Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

22 reviews

squinnittowinit's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I love any world that has dragons in it, but I didn't enjoy how Victorian all the main characters were. I know, that's how it was meant to be, but I found all the misogyny and xenophobia left a bad taste in my mouth. 

It's written as a memoir, so the fictional author as the narrator is writing about a time in the far past, and she does say that she finds some of the sexism to be ridiculous now, but she still makes weird "men vs women" statements that just reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. 

She also read as very Victorian British, in that she was a noble from a colonizing nation

on a journey to a colonized nation, full of privilege and perceived superiority. She freely insults the local people and culture and looks down on them for having less than her, and in the end, has barely any more appreciation for them when she leaves.

This book felt written from the perspective of a colonizer with the assumption that colonizer cultures are better than others and everyone should aspire to be like them.

She's also very callous about killing dragons for science, which I didn't appreciate, as someone who respects nature and living things.

Still, I enjoyed the dragons and I enjoyed the mystery plot. I just wish it had more modern values.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Classism, Violence, Mental illness, Blood, Gun violence, Xenophobia, and Death

Minor: Colonisation, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Medical content, Grief, and Murder

sevensableyes's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious slow-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

Love, love, love.

I knew when I first heard the premise of this series, that I would adore it. And I do. Isabella is fast becoming one of my favourite protagonists, along side Keladry (Protector of the Small series). This book made me feel very nostalgic for my dragon/dinosaurs phase. Isabella's passion is infectious.

The worldbuilding feels very natural, and is fairly easy to keep up with. I think it's because the world will slowly unravel throughout the books, following Isabella's adventures into different parts of the world. I really like how there is no magic system; it's just dragons. It makes them feel like real and vulnerable animals. I'm looking forward to seeing more species.

I loved all of the characters. I liked that

Jacob was a good husband; it would have been very easy to write him as dismissive of Isabella's passions, but he was truly lovely

. I'm fairly certain

Isabella and Mr Wilker will become closer in the future (not romantically)

.

This book ticked all the boxes for me, and hopefully the rest of the series does too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Grief, Animal death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Pregnancy

Regarding the kidnapping,

Isabella wonders if she should try to use her body to escape and also decides she won't struggle, in order to protect herself. There is no sexual assault, but she is preparing for it.

micallab's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Classism, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

Moderate: Miscarriage

featherinthewind's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-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

3.25

A magnificent read about dragons and history that had an underlying note of love. I really did enjoy this book but boy was I not expecting that ending.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, Sexism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

mileskayden's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

I loved the first 1/3 of this, if anything it was more the pace of the book that created a falling out of love and into a like sort of vibe. I was so excited for dragon anatomy and really, we didn't learn all that much about any dragon's. Only a single breed was the main focus of this story, and if anything it took a back seat and that was a disappointment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Animal death, Murder, Misogyny, and Racism

flyingryndeer's review against another edition

adventurous reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Xenophobia and Murder

princessnomi's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Miscarriage, and Murder

werewoof64's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a wonderful read! A brilliant story that really makes you feel part of the world. The emotional moments hit hard and the enthusiasm is contagious throughout. I could hardly bare to put the book down, it was so good and really manages to get its hooks in you! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Grief, Death, Murder, and Miscarriage

maelikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Such a lovely, gripping book.

The story itself is fun and intriguing, but the protagonist Lady Trent is so easy to root for that it makes this book a delightful experience. I loved the way her youthful nativity, enthusiasm and passion as a young woman contrast with the self-awareness and sense of humour of her older self as she narrates the story.

Great springtime read, can’t wait to pick up the sequels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Misogyny and Animal cruelty

Minor: Body horror, Gore, Murder, and Pregnancy

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Colonisation, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content