Reviews

Deerskin by Robin McKinley

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darksadie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

I will never be able to read another book again that has this type of magic. All other books I read going forward are set against the standards this story.

xandrade's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. This book was so beautifully written in blew me away. What a powerful story of healing.

tjwallace04's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

seanache's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

firvida's review against another edition

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3.0

Éticamente, me veo incapaz de ponerle menos de tres estrellas a esto; novelísticamente, le pondría dos. Porque es de los libros más aburridos que he leído últimamente.

Perdón, de verdad que pido perdón, porque soy consciente de la importancia del mensaje de la novela, lo apoyo, lo comparto y me parece increíblemente valiente, pero leer un libro cuyo 80% es una muchacha con un perro en una montaña cazando conejos y teniendo sueños febriles no es my cup of tea.

Los momentos, por desgracia breves, en que Lissar vuelve a la civilización, otros personajes pueblan la novela y la propia Lissar deja de ser una suerte de marioneta vacía dedicada únicamente a sobrevivir, esos momentos, decía, consiguieron mantener mi atención y hasta engancharme. De manera que, cuando Lissar vuelve a echarse al monte, decidí leer en diagonal el interminable describir de acciones de supervivencia, porque el libro se vuelve tremendamente repetitivo y, lo siento, pero tremendamente aburrido.

Con todos mis respetos, y reconozco que sin la calidad en la escritura de esta novela, pero 'Enebro y Espina', que también habla de sobrevenir el abuso sexual, consiguió mantener mi atención mucho más, y eso que no es tampoco un libro de fácil lectura. Entiendo que 'Piel de ciervo' es un libro en que ni historia ni personajes importan tanto como el mensaje, de verdad que lo comprendo, pero hay otras maneras más eficaces, el ensayo, por ejemplo, para tratar este tema si efectivamente el mensaje prima sobre lo narrativo. Las alegorías, lo onírico, las metáforas...todo ello envuelve a la novela en un halo vanguardista que ralentiza su lectura. Todo esto es una manera muy fina de decir lo que sostenía al inicio: que, con todo el dolor de mi corazón, este es un libro...muy aburrido.

hazel_ht's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

veganbookworm's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Content Warnings

jo_doth_read's review against another edition

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4.0

For a good long while (as a teen/young adult), I would have described this as my "favorite book." I've read it countless times and even listened to the audiobook version, recently. While I would no longer describe it as my favorite, it remains a compelling story.

slester_16's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

ashdawn's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This one was so dark, but very well told retelling of "Donkeyskin" (which, in itself is a rough fairytale). It deals a LOT with incest, rape, and the trauma/healing of that. It was incredibly rough to get through, especially the first half of the book. Worth it, just be aware what you're getting into.

"But I return to you now all that you did give me: all the rage and the terror, the pain and the hatred that should have been love. The nightmares, and the waking dreams that are worse than nightmares because they are memories. These I return to you, for I want them no more, and I will bear them not one whit of my time on this earth more."

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