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cgsunit's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I felt angry while reading so much of the book, but the kind of anger that lights the fires of change. The kind of anger that comes from understanding the ignoring and the forgetting. I highly recommend the book, just be prepared to feel a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Abandonment, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, and Emotional abuse
_annika__'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
asa_s_16's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
Minor: Emotional abuse
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol
eve_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The greater metaphor of this book (dragons representing repressed women and their rage/desires in the 1950s) is at times just too simplistic. I understand that, in part, some of the extremer parts of the metaphor are meant to be ridiculous as a means of cathartic release. Still, I also I don't think the text leaves much room for nuance or intersectionality, and at times makes points that are contradictory to the feminist movement it is trying to support/aid.
⁕ The plot meanders a lot, especially in the first half of the book. In an attempt to convey Alex's youth and ignorance, there is a lot of ambiguous language and unclear developments regarding both the larger political climate she exists in and her own home life. To some extent this would have been fine, but it felt too muddled and it affected the pacing of the story severely.
⁕ The strongest, most beautiful part of this entire novel is not the larger socio-political themes, but the development of Alex's relationship with her sister. Her struggle to care for her sister, to balance her own needs and ambitions with her sister's, and, eventually, to share her sister with others, was so incredibly touching. I would have read the book without any dragons involved just for that alone.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ The greater metaphor of this book (dragons representing repressed women and their rage/desires in the 1950s) is at times just too simplistic. I understand that, in part, some of the extremer parts of the metaphor are meant to be ridiculous as a means of cathartic release. Still, I also I don't think the text leaves much room for nuance or intersectionality, and at times makes points that are contradictory to the feminist movement it is trying to support/aid.
⁕ The plot meanders a lot, especially in the first half of the book. In an attempt to convey Alex's youth and ignorance, there is a lot of ambiguous language and unclear developments regarding both the larger political climate she exists in and her own home life. To some extent this would have been fine, but it felt too muddled and it affected the pacing of the story severely.
⁕ The strongest, most beautiful part of this entire novel is not the larger socio-political themes, but the development of Alex's relationship with her sister. Her struggle to care for her sister, to balance her own needs and ambitions with her sister's, and, eventually, to share her sister with others, was so incredibly touching. I would have read the book without any dragons involved just for that alone.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Misogyny, Cancer, and Death of parent
jennie_white2008's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
bookishkale's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What a book! I was pleasantly surprised by this, and I know that it was fairly popular on booktok and the like, but I don't feel like anyone truly did it justice.
The story is set up in an exciting way, where you are not fully sure what is happening until it starts, and then you want to devour it, or at least I did! The story is structured almost like a memoir, but not fully, intermixed there are academic excerpts. It's very creative, and one of the first books that attempted to do something like that, and did it well! The book is set from the 1950s to the '60s. I think this is the best period of time to set this in, because any later or early, the Author wouldn't have succeeded in curating this particular feeling around Dragoning.
The story is told from the point of view of Alex Green, who we 'see' grow up. I personally liked Alex's character, though, I did find her to be frustrating at times. However, she is a product of the people around her, and the people around her did not care for her the way she should have. I love Beatrice and her spunk, and their Aunt Marla. I loved Sonja and the Librarian whose name I can't remember. Their importance in the story was palpable, without any of them, Alex wouldn't be Alex. Overall, I would say the characters all meshed well together, their reactions to the happens of the book make sense, and they are enjoyable. However, I don't know how I feel about Alex's character development by the end of the book, however, I understand the choices that were made and it does not sour the book for me.
The only thing keeping me from rating this higher was the lack of intersectional feminism. There are virtually none, or very, very few, people of color in this book at all. I understand that this book isn't about that, and it's written in a specific time period, but you have fucking dragons in your book... I think you can add a person of color without it being out of place. It would have been so interesting to see someone from any other background talk about their experience with Dragoning with Alex. I do appreciate that there is sapphic love in this story, I don't think it could be the same without it, and I find that wonderful! I wish more exploration could have gone into transwomen and their dragoning. I just love the dragoning experience that the author portrays and I want more and more and more.
Overall, a great read, I did enjoy it and I think it only could have been better. Please check out the content warnings for this book, it can get a bit heavy at times. I buddy read this with my friend Coletta, who also enjoyed this book a lot!
The story is set up in an exciting way, where you are not fully sure what is happening until it starts, and then you want to devour it, or at least I did! The story is structured almost like a memoir, but not fully, intermixed there are academic excerpts. It's very creative, and one of the first books that attempted to do something like that, and did it well! The book is set from the 1950s to the '60s. I think this is the best period of time to set this in, because any later or early, the Author wouldn't have succeeded in curating this particular feeling around Dragoning.
The story is told from the point of view of Alex Green, who we 'see' grow up. I personally liked Alex's character, though, I did find her to be frustrating at times. However, she is a product of the people around her, and the people around her did not care for her the way she should have. I love Beatrice and her spunk, and their Aunt Marla. I loved Sonja and the Librarian whose name I can't remember. Their importance in the story was palpable, without any of them, Alex wouldn't be Alex. Overall, I would say the characters all meshed well together, their reactions to the happens of the book make sense, and they are enjoyable. However, I don't know how I feel about Alex's character development by the end of the book, however, I understand the choices that were made and it does not sour the book for me.
The only thing keeping me from rating this higher was the lack of intersectional feminism. There are virtually none, or very, very few, people of color in this book at all. I understand that this book isn't about that, and it's written in a specific time period, but you have fucking dragons in your book... I think you can add a person of color without it being out of place. It would have been so interesting to see someone from any other background talk about their experience with Dragoning with Alex. I do appreciate that there is sapphic love in this story, I don't think it could be the same without it, and I find that wonderful! I wish more exploration could have gone into transwomen and their dragoning. I just love the dragoning experience that the author portrays and I want more and more and more.
Overall, a great read, I did enjoy it and I think it only could have been better. Please check out the content warnings for this book, it can get a bit heavy at times. I buddy read this with my friend Coletta, who also enjoyed this book a lot!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Cancer, Chronic illness, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying and Infidelity
The book is very in-depth with sexism and misogyny, it's kind of the whole premise of the book, if you don't feel like you can handle any amount, I would avoid it. However, from what I remember, there is no violence toward women, from what I remember. Mainly just through comments and the social structures at the time.inameitlater's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-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
Fantastic book! Got a bit traumatized because it opened some wounds from my childhood, but absolutely worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Misogyny
bunny_boy's review against another edition
The paternal neglect just hit too hard. My own dad is just a workaholic, and has never been so overtly neglectful, but yeah. It hurts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Abandonment, Grief, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body horror, Gaslighting, Bullying, Cancer, Hate crime, and Lesbophobia
twistykris'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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Death of parent, Abandonment, Cancer, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Grief