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bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rose and Wren are twin sisters separated at birth to protect them from their parent’s murderer. Wren grew up in a colony of witches with her maternal grandmother Banba after being hurried away from the attack on her mother by a witch midwife. She’s spent her whole life preparing to help take back the country from the man who killed her parents and controls her sister. Rose grew up in the castle, raised and protected by the Kingsbreath and fully indoctrinated into his anti-witch world and unaware that she has living family until the day finally comes that Wren takes her place and she’s spirited away to the witch colony and learns that she’s been lied to and manipulated her whole life.
This is a really solid YA story. It’s kind of Prince and the Pauper-y with a magical spin. The twins are both interesting and their respective love interests make sense with their arcs. Some of the background characters are kind of one dimensional and single use (one witch is there to spill secrets to Rose before Shen has told her the truth, another is there to represent the animosity some witches have against the crown and to show Rose’s kindness, etc).
The beginning was a little slow with Wren trying to integrate herself into the castle and Rose being kidnapped and going on her first journey outside of her gilded prison. It picked up once Rose gained some confidence but it also got a little confusing because there seems to be some time passing but it wasn’t really clear how much skipping around there was. You could tell me the twins had swapped places for two weeks or 4 months and I’d believe either. I also wish we’d gotten to see more interactions between the sisters. A few scenes of them plotting and scheming were boiled down to “we spent the whole night talking”. I think some of it is meant to show their innate twin connection but it would have been nice to see them actually get to know each other.
Content warnings:
Blood, injury, violence (on page):Shen is injured in the desert which is his Rose learns she’s a healer witch. Big fight at the wedding.
Child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse (flashbacks):Described in chapter 12. Rose was tested by the Kingsbreath for witchcraft as a child, which she described in her thoughts as him making her crawl through mud, pushing her face into it and forcing her hands closed around it until her fingernails cracked. This happened monthly until she was twelve. He continued to manipulate her as his puppet to present day. Rose does not voice these thoughts.
Death (on page):During the climax at the wedding, the Kingsbreath hurls a dagger at Wren but Tor pushes her out of the way which causes the dagger to strike and kill Ansel instead. Rose tries to save him but Alarik pulls her off his body.
Death of parent (off page):The Kingsbreath poisoned the twin’s father and then slit their mother’s throat moments after she gave birth to Rose. This is mentioned a few times as it is essential to why the twins were separated. Rose spent most of her life believing a witch was responsible for their deaths and learns the truth about halfway into the book.
Kidnapping (on page):Rose is kidnapped so Wren can take her place. She is protected by Shen and ends up being pretty chill about the whole thing in a way only a YA protagonist could be.
This is a really solid YA story. It’s kind of Prince and the Pauper-y with a magical spin. The twins are both interesting and their respective love interests make sense with their arcs. Some of the background characters are kind of one dimensional and single use (one witch is there to spill secrets to Rose before Shen has told her the truth, another is there to represent the animosity some witches have against the crown and to show Rose’s kindness, etc).
The beginning was a little slow with Wren trying to integrate herself into the castle and Rose being kidnapped and going on her first journey outside of her gilded prison. It picked up once Rose gained some confidence but it also got a little confusing because there seems to be some time passing but it wasn’t really clear how much skipping around there was. You could tell me the twins had swapped places for two weeks or 4 months and I’d believe either. I also wish we’d gotten to see more interactions between the sisters. A few scenes of them plotting and scheming were boiled down to “we spent the whole night talking”. I think some of it is meant to show their innate twin connection but it would have been nice to see them actually get to know each other.
Content warnings:
Blood, injury, violence (on page):
Child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse (flashbacks):
Death (on page):
Death of parent (off page):
Kidnapping (on page):
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Child abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
louisaroselewis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
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? Yes
4.75
For me, the storytelling in this book is beautifully done.
I found its story compelling in some points, and a relaxing read in others. I loved how well-written the characters were, and the growth in both sisters is lovely to see. It was great to see Rose grow from a gentle princess to a confident ruler. And Wren grows from someone seeking revenge to, again a strong ruler.
Secondly, the romance in the book is truly beautiful and yet utterly heartbreaking. I hope this is explored more in the next book (it surely can't end like that).
I love how the first villain of the story is made inferior to the true terrifying villain by the end as well. It sets up the second book well.
However, as someone who grew up with the tale of the princess and the pauper, I can gladly say it has done it justice and then some.
I found its story compelling in some points, and a relaxing read in others. I loved how well-written the characters were, and the growth in both sisters is lovely to see. It was great to see Rose grow from a gentle princess to a confident ruler. And Wren grows from someone seeking revenge to, again a strong ruler.
Secondly, the romance in the book is truly beautiful and yet utterly heartbreaking. I hope this is explored more in the next book (it surely can't end like that).
I love how the first villain of the story is made inferior to the true terrifying villain by the end as well. It sets up the second book well.
However, as someone who grew up with the tale of the princess and the pauper, I can gladly say it has done it justice and then some.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and War
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Wow!!! That was so fun! That was SO FUN! What a blast! The magic, the political intrigue, the long lost twin, the surprise, the emotion! Wow this was great! I will say there really wasn’t any diversity in this book at all so for that I’m dropping it half a star but the plot was fun and the characters were really well fleshed out and I loved the two narrators for the different princesses!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Confinement, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Minor: War
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