April (Aprilius Maximus)'s Reviews > A Winter's Promise

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos
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it was ok
bookshelves: dnf

DNF'd on page 185/491.

Thank you so much to Text Publishing Australia for sending a copy of this to me! Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. The first chapter was so promising, with so much atmosphere and it had it's own distinct, magical vibe that made me think I was going to love this book! However, as I kept reading, I kept encountering more and more problems. For example, on page 49, "A nanny pushed a pram while blushing at the admiring whistles of workmen up scaffolding." Ughhhhh why are we insinuating that this is a normal thing, that women should blush when disgusting men do this. ALSO I thought this was a children's book, so I was super upset that lines like this were used without being challenged, but as I read more and more of the book, I realised this is certainly NOT a children's book.
We have another character calling a woman a slut just because she was sleeping with her brother and we have another character who ... ugh... let me just show you..
Archibald finally let out a deep sigh. "I'll admit to you that I'm a little disappointed. It would have been frightfully amusing to have Thorn's betrothed at my disposal."
"And why's that?" she asked, frowning.
"Well, to deflower her, of course."

LIKE..... SERIOUSLY?
I'm just done with this book. The storyline itself isn't even interesting enough for me to continue with it and the main characters are EXTREMELY bland.
SUPER BUMMED.
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Reading Progress

August 8, 2018 – Shelved
August 8, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read
September 28, 2018 – Started Reading
September 28, 2018 –
page 29
6.47% "THIS IS ALREADY AMAZING YOOOOOOO I'M SO PUMPED"
September 30, 2018 –
page 79
17.63% "okay I already have a couple of issues with this and i'm v sad about it"
September 30, 2018 –
page 131
29.24% "What in the what???"
October 1, 2018 – Shelved as: dnf
October 1, 2018 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

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message 1: by Silvi (new)

Silvi I didn't pick this book up because I was expecting something like this. The premise alone sounded very anti-feminist and I'm so so tired of fantasy worlds with misogynistic and patriarchal societies. Nevertheless, the examples you've mentioned shocked me. How can anyone look over that?!


message 2: by (new)

Fé i'm french and i'm so frustrated at how so many french readers don't challenge the problematic aspects of this book ugh


Robin THANK YOU FOR THIS


message 5: by Moonbook (new)

Moonbook Every time a bad come the next is going to be amzing :)


Gennypenny Well, horrible, morally despicable characters will always be part of a story. You can find much worse in classical literature. I don't think I could ever stomach politically correct books that never show anything problematic and with characters that are always good and virtuous.


Holli It's interesting that you detested this book in the nameof feminism. Although you were quite generous about the abusive boyfriend in After. In fact, you really liked the book. Just because things happen in the "world" doesn't mean the author is saying it's okay. There is just life and people do these things. Women participate in pagents and pornography. They line up for it. The character in After is an abuser. I don't care what happens to you (believe me I grew up in a really bad situation) there is NO EXCUSE for mistreating others. It's a lie people believe. There was NO EXCUSE for Jace's behavior in City of Bones. she was crazy not to pick her boyfriend.


Lyubov Berezina In the Russian translation there’s nothing about deflowering, they used a word that translates into English as “to seduce”, and there’s nothing about a woman sleeping with her brother so maybe they edited the translation a bit to match the YA audience more.


Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ ARCHIBALD WAS SUCH A GRADE A ASSHOLE OMG


Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ Jinjiru wrote: "In the Russian translation there’s nothing about deflowering, they used a word that translates into English as “to seduce”, and there’s nothing about a woman sleeping with her brother so maybe they..."

I don't remember the exact sentence but there was a rape-joke from Archibald in the original (french) version :/


Senny Sì ma non si può bocciare un libro per premesse così assurde come l'esistenza di una scena in cui una donna arrossisce perché le fischiano dietro un apprezzamento, andiamo. Questa cosa è assurda, non è che adesso ogni volta che si inserisce una scena controversa bisogna appiccicarci lo spiegone sul perché è sbagliato che gli uomini facciano cat calling o far diventare il personaggio di turno una Rambo Girl che picchia gli uomini cattivi e li redarguisce sul loro fischiare alle donne. Stessa cosa per Archibald: è uno stronzo, la battuta serve a farci capire questo; che doveva fare Ophelia, sola con uno sconosciuto potenzialmente pericoloso, mollargli un ceffone per far valere il femminismo? Di tutte le critiche che si possono muovere al libro, accusare l'autrice di non aver impostato la storia secondo i canoni vigenti del femminismo è assurdo. Così si finirà veramente con la polizia del politically correct che corregge i libri e censura tutte le scene che non si attengono alle regole. Se un'autrice vuole ambientare il suo fantasy nei mondi patriarcali e la cosa vi da fastidio non leggetelo, un conto è dire che non fa per voi, un conto è dire che l'autrice avrebbe DOVUTO fare come dite voi. Una scrittrice sarà ancora libera di scrivere come vuole, o secondo il femminismo odierno una donna può fare quello che vuole ma solo finché non esce dal tracciato, altrimenti sta sbagliando? Sono basita che ci sia gente che pensa che per una scena di una riga l'autrice volesse addirittura INSINUARE che il catcalling sia una cosa buona e giusta, e che la donna DEBBA arrossire quando un uomo la fischia... ma serie? Ma vivete nella testa della Dabos per dirlo con questa sicurezza? XD


Stephanie I had to dnf this book and on the same page as you. Pretty much concur with your review too.


Denice Oh god, i fking hated that line woth the whistling men. Like excuse me random nanny, you ADMIRE it? Hell no

Also Im at page 145 now and I haven’t encountered that rape comment yet. Not sure if its still gonna be there or maybe the Dutch translation has also deleted it


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