Reviews tagging 'Death'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

35 reviews

dealingwithdragons's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. I especially appreciated that the moment I wondered "where are the trans dragons" was the moment the trans dragons showed up.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Cancer, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Gun violence

The mentions of guns are mainly in the context of "dragons are bulletproof". Body horror is entirely women turning into dragons.

eegekay's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Cancer

bookworm247's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Grief, and Cancer

helenferg's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Sexism, and Cancer

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

itsheyfay's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Death, Cancer, and Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

cameronreads's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

This book, whilst not completely revolutionary, nor all-encompassing, was an interesting read, with a compelling concept. The writing was very good, with some very quotable lines, and I liked how it was told as an autobiography. I though the characters were suitably complex and interesting to read about, and I loved exploring the relationships Alex had with everyone around her. It didn’t exactly bring anything new to the table, and whilst it did touch on the intersectionality between being a women and being trans (although in a somewhat clunky way, with trans women once described as ‘women by choice’) there was no touching on race, which was disappointing, especially considering when this books was set and the means of protesting and discrimination that we saw. I wouldn’t recommend this as a book to open your eyes to something, or to challenge your views on feminism, but I would as an enjoyable read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Cancer, Death, Sexism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Physical abuse and Medical content

ekmook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

breadwitchery's review against another edition

emotional medium-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexism, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Animal death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

reading_rainbow_with_chris's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

4.75

 

“When Women were Dragons” by Kelly Barnhill

In 1950s Wisconsin, a young girl who preferred to be called Alex lived her life in an intricate knot made up of the women in her life: her teachers, her best friend, her librarian, her cousin, her mother, and her outspoken and commanding aunt. However, when her aunt becomes one of the thousands of women who were part of the mass dragoning in 1955, Alex’s life is overturned, compelling her to find her own fire within and to grapple with how the dragons will change her world. This is an absolutely beautiful novel with layers of thoughtfulness. On the first level, Barnhill has written a terrific narrative with a style which is emotive, complex, and yet still accessible to a wide range of readers. On the second level, this is is a novel about rebellion, about the power of women to be able to find their fire and their wings in a world which all to often constrains them. In that way, this is unapologetically feminist. On a third level, this is a novel about the complexity of family, about the tension between those who we are told are family and those who are. Whether this was Barnhill’s intent, I found the questioning of traditional family structure and the alternative families explored remarkably queer and moving. Although I found myself at times wishing for an exploration of more subtle forms of patriarchy/misogyny as opposed to Barnhill’s rather direct approach, I also think perhaps this was a deliberate choice. In many ways, this novel functions as an extended fable in how clear the lines of moral/amoral/immoral are, which I think was an interesting and effective choice. On the whole, this was a perfect read for me. It will likely end up as one of my favorite books of this year and I highly recommend it for everyone, but especially for all female/feminine persons who are seeking their own fire in 2022. 

 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Sexism, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Infidelity and Death

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Physical abuse, War, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Dysphoria

Further warning for descriptions of menstruation.