sunniva174's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Death
Minor: War
verinvaldez's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexism, Pedophilia, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence
whooliio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexism
Minor: Self harm, Animal cruelty, and Rape
prunechips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Child abuse, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, and Rape
Minor: Gaslighting
itspronouncedtessa's review against another edition
2.75
But.
Do modern writers understand they're writing fiction? An untrue story, something they, in fact, made up? Even if it's "grounded in the realities of rural life at the time", it's still fiction.
The author admitted she'd fudged with the ages of actual historical figures to better fit the story, but when it comes to the fictional characters, she just has to, needs to, have a middle-aged man (who we are supposed to root for) marry and rape a child? Repeatedly? And describe him longing for her "tight body"?
Why? It did not serve the plot and absolutely nothing would have been different if the ages had been changed. If there had been a smidgen of consent.
"But it's historically accurate"
Motherfucker, it's a fairy tale. There are demons and winter gods roaming your forest. But no, a grown woman being okay with sharing her new husband's bed, that's too unbelievable.
I won't be reading the sequels.
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Child death
eerielux's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Pedophilia, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Violence
southernreach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Child abuse, Blood, and Animal death
scifi_rat's review against another edition
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Bullying, Classism, Animal death, Blood, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Adult/minor relationship
nightmarebees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
the first half felt so slow, but at the same time i couldn’t put it down and finished the book in two days, so? it really drew out the parts of the fairytale that are usually only a few sentences at the beginning, if that makes any sense. the characters who would be side characters are more fleshed out, and the fluid POV is interesting to read when it goes between them.
i will definitely be picking up book 2 from the library
Moderate: Animal death and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
mysimas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sometimes I felt like I was reading one of those horsegirl stories for young teens — seriously, the obsession of this book with horses is astounding — but other than that, I was sucked into the 14th century Russia and fell in love with both its human and magical inhabitants alike (with the exception of Konstantin who was a major creep and eerily similar to Hugo’s Frollo — ew, just ew, get them away from me!!).
There’s strong themes of religion (Christianity killing the old gods and in extension the humans) which I didn’t mind as I’m not Christian (but I can see why some Christians wouldn’t be happy with this theme), and just as strong themes of female oppression, and it was cathartic to see Vasya’s small victories in this regard.
My major complaint is the book ends rather abruptly and some questions remain unresolved (such as thee importance of Vasya’s blue pendant). Maybe they’ll be dealt with in the sequels??
Graphic: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death