Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

18 reviews

aqulia's review against another edition

dark hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness

Moderate: Sexism and Violence

Minor: Suicide

tay_af's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.5

I put this novella off for a while for some reason, even though I loved the Once and Future Witches. This was possibly because I’m not typically enamoured with fairytale retellings and really didn’t enjoy the last retelling I read. But boy was I wrong. 

Harrow’s Hugo-nominated novella reimagines Aurora as a young woman, Zinnia, with a degree in Folklore and a Sleeping Beauty obsession suffering from a degenerative illness, expected to die around her 21st birthday. On that birthday, however, her best friend jokingly presents her with a spinning wheel, and things get…strange. Harrow describes this as “Spider-Verse[ing] a fairy tale,” which I found to be thoroughly accurate. A SPINDLE SPLINTERED is clever, ultra-contemporary, tongue-in-cheek, and on one memorable occasion, throwing-my-head-back laugh-out-loud witty. It values female friendship, WLW desire, and connection not only between people who know one another, but those whose stories run parallel.

The mechanics of magic in this world are purposefully vague, which may bother some readers—for instance, it is never explained why Zinnia’s cell phone works in alternate universes. I wasn’t personally bothered too much by that, as the brevity of the story logically didn’t allow for too much magical minutia. It’s predictably fast paced, and readers (like myself) who love to slow down on character backstory and interactions may have difficulty with that. 

The characters who do take center stage, however, are engaging and vibrant. I found myself very fond of Zinnia, Charm, and Primrose by the end. I’m greatly looking forward to the sequel later this year!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Medical content

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

changreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexism

panthalassa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Self harm, Chronic illness, Blood, Confinement, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Abortion

emilypete17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness

Moderate: Sexual violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Medical trauma

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Violence, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Cursing

Brief allusions to sexual assaults(off page). Chronically/terminally ill main character.

mermaidsherbet's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Violence, Blood, Rape, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Sexism, and Self harm

ok7a's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Abortion

carodonahue's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Medical trauma

Minor: Death, Lesbophobia, and Violence