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alh2025's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Violence
readingbetweenthenotes's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either?
cassiepotvin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
onetwomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nyxki's review against another edition
2.0
It was such an interesting premise and description but the execution was sorely lacking. It dragged on about 200 pages more than there was plot - seriously, if you took out the sisters' whinging which served no apparent point to the story other than making them both unendurable, the book could have been 50% shorter. And it was obnoxiously choppy and dragging, with so much of the "plot" depending on the sisters 1) not talking to each other for no discernable reason and 2) acting PAINFULLY TSTL.
rychen's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sopht87's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review
The Sisters of the Winter Wood is a historical fantasy about a Jewish Ukrainian family, particularly Liba and her younger sister Laya - one being a bear shapeshifter and the other being a swan. It seems to be partly inspired by Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market and by other Eastern European folktales, as well as a smattering of Greek to boot.
First of all, I'll get the negatives out of the way. It was a little too innocent and naïve for my particular taste. Not that I don't enjoy a chaste, PG novel but this one seemed a little confused. Liba is nearly eighteen and seems to know nothing about her emotions or boys, whereas fifteen year old Laya seems a bit wilder and more clued-up. Liba's chapters are written in prose, but Laya's are written in staggered prose. I am no poetry expert so I cannot comment on whether this is actual modern poetry or not but I don't think it benefitted the book particularly.
As much as I think it is important to include traditional Jewish words and customs to the book (after all it is about a family of Jews), I think the language was laid on a little too thick in this book without the appropriate amount of explanation. Were it not for a period I spent studying German I would not have had a clue what half of the words meant and even then I struggled was left pondering what words like "shtetl", "shabbes", "goy", "kehilla" etc. because I tired of asking Google after the first few chapters in. There is a glossary included, but again, having to switch between the two, particularly on an e-reader, was just a bit of a bore. I noticed that a lot of capital letters for names and at beginnings of sentences were missing too.
That being said, the positives were also many:
I love, love, love the cover. I think it is beautiful and perfect for the book.
Liba's character was well-rounded and I felt it easy to get a sense of who she was, even if I could not necessarily relate to her. I did not feel the same connection to Laya, the verse-like narration and apparent brattiness made me lose interest in her. The supporting cast in Dovid and his mother were brilliant and I instantly imagined exactly what Mrs Meisels was like.
The story was well thought out, the Hovlin brothers suitably sinister and I got a real feel for the atmosphere. I liked the style, dark fairytales are an interest of mine, even if this one did seem to try and cram a bit too much into it.
All in all, this will not go on my favourites list but I enjoyed reading it and with a few tweaks I think it has the potential to be pretty good.
The Sisters of the Winter Wood is a historical fantasy about a Jewish Ukrainian family, particularly Liba and her younger sister Laya - one being a bear shapeshifter and the other being a swan. It seems to be partly inspired by Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market and by other Eastern European folktales, as well as a smattering of Greek to boot.
First of all, I'll get the negatives out of the way. It was a little too innocent and naïve for my particular taste. Not that I don't enjoy a chaste, PG novel but this one seemed a little confused. Liba is nearly eighteen and seems to know nothing about her emotions or boys, whereas fifteen year old Laya seems a bit wilder and more clued-up. Liba's chapters are written in prose, but Laya's are written in staggered prose. I am no poetry expert so I cannot comment on whether this is actual modern poetry or not but I don't think it benefitted the book particularly.
As much as I think it is important to include traditional Jewish words and customs to the book (after all it is about a family of Jews), I think the language was laid on a little too thick in this book without the appropriate amount of explanation. Were it not for a period I spent studying German I would not have had a clue what half of the words meant and even then I struggled was left pondering what words like "shtetl", "shabbes", "goy", "kehilla" etc. because I tired of asking Google after the first few chapters in. There is a glossary included, but again, having to switch between the two, particularly on an e-reader, was just a bit of a bore. I noticed that a lot of capital letters for names and at beginnings of sentences were missing too.
That being said, the positives were also many:
I love, love, love the cover. I think it is beautiful and perfect for the book.
Liba's character was well-rounded and I felt it easy to get a sense of who she was, even if I could not necessarily relate to her. I did not feel the same connection to Laya, the verse-like narration and apparent brattiness made me lose interest in her. The supporting cast in Dovid and his mother were brilliant and I instantly imagined exactly what Mrs Meisels was like.
The story was well thought out, the Hovlin brothers suitably sinister and I got a real feel for the atmosphere. I liked the style, dark fairytales are an interest of mine, even if this one did seem to try and cram a bit too much into it.
All in all, this will not go on my favourites list but I enjoyed reading it and with a few tweaks I think it has the potential to be pretty good.
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
4.0
An acquaintance recommended The Sisters of the Winter Wood to me, and I'm so glad she did. I was mesmerized from the beginning with the fairytale quality of the world and their problems.
I found three major fairytales that served as the inspiration, The Goblin Market, men who turn into bears (at the moment I can't come up with a name, but it's familiar) and women who turn into swans (think of Odette). These story roots were accompanied by Jewish history, scripture, and Yiddish (with translations). It sounds like a lot to juggle, but the author does a beautiful job of intertwining all these elements.
The format of the story is from a dual POV. Liba's voice is in traditional prose with dialogue. We go on the journey with her, feeling every emotion, knowing what she's thinking and exactly what she's doing. She has always felt less valuable than her sister and needs to come to appreciate her own qualities.
Laya's voice is sparse and poetic - organized on the page with only a few words on a line and repetition of the important idea she's experiencing. In ways, Laya seemed more foreign to me because of the way her portions were written and in part because she's the sister who makes the poorer choices.
The heartbreak of choices is illustrated by the mother and father. She gave up her people to join her husband and converted to become a Jew. In their insular community, she's never been accepted. The heartbreak continues in the community as misunderstandings arise between the Jews and the non-Jews. How can man be so cruel to man? More heartbreak occurs as the sisters find their way - losing each other and working to regain their relationship. Even so, by the end, I felt a sense of hope - a feeling of resiliency inherent to these characters and especially the Jewish community.
This is one of those books that I loved and will read again. The writing is poignant and the characters complex. In a way, the story is one of faith and hope - something we could all use.
To read more reviews go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
I found three major fairytales that served as the inspiration, The Goblin Market, men who turn into bears (at the moment I can't come up with a name, but it's familiar) and women who turn into swans (think of Odette). These story roots were accompanied by Jewish history, scripture, and Yiddish (with translations). It sounds like a lot to juggle, but the author does a beautiful job of intertwining all these elements.
The format of the story is from a dual POV. Liba's voice is in traditional prose with dialogue. We go on the journey with her, feeling every emotion, knowing what she's thinking and exactly what she's doing. She has always felt less valuable than her sister and needs to come to appreciate her own qualities.
Laya's voice is sparse and poetic - organized on the page with only a few words on a line and repetition of the important idea she's experiencing. In ways, Laya seemed more foreign to me because of the way her portions were written and in part because she's the sister who makes the poorer choices.
The heartbreak of choices is illustrated by the mother and father. She gave up her people to join her husband and converted to become a Jew. In their insular community, she's never been accepted. The heartbreak continues in the community as misunderstandings arise between the Jews and the non-Jews. How can man be so cruel to man? More heartbreak occurs as the sisters find their way - losing each other and working to regain their relationship. Even so, by the end, I felt a sense of hope - a feeling of resiliency inherent to these characters and especially the Jewish community.
This is one of those books that I loved and will read again. The writing is poignant and the characters complex. In a way, the story is one of faith and hope - something we could all use.
To read more reviews go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
chobits_94's review against another edition
2.0
I am so disappointed. It started really promising, but became a story of two horny girls alone in the woods really quickly. Laya just wants to get away from everybody and in bed with a boy that's not good for her. Liba takes the first chance she gets, to break the rules of her religion. Which isn't very rare for teenagers to do. But it's one thing to say that your sisters is your everything, but every time she needs you, you turn and decide to stay with your boy. And I mean every time...no seriously, every time she should have been by her sisters side, she went to her boo, and then her sister was gone. After the 4 time, I was just bored. It could have been a pretty awesome story, but first, they couldn't do anything alone, and 2, you can read stories of horny teenagers on everywhere, but this one was just annoying.
nilu_reads's review against another edition
2.0
I read the excerpt and I was looking forward to read this book. But as I started it, I almost added it into my DNF pile. The storytelling was very disjointed. And while it is supposed to be about sisterly love, I was not sold on the relationship between the sisters. Lots of things annoyed me about the characters.
First of all their mother drops a massive life changing secret individually to both sisters and then does not explain it to them in the subsequent days instead continuing like life is normal while her daughters have questions for them. In fact the parents leave them alone after telling them a family secret! How is that normal?
Secondly both sisters don't speak to each other cos they do not know if the other sister knows the secret. Come on, if you want me to believe that they have a close sisterly bond then they would have immediately told each other everything. Especially since Liba is shy and has no friends so she should be confiding in Laya.
Thirdly was their naivete. Liba constantly went back and forth on all decisions . If she made a decision at one point, all I had to do was flip the page to see her change her mind. There was so much of back and forth and I understand she is teenager, unsure of herself and her ever changing body and mind, burdened with a secret that her mother told her and didn't even bother to explain to her but come on girl, at no point did she take a break to be like what the fuck is going on?
Fourthly, how did their parents think they can keep this a lifelong secret from them
Fifthly, we are not told why Laya speaks in verse? WHY??
Of course it is a typical YA fantasy book recipe - parents drop a secret to the kids, leave them alone, kids have to a deal with changes and cue teenage angst about body changes and romance, drama ensues.
The only reason why it would get a plus point is the fact that at the mid way point, the story picks up and progresses in spite of a lot of back and forth and the Anti-Semitic views and pogroms of that time was showcased in the book and it showed how the characters had to deal with it.
But yea a bit disappointed by it.
First of all their mother drops a massive life changing secret individually to both sisters and then does not explain it to them in the subsequent days instead continuing like life is normal while her daughters have questions for them. In fact the parents leave them alone after telling them a family secret! How is that normal?
Secondly both sisters don't speak to each other cos they do not know if the other sister knows the secret. Come on, if you want me to believe that they have a close sisterly bond then they would have immediately told each other everything. Especially since Liba is shy and has no friends so she should be confiding in Laya.
Thirdly was their naivete. Liba constantly went back and forth on all decisions . If she made a decision at one point, all I had to do was flip the page to see her change her mind. There was so much of back and forth and I understand she is teenager, unsure of herself and her ever changing body and mind, burdened with a secret that her mother told her and didn't even bother to explain to her but come on girl, at no point did she take a break to be like what the fuck is going on?
Spoiler
And while she found out about the fact that she and her sister were shapeshifters, it was hard for her to believe that there were Goblins in the forest? You need to be really stupid to not believe that after everything that has happened or to be in denial of other supernaturals.Fourthly, how did their parents think they can keep this a lifelong secret from them
Spoiler
especially if all they had to do was get intimate to trigger the changes!Fifthly, we are not told why Laya speaks in verse? WHY??
Of course it is a typical YA fantasy book recipe - parents drop a secret to the kids, leave them alone, kids have to a deal with changes and cue teenage angst about body changes and romance, drama ensues.
The only reason why it would get a plus point is the fact that at the mid way point, the story picks up and progresses in spite of a lot of back and forth and the Anti-Semitic views and pogroms of that time was showcased in the book and it showed how the characters had to deal with it.
But yea a bit disappointed by it.