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pvbobrien's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Sexual assault, and Child death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Slavery, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
grimviolins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Misogyny, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: War, Vomit, Pedophilia, and Animal cruelty
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden is the second book in the Winternight trilogy. I loved Vasya in the first book and I love her just as much in this one! This was also a perfect read for this cold snap we were having. This is a very winter atmospheric read.
We started off a little slow by beginning with Vasya's older brother Sasha's pov. We pick up with him going to Moscow to tell his cousin the Grand Prince about the raids and kidnapping of girl children in the villages by Tartars. He stops by the Savra to rest when a boy on horseback demanded they open the gate and had three girl with her.
Surprise! It was Vasya the while time. Then we find out what happened to Vasya. I love how fierce and independent she is and stubborn to boot. We get a bit more slow burn from her and Morozko, although we don't really get a happy ending. I still love the fairytale feel of this series and the Russian folklore. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say more. I'll just say Solovey is one of my favorite characters.
This is a very feminist take on a fairytale. Though there is a slow burn happening, it doesn't consume Vasya. She just wants to experience the world and be treated as she was when she was being Vasilii Petrovich instead of Vasalisa Petrovna. She doesn't want to get married. She just wants a horse farm of her own.
Can't wait to get my hands on the last book and conclude this adventure.
Graphic: Violence and Child death
Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Death
Minor: Rape
golden_like_dior's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Child death
thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Slavery
galactic_gigi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The slow-burn left me sighing more than once and at this point I can‘t wait to nearly die in a winter night just to be saved by a handsome frost-demon. Also: the YEARNING. From both of them! And he is always there for her. These are the things that keep the seasonal depression at bay!
Despite introducing a new villain in this book, I still can’t fathom the idea of how much hatred and rage a certain priest provokes in me. The pure entitlement this man feels towards Vasya leaves me with the most urgent need to introduce him to a wall. Of Brick. Repeatedly. Needless to say, Vasya is confronted with a lot of misogyny and sexism, as could be expected in a historical fantasy. However, the reveal in the end was a little bit obvious if you know some Russian folklore but it was executed really well and the betrayal left me aghast (somehow I managed to expect it but also denying myself so yeah, the shock was real).
The things I liked most were definitely the scenes with amoroso and the ones with her little niece. Also, as I mentioned: I really want an opportunity to train my right hook with this blond dude….
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Trafficking, Vomit, and War
wiktoria88's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Misogyny
Moderate: Blood and Violence
marlireads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
ehmannky's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Also, I have never hated a character as much as I have hated Konstantin. Every time he is on the page I want to scream.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Body horror, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Vomit and Xenophobia
mscalls's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Violence