuance. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment