Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

74 reviews

rafafinhass's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Abortion, Violence, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Minor: Rape, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

rockyroadbutch's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Racism, Death of parent, Violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Sexism, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty

naomi_k's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Confinement, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing, Classism, Animal death, Death of parent, and Miscarriage

rai's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

This was a very different twist of similar Russian folk lore so reading it right after the Winter of the Witch was a little surreal. There were a few too many first person perspectives in the end, for a personal preference at least. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Classism, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail

k_wage's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism

flyintothestorm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

Un mundo helado, para mí, tiene todo el sabor de un cuento de hadas bastante oscuro y me ha parecido maravilloso (aún no he leído Un cuento oscuro, pero sé que existe). 
Pensaba que las tres historias iban a estar más separadas y que se iban a juntar solo en ciertos puntos, pero se van juntando y separando, lo que hace que sea muy orgánico. 
Y pese a los cambios en los puntos de vista, la narración hace que sea bastante fácil saber a quién se está siguiendo en cada momento, aun sin especificarlo (creo que una vez dudé un poco, pero ya).
En resumen, merece mucho la pena.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Child abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Genocide

Minor: Animal death and Bullying

sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

khymihr's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Antisemitism, and Domestic abuse

misssophiereads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

4.75

This book is so exquisitely crafted, it was an absolute joy to read. There are a lot of POVs interwoven to tell the story and despite all of them being told in first person, I found it (mostly) easy to follow who was speaking just from the writing style. I also loved seeing the representation of different parts of society, including what these people would know or not know simply because of their upbringing. The magic was interesting (though perhaps not explained in enough detail) and the retelling (of Rumpelstilskin) cleverly done. 
My favourite part was definitely the moral strength and determination of the three main female characters. They all did the best they could with the situations they were faced with, relying on their intelligence and experience, trying to make the best choices while not betraying themselves or their families. Found family also plays a huge role, as do kindness and empathy. I already know this is a book I will want to reread as soon as some of the details have faded.
My only complaint would be that I would have liked to see a bit more of the love stories, but then this is not a fantasy romance, so it is not the fault of the book at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Antisemitism

Minor: Alcoholism and Rape

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

5.0

Reads like a fairytale! I loved the many interconnected elements, and it was great having a Jewish main character in the cast. The way the author expertly wove in themes of supportive and toxic family, good and evil (and neutral), magic, antisemitism, misogyny, poverty, and others really called back to folktales. My biggest complaint is that it took me a long time (an hour of listening) to realize the narrative was switching between characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death