“Ferociously imagined, incandescent with feeling, this book is urgent and necessary and as exhilarating as a ride on dragonback.”
—Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians Trilogy
“Completely fierce, unmistakably feminist, and subversively funny, When Women Were Dragons brings the heat to misogyny with glorious imagination and talon-sharp prose. Check the skies tonight—you might just see your mother.”
—Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
“[A] riveting historical fantasy…What’s surprising about Barnhill’s rare foray into adult fiction is its subversiveness and feminist rage. It’s a powerful, searing novel that feels deeply true, despite its magical premise.”
—BuzzFeed
“A complex, heartfelt story about following your heart and opening your mind to new possibilities. This novel’s magic goes far beyond the dragons.”
—Kirkus (starred review)
“A deeply felt exploration of feminism in an alternate fantastical history…This allegory packs a punch.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Barnhill’s sharp and lyrical prose showcases the joys and agonies of female power in this coming-of-age/alternate history.”
—Library Journal
“If much of the novel feels like a full-throated howl, an indictment of a system of gender apartheid, an alchemy occurs in the final chapters…Kelly Barnhill reimagines a world where women face 1950s-style constraints, and find a path out.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
