A review by notsobinaryart
After the Dragons by Cynthia Zhang

challenging reflective sad 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

3.5

Struggling between knowing what amount of my feeling for this book is it being not for me and what amount is me having some valid criticism. 

Starting off, this book is a lot more literary fiction than a traditional fantasy story, which would have been better to know going into the book to set my expectations. It tries to make a balance, but falls a bit short on both aspects. It is a bit too on the nose for literary fiction, too light on fantastical elements and impersonal for most fantasy, leaving it in an awkward middle state.

The author reveals in the back of the book that this story was originally a short story but expanded upon to be a novella; I wish I could read that to compare. It again feels like it exists in a weird in between, not enough space to take on a more nuanced take yet the style and directness could be more impactful as a short story. 

A much higher focus on character than any plot, which ultimately leaves the conclusion as unfinished on purpose. Even if the ending was purposely open ended, it lacked the directness of the rest of the book, making it feel less finished than intended. I was almost expecting to turn the page and there be another chapter, even while I was watching the page count dwindle before my eyes. This in part is me not used to reading character-only center books with no real focus on plot, so maybe the ending would leave those more used to literary fiction satisfied. 

With all of those criticisms and complicated thoughts aside, this was still a beautiful book examining the strange tension created by loved ones and the person experiencing a condition disagreeing on medical care, processing feelings of newfound illness and limitations, complications of queer relationships amongst various levels of accepting crowds, racism, grief, and climate change. The latter of which impacts all of the other themes, showing how insidious climate change is and the intersectionality of issues on everyone and your psyche. 

I might recommend this to someone who is looking for a character-driven literary low fantasy dealing with climate change and grief for yourself and loved ones. 
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