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lysabel's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
heidz's review against another edition
3.0
This is a unique story that has family drama and a magic element that I haven't seen in any other books. It is on the slower side so if you don't enjoy slower books this may not be for you. I listen it and I'm glad that I did. I think it I read this I may have DNF'ed it due to it being slower because I don't usually enjoy slower reads. The ending is so good tho and it's worth the read. I am so glad that I finished it.
lizclark81's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
Absolutely loved both the caliber of writing and the imaginative storytelling of this novel. The character of Alex is so fantastically complex and compelling, and the other characters (Marla! Beatrice!) are so beautifully rendered I was crying by the end of the story. Truly a good read.
odin45mp's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful.
This book put me back into that child headspace, where adults make decisions and we can try to understand, but don't. It also spoke to me as an adult, discussing what we can and cannot do, and why, and the importance of free will and unconditional love. It did not take the path that lead to the easy storybook ending. It reaches a satisfying conclusion, but the journey there is every bit as messy and uneven as real life is. Except this book has dragons. Because all women, it is theorized, have the potential to transform into dragons. Some do, some don't. In 1955, the United States experienced a mass Dragoning that tore 200,000+ families apart. But we are focused on one family, and what happened to them. There are moments of anger, moments of joy, moments of beauty and tenderness and wonder. It tore my heart more than once. It is a must read.
This book put me back into that child headspace, where adults make decisions and we can try to understand, but don't. It also spoke to me as an adult, discussing what we can and cannot do, and why, and the importance of free will and unconditional love. It did not take the path that lead to the easy storybook ending. It reaches a satisfying conclusion, but the journey there is every bit as messy and uneven as real life is. Except this book has dragons. Because all women, it is theorized, have the potential to transform into dragons. Some do, some don't. In 1955, the United States experienced a mass Dragoning that tore 200,000+ families apart. But we are focused on one family, and what happened to them. There are moments of anger, moments of joy, moments of beauty and tenderness and wonder. It tore my heart more than once. It is a must read.
searedfish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Death, and Death of parent
bookishreader626's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.5
marteg's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
garanciels's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
2.0
There was a strong female character and the writing was really beautiful. Some imagery is so very intense that it made my skin twitch and my neck crawls when I think about it. The prose is very arresting.
Unfortunately, I found this book primarily about isolation and trauma. Even the act described in the title and described as "fredom" was only available when giving up everything else. But for all that inherent trauma in the book, I didn't think the trauma was followed up on after it stopped being convenient for the plot. There were many lose ends and in general I found the book disappointing.
Here is how I wished the book would have ended:
Alex finally opens the box from her mother, inside there is a letter that Alex doesn't read but she finds the money and goes to college. After Alex's first love (Stella) dragons, Alex reads the letter. The letter says: "I loved you, I stayed for you and Bea and needed you to stay for us too... My knots were magic and kept you human." In that letter, Alex finds out she only needs to untie her knots to "feel" the call the way the other girls felt it before.
And then we could find out or not what happens there. But then so many lose ends are tied up!
Here are the specific things that bothered me throughout - including the threads I thought were dropped:
* The image of dragons was at first fierce and proud, but when it became convenient they no longer had to burn things when touching them and they could wear clothing and become a simple talking animal, shoving themselves back into the world that they had previously rejected.
* The knot work was a huge part in the first third of the book, was dropped completely until the epilogue.
* The epilogue was so sad - having memorials of the people who abandoned her around her home and none of the aunt who came back or the cousin/sister who was changing the world. What a sad, lonely ending to a lonely, controlling life.
* Dragon culture is hinted at, but never discussed. The star travel is a weird and unnecessary point that pops up a few times. And the women's reproductive system overlaid with a dragons head was confusing and misleading at the start.
* Originally I thought also the inconsistency about the mom hiding the money was a dropped thread - but after discussing with other readers the gardening obsession made that feel more real so she could stash the household money in a college fund and grow her own veggies to feed them instead of spending on groceries.
Quotes that stopped me:
"At times, the tension between adults felt like acid on my skin—no physical wound, but burning all the same." 10%
"My anger didn’t go away. It shifted and adjusted itself. It wound its way through my belly and spiraled around each of my bones." 57%
"In any successful marriage, one partner must face the reality of being very old, and very alone." 98%
Unfortunately, I found this book primarily about isolation and trauma. Even the act described in the title and described as "fredom" was only available when giving up everything else. But for all that inherent trauma in the book, I didn't think the trauma was followed up on after it stopped being convenient for the plot. There were many lose ends and in general I found the book disappointing.
Here is how I wished the book would have ended:
Spoiler
Alex finally opens the box from her mother, inside there is a letter that Alex doesn't read but she finds the money and goes to college. After Alex's first love (Stella) dragons, Alex reads the letter. The letter says: "I loved you, I stayed for you and Bea and needed you to stay for us too... My knots were magic and kept you human." In that letter, Alex finds out she only needs to untie her knots to "feel" the call the way the other girls felt it before.
And then we could find out or not what happens there. But then so many lose ends are tied up!
Here are the specific things that bothered me throughout - including the threads I thought were dropped:
* The image of dragons was at first fierce and proud, but when it became convenient they no longer had to burn things when touching them and they could wear clothing and become a simple talking animal, shoving themselves back into the world that they had previously rejected.
* The knot work was a huge part in the first third of the book, was dropped completely until the epilogue.
* The epilogue was so sad - having memorials of the people who abandoned her around her home and none of the aunt who came back or the cousin/sister who was changing the world. What a sad, lonely ending to a lonely, controlling life.
* Dragon culture is hinted at, but never discussed. The star travel is a weird and unnecessary point that pops up a few times. And the women's reproductive system overlaid with a dragons head was confusing and misleading at the start.
* Originally I thought also the inconsistency about the mom hiding the money was a dropped thread - but after discussing with other readers the gardening obsession made that feel more real so she could stash the household money in a college fund and grow her own veggies to feed them instead of spending on groceries.
Quotes that stopped me:
"At times, the tension between adults felt like acid on my skin—no physical wound, but burning all the same." 10%
"My anger didn’t go away. It shifted and adjusted itself. It wound its way through my belly and spiraled around each of my bones." 57%
"In any successful marriage, one partner must face the reality of being very old, and very alone." 98%