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anroshie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
cvl_1103's review against another edition
Didn’t know it was a series when I started. Will eventually start at the beginning
ponderandwonder's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Read for our novella book club. I tell myself I don’t judge books by length because I love short stories and novellas, right? However I did not expect the devastatingly emotional story tucked into 150 pages. It is a beautiful piece of writing that will stay close to my heart.
fruhjahr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
hsinjulit's review against another edition
Burning Roses is a retelling of Hou Yi, Little Red Riding Hood, and more.
For the first half of the book, I wasn’t particularly invested: there were a lot of flashbacks, and the story wasn’t rooted in the now. I hadn’t anticipated how emotional I would end up being by the time the 150 or so pages concluded.
The quiet non-romantic companionship between Rosa and Hou Yi tugs at my heart. Both of them live in their own past: they have both hurt those they love and suffered in silence. It is their wildly different yet mirrored past that made Rosa and Hou Yi understand each other. Huang cleverly weaved various folklores into this novella and delivered the story of two … reformed villains? so beautifully.
For the first half of the book, I wasn’t particularly invested: there were a lot of flashbacks, and the story wasn’t rooted in the now. I hadn’t anticipated how emotional I would end up being by the time the 150 or so pages concluded.
The quiet non-romantic companionship between Rosa and Hou Yi tugs at my heart. Both of them live in their own past: they have both hurt those they love and suffered in silence. It is their wildly different yet mirrored past that made Rosa and Hou Yi understand each other. Huang cleverly weaved various folklores into this novella and delivered the story of two … reformed villains? so beautifully.
half_book_and_co's review against another edition
4.0
Burning Roses is a novella (Tor really does great stuff with their sci-fi and fantasy novella output) following two women, Rosa who is also known as Red Riding Hood and Hou Yi, the Archer. When deadly sunbirds wreak havoc the two set out to find Hou Yi’s former apprentice who seems to be behind the chaos. But both Rosa and Hou Yi have their secrets and complicated histories, traumas and their own deeds to reckon with. While their pasts are widely different, they do share the experience of having „lost“ (it’s complicated) their wives and chosen families. Over their journey, they reveal their past stories to each other. Is there any chance to right past wrongs?
S.L. Huang has written a fantastical tale pulling from different fairy tale and legend traditions and weaving these stories into a rich new tapestry where there are rarely clear-cut heroes and villains but a lot of morally grey characters – the protagonists included.
I wasn’t always convinced by the structure of the story, especially the way Rosa’s backstory was interwoven and it took me quite a bit to get a grasp on this world. But in the end, I really enjoyed this book.
S.L. Huang has written a fantastical tale pulling from different fairy tale and legend traditions and weaving these stories into a rich new tapestry where there are rarely clear-cut heroes and villains but a lot of morally grey characters – the protagonists included.
I wasn’t always convinced by the structure of the story, especially the way Rosa’s backstory was interwoven and it took me quite a bit to get a grasp on this world. But in the end, I really enjoyed this book.
annetjeberg's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed the fast-paced story, which was very loose retelling of multiple fairy tales. Yes, there were some holes in the story. Yes, I think there was something missing, however, I do enjoy a fast-paced shorter book from time to time.
Recommended
Recommended
coriandercake's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book and I really enjoyed it. However, it was too short. I think I would have preferred it as part of a collection of other stories set in this world.
ripavengers's review against another edition
3.0
i did not enjoy this story as much as the first two. but i did like getting to know rosa more and seeing into her back story. and also learning more about this world and its lore, and meeting these new characters as they gripple with immortality and complicated family relationships.
caitcoy's review against another edition
3.0
Burning Roses has two legends, Rosa (AKA Red Riding Hood) and Hou Yi the Archer, teaming up to battle the appearance of firebirds which are ravaging the countryside. Rosa and Hou Yi are no spring chickens, both having done things that they regret and left loved ones in their wake. The battle against the sunbirds is a chance for both to atone for their mistakes, if they can survive the devastation of the fiery creatures.
This is a really difficult one to rate, I devoured this novella in around an hour but I ended up with pretty conflicted feelings on it overall. I really liked how flawed the characters were and the slow way in which their past mistakes and histories were revealed to each other, but because I was told about their partnership but didn't see it, I had a hard time completely connecting to them and their choices at the end of the story.
I also liked how the story explored themes like what sacrifices should mean, how to atone for abandonment and bigotry, and how difficult staying to work on yourself can really be. But the amount of space in the novella format to resolve those issues was extremely constricting and the end felt rushed and confusing. I wish this had been longer so that there would have been more time to explore the development of the friendship between Rosa and Hou Yi as well as their atonement.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this story and I liked how it wove together fairy tales from both East and West, but I wish it had been given more time to develop. The ending felt a little too neat for the themes that the rest of the story had set up. It's interesting enough that I'd still recommend it to those who are interested in fairytale retellings, with the caveat that you'll be left wanting more.
This is a really difficult one to rate, I devoured this novella in around an hour but I ended up with pretty conflicted feelings on it overall. I really liked how flawed the characters were and the slow way in which their past mistakes and histories were revealed to each other, but because I was told about their partnership but didn't see it, I had a hard time completely connecting to them and their choices at the end of the story.
I also liked how the story explored themes like what sacrifices should mean, how to atone for abandonment and bigotry, and how difficult staying to work on yourself can really be. But the amount of space in the novella format to resolve those issues was extremely constricting and the end felt rushed and confusing. I wish this had been longer so that there would have been more time to explore the development of the friendship between Rosa and Hou Yi as well as their atonement.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this story and I liked how it wove together fairy tales from both East and West, but I wish it had been given more time to develop. The ending felt a little too neat for the themes that the rest of the story had set up. It's interesting enough that I'd still recommend it to those who are interested in fairytale retellings, with the caveat that you'll be left wanting more.