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Books similar to ‘When Women Were Dragons’ by Kelly Barnhill
Fierce female protagonists take center stage in these enchanting novels of magic, intrigue, and empowerment.
Published on November 13, 2023
Nettle & Bone
T. KingfisherSome call “Nettle & Bone” a subversion of fairy tales, others say it’s a feminist reinterpretation. All agree that it’s brilliant. After discovering her middle sister is married to a violent prince, Marra sets off on a quest to save her, with a rag-tag team of whimsical helpers in tow. From princesses to knights to fairy godmothers, the characters here are all familiar — but in Kingfisher’s superb hands, they’re also entirely new.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Novel
Sue Lynn TanThis dazzling debut whisks readers away to a beautiful world full of mythological creatures and magic. In it, Xingyin attempts to free her imprisoned mother, the moon goddess, and is forced to choose between family and the fate of the world. A new imagining of Chinese folklore, Tan’s epic adventure will leave fantasy lovers eager for more.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina: A Novel
Zoraida CórdovaWhen the reclusive matriarch of the Montoya family dies and is transformed into a tree, her surviving family receives powers no one can explain. Then, mysterious forces start killing members of the family off, one by one. Córdova seamlessly weaves threads of magic and destiny into a spellbinding and mysterious tale that, like “When Women Were Dragons,” explores complex family dynamics and female empowerment.
Dread Nation
Justina IrelandThis is an eye-opening alternate history with a science fiction twist, where the American Civil War ends because the undead have started coming back to life. The scythe-wielding Jane McKeene is trained, along with other Black people and Native Americans, to fight the new scourge of the nation. But she also has to fight back against ongoing systemic racism. In an article for “Electric Literature,” Barnhill praised Ireland’s novel for not shying away from discussing “the boot of misogyny standing on the necks of every woman, across the social spectrum, no matter how hard they try to move it.”
The Women's Room
Marilyn FrenchConsidered by many to be one of — if not THE — most influential novels born out of the women’s liberation movement, “The Women’s Room” became an instant feminist classic when it was published in 1977. As scores of women shook off the 1950s housewife archetype, many courageously left their spouses to pursue education and careers. (The women turning into dragons mechanic in Barnhill’s novel serves as an excellent metaphor for this.) French drew inspiration from her own life, and in turn inspired countless women from generations to come to stand up to the patriarchy.
The Chosen and the Beautiful
Nghi VoIt’s “The Great Gatsby,” but queer and with literal ghosts. Vo’s reinvention of Fitzgerald’s classic stars tennis pro Jordan Baker, who’s still a fixture at the glitzy Jazz Age parties due to her lifelong friendship with Daisy, but is forever an exoticized outsider in this version because of her Vietnamese heritage. Like Barnhill, Vo crafts a world in which women reclaim their power with magic.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Kelly BarnhillBarnhill’s middle-grade tale of magic and courage has won numerous awards, and it’s not hard to see why. Witches, swamp monsters, goblins, and, yes, dragons, all make enchanting appearances, and the line between hero and villain is blurry at best. Brimming with adventure, humor, and messages extolling the power of kindness and love, this is a story sure to resonate with both youth and adult audiences alike.