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impactbee's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Physical abuse
lovelymisanthrope's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
I received this in an Owlcrate box years ago, and finally made the time to pick it up.
"Sisters of the Snake follows" two sisters: Rani and Ria. Ria grew up in an orphanage and learned how to steal to get by. Rani is a princess, but her life is far from glamourous. Rani is not allowed to leave her castle, and she is being forced into a position of power that she is not sure she really wants. Her closest confidant is a snake who she is forever linked to. By fate, Ria and Rani meet and discover they are twins separated at birth. In an effort to allow Ria to get to know the family she never knew and allow Rani time to get information she needs, they switch places. But, Ria and Rani quickly learn that there was a reason they have been separated for all of these years.
I am so upset with myself that I did not pick up this fantasy sooner! I was enthralled with both Ria and Rani, and I was entirely captivated by the world they live in. Ria is a real Robin Hood type character. My heart just went out to her because she had nothing, but that never broke her, she had the grit and termination to keep going. I really appreciated the dichotomy of Rani's character against Ria's. Rani starts off as a spoiled, sheltered princess, but being in her kingdom allows her to see the real problems there are, and she is inspired to make things better. A person is only as good as they can see.
I think this is the perfect YA fantasy with excellent representation. The magic system is not terribly complicated, but it is still interesting, and the charters are multifaceted. I also had a soft spot for Ria's and Rani's love interests. I think both boys suited both girls extremely well and provided some much-needed perspective and balance to their worlds.
I am really excited to see where this story goes and to pick up the sequel.
"Sisters of the Snake follows" two sisters: Rani and Ria. Ria grew up in an orphanage and learned how to steal to get by. Rani is a princess, but her life is far from glamourous. Rani is not allowed to leave her castle, and she is being forced into a position of power that she is not sure she really wants. Her closest confidant is a snake who she is forever linked to. By fate, Ria and Rani meet and discover they are twins separated at birth. In an effort to allow Ria to get to know the family she never knew and allow Rani time to get information she needs, they switch places. But, Ria and Rani quickly learn that there was a reason they have been separated for all of these years.
I am so upset with myself that I did not pick up this fantasy sooner! I was enthralled with both Ria and Rani, and I was entirely captivated by the world they live in. Ria is a real Robin Hood type character. My heart just went out to her because she had nothing, but that never broke her, she had the grit and termination to keep going. I really appreciated the dichotomy of Rani's character against Ria's. Rani starts off as a spoiled, sheltered princess, but being in her kingdom allows her to see the real problems there are, and she is inspired to make things better. A person is only as good as they can see.
I think this is the perfect YA fantasy with excellent representation. The magic system is not terribly complicated, but it is still interesting, and the charters are multifaceted. I also had a soft spot for Ria's and Rani's love interests. I think both boys suited both girls extremely well and provided some much-needed perspective and balance to their worlds.
I am really excited to see where this story goes and to pick up the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Death, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent, War, and Child death
spinesinaline's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC!
This was a fun take on the Prince and the Pauper story with added fantasy (snake magic!) and great immersion in Indian culture that feels expertly descriptive without removing us from the story.
There was some awkward and repetitive phrasing and dialogue so it wasn’t a perfect story but I felt the voices of these twins was so distinct (though I got them confused when they’re together in chapters). There were also parts of the mystery that weren’t as smooth, with the bad guy feeling very ‘villain in movie reveals entire plot’ and many points connected out of the blue by the characters as the readers didn’t have enough hints to figure it out yet.
I wasn’t thrilled to learn it’s a series as I’m a standalone reader usually but it wasn’t a significant cliffhanger and still felt like its own ending so I’m glad that this book feels wrapped up in itself while still leaving the door open for future adventures.
This was a fun take on the Prince and the Pauper story with added fantasy (snake magic!) and great immersion in Indian culture that feels expertly descriptive without removing us from the story.
There was some awkward and repetitive phrasing and dialogue so it wasn’t a perfect story but I felt the voices of these twins was so distinct (though I got them confused when they’re together in chapters). There were also parts of the mystery that weren’t as smooth, with the bad guy feeling very ‘villain in movie reveals entire plot’ and many points connected out of the blue by the characters as the readers didn’t have enough hints to figure it out yet.
I wasn’t thrilled to learn it’s a series as I’m a standalone reader usually but it wasn’t a significant cliffhanger and still felt like its own ending so I’m glad that this book feels wrapped up in itself while still leaving the door open for future adventures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, and Torture
Minor: War
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