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Kelly Barnhill

When Women Were Dragons

Kelly BarnhillFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Book Brief

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Kelly Barnhill

When Women Were Dragons

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022
Book Details
Pages

340

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

1950s

Publication Year

2022

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Kelly Barnhill's When Women Were Dragons, Alex Green navigates a mid-20th-century America where women mysteriously transform into dragons in moments of rage or desire. As societal repression and censorship attempt to obscure these transformations, Alex pieces together her family's history and the phenomenon of "dragoning," ultimately finding liberation and a new understanding of womanhood amidst a repressive society. The plot includes topics of spousal infidelity and familial abandonment.

Fantastical

Emotional

Inspirational

Mysterious

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.1

55,551 ratings

68%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Kelly Barnhill's When Women Were Dragons is praised for its imaginative narrative and powerful feminist themes, exploring women's transformation and liberation. Critics commend Barnhill's lyrical prose and compelling characters, though some feel the plot is occasionally uneven. Overall, it's heralded as a thought-provoking and emotive read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read When Women Were Dragons?

Readers who enjoyed the fantastical elements of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern or the feminist themes in The Power by Naomi Alderman will be captivated by Kelly Barnhill's When Women Were Dragons. This novel weaves magic and feminist allegory, appealing to fans of speculative fiction and empowering narratives.

4.1

55,551 ratings

68%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

340

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

1950s

Publication Year

2022

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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