A review by jaysaysnope
The Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell

dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

Impossible not to compare this to TENDER MORSELS, a very good Snow White and Rose Red retelling by Margo Lanagan that I read in high school. The lyricism in this is a nice way to differentiate between the sisters, but because Rosie’s are so much shorter than Ivory’s, Rosie hardly feels like a character to me.

The romance with Bear/Yuliya comes quite literally out of nowhere, like, okay I guess that’s happening now.

The best part was the polycule that we never actually get to see in functioning order. SIGH.