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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
a hopeful fairy tale starring a lonely dragon, an aroace knight, and a lesbian baker and her trans wife.
the whimsical, comforting vibes of this one was really strong, and i found myself smiling so much while reading this novella! The dragon is really funny as well, he's a good at teasing and has a justified appreciation of shiny things. i read the re-pubbed version of this story and really appreciated how open the author was in xyr author's note.
The themes of acceptance are really strong and spelled out clearly on the page (so if you want something subtle, you should look elsewhere). i ended up falling in love with Snap (the dragon) and Sir Violet and really enjoyed their time together in this book.
i also went into this book without knowing the main character was aromantic, and his character really touched my heart. Here's a quote that describes my ideal night as an aromantic person: "...where the happy ending would not involve a man and a woman riding off into the sunset together, but someone who ends up at home, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a cup of hot milk and eating a pastry."
Here's another quote on his experience with aromantism, because they make me so giddy to read and i can't help but highlight:
3.5 stars, a great, beautifully queer palette cleanser!
Content Warnings: (non-aggressive) spiders
the whimsical, comforting vibes of this one was really strong, and i found myself smiling so much while reading this novella! The dragon is really funny as well, he's a good at teasing and has a justified appreciation of shiny things. i read the re-pubbed version of this story and really appreciated how open the author was in xyr author's note.
The themes of acceptance are really strong and spelled out clearly on the page (so if you want something subtle, you should look elsewhere). i ended up falling in love with Snap (the dragon) and Sir Violet and really enjoyed their time together in this book.
i also went into this book without knowing the main character was aromantic, and his character really touched my heart. Here's a quote that describes my ideal night as an aromantic person: "...where the happy ending would not involve a man and a woman riding off into the sunset together, but someone who ends up at home, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a cup of hot milk and eating a pastry."
Here's another quote on his experience with aromantism, because they make me so giddy to read and i can't help but highlight:
"a romance or any of the things you might have implied just isn't for me. i mean some activities sound appealing, like a picnic in the moonlight or a candlelit dinner. i suppose they're generally considered romantic, but i can just as well share them with friends. i don't want any of that with one person in particular."
3.5 stars, a great, beautifully queer palette cleanser!
Content Warnings: (non-aggressive) spiders
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Xenophobia, Kidnapping
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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:
Complicated
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i wanted to like it, but i could not :(
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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:
No
Man, I really want to give this book a higher rating. As someone who is an aromantic asexual, seeing myself in this story, as a PROTAGONIST, no less, really made me feel seen. I rarely see my orientation in media, and finally having something to fill the void gives a very warm and fuzzy feeling. There's plenty of representation for other queer folk in this too. Violet and Snap have some really sweet moments, and I think that might be my favorite part aside from the representation. And the writing itself is pleasant enough.
But it's just not very interesting. I wish there was something more here, something to really sink my teeth into, but there just isn't. I think it's a little too lighthearted and low-stakes for my tastes. And the message, while I wholeheartedly agree with it, gets a little preachy and on-the-nose. Yet somehow still understated? The aroace is the protagonist, but instead of focusing on that part, which is the main reason I wanted to read this in the first place, every other character gets a long explanation of their orientation instead of him. All he gets is a few paragraphs at the end.
All that said, I still like this book, and if anyone wants a fluffy, feel-good tale, this is it.
But it's just not very interesting. I wish there was something more here, something to really sink my teeth into, but there just isn't. I think it's a little too lighthearted and low-stakes for my tastes. And the message, while I wholeheartedly agree with it, gets a little preachy and on-the-nose. Yet somehow still understated? The aroace is the protagonist, but instead of focusing on that part, which is the main reason I wanted to read this in the first place, every other character gets a long explanation of their orientation instead of him. All he gets is a few paragraphs at the end.
All that said, I still like this book, and if anyone wants a fluffy, feel-good tale, this is it.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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:
No
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nice to see some books aimed at young folks that include lots of different gender representation. Some of that aspect of the story felt very didactic, like the folks' orientation was only included in the story to serve as representation (hammering it very hard) while other parts felt more like a natural part of the story. But, the dragon was charming, the characters were likable. Great for younger (middle school-ish) readers, especially fantasy fans.