Review: Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rene Rossner

Title: Sisters of the Winter Wood Written by: Rene Rossner Published: September 2018 by Redhook (Hachette Books) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life - even if they've heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.  But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.  Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother's warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods...  The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be - and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer.

I love new YA fantasies, unique retellings, and books about sisters so this one was right in my wheelhouse. And while this was an interesting read that finished really strong, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped.

One thing I did love about this book was the world and setting. One of my favorite things is finding a modern book that reads like a classic fairy tale and that is exactly what this book was. It had so many elements that I have come to know and love with fairy tales including a dark wood full of secrets, magical transformations, and dubious characters. I particularly loved the setting. A dark and mysterious woods makes for such a great location for a story like this. The secrets lurking in the woods made for an atmospheric read. And the magic added to all of that. What I liked about the magic was that despite the fact that it was subtle, there clear rules and seeing the magic in action interested me. All of this worked together to craft an engaging setting for the book.

The other interesting thing about the setting for this book was the historical elements. It wasn’t really historical fiction but it did a great job of dealing with historical context and still making it feel topical. This is a book about Jewish culture and it explored what that was like from a historical standpoint. Jews were often distrusted by non-Jews and this book didn’t shy away from that. It showed some of the discrimination that Jewish people felt in Medieval times. But it also explored The Jewish religion on the whole. I can’t speak to the representation but I found it interesting to learn more about Judaism and I appreciated that aspect of this book.

The plot and pacing however, left me wanting more. It’s not that the plot was bad. In fact it did really finish strong by building to a really exciting conclusion. The thing is that the first half of this book took me a week to read and the second half took me a day. It just took so long for this book to capture my interest. I think perhaps that is because in the first half there was so much more of a focus on the romance. And you all probably know I am not typically a fan of romances. With this one I felt like one of them was a really good slowburn with a solid foundation and the other one was a ridiculous instalove that creeped me out. Luckily in the end everything shook out the way I was hoping but as the romance too center stage I felt like it was taking away from the part of the story I was actually enjoying including the relationship with the sisters.

I know this a retelling of the epic poem The Goblin Market, which I am not familiar with, and it made me curious about the poem which I think is the mark of a good retelling. But to me it had more Snow White and Rose Red vibes to it. That was one of my favorite fairy tales when I was a kid and I felt like from that standpoint I enjoyed the retelling. The reason I say that is because I felt like it had a good spin on the idea of the magical transformation and finding out that a character is royalty. It made for a good feminist story in that respect. But the best part of the retelling that I enjoyed was the relationship between the sisters. As an older sister myself I love reading books about sisters who are very different but still care so much about one another. It was a great aspect of the story added a lot of heart to the book I think.

This was definitely a good read with an atmospheric world that gave it a modern fairy tale vibes, a subtle historical setting, a retelling that had me interested in the original, and a good sisterly relationship. I just wish that it was a little shorter and the romance in the beginning didn’t take so much of the focus.

I give Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rene Rossner 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. I would recommend this book to fans of modern fairy tales like Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale. It’s a good atmospheric read for people who look those book.

Have you read Sisters of Winter Wood? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Title: Blanca and Roja Written by: Anna-Marie McLemore Published: October 9, 2018 by Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.  The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.  But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.

I have read and loved every one of Anna-Marie MacLemore's books. I was really excited to learn that she was writing a book based on Snow White and Rose Red, a fairy tale I always loved as a girl. This book was beautiful, and heart-breaking, and enthralling, and amazing.

First and foremost this was an amazing retelling. As I said, I loved the story of Snow White and Rose Red as a kid. I was really impressed with the way that McLemore interpreted and modernized the story. She gave even more magic and wonder with the story and still made it feel very current with an LGBTQIA character and making it about identity. But the retelling also went deeper with elements from The Six Swans and the Ugly Duckling. You would think with all these fairy tales working together it would be confusing and muddled but instead it made for something different and unique.

I think it all worked together because of the plot of this book. It's one of those books that I would call a modern fairy tale. It feels like a classic story but is something new and all it's own. I wouldn't say that the stakes are particularly high in this book but you are still invested in the stakes. McLemore draws you in and before you even realize you are terrified by what will happen to the characters and when bad things do happen you are heartbroken and still so entertained.

What really drew me in however is the characters. This one of those books with multiple perspectives which added a lot to the story. The main two perspectives of course are the titular characters of Blanca and Roja. The character I initially connected with Roja. She's the fiery and independent sister who is tough and emotional. But I also really enjoyed Blanca. She's the sweet and caring sister, but just as tough. Throughout the book the sisters are exploring the idea of who they are versus who other people want them to be, a theme I really enjoy. The sisters are very empathetic not because of who they are independently, but who they are together. The heart of this story is the love that the sisters have for each other. They would do anything for the other person and because they are in conflict it adds to misunderstanding and some really emotional moments.

But that is just the beginning for the characters. Interspersed with their perspectives were their love interests, Yearling and Page. Both of them are just as complex and are dealing with just as many struggles with their identity as the girls. This is the most noticeable with Page, a non-binary trans person. McLemore always does a great job with LGBTQIA rep and this book was no exception. I liked the way she changed pronouns when characters were referring to Page and thought it did a great job with exploring their identity.

But I think what I liked most about this book was the magic. McLemore is a master of Magical Realism. I have read all four of her books and they each have such different and such engaging magical worlds. First you had the curse of the del Cisne girls which in and of itself would have interesting enough but then you had the magic of the forest and how it affected Yearling and Page. I usually like my magic to go big or go home but here it was subtle and it worked so well. it drew you into the world and it made it feel more magical and fantastical like anything was possible. It raised the stakes and drew the reader into the story.

On the whole, I think this really was an amazing book. It has stuck with me long after finishing it and has proven just how good Anna-Marie McLemore is at writing Magical Realism and diverse characters. I think this may have just become my favorite book by her and that is saying something.

I give Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. Definitely pick up this book. It's beautifully written full of magic, great characters, and an enthralling plot which is a great retelling. If you like Magical Realism or fairy tale retellings then check this out.

Have you read Blanca & Roja? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Title: Girls Made of Snow and Glass Written by: Melissa Bashardoust Published: September 5, 2017 by Flatiron Books (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber in this feminist fantasy reimagining of the Snow White fairytale  At sixteen, Mina's mother is dead, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone—has never beat at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. When she moves to Whitespring Castle and sees its king for the first time, Mina forms a plan: win the king’s heart with her beauty, become queen, and finally know love. The only catch is that she’ll have to become a stepmother.  Fifteen-year-old Lynet looks just like her late mother, and one day she discovers why: a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image, at her father’s order. But despite being the dead queen made flesh, Lynet would rather be like her fierce and regal stepmother, Mina. She gets her wish when her father makes Lynet queen of the southern territories, displacing Mina. Now Mina is starting to look at Lynet with something like hatred, and Lynet must decide what to do—and who to be—to win back the only mother she’s ever known…or else defeat her once and for all.  Entwining the stories of both Lynet and Mina in the past and present, Girls Made of Snow and Glass traces the relationship of two young women doomed to be rivals from the start. Only one can win all, while the other must lose everything—unless both can find a way to reshape themselves and their story.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at ALA in an exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I seriously loved this book. When I first heard about it, being pitched as a feminist Snow White retelling, I was super intrigued. And so I of course picked up a copy and even got a free download of the audio. It was this audio download that made me pick this up now, needing a new audiobook. And I am so glad I did because this book and it's audio was AMAZING!

One of the things I loved about this book was the atmosphere. So much of a good audiobook, and fantasy for that matter, hinges on the tone and atmosphere. This was definitely a good one. The writing was beautiful and descriptive which is something I like to see in my fantasy. It definitely pulled you into the story and immersed you into the world. The narrator of for the audio did a great job in doing just that. She captured everything so well you could see and almost feel it. It really all worked to create a fantastic atmosphere and setting.

But as far as the setting goes, I'm not sure it was too hard to establish that atmosphere because this was a fantastic setting and world. There is a Frozen comparison being thrown around with it definitely seems apt in more ways than one. One of the main ways is with the world. It's a world where a curse has frozen over the kingdom and the people are trying to cope. It's also a world of magic, including magic involving snow. That being said, this could have come off as a very uncreative magical system and it didn't. It felt unique and interesting. I like my magic to have clear rules and while this one could have used a little more explanation I still really liked it. It added a lot of dimension to the story and the world of this book.

But I think my favorite this about this book was that story. It was a very complex story full of surprises and lots of political intrigue. There are multiple perspectives and moments in the past and present, which can be tricky. But I felt like it all unfolded in a way that made sense and made for a creative and engaging story. Plus it was one of those books that feels like a modern fairy tale. It had elements and vibes of classic fairy tales but when it really came down to it, this was a unique story that felt original. As far as the retellings aspect I think it was one of those where the original story is merely a jumping off point. If you are looking for a strong Snow White retellings you will not find that here. But that was totally fine with me because I loved the story.

My only problem however was with the fact that much of the conflict in this book could have easily been resolved. We were in the head of both of the main characters and we therefore know what their thinking and what they want but the other characters didn't. At a certain point it just felt like it wasn't dramatic irony anymore and was just manufactured drama. It did all come together in the end with more of a big boss but for awhile there it was a little frustrating.

But I will say, that didn't get in the way of me liking the characters. In fact, I think the author was able to create some really complex and interesting characters. I'm typically a fan of strong female characters who act feminine and that's exactly what I found here. I found two women and a dispute over the crown. Normally that would lead to a lot of scheming and bickering but that did not happen here. They were kind rulers who cared about their people and both were kind rulers who cared about their people and what was best for their kingdoms which made them extremely likable. But they also cared so much for each other. The real heart of this book was in the relationships between Mina and Lynet. And that in and of itself was more refreshing and enjoyable than anything else.

On the whole, I really loved Girls Made of Snow and Glass. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more. It was a beautifully written story with a creative world, likable characters, and an engaging plot.

I give Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! This book was really fantastic and I think everyone should read. It had such a fantastic modern fairy tale vibe that if you like fairy tales, retellings, or YA fantasy you should definitelt pick it up. I would absolutely recommend it. Especially the audiobooks. It was fantastic!

Have you read Girls Made of Snow and Glass? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Title: Geekerella Written by: Ashley Poston Published: April 4, 2017 by Quirk Books (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.  Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.  Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I have heard nothing but great things about this book and so when I was looking through my Kindle library for what to read next I decided to change things up a bit and read this contemporary Cinderella retelling. I'm glad I did because it was a sweet and fun read.

I have read my fair share of retellings and my favorite are always the ones that pay homage to the classic story but totally change things up. That is exactly what Geekerella did. It wasn't a perfect shot for shot remake but it was obviously the Cinderella story. The author did a great job of making it her own story however and bringing it into a modern setting. There were great references to the classic with things like a magic pumpkin, an evil stepmother, a curfew, and a missing shoe but they were all so creative. As far as retellings go, this was a creative one.

Part of what I think made this book so unique and interesting was the setting the author decided to put the book in. It was a Cinderella story about fandom. The characters were nerdy (more on them later), the experiences were geeky, and the ball was a Con. Plus on top of that there was this great story in the story with Starfield. As a fellow geek myself I appreciated the setting and the choices she made with them. The book is full of geek culture and references that I love but it also made its own fandom which was just as interesting.

As far as the characters go, I really like them. The Cinderella story is a well-played trope and therefore you wouldn't think there is a lot of growth when it comes to the titular character and her Prince Charming, but Poston managed to do just that. She created charming and likable characters who you rooted for and wanted to get together but she also created unique and complex characters who had their own growth throughout the story. It was kind of a coming-of-age story disguised as a fairy tale retelling and the characterizations added a good amount of depth to the book.

And you can't talk about a Cinderella story without talking about the romance. What I appreciated most about this take on the story is that it wasn't the classic instalove. It was a relationship that grew over time. And even when you thought it was going to finally come together there was a snag or something happened to prolong things. I surprisingly enjoyed that. It made a story that could have been basic much more interesting. But this was also a story about family and friendship. There were a lot of layers to it.

My only frustration was with the pacing. Despite the fact that it was a short read and it moved at a pace that ended with an exciting climax, I did feel like it moved a bit slowly. The amount of drama and challenges were entertaining but it did feel like they were just preventing the eventual ending from arriving. Plus it's the kind of book that is a little bottom heavy. Most of the good stuff happens in the last third of the book and I would have just liked it a little more spread out.

But all in all a really good contemporary. It was entertaining and fun with a sweet romance and surprisingly complex characters. But it was an even better retelling with a fun and unique spin on a classic fairy tale.

I give Geekerella by Ashley Poston 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you haven't read this book and you're looking for a good retelling or a cute and fluffy story with some real heart then pick this up. I definitely recommend it.

Have you read Geekerella? WHat did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Roses and Rot by Kat Howard

Title: Roses and Rot  Written by: Kat Howard Published: May 17, 2016 by Saga Press (Simon and Schuster) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Imogen and her sister Marin have escaped their cruel mother to attend a prestigious artists’ retreat, but soon learn that living in a fairy tale requires sacrifices, be it art or love.  What would you sacrifice in the name of success? How much does an artist need to give up to create great art?  Imogen has grown up reading fairy tales about mothers who die and make way for cruel stepmothers. As a child, she used to lie in bed wishing that her life would become one of these tragic fairy tales because she couldn’t imagine how a stepmother could be worse than her mother now. As adults, Imogen and her sister Marin are accepted to an elite post-grad arts program—Imogen as a writer and Marin as a dancer. Soon enough, though, they realize that there’s more to the school than meets the eye. Imogen might be living in the fairy tale she’s dreamed about as a child, but it’s one that will pit her against Marin if she decides to escape her past to find her heart’s desire.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I am placed with a real dilemma here as I write this review. I want to flail about how much I loved this book but I don't want to give anything away. I went into it not knowing much about it and I think that's the best way to read this book. You need to experience it on that level. So all I will say is that, wow I loved it.

If you are looking for a beautifully written book with an atmospheric tone then definitely check this one out. You may have noticed on the cover that it is blurbed by Neil Gaiman. That probably gives you some indication of what the tone of this book will be. It starts off with a really fantastic gothic vibe. The main characters start attending this prestigious artist retreat, confusing and unexplained things start happening, it's all mysterious and wonderful. Then halfway through the book there is this big reveal and the tone changes but for the better. It's still incredibly atmospheric but in a very different way. It had kind of a magical realism vibe to it and I think I may have said this recently, but I'm really into that subgenre of fantasy. It makes for an interesting and compelling world and this book was no exception.  It's not a fast read though. maybe it was because I was reading it during BEA, but in general this was the kind of book where you have to slow down and really let the words sink into your consciousness. It's the kind of book where you just fall into the beauty and atmosphere.

At it's heart though, I think this is a book about family and the relationship between families. I went into Roses and Rot thinking it would be a fairy tale retelling. I actually thought it was Snow White and Rose Red, it's not. Or is it? It's not so specifically a fairy tale retelling but it is at the same time. It borrows more from the idea and thoughts of fairy tales more than it does from the actual stories. One of the things it borrows is the idea of a terrible parent. There is more than one bad mother in this book and it adds a lot of additional drama and characterization. But it also borrows the idea that there is strength in the sibling relationship from fairy tales. The relationship between Imogen and Marin was fantastic, sweet, complex, and full of emotion. I love the way the women interacted with one another, whether it was good or bad it felt real and interesting.

Part of the realness about the interaction between the sisters, and well the other characters, was this really fantastic theme about fame and success. This is a book about artists. About dancers, writers, singer, poets, sculptors, artists. Plus the setting is this prestigious artist retreat where many famous artists have attended before they became successful. So there is this layer of fame and desire with the characters and this undercurrent of competition. Especially with the sisters. I could absolutely relate to that being someone who always strived to be the best and better than my siblings as a kid. But as the synopsis leads you to believe, that success comes with a price. That made for a really complex conflict as the thing you want the characters to do would also be something that causes them problems. It was fantastic.

I even kind of liked the romance here. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't super impressed, you guys know me and my romancephobic heart. I could have done without it and did think it was a bit instalovey but it felt different in a lot of ways. Here there were two romantic leads, one for each sister. I didn't think I was enjoying Marin's relationship but it grew on me over time. You could feel how much he cared about her which was interesting because we mostly saw it through Imogen's eyes. With Imogen's relationship, it had some pretty steamy moments which I liked, and despite it being very instalovey and seemingly cliche at first, the best part was the way it ended. It was not all sunshine and rainbows. It felt realistic in it's bumps and trials along the way, which sadly was refreshing when it came to romance in books. And that's what I think I liked most about the romance, it played with the tropes and relationships in a way that felt realistic and interesting.

But that's what this book did on the whole, it played around with what we know and like about fairy tales and magical realism and made something familiar and creative at the same time. It was beautifully written book with an atmospheric tone that you will fall into and characters that will get so attached to by the end that you will feel things you didn't expect.

I give Roses and Rot by Kat Howard 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and magical realism. It's beautifully written and creative but familiar at the same time. But go into it without knowing much. That was I think one of the best things I did when I read this book. But I would also warn people that this is not a fast read. It's the kind of book that forces you to slow down and take it all in despite it's length. So if you have a week to spare, pick this beauty up.

Have you read Roses and Rot? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

March Wrap Up and April TBR

Read in Febuary: Retellings

Wow! I had another really fantastic reading month. I didn't think I could follow February but I did, which is fantastic. Once again I was blown away by some highly anticipated reads. Most of the books I read too were good 4 star reads, although there were a few disappointments, I read a total of 16 books this month which is amazing. There was 13 new books this month and 2 rereads.

As far as challenges go, I'm doing well. YAY! I'm still ahead for my Goodreads goal of reading 150 books this year, which is super exciting. I'm also ahead of my goal for the Debut Author Challenge of reading 25 debuts by reading 2 debuts this month for a total of 9 for the year. I'm also ahead for the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge having once again read 5 books for that challenge reaching a total of 13 towards my goal of 36, that secondary goal of 50 may be possible if I keep this up. And I'm also on track for the TBR Pile Challenge by reading two books for that this month (two other backlist books but I didn't own them) getting a total of 6 towards my goal of 25 for the year. And finally, the Audiobook Challenge. I listened to 3 audiobooks this month including rereads, giving me a total of 10 for the year which is on track for my goal of 30 or more. I am killing these challenges so far which is a great way to start the year.

The Books

1.) In Real Life by Jessica Love Rating: 7 out of 10 [My Review]

2.) Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]

3.) The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winter 
Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) Charmed by Jen Calonita Rating: 7.5 out of 10 [My Review]

5.) Stars Above by Marissa Meyer Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]

6.) The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
7.) Briar Rose by Jane Yolen Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
8.) The Skylighter by Becky Wallace Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) Exit. Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston 
Rating: 10 out of 10 [My Review]
10.) Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
11.) Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton 
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
12.) Gotham Academy vol. 2 by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, 
and Karl Kerschl Rating: 9 out of 10
13.) Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen Rating: 9 out of 10 [Review to Come]

Rereads:

14-15.) The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkowski [Reread Review]

Other Posts

Crossing Over: Retellings That Read Like Historical Fiction
The Tsar's Guard Parade: Ludmila's Pumpkin Caramel Bars
Waiting on Wednesday: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye, The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Podcasts - Please Feed My Bookworm Thoughts 
Episode 4 - Bookish TV Shows
Episode 5 - Rebel of the Sands Review

To Be Read in April: ARC April

My March theme month is a kind of none-theme theme. The lovely ladies over at Read Sleep Repeat are hosting a great feature called ARC April which encourages us bloggers to get to those review books we have been avoiding and are starting to grow out of control. My Netgalley percentage is getting low and I want to make sure I read as many physical ARCs as I can to clean some space before BEA. So I'm taking part in ARC April this year. I loved ARC August so this shouldn't be any different. My goal is to read 8 ARCs this month. I have some new releases and rereads I also want to read but I think 8 is totally doable. To sign up and join in the fun, check out this post.

1.) Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan - Add to Goodreads
This is a modern retelling of A Tale of Two Cities with magic so I'm on board. I was supposed to read it last month but I bumped it for the rest of the Scarlet trilogy.

2.) The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkowski - Add to Goodreads
Not an ARC but I have to finish this series so I am reading it this month. I got my copy in the mail a few days ago and I'm starting it today.

3.) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson - Add to Goodreads
Also not an ARC but part of my Rock My TBR and Audiobook Challenge. Plus I started it a few weeks ago so I'm really just finishing it this month.

4.) A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry - Add to Goodreads
I'm pretty excited about this book. It's Magical Realism set in the Carribbean and it sounds really interesting. I have a copy from Netgalley, Thanks Algonquin!

5.) The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas - Add to Goodreads
I've been so excited about this book since I learned about it. It's a YA Thriller set in the part of Pennsylvania where I live. Obviously I need to read it so I requested a copy from Netgalley. Thanks Random House!

6.) The Haters by Jesse Andrews - Add to Goodreads
I have not read this author, despite wanting to read Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl so I'm excited to read this one and see what I think about his writing. Thanks Abrams!

7.) The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi - Add to Goodreads

This is one of my most anticipated debuts of the year and so I was absolutely ecstatic to get an ARC in the mail. It sounds like such a creative YA fantasy and I can't wait to read it. Thanks St. Martins!

8.) The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater - Add to Goodreads
*hyperventilates* The final book in The Raven Cycle is finally coming out. *hyperventilates* I can't wait. *hyperventilates* I'm not ready. *hyperventilates*

Rereads

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Steifvater: The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue
The final book in this series is coming out at the end of the month so I need to reread the series and fall even more in love before Maggie rips my heart out. Best worst idea.

Potential Reads

I'm still trying not to plan out too many reads and keep some backup books in case I have holes in the schedule. But this time I thought I would do something a little different. I have a few physical ARCs that I am trying to decide between so I thought I would have you all help me. SO of the books mentioned below, leave me a comment with which book you think I should read. I'll read them in order of which books get the most votes. I'm also planning on running a poll on Twitter to help.

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley - Add to Goodreads
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin - Add to Goodreads
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly - Add to Goodreads
Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix - Add to Goodreads
Salt and Storm by Kendall Kulper - Add to Goodreads

There you have it. All the books I plan to read in April and a few potential reads. Leave a comment with which physical ARC you think I should read. What are you reading this month? Are there any of the same books on your list? Have you read any of these? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

Title: Briar Rose Written by: Jane Yolen Published: September 1, 1992 by Tor Books (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A powerful retelling of Sleeping Beauty that is "heartbreaking and heartwarming."   An American Library Association "100 Best Books for Teens"  An American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults"  Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma's stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma's astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope.

This is a book that has been on my TBR for quite some time now. It came highly recommended after I read and loved Bitter Greens back in 2014. I finally took the time to read it as part of the Rock My TBR challenge and I'm glad that I did. This is a really layered story with an interesting historical fiction story, an intricate retelling, and a complex mystery.

The first and most obvious layer of this book is the historical fiction narrative. Briar Rose is one of those books where a person sets out to find the truth about something that happened in the past. In this case, where her grandmother came from and how she escaped to the US during WWII. If you know me, you know that I am broadening my reading horizons and the includes reading more historical fiction set during WWII. I'm realizing that there are more complex and unique stories about the time period and this was a really great example. Yes, it is a book about the holocaust but it's about a place that is not often talked about. A place where horrible atrocities happened. And this book didn't just focus on Jews. It also dealt with the treatment of homosexuals and gypsies among others.It was interesting and heart-breaking to see that treatment of people.  But despite that it had an even hopeful tone with mention and focus on the partisans and people who were doing what they could to help the people in these concentration camps. It was such an interesting historical fiction story and despite all the terrible things it was still hopeful.

It was also a really complex mystery. You know me and mysteries, I love a good mystery. Yolen did a great job in developing a story that had some really fantastic mystery elements. Finding out the truth about her grandmother was not easy for Becca. There was a lot of investigating that had to happen. Armed with nothing but the old stories that she would tell and her own perceptions. It was so fascinating watching Becca uncover things and slowly learn the truth. It's not the kind of mystery where you can solve things, it was more just slowing finding facts. It felt more realistic in that way. It didn't feel like a brilliant detective doing it, it felt like the average person finding out their family history. It was really fantastic in that way.

But I think my favorite part of the mystery was actually the retelling, this is retellings month after all. Briar Rose is unsurprisingly a Sleeping Beauty retelling, and it's a very intricate retelling. Well, not so much intricate as complex and layered, much like the rest of this book. Becca's grandmother often told the story of Sleeping Beauty to her but it wasn't the typical story that you know from Disney or even Perrault. So from the elements of the story Becca has to piece together her grandmother's story. And if possible, it's darker than the original fairy tale. I mean we're dealing with the Holocaust so that shouldn't be much of a surprise. But as things start unfolding you get to see how truly connected to the story that her grandmother was. It was so interesting to see how she adopted the well-known story to explain her past and make sense of something so horrible. Chapters were often separated by the the telling of the story and it was such an interesting way to break up the main narrative. I love when fantasy books incorporate folklore and fairy tales into the world of the book and this did that as historical fiction. It was fantastic,

Briar Rose is a short book but don't let that fool you. It's an incredibly complex story but it flows really well. Yolen's writing is beautiful and lyrical and she is able to develop something so complex in such a short span of time is inspiring. Sometimes less is more and this book absolutely proved that. This is the kind of book that forces you to slow down and take in all the words. It's not a book that you can power through in one sitting. At least I couldn't. But it is a book that you will not want to put down. It's not particularly action-packed but there is so mystery and the brilliant and layered story will have you captivated from beginning to end.

On the whole Briar Rose is fantastic on so many levels. It's a great piece of historical fiction, it has a complex mystery, and it's an intricate retelling. The tagline on the book says it's a story that will not leave you but I think it's more accurate to say you won't want to leave this book.

I give Briar Rose by Jane Yolen 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would absolutely recommend this book. It's something that will appeal to a very broad audience. Not only do I think it has crossover appeal in terms of category, but in genre as well. I would absolutely recommend it to fans of historical fiction and retelling.

Have you read Briar Rose? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Retellings That Read Like Historical Fiction

It has been a few month's since my last edition of Crossing Over so I think it's about time for me to do another one. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So because this is Retellings month I decided to go with two books that are pretty fantastic and fit the theme.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
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Scarlet is a retelling of a well-known story from a different perspective. In this book we see Robin Hood from the perspective of Will Scarlet. But this time around Will is not what he or she appears to be. There is a lot of mystery and action as the story unfolds. You can't help but connect with these characters who are complex and full of secrets. Not to mention the main character of Scarlet being an intelligent and snarky female protagonist. But one of the best things about this book is that it's a retelling that reads like historical fiction that shows what things were like for people during the time period, especially women. It's kind of dark at times and it doesn't shy away from some of the more negative parts of the time period. But it was historically accurate and that made it all the more enjoyable.

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
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Bitter Greens is a retelling of a well-known story from a different perspectives. In this book we see Rapunzel from the perspective of three very different women: the traditional young woman locked in a tower, the witch who kidnapped her, and the author of the famous story. All of these women are more than they appear to be. There is a lot of mystery and action as the story unfolds. You can't help but connect with these characters who are complex and full of secrets and the author does a great job of making even the witch sympathetic. Not to mention the main character of Charlotte-Rose being an intelligent and snarky female protagonist. But one of the best things about this book is that it's a retelling that reads like historical fiction. It shows what things were like for people during the time period, especially women. It's very of dark and does not shy away from the more brutal parts of the time period but it was historically accurate and that made it all the more enjoyable.

These are both amazing examples of how retellings can be just as interesting by playing up historical elements. I love it as much as the next person if retellings that make the story completely different with a contemporary or science fiction twist ala The Lunar Chronicles but sometimes it's even better to have the books keep with the historical setting. Those are some of my favorite retellings and these are just two examples (I also suggest The Steep and Thorny Way and The Song for Achilles). They also do a really great job of playing with the tropes and the stories in an interesting way. The characters are more than they appear to be and there are some really great twists here. I will warn you however that Bitter Greens is firmly an adult book. I think it will appear to fans of YA but it's doesn't shy away from sex and violence. If those things (especially those combined) are triggers for you then avoid this book. But if you are looking for dark and dramatic retellings that read like historical fiction then check these out.

Have you read Scarlet and/or Bitter Greens? What did you think? What retelling that read like historical fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!