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ladydamonayde'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Dysphoria
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
arood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
arwinadrea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Lesbophobia, Outing, and Dysphoria
Cold War, Women's Lib, Toxic Patriarchy, and Traumatic Childhood meets hopeful coming of age magical realism!cryfest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Dysphoria
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria, and Classism
katiecentabar's review against another edition
3.25
I would have preferred split narratives to get different perspectives on dragoning because the most compelling parts of this story were not the main character. I really enjoyed the last third of the book.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Dysphoria
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual harassment
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and War
Further warning for descriptions of menstruation.kelseyr713's review against another edition
- 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
This alternate history fiction is a love letter to women, libraries, and science. Under the surface, it’s also challenging notions of what should be considered "normal" and encouraging not ignorance and fear, but love and acceptance. I loved and devoured it.
Content warnings: homophobia, parental emotional abuse, death of parents, cancer, body horror (although I personally found the dragoning described beautifully, this may not be true for all readers).
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Terminal illness, Grief, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy
kari_f's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve read most of Kelly Barnhill’s books, and this one was unlike anything I’ve read of hers. In fact, it was very unique and different from *anything* I’ve ever read before.
Focusing primarily on government sanctions on scientific freedoms to fit a desired social narrative, as well as gender stereotypes and stigmas, this book is a perfect example of art imitating life…but with dragons added in. I’d place it somewhere between magical realism and fantasy, with relevant themes and topics that need to be discussed in our very real world.
The book goes back and forth between historical accounts of the phenomenon known as dragoning, scientific explanations and research on the topic, and a narrative perspective from a young woman growing up in a family greatly impacted by dragoning.
This is the first non-middle grade book I’ve read from Barnhill, and while the audience is different from what she usually writes, the whimsical nature of her books remains! I was hopeful this would be the case, as I’ve loved that aspect of her books written for younger audiences. I’ll admit there were a few times near the beginning that I felt the book was dragging a bit, but it makes sense since those parts were non-narrative sections or world-building scenes. Once I really got into it, I was truly excited about each point of view and section!
The premise was unique and fascinating, the stories leading up to many of the dragonings were infuriating and heartbreakingly relatable to real-world’s-not-so-distant-history, the theme of acceptance was heartwarming and lovely, and the main characters were fascinatingly brave in their own ways. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and continue to be excited about the author’s future literary works!
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this arc!
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Dysphoria