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solly's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
This was an excellent novella with older sapphic protags, moxing several western fairytales and the Chinese story of Hou Yi and Chang'E. The two protags (Red Riding Hood and trans woman Hou Yi) are morally grey women who have tons of family issues they work out throughout the story by telling each other about their past. It explored some really interesting themes while having some cool worldbuilding. I really enjoyed it, would have liked one more chapter maybe, but as a novella it makes sense that it stopped where it did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Transphobia and Child abuse
anovelbeauty's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Book TW: emotional abuse; betrayal
Burning Roses is a really interesting little novella. I was initially drawn in with the promise of a Little Red Riding Hood and Hou Yi retelling, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that many other fairytales were woven throughout the story.
Have older warrior MCs was honestly a really strong narrative choice and made their reflections about their lives, families, and mistakes as they go on their last quest feel all the more poignant. The story is very well written and the end particularly tugged at my heartstrings. I appreciated the resolution quite a lot, particularly for Hou Yiβs character. Huang did a really good job of developing multifaceted characters and a complete story in a very short amount of time. The story is grounded in family and spousal relationships and if anything can be done once you have hurt those relationships. If forgiveness and wholeness can be found. Itβs a beautiful, little story and I hope you are able to give it a read.
Burning Roses is a really interesting little novella. I was initially drawn in with the promise of a Little Red Riding Hood and Hou Yi retelling, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that many other fairytales were woven throughout the story.
Have older warrior MCs was honestly a really strong narrative choice and made their reflections about their lives, families, and mistakes as they go on their last quest feel all the more poignant. The story is very well written and the end particularly tugged at my heartstrings. I appreciated the resolution quite a lot, particularly for Hou Yiβs character. Huang did a really good job of developing multifaceted characters and a complete story in a very short amount of time. The story is grounded in family and spousal relationships and if anything can be done once you have hurt those relationships. If forgiveness and wholeness can be found. Itβs a beautiful, little story and I hope you are able to give it a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Xenophobia
aardwyrm's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Still a sucker for fairy tales, love a story where older women take the helm, and it's always nice when found family and made family and blood family all get a little discussion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
notthatlibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Animal death and Toxic relationship
saphirablue's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
<Spoiler>
I kind of like it but it's also kind of unsatisfying?
I kind of like the idea of fairy tales look at years later and what happened to the main characters/"heroes" of them. I like that there is a realistic approach of what happens if you are the main character of Red Riding Hood or the Beauty and the Beast. I also like, that there are shades of grey for everything.
What felt very unsatisfying for me? The major character death and that we don't know how it ends for the other character. That's just not my cup of tea. :/
All in all, I enjoyed the writing and the general premise of this story but the ending just wasn't for me. :/
I kind of like it but it's also kind of unsatisfying?
I kind of like the idea of fairy tales look at years later and what happened to the main characters/"heroes" of them. I like that there is a realistic approach of what happens if you are the main character of Red Riding Hood or the Beauty and the Beast. I also like, that there are shades of grey for everything.
What felt very unsatisfying for me? The major character death and that we don't know how it ends for the other character. That's just not my cup of tea. :/
All in all, I enjoyed the writing and the general premise of this story but the ending just wasn't for me. :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror and Gun violence
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
β€οΈ 𧑠π π π π my about page / byf / CW info carrd π π π π 𧑠β€οΈ
I know phrases like 'remixed updated feminist fairy tale' get thrown out and generally they mean there's an entirely white main cast with token brown / black ppls and the female mc hates corsets and isn't liek other girlies and is TUFF and ROUGH.
But like listen, this is that, but it's not another boring, lukewarm retelling of white fairy tales with white people in it.
I liked that it took the premise of fairy tales [Rose red, Snow white, and the legend of Hou Yi and Chang'e] and set them in the same universe, and made them work so cohesively together. If you like fairy tales but had enough of their generic whiteness, read this book, and then read the 'The Singing Hills cycle' by the same author. It will give you joy. I promise.
Minor child abuse, sex slavery, grooming and pedophilia,
Medium misgendering / transphobia, gore, injuries, imprisonment, manipulation, abuse, dogs / wolves, violence, child abuse,
Major guns, death,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
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