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alliemikennareads's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Alix E Harrow and this definitely makes the list too! I love a good fairytale retelling and haven’t read any sleeping beauty ones so I was excited for this.
I really liked the main character Zinnia and her friendship with Charm and their text conversations. I felt this had a nice blend of fairytale and real life. It handled chronic illness well in my opinion without having an unrealistic ending. I was invested from beginning to end. It’s a nice quick read as a novella! I would have read more and enjoyed further development of these characters but I was content with what’s here given the format.
Favorite line: “Well Harold, I say gently. They’re lesbians” I’M SCREAMING.
I’d recommend this if you like novellas, fantasy and cute wlw rep.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book; I think it was a very interesting take on the sleeping beauty story and I liked how the disability rep was sprinkled into the story. This may have been pretty short but I love the amount of detail added, it was very well developed for how short it is, and yes your base knowledge of fairy tales is slightly required but it is still explained just the right amount to refresh your memory. This retelling talks about other retellings which I really liked [very multiverse and it was fun], and I specifically liked how the differences between versions and how they were talked about; they were used to put other things in context and different lessons were pulled from the stories to add to the 'current' plot line. I really liked the disability rep in this book because yes she is independent or whatever but she knows her body limits her and I liked how the limits were touched on (to an extent). There is a magical cure in the end of this book BUT I personally don't think it was completely horrible, I think it was handled respectfully for the most part but it is something to be wary of going into it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Abortion, Rape, Sexual assault, and Self harm
Minor: Violence
wellintendedbibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Bullying
nav26's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sleeping Beauty retelling with lots of twists. This was so fun! Considering it's a novella I didn't think I'd get super absorbed into the world but the sleeping beauty multiverse really hooked me. Zinnia is witty and hilarious and her narration is everything. She doesn't let her illness define her and grabs this adventure with both hands. I also ADORED Charm and Prim. Charm is the perfect balance to Zinnia and Prim is more than what she seems. I just wish this was longer so all of the side characters could be more fleshed out. Will definitely pick up the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
emeraldelephant's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
dariusmortee's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-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
3.75
Fun, enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual assault
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Blood, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
emdop's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual assault and Misogyny
gmalmquist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
As typical with Alix Harrow's works, I loved how myth and fairy-tale are woven into the structure of this story, how stories themselves are shown to be powerful, as well as the queer elements. I wasn't as blown away with this novella as I was by her two most recent novels, but I nevertheless found it to be an enchanting story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness