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eletricjb's review against another edition
3.0
I spent this whole book going, dang this is a lot like When the Moon was Ours, and do you know why that is? Because it was written by the same damn person. Good work, me.
Anyway, Anna-Marie McLemore is a master of imagery, and the storytelling was great, but...it was still a little too disjointed to pull me all the way in.
Anyway, Anna-Marie McLemore is a master of imagery, and the storytelling was great, but...it was still a little too disjointed to pull me all the way in.
thebookishunicorn's review against another edition
4.0
"The story of the ugly duckling was never about the cygnet discovering he is lovely. It is not a story about realizing you have become beautiful.
It is about the sudden understanding that you are something other than what you thought you were, and that what you are is more beautiful than what you once thought you had to be."
In true Anna-Marie McLemore style, this books' prose is just as magical as their stories are.
It is about the sudden understanding that you are something other than what you thought you were, and that what you are is more beautiful than what you once thought you had to be."
In true Anna-Marie McLemore style, this books' prose is just as magical as their stories are.
readmoreyall's review against another edition
5.0
This book will make you yearn for and be fearful of a world with just a little bit more magic. A tale of sisters, of love, of family—blood and otherwise.
You need this book, and all the rest of McLemore’s work.
You need this book, and all the rest of McLemore’s work.
katiemichellereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eyleen's review against another edition
3.0
DNF after 80 pages. I have no idea what's going on and I don't like the writing style too much. It's too "magical" for me when random stuff happens without explanations all the time.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting read that melds Snow White, Snow White and Rose Red, and Swan Lake together in a beautiful and jarring narrative where the characters realize that they might--or might not--be able to break free from their archetypes.
Roja always knew that she'd be the one chosen by the swans--Blanca was too pure, too sweet, too demure for anything bad to happen to her. But when Blanca begins conspiring to save her sister's life, Roja believes that Blanca is trying to just save her own skin. Literally.
And while these two sisters, estranged from the world, deal with their impending fate, two boys appear in the woods as though they hadn't been missing for years. What spawned their reappearance? Why have they returned? What if they want to go back?
This book flits between all of their perspectives, leaving much to be gleaned and interpreted as the narrative continues. Though it makes for an interesting narration style, it at times left me a little confused, especially as so many portions of this book were dependent on their ambiguity. But the ambiguity, overall, really works. It works in terms of gender, in terms of narrative, and in terms of archetypes.
Overall this book really pushes the boundaries of fairy tale retellings as well as the boundaries of what it means to be family. A very good read, and I'm glad to have read it.
Review cross-listed here!
Roja always knew that she'd be the one chosen by the swans--Blanca was too pure, too sweet, too demure for anything bad to happen to her. But when Blanca begins conspiring to save her sister's life, Roja believes that Blanca is trying to just save her own skin. Literally.
And while these two sisters, estranged from the world, deal with their impending fate, two boys appear in the woods as though they hadn't been missing for years. What spawned their reappearance? Why have they returned? What if they want to go back?
This book flits between all of their perspectives, leaving much to be gleaned and interpreted as the narrative continues. Though it makes for an interesting narration style, it at times left me a little confused, especially as so many portions of this book were dependent on their ambiguity. But the ambiguity, overall, really works. It works in terms of gender, in terms of narrative, and in terms of archetypes.
Overall this book really pushes the boundaries of fairy tale retellings as well as the boundaries of what it means to be family. A very good read, and I'm glad to have read it.
Review cross-listed here!
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
This book was absolutely breathtaking and beyond beautiful. From the very beginning, I was sad and instantly hooked. Honestly, any kind of retelling will also put me in the mood. I'm so happy that I got to meet Blanca and Roja. Even though their parents really annoyed/frustrated me. It was a gorgeous story about two sisters always willing to fight for one another when the world is trying to pit them against each other instead. I also really enjoyed all the representation throughout this too. It was written so freaking well that I might want to cry.
emiliaduncan's review against another edition
5.0
This strange little book is a tender and poetic fairytale that dives deep into sisterhood. It is also about two love stories (one of them about a queer couple! Yay!) but far more about each of the characters & their fears and how they cope with them. It examines race, colorism, what it means to be a non-binary trans person, gender in general, and so much more. Highly recommend
justjelreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0