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by Kelly Barnhill
A GOODREADS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • A fiery feminist fantasy tale set in 1950s America where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, exploding notions of a woman’s place in the world and expanding minds about accepting others for who they really are. "Ferociously imagined…and as exhilarating as a ride on dragonback." —Lev Grossman, bestselling author of The Magicians Trilogy "Completely fierce, unmistakably feminist, and subversively funny." —Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry In the first adult novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Ogress and The Orphans, Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours, except for its most seminal event: the Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales, and talons; left a trail of fiery destruction in their path; and took to the skies. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex’s beloved aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn’t know. It’s taboo to speak of. Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of this astonishing event: a mother more protective than ever; an absentee father; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and watching her beloved cousin Bea become dangerously obsessed with the forbidden. In this timely and timeless speculative novel, award-winning author Kelly Barnhill boldly explores rage, memory, and the tyranny of forced limitations. When Women Were Dragons exposes a world that wants to keep women small—their lives and their prospects—and examines what happens when they rise en masse and take up the space they deserve.
10 recommendations similar to When Women Were Dragons
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Like Barnhill's novel, this story blends historical fiction with a reimagined magical past centered on women's suffrage and reclamation of power. It shares the same themes of sisterhood, hidden female history, and the literal manifestation of suppressed rage.
This book offers a lyrical and introspective look at a woman finding her own voice and power in a world dominated by men. Fans will appreciate the mythological elements used to explore female agency and the emotional depth of the protagonist's journey.
While darker in tone, this novel explores a global phenomenon where women suddenly develop a physical power that shifts the world's gender dynamics. It mirrors the 'dragoning' concept by examining how society reacts when women become physically formidable.
Set in the 1990s, this book captures the same frustration of women being ignored or gaslit by their community and husbands. It uses supernatural elements as a metaphor for the domestic struggles and the strength found in female friendships.
Though it lacks magical elements, this book shares the mid-century setting and the sharp critique of patriarchal systems that suppress female intellect and ambition. Readers who loved the defiant spirit of Barnhill's characters will find a kindred spirit in Elizabeth Zott.
by TJ Klune
While lighter in tone, this novel shares the theme of protecting children who are 'different' from a rigid, bureaucratic society. It captures the same sense of found family and the importance of standing up against institutional prejudice.
by Sarah Gailey
This novella features a reimagined American West where 'Librarians' distribute subversive materials. It echoes the themes of queer identity, female rebellion, and the search for a place where one can exist authentically outside of societal norms.
by Lina Rather
This story focuses on a group of nuns traveling through space, dealing with their pasts and the secrets of their order. It resonates with the themes of female community, the burden of secrets, and the tension between duty and personal truth.
Following five generations of women, this family saga explores how magic is passed down and hidden to ensure survival. It matches the multi-generational feel and the focus on how women preserve their power in a hostile world.
by Rory Power
This novel features girls whose bodies are being physically transformed by an external force (the Tox). It shares the visceral, bodily transformation themes of 'dragoning' and focuses on the intense bonds between girls in an isolated environment.
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