Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - When Women Were Dragons

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

156 reviews

thequiltyreader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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? Yes

3.5

I've flip flopped a lot on how to review this book.

Initially I thought this book had a lot of promise based on the blurb and positive reviews. However I have mixed feelings now I've finished it.

Overall I did enjoy the read, however the first half was very slow and incredibly repetitive. It touched on the life of women around the 1950's / 1960's and what they were often subjected to / expected of them.

I found there was nothing around the development of women's right but there was around dragons rights

.

I would also have preferred to have learnt a bit more about the dragons, how they felt, more around what they explored and why and

also why a lot chose to return and why at that point in time and why hadn't there been anyone else return from earlier dragonings

.

I also felt there was a lot of

suggestion that the knots somehow played a role in keeping Alex from dragoning but it was never explained if that was the case.

.

So overall I enjoyed it but felt it was lacking in some areas.

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n_degeorgia's review against another edition

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2.75

we love a story about female rage but this whole book felt a little TERF-dog-whistley, with one sentence about LGBT inclusion added in at the request of a sensitivity reader. I feel like this story could have had so much more depth exploring gender and gender roles. I understand the point of view the author was trying to portray, but for a story very explicitly set in 1950's America that attempts to tackle bigotry and discrimination, the lack of intersectionality was so palpable that it almost felt intentional. Beautiful writing, eye-twitch inducing themes.

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revolrootion's review against another edition

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4.0

I was torn between 4 and 4.5 stars for this. This story was beautiful and emotional. The pace was really slow and I'd say the first third/half is quite repetitive. I get that is kind of the point but it was a little difficult to read at times.

The last few chapters though were about absolute masterclass in emotional storytelling. I cried a lot. Alex is a wonderful MC, flawed and honest.

I do wish there had been some explanation as to

whether the knots that Alex's mother gave her were one of the reasons she wasn't able to transform. It seemed to be suggested that was the case but this was never made clear.

Again, perhaps this was the point but it left me a little frustrated.

Overall this was a beautiful, feminist, queer story and I am so glad that I read it.

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mamaewalk's review

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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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throwback682's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

I almost DNF’d this book but I think I’m glad I didn’t.

The first 30% felt painfully slow to me. The rest of the book moved slow but not miserably so. Also in the first third the allegory felt incredibly heavy handed. I feel like later in the book there was a bit more nuance and I was able to enjoy it more and apply more of my own experience to the metaphor.

Things I liked:

- queer love stories
- affirmation that yes, trans women can dragon
- at least one vignette highlighting Black women’s particular struggles
- acknowledgment of sexual violence without triggering descriptions

I’m not sure what else to say; other people’s reviews will probably be more helpful.

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tiernanalexandria's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.0

I think everyone can find something within the struggles of Alex, the main character, that they resonate with. It all felt very real and believable.

A couple of times the book had me staring out of a window, wishing I too could become a dragon.
The weight of chores on my shoulders become an aching for wings, the heat of the oven feeling like dragon warmth on my skin, and just wishing that I felt like something bigger than I actually am.

I think women who deal with the social stigma and weight of societies pressures would enjoy this book the most, but it truly is for everyone.
The weight of generational grievances is heavy, it’s almost like you hear your ancestors calling you to join them as a dragon too…..

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