A review by grace_astudentreading
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

My first five star read of 2023! This book is a true work of art. It dives deep into the feminine rage and sisterhood, but not in the way one would expect. The story mostly follows Alex, the narrator, starting at a young age and following her through her life. Intermixed are excerpts from fictional sources that give a broader image of the events of the book. Alex was an interesting narrator, because her rage was that of fear and grief, making it different from what I expected. However, that does not mean I did not adore her. She was incredibly strong, loving, and loyal. I was blown away by her devotion to her cousin/sister. Her relationship with her mother was so complicated and felt very real. Of course, this book was also about dragons. I loved the alternate reality Barnhill created. The concept of women turning into dragons brought a whole new meaning to freedom and liberation. And Barnhill painted a brilliant image of the version of the United States it would create. Overall, this was an amazing read and I highly recommend it.