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toadlett 's review for:
Spinning Silver
by Naomi Novik
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a great book to finish just before New Year. Novik is great at weaving fairytale themes distinct with her polish cultural heritage into big adventures with lots to say and fantastic, deeply human characters. This isn't a twist on the story of rumplestiltskin so much as an expansion, and becomes a huge story about the cost of things, debts and how we honour them, and smart women stepping in to fix the mistakes of incompetent men. it was so fantastic to see a Jewish protagonist whose faith and culture informs so much of the story, though I'd love to hear the opinion of a jewish person on this. Also I did foster a hope for much of the book that it'd be gayer, and it felt a little mean to have the only unequivocally queer character in the book be hopelessly pining for a man he'd never have a chance with, but the book as it actually is, rather than as I might daydream about, is fantastic and had me hooked throughout. though I've added in content warnings as these are themes in the book, they never feel gratuitous, and in all the action and characters of the book are defined by the loving relationships and growth they build for eachother, rather than their traumas.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Antisemitism