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savshanae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing was emotional and painted vivid pictures (it was also wordy). Sometimes repetitive, but I think it adds to the story by the end.
The self-expression and ideas that it inspired are challenging and thought provoking, and I really enjoyed that it is written to feel like you are being TOLD a story, someone’s thoughts and life experiences.
This book made me very angry, made me cry (lots), made me want to stop reading it. But it’s definitely worth the read and the rage.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
vatakarnic33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying and Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
imskylow's review against another edition
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
abwilcox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
rachel101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
elanorh's review against another edition
- 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
I really loved the book. It was full of righteous anger, and truth - but also beauty, love, allyship, and hope. I would describe this book as "fierce."
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Abandonment
bookishkale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The story is set up in an exciting way, where you are not fully sure what is happening until it starts, and then you want to devour it, or at least I did! The story is structured almost like a memoir, but not fully, intermixed there are academic excerpts. It's very creative, and one of the first books that attempted to do something like that, and did it well! The book is set from the 1950s to the '60s. I think this is the best period of time to set this in, because any later or early, the Author wouldn't have succeeded in curating this particular feeling around Dragoning.
The story is told from the point of view of Alex Green, who we 'see' grow up. I personally liked Alex's character, though, I did find her to be frustrating at times. However, she is a product of the people around her, and the people around her did not care for her the way she should have. I love Beatrice and her spunk, and their Aunt Marla. I loved Sonja and the Librarian whose name I can't remember. Their importance in the story was palpable, without any of them, Alex wouldn't be Alex. Overall, I would say the characters all meshed well together, their reactions to the happens of the book make sense, and they are enjoyable. However, I don't know how I feel about Alex's character development by the end of the book, however, I understand the choices that were made and it does not sour the book for me.
The only thing keeping me from rating this higher was the lack of intersectional feminism. There are virtually none, or very, very few, people of color in this book at all. I understand that this book isn't about that, and it's written in a specific time period, but you have fucking dragons in your book... I think you can add a person of color without it being out of place. It would have been so interesting to see someone from any other background talk about their experience with Dragoning with Alex. I do appreciate that there is sapphic love in this story, I don't think it could be the same without it, and I find that wonderful! I wish more exploration could have gone into transwomen and their dragoning. I just love the dragoning experience that the author portrays and I want more and more and more.
Overall, a great read, I did enjoy it and I think it only could have been better. Please check out the content warnings for this book, it can get a bit heavy at times. I buddy read this with my friend Coletta, who also enjoyed this book a lot!
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying and Infidelity
The book is very in-depth with sexism and misogyny, it's kind of the whole premise of the book, if you don't feel like you can handle any amount, I would avoid it. However, from what I remember, there is no violence toward women, from what I remember. Mainly just through comments and the social structures at the time.bunny_boy's review against another edition
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting