Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

178 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

fiddleysticks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Sexism, Violence, and Cancer

bmpicc's review

hopeful 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

3.0

Good but... This story is a lot of things I enjoy. Coming of age, 1950's, feminist ideals, queer positive, marriage, family, quest for knowledge, and the librarians are obviously the best. What bothered me is the ideas & connections were almost too obvious. I enjoy having to think a little. I like peeling back the onion and unveiling things. I didn't have to do that at all with this one.

I sort of wish the POV was the dragons and not those left behind... I'm not mad I read it, but it is not what I was hoping for.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer and Homophobia

abwilcox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, Bullying, and Death of parent

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

ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Homophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism

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

kistasaurus's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Cancer, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Physical abuse and Alcoholism

bcvogel90's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer

Moderate: Misogyny