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teatunesandtales's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
sgrunwald96's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Interesting book and an important look at empowerment/disempowerment. That being said I didn’t love the format and historical fiction can bum me out. I wish I felt more driven by Alex as a character but I loved Bea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Police brutality, Grief, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
ladydamonayde's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not as strong as other feminist sci fi like The Power or Vox but still a great read and worthy addition to the lineup.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Dysphoria
alisonvh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
I love this book so much! I love the idea of women being magical and activating their power in magical ways. I love the focus on female relationships of all kinds and how they can morph and evolve over time. I love the idea of women forging the lives they want and leaving behind the tiny little men who force them into tiny little lives. I got this book from the library, but I think I might need to own a copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
drjoannehill's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Betty Friedan in The Feminine Mystique called it "the Problem with No Name": the lack of fulfilment white American women faced in the 1950s and 60s as they were encouraged/forced out of education and work outside the home to support their husband and children instead - why were they not feeling fulfilled by this, their life's calling to be a wife and mother? A problem hidden in plain sight as no one talked about it but they all felt the same and many hid a bottle of vodka among the cleaning products under the sink. Set your face and get on with it. This is not the first novel to tackle that period, but by using a magical element - as women realise they feel constrained and start to literally look up to the sky and seek out something bigger, they turn into dragons, but people pretend that nothing has happened, pretend that a woman who has "dragoned" never existed - the book attempts to show how hiding something that really cannot be hidden contributes to a strange collective trauma, confusion, and McCarthy-esque censorship. A sort of Emperor's New Clothes.
I have a big issue with this very white American viewpoint though. It's been heavily critiqued in multiple waves of feminism since, but this author doesn't pay any attention, and everyone in the book is white, maybe recent European migrants but otherwise it's like there's no race, racial differences, or even any place for people of colour anywhere in the book. There's a MINOR unnamed mention that could be about the civil rights movement. This is very odd in a book that tries to show the problems of pretending everything is ok, ignoring dissent and rebellion. I had no idea if it was just housewives who suffered and later dragoned, nor even if it was worldwide or just in the USA? Once again white middle class America is presented as the whole world. This annoys me and otherwise it would be pushing 5 stars.
Things done well: the dad - an excellent villain, he is spot on. Some definitely quotable bits about the search for knowledge. Libraries as the source of rebellion. Alex's anger is a bit confusing but perhaps accurately portrays a teenage girl unsure of how to deal with what is thrust on her, and her powerlessness, trying to figure out where to direct her blame.
I have a big issue with this very white American viewpoint though. It's been heavily critiqued in multiple waves of feminism since, but this author doesn't pay any attention, and everyone in the book is white, maybe recent European migrants but otherwise it's like there's no race, racial differences, or even any place for people of colour anywhere in the book. There's a MINOR unnamed mention that could be about the civil rights movement. This is very odd in a book that tries to show the problems of pretending everything is ok, ignoring dissent and rebellion. I had no idea if it was just housewives who suffered and later dragoned, nor even if it was worldwide or just in the USA? Once again white middle class America is presented as the whole world. This annoys me and otherwise it would be pushing 5 stars.
Things done well: the dad - an excellent villain, he is spot on. Some definitely quotable bits about the search for knowledge. Libraries as the source of rebellion. Alex's anger is a bit confusing but perhaps accurately portrays a teenage girl unsure of how to deal with what is thrust on her, and her powerlessness, trying to figure out where to direct her blame.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Lesbophobia
jennswan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
seubecca's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
klabardee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
5.0
I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this book. As someone who has a deep appreciation for dragons, the author's portrayal of dragons in a feminist context further solidified my love for these mythical creatures. Not only were the concepts and themes of the book relevant and accurate, but the literary expression and writing of these experiences was absolutely stunning. This book evoked a wide range of emotions for me, from dismay to rage to apprehension to frustration to absolute joy and transcendence. It was a beautiful and highly significant read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
bb_11's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
"Is it possible for a book to say feminist things yet not be feminist?", was possibly my book clubs best discussion topic after reading this book. Ultimately, we decided yes it is possible and we have "When Women were Dragons" to thank for it. This book was all over the place narratively and thematically. Any single issue the author was willing to tackle was burdened by her attempt to tackle 15 other things all at once. This led to a strangely paced, contradictory, and emotionally whiplashing plot.
Another sentiment my bookclub shared: we couldn't wait for the first half of the novel to be over, but then the second half made us miss the first half! The end of book "climax" completely invalidates the main character's development and obliterates the stakes all at once.
Would recommend if you want to challenge yourself to critically deconstruct feminish literature and uncover evidence as to why a novel needs more than women>men to say something powerful.
Another sentiment my bookclub shared: we couldn't wait for the first half of the novel to be over, but then the second half made us miss the first half! The end of book "climax" completely invalidates the main character's development and obliterates the stakes all at once.
Would recommend if you want to challenge yourself to critically deconstruct feminish literature and uncover evidence as to why a novel needs more than women>men to say something powerful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body horror