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dame_samara's review
4.0
This book has been calling to me since I brought it home from the library and once I began consuming it it was near impossible to put down.
Am I a sucker for fairy tale retellings? Most definitely, but I must say this book stretches far beyond what we typically think of as fairy tale retellings into something that I don't really have the words for. This book feels like it takes the archetypes we've come to know and takes them and turns it on it's head showing us that under the pretty wrapping those stories are dark and there are things such as trauma and abuse, we leave untouched because it can't be tied up into a cute little bow at The End.
It was nice to see this story look into the repercussions of the stories we cherish, but also being able to see older queer women depicted in fiction. Seeing them get to raise families and have lives and deal with the struggles their lives have left them with.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes, it's short, compelling, and a story you won't regret.
Am I a sucker for fairy tale retellings? Most definitely, but I must say this book stretches far beyond what we typically think of as fairy tale retellings into something that I don't really have the words for. This book feels like it takes the archetypes we've come to know and takes them and turns it on it's head showing us that under the pretty wrapping those stories are dark and there are things such as trauma and abuse, we leave untouched because it can't be tied up into a cute little bow at The End.
It was nice to see this story look into the repercussions of the stories we cherish, but also being able to see older queer women depicted in fiction. Seeing them get to raise families and have lives and deal with the struggles their lives have left them with.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes, it's short, compelling, and a story you won't regret.
tinynavajo's review
4.0
An interesting take on Red Riding Hood, need to find the first two and get the beginning of her story, but you don't need to have read the other two to enjoy this one. I am proof of that!
mcgildey's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
alyssabookrecs's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so for the fact that this is technically a follow-up to two short stories (which I didn't know when picking it up), this novella is a great stand-alone. I really enjoyed Huang's writing style and the fairy-tale mash-ups in this story. It had this dark overtone that felt appropriate given the crimes/bad deeds Hou Yi and Rosa committed in the past. I also enjoyed how it interwove Chinese and Western fairytales. It was a good first read of Pride month and filled my soft sapphic heart with joy at seeing two middle-aged queer women (and a genderbent Hou Yi) on their quests to right wrongs and to accept themselves and have another chance to start over. Overall, it was good!
lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
I was no longer the girl; I was the rifle.
3.5 stars. Really engaging fantasy novel about two older women, both warriors estranged from their wives, who have teamed up to stop a magical threat ravaging the country. Both their stories are intertwined with/draw inspiration from different fairy tales and myths, and it comes together as a really fascinating character study for them both. They're hugely flawed women, neither quite willing to face up to the things they've done/things they're running from, and it culminates in an unexpected but lovely way. I picked this up for the comparison to Zen Cho, one of my favourite authors, and while I'm not sure I agree that the writing is similar or quite as good, in terms of themes, there was a certain familiarity that I appreciated. And I do love stories about older women. I'm not sure what else I wanted from this but it didn't quite hit the spot for me.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Nancy Wu; a narrator I always enjoy. I'll try to pick up more from Huang in the future! At the very least, this was a good way to whet the appetite.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
parental neglect, a bit of gore, mentions of transphobiavivivi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
A beautiful novella about finding lost family and hoping for forgiveness.
It has a good mix of wuxia and western fairy tales!
It has a good mix of wuxia and western fairy tales!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death of parent
ktrecs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
corvid_archivist's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
teachinsci's review against another edition
4.0
A novella length piece which combines much of the magic of Grimm's tales and more. The story is set is in an world where magic allows people to change into animals and sometimes control them.
The main characters are Rosa (red riding hood), who is an Annie Oakley style shooter from either Europe or North America, and Hou Yi, an archer whose exploits make me wonder if there is east Asian folklore in which she is based. These two women, both in their middle ages, ate hunting sunbirds and protecting people in their region.
But, both their posts catch up to them in this exciting and emotional novella.
I enjoyed this story enough that I immediately began looking for more books set in this world. Great mash-up of fairy tale and modern fantasy.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
The main characters are Rosa (red riding hood), who is an Annie Oakley style shooter from either Europe or North America, and Hou Yi, an archer whose exploits make me wonder if there is east Asian folklore in which she is based. These two women, both in their middle ages, ate hunting sunbirds and protecting people in their region.
But, both their posts catch up to them in this exciting and emotional novella.
I enjoyed this story enough that I immediately began looking for more books set in this world. Great mash-up of fairy tale and modern fantasy.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.