Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

29 reviews

imskylow's review

I’m sure this book is powerful and that I could love it but at this stage of my life, I just can’t bring myself to complete it. It’s been such a struggle to get through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Bullying, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent and Homophobia

joayenne's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Infuriating. Overwhelming. Blazing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

hannahpings's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

didn't really grip me until the third act, which was wonderful––and retrospectively enhanced the first and second, closing a loop and tying off a careful and intricate knot that barnhill began on dragons' first page. some strong craftmanship and a remarkably well-earned emotional payoff that i'm not ashamed to say made me weep.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Misogyny, Cancer, Grief, Abandonment, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: War and Violence

jomerl's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

This is a life-changing book. One that I will remember forever. 

However, I had a hard time with the lack of racial diversity or even acknowledgement in the book. It touches on the LGBTQIA+ community beautifully, but there is no mention of any other intersectionality. I believe it would be even more special by representing more women - understanding it is set in the 1950s-1960s in Wisconsin. 

Some of the parts dragged on for some time, while other important pieces were skimmed over, but this is truly a magical book. I’ve never cried over a dragon before. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Sexism

romy91's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-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

4.5

A fun and interesting concept. Addresses some interesting concepts around gender and civil rights. FMC sometimes challenging as she is a child for a good chunk of the book and is somewhat unreliable, but becomes clearer as she ages.

*minor spoiler*




Particularly enjoyed the moment when the dragon woman commented that the only reason she didn’t eat her abusive husband was because she wanted to save herself the indigestion!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Cancer, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Death of parent

mamaewalk's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

Creative, unique, and utterly badass story. Reads like a memoir. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Misogyny

Minor: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders

gabbishy's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cancer, Abandonment, Grief, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death, Body horror, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

victoria29's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

3.5

There were aspects that I enjoyed. Overall, I felt like it was heavy handed. People and situations were either good or bad with little nuance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cancer, Homophobia, Abandonment, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Death of parent

delvainy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was even better than I anticipated it being. Part of me worried it would be kinda White Feminism-y and shallow in that way, but those fears were completely unfounded. I cried several times. This book was perfectly designed to make me cry, actually, with its deep emphasis on sisterhood and the connection between women. I mean that as a compliment. I think the choice of setting was excellent in making the point. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy and give it a home on my shelf. I loved this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Abandonment

darkblueem's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

oh my god. I have had this book since December 2022 and I've only just now read it and I can't believe it took me this long. this book is a masterpiece. it's fantastic. Barnhill's writing is captivating and compelling and seamless. the characters are bright and sad and flawed and perfect and absolutely THEM. highly highly HIGHLY recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse