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caitlinjohnson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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? Yes
3.75
By the end, I found myself liking both of the sisters but I definitely have more of a soft spot for Rose over Wren.
It didn't take me long to come around to Rose as a character. I found her a bit annoying in the beginning of the book, but as soon as she learned more about her history and the truth of the kingdom and Willem, she was fully onboard with making a fairier kingdom and I found myself loving her. I hope we get to see more of her relationship with Celeste in the next book because the way thatCeleste was the only person who truly knew Rose enough to know that it was Wren showed how strong of a friendship the two had.
I started to like Wren a bit more at 80% of the book. For the most part, her behaviour and her treatment of everyone except Tor was a bit tiring to read. For most of the book, she was so adamant that Rose couldn't be queen and it had to be her and yet her first response to any obstacle was to consider murder. Although, I did like what we get to see of her relationships with Banba and Shen.I can't wait to see her being so determined to get Banba back in the next book.
Even though he didn't have much page time, Shen had me swooning. Tor, on the other hand, was so painfully dull that his scene at the end made me feel nothing, if anything it just made me love Elske even more.
#justiceforansel
It didn't take me long to come around to Rose as a character. I found her a bit annoying in the beginning of the book, but as soon as she learned more about her history and the truth of the kingdom and Willem, she was fully onboard with making a fairier kingdom and I found myself loving her. I hope we get to see more of her relationship with Celeste in the next book because the way that
I started to like Wren a bit more at 80% of the book. For the most part, her behaviour and her treatment of everyone except Tor was a bit tiring to read. For most of the book, she was so adamant that Rose couldn't be queen and it had to be her and yet her first response to any obstacle was to consider murder. Although, I did like what we get to see of her relationships with Banba and Shen.
Even though he didn't have much page time, Shen had me swooning. Tor, on the other hand, was so painfully dull that his scene at the end made me feel nothing, if anything it just made me love Elske even more.
#justiceforansel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
pattyblom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I normally don't like it when books alternate between pov's every chapter, but in this book they were both fast paced and had a good storyline. It keeps you wanting to read the next chapter because of it. Even if i still preferred one over the other. It has some cute romance in the plot. And ends on a cliffhanger. Finished the book in one day, so now looking forward to the next one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
Wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. After seeing it posted about a lot, I finally caved and gave it a go and I fell in love with it.
The pacing, the writing, the worldbuilding through the lore, the characters, the romance and friendships. Everything was written so wonderfully. It is genuinely one of the best new YA books out there, 100% recommended this to anyone 13+. The romance even had me kicking my feet and giggling at the age of 27. I just had fun with it. I mean, a lost princess trying to reclaim her family's throne, and a princess in name only being controlled by a power-hungry protector? What's not to love?
The pacing, the writing, the worldbuilding through the lore, the characters, the romance and friendships. Everything was written so wonderfully. It is genuinely one of the best new YA books out there, 100% recommended this to anyone 13+. The romance even had me kicking my feet and giggling at the age of 27. I just had fun with it. I mean, a lost princess trying to reclaim her family's throne, and a princess in name only being controlled by a power-hungry protector? What's not to love?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Xenophobia, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Classism
soph22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.75
At halfway through I ordered the next two books. Honestly, as a Disney girlie, I loved everything about this. The only reason it didn’t quite get to five stars is because the ending felt slightly rushed. Otherwise, this is one of my favourite books I’ve read this year!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
nirellis's review
3.0
Beginning: Interesting concept and paced really well therefore keeping my attention
Middle: Still interesting but feels like some aspects of the lore and plot are underdeveloped
The end: Oh boy. I really disliked the ending. It was just so easy and so much was predictable and again underdeveloped key plot-points and lore.
Middle: Still interesting but feels like some aspects of the lore and plot are underdeveloped
The end: Oh boy. I really disliked the ending. It was just so easy and so much was predictable and again underdeveloped key plot-points and lore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
takarakeireads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
3.25
Princess and the Pauper retelling, kind of. A bit too long especially cause it's a duology. I felt like they could've cut at least 100 pages. Plotline was a bit predictable for regular ya fantasy readers. I likely won't continue with book two as I feel like I know what's gonna happen and I'm not moved to read another 500 pages.
2/5 🌶️ basically some hot and heavy kissing
2/5 🌶️ basically some hot and heavy kissing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Sexual content
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: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
katvou's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
kbairbooks's review
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: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism