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lostinbooks2001's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I would have loved to see this written as a longer story. I always find it hard to really dive into a story if it is that short. There are a lot of interest factors to this story that could have been explored more if it were longer. I definitely would have read it
broomesbooks's review
4.0
If you are a fan of fairytale retellings, Finding Aurora by Rebecca Langham is one you’re going to want to grab to read ASAP. This is a kickass Sleeping Beauty retelling and it was refreshing to see the Prince having a female spell-caster helping him find Aurora and learning who he truly is.
Talia has been tasked with helping Prince Amir of Grimvein to locate Aurora Rose in the hopes of a securing a marriage contract that will unite the kingdoms and guarantee Grimvein’s safety. As in the traditional Sleeping Beauty, Aurora has been cursed to slumber until her true love wakes her.
Throughout this journey we see the friendship between Talia and Prince Amir grow. They work together and trust each other to make it through whatever situation they land in. Even when Talia speaks her spirit guide, Red, Prince Amir treats her as a friend would. Red comes to Talia in times of need, provides companionship, and protects Talia.
Red is incredible. I got a bit of an image in my mind the first time Red was mentioned and I feel like the word beautiful doesn’t do how I picture he justice. Even while I’m writing this, I can clearly see her in my head. Red and Talia’s connection is deep and I so badly wanted them to meet in more than the spirit world. Red is going on this journey just as much as Talia and Prince Amir.
What I truly enjoyed was the different take on the tale. Once they come close to finding Aurora Rose, they face different ‘tasks’ (that’s the best way I can describe it). They face Goblins, the dragon and it turns out to be more than goblins and a dragon. They were part of Aurora Rose’s family. It was a bit heart breaking finding out that they had been stuck in those forms, unable to remember who they were for over a century.
The love between Red and Talia is sweet and left me feeling happy and hopeful. I’d love to see what happens after this novella and how the kingdoms fair.
Talia has been tasked with helping Prince Amir of Grimvein to locate Aurora Rose in the hopes of a securing a marriage contract that will unite the kingdoms and guarantee Grimvein’s safety. As in the traditional Sleeping Beauty, Aurora has been cursed to slumber until her true love wakes her.
Throughout this journey we see the friendship between Talia and Prince Amir grow. They work together and trust each other to make it through whatever situation they land in. Even when Talia speaks her spirit guide, Red, Prince Amir treats her as a friend would. Red comes to Talia in times of need, provides companionship, and protects Talia.
Red is incredible. I got a bit of an image in my mind the first time Red was mentioned and I feel like the word beautiful doesn’t do how I picture he justice. Even while I’m writing this, I can clearly see her in my head. Red and Talia’s connection is deep and I so badly wanted them to meet in more than the spirit world. Red is going on this journey just as much as Talia and Prince Amir.
What I truly enjoyed was the different take on the tale. Once they come close to finding Aurora Rose, they face different ‘tasks’ (that’s the best way I can describe it). They face Goblins, the dragon and it turns out to be more than goblins and a dragon. They were part of Aurora Rose’s family. It was a bit heart breaking finding out that they had been stuck in those forms, unable to remember who they were for over a century.
The love between Red and Talia is sweet and left me feeling happy and hopeful. I’d love to see what happens after this novella and how the kingdoms fair.
phifalling's review
5.0
This book was May's Sapphic Book Club read by @sapphicliterature.
This novella was so beautifully written. It was short but every aspect was perfect. I saw where the ending was going fairly early on, but there were still twists along the way, all delightful. Literally everything about this read spoke to my heart and I loved it. Fairy tales, magic users, both sapphic and aspec rep? The acknowledgment of platonic love as equally strong and important to romantic love? Perfection
tanouska's review against another edition
4.0
Nice worldbuilding, good changes to the original story, yay ace rep :D
adeniverville's review
3.0
This was a nice retelling. The twist at the end with Aurora was really clever, and made the whole "true love's kiss" situation make way more sense. And the magic system/worldbuilding was really interesting. I hope Langham writes more stories set in the same universe.
I would have liked to have read a little more after Aurora wakes up, but overall it was a fun read.
I would have liked to have read a little more after Aurora wakes up, but overall it was a fun read.
lx2000's review
4.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a short but very enjoyable story. It is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but with an unexpected twist that was very sweet; I love how the whole true love idea ended up being something different from the original fairytale. Because of the story's length, we understandably don't get to know a lot about the characters, and there was limited world building. Despite this, it was a nice little story and I would recommend it!
This was a short but very enjoyable story. It is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but with an unexpected twist that was very sweet; I love how the whole true love idea ended up being something different from the original fairytale. Because of the story's length, we understandably don't get to know a lot about the characters, and there was limited world building. Despite this, it was a nice little story and I would recommend it!
corvid's review
4.0
I really enjoyed Finding Aurora. It feels like a dramatic section of a much larger story, while still having it's own satisfying arc. The characters feel believable and their world is well fleshed out. Immediately after finishing it I felt a bit disappointed, that we never get to see more of the romance beyond the beginning felt a bit sad. But, I kept thinking about the story and the characters for a few days after finishing it, and thats a sign of a well written book. I would love to see a sequel or full novel version of this world and its characters.
mimit's review
3.0
I read this book as part of the May 2019 read for Sapphic Book Club.
Considering the length, I thought the story was very tightly structured and the world building was deep and expressive. The characters were well developed too, and I ended up reading it almost in a single sitting. The tragic bits cut deep, and I really felt the characters' pain at things they had lost.
However, considering how well developed all of those things were, I wish the story was longer. I felt like the plot wasn't given enough space to unravel as naturally as it could have, especially given how immersive it was. I felt like the underlying love arc wasn't given enough space either, despite me not seeing it coming and being very pleased with the outcome. I like how Red and Talia's link was woven through the narrative and it felt so natural for them to end up together, but I still felt like a longer story might've done their love arc more justice.
I also wish the sapphic part of the book was more overt/established throughout, but I figure it would've been a major spoiler for the ending if that was the case. I also felt as though Talia's crush on Amir was resolved a little too quickly at the end, and it felt like it was only resolved to be put aside in time for her to realise Aurora was her love. But this was still a good read and I did enjoy myself. Would definitely recommend.
Considering the length, I thought the story was very tightly structured and the world building was deep and expressive. The characters were well developed too, and I ended up reading it almost in a single sitting. The tragic bits cut deep, and I really felt the characters' pain at things they had lost.
However, considering how well developed all of those things were, I wish the story was longer. I felt like the plot wasn't given enough space to unravel as naturally as it could have, especially given how immersive it was. I felt like the underlying love arc wasn't given enough space either, despite me not seeing it coming and being very pleased with the outcome. I like how Red and Talia's link was woven through the narrative and it felt so natural for them to end up together, but I still felt like a longer story might've done their love arc more justice.
I also wish the sapphic part of the book was more overt/established throughout, but I figure it would've been a major spoiler for the ending if that was the case. I also felt as though Talia's crush on Amir was resolved a little too quickly at the end, and it felt like it was only resolved to be put aside in time for her to realise Aurora was her love. But this was still a good read and I did enjoy myself. Would definitely recommend.
localbeehunter's review
4.0
This book is May's Sapphic Book Club read hosted by @sapphicliterature.
★★★★⭐ | Predictable but I still really enjoyed it!
I don't really know what yo say without spoiling too much but it's a nice sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling with a bisexual MC who does some magic. There's a prince as well. He doesn't do much but he's cool too.
I wish there was some sort of an epilogue though because it ended too soon for me.
Also, I smiled the whole read so give it a go if you need something sweet and short!
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