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libellchen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Physical abuse
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
4.5
Overall an exciting and interesting tale 😍 I can’t wait to continue the series and see what happens with the characters!
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Grief, Gore, Animal death, and Religious bigotry
colorcrystals'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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, and Animal death
Minor: Animal cruelty and Fire/Fire injury
bookycnidaria's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexism, Violence, Mental illness, and Rape
chloebaboey's review
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal death, Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Blood, and Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Animal cruelty
chanzlyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don't even recall where I was recommended this book but I saw "Russian Folklore" and immediately signed up. Went in knowing absolutely nothing about this book otherwise and had such a beautiful journey through mostly wintery Russia.
I'm so intrigued by all of the creatures introduced that I'm going to have to research them in my spare time. Vasilisa is so wonderfully written. Wild and free, taking things with stride, and overall really fits with the beautiful mysteries that come with winter dark tales.
The story was dark, beautiful, captivating. I loved the winter god, the stallion, the forest/home at the edge of your vision. There's just so much to pick up on and what a great journey is made.
That said, this book started off slow but then picked up to a medium pace so it was hard for me to choose the pacing! I honestly feel like a good chunk of the first third or so of the book could have been removed. It ultimately felt like unnecessary information that didn't pay off in the story. Yes, there are two more books and I'm sure that information could become relevant but there has to be a better way to incorporate that info when it becomes relevant. That isn't to say I hated it! It was interesting information, it was just slow and ultimately added nothing to the final 2/3rds of the story.
Also, I understand that this is supposed to be old Russia but it's never not going to be weird to me to have 15+ year old girls be married off and becoming mothers a year or two later. Like, it's a fantasy novel in the end, adjusting their ages a bit won't hurt the story imo.
Last thing to note, the wording of this novel is also a bit odd at some points but it's the author's debut novel so I'm not going to doc too many points from that!
Graphic: Religious bigotry
moonneedstoread'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
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Grief and Violence
directorpurry's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Child death, and Death
ninariella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Violence, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicide, Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, and Violence