Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

129 reviews

n_degeorgia's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Death

revolrootion's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

romy91's review

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 against another edition

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

tiernanalexandria's review

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

ephermeyal's review

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Infidelity, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Cancer, Grief, Death of parent, and Homophobia

Minor: War and Sexual violence

gabbishy's review

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

lady_valhella's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

The societal challenges women face are  so briliantly and ridiculously exposed in this book. Well maybe not exposed. But the analogy of how we don’t talk about all of the issues that affect us because it is indicent or inappropriate to talk about our reproductive health or our desires or our pain. How the society we built prefers to pretend those things don’t exist and yet we persist and defy and thrive. Thank you for writing this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Chronic illness

corabookworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

5.0

In 1955, in an event called the Mass Dragoning, thousands of women transformed into dragons and disappeared into the sky, leaving fire and destruction in their wake. Alex’s aunt was one of them. Shamed into silence, the girl struggles within the dynamics of her family and the oppressive world they live in.

When I read this book back in January, I expected exactly what the blurb pitched: a fiery feminist historical fantasy focused on female rage. Which I got. But (at least the first half of) this book was so much more. It covered complex themes of grief and motherhood and sisterhood and loss and love and shame and guilt and I devoured every single word. (And cried. Parts of this book struck close to home and OUCH.)

The concept itself is intriguing, and Barnhill’s execution is brilliant, packed with gorgeous prose and raw emotion. Parts of the story remain almost a mystery, unraveling through the passages between chapters and little clues scattered throughout the pages. 

This book definitely has its flaws, as well. A few other reviewers have pointed out that this book views feminism through a very white and middle-class lens, which is a fair criticism and something to think about while reading. There’s some events that stretch reality a little (not including the whole turning-into-dragons thing) and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea–it’s slow-paced, with lots of focus on characters and concepts. 

However, if you enjoy literary fiction and historical fantasy, with a focus on the complexities of girlhood and female relationships, I’d check this one out! (Also there’s women. And dragons. <3)

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Panic attacks/disorders

youngloveleroy's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent