Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

29 reviews

caramelcopp's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book- but I adored it. The first third of the book is definitely a Mulan retelling, but I’m not sure the other two thirds can be described like that. It’s much deeper and darker than Mulan when keeping to other Asian myths such as the Weaver and the Cowherd. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining, insightful take on an old story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: War

Minor: Sexual content

elyne's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-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? N/A

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and War

saoreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

It's so majestic, the way the story's been woven (no pun intended considering that the novel's about a tailor). The world-building was grandiose, with the fast-paced movement of events leading from the palace to the three-month adventure on the outskirts. I loved that the romance bloomed even more with the climax. It reminded me of that part of the book, "Dance of the Thieves," when the characters strengthened their flourishing love throughout the journey. It was notable for sure that when it came to the heroine's struggle and character development, she grew to face her own fears and fight against odds she never thought she could handle. The decisions she made were weighed between reality and happiness, yet nevertheless, she did not regret them for the better. It ended for me as a sappy reader who can't wait to read the next one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

booksthatburn's review against another edition

The main character disguises herself as a (specific) boy with a disability she doesn't have. That was iffy enough, but my hell no point was when she bound her chest for five days with no breaks and then kept going through the pain. I'm not interested in watching a character either slowly distort her ribcage through unsafe binding practices, or mysteriously have it just be painful but have no other consequences.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Alcohol and War

januaryt123's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

egurgens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

A Mulan-esc story, where the daughter of a weakened father is called by her country to participate in an event. However, it's not war, its a tailoring competition, where only men are allowed. Maia has to navigate not only the super competitive competition, but she has to be careful not to appear feminine, and she has to deal with the court enchanter, who seems able to see through her disguise as a man. 
Maia must deal with overly-savage competitors, magic, the enchanter, and the sanshen's daughter, who doesn't want to marry, even to save the country. There are three parts to this story, the competition, the journey, and the results. Maia is strong, confident in her abilities, but has to deal with challenges though impossible. With the help of the court enchanter, Edan, she goes on a journey to accomplish her task, and maybe even develop some feelings along the way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad slow-paced

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

1.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Minor: War

chancients's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Alcohol

matheo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Sexual content

mengzhenreads's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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

3.5

I really loved the concept of this book, but personally I think I would've liked it more if it hadn't focused on the romance and journey narrative in the second part of the book. The first section was super unique and interesting and I loved to see more focus on the main character's journey through the court and tailoring. I didn't hate the romance but I felt like it wasn't really necessary for it to become the main motivation for the rest of the story since it takes away from the themes that the story was trying to express. Overall, I loved the first third of it but afterwards it kind of fell flat which really sucks because I really thought I would have enjoyed this book more.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent