beccainabook's review
3.0
I received this read in exchange for an honest review from Book Sirens and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Although I really liked the concept of the book and some of the characters, I didn’t like the book as much as I thought I would. The ending didn’t really make sense and the retelling as shotty at best. I tried really hard to love this read, but it just wasn’t enough for me in the end.
The story started off really great and I got really into the story very quickly, but the story almost seemed to unravel and towards the end I wasn’t as satisfied as I thought I would be. The book is told through dueling perspectives between Kat the park ranger and the Gwyn a recluse living secretly in the forest. I usually love multiple perspectives, especially in a fantasy or romance, but this time, not so much. The problem I had this time was that I liked one character and didn’t care for the other. Also, I felt like one character was in a completely different story than the other because the way they saw the same occurrence was just so different. I mean I get that their perspectives should be different, but there differences were just too outlandish for me. The setting of the book was just an amazing set up and I enjoyed it immensely for this read, but that was not enough to make this a five star read.
This story was a retelling of the classic Snow Queen story, but I honestly didn’t see it. I mean the story was mentioned and the legend was definitely present, but the details of their connection were vague at best. The idea of this retelling with the settings and the characters would be amazing, but I just thought this was a little bit of a miss. In the beginning, I really enjoyed Kat’s perspective and her passion for her position, but when she met Gwyn and the instalove started and it started to get a bit hairy. As the story continued, the book kept going on this rail and it all just made me just slightly disappointed. Kat seemed a little too immature and wishy washy for her age and just a little naive…. I mean how did she not question Gwyn and her weird background sooner. There were so many red flags and she was just okay with it. It didn’t make sense and I worried about her safety. I also thought Gwyn was a little ridiculous too and her story, even at the end, was questionable. UGH I SO WANTED THIS BUT I NEEDED MORE!
Although the relationship was just a wee bit too unbelievable for my taste and just a little too choppy, the steam was SO GOOD! DAMN IT WAS YUMMY AND JUST PERFECT FOR THIS READ! So if you are looking for some girlish steam, this book is defintely a contender for you. Their love scenes were also so romantic in that nature setting that just reminded me of some very fond memories.
Overall, I am glad that I read this book and it had some great moments, but it wasn’t my favorite in the end…
The story started off really great and I got really into the story very quickly, but the story almost seemed to unravel and towards the end I wasn’t as satisfied as I thought I would be. The book is told through dueling perspectives between Kat the park ranger and the Gwyn a recluse living secretly in the forest. I usually love multiple perspectives, especially in a fantasy or romance, but this time, not so much. The problem I had this time was that I liked one character and didn’t care for the other. Also, I felt like one character was in a completely different story than the other because the way they saw the same occurrence was just so different. I mean I get that their perspectives should be different, but there differences were just too outlandish for me. The setting of the book was just an amazing set up and I enjoyed it immensely for this read, but that was not enough to make this a five star read.
This story was a retelling of the classic Snow Queen story, but I honestly didn’t see it. I mean the story was mentioned and the legend was definitely present, but the details of their connection were vague at best. The idea of this retelling with the settings and the characters would be amazing, but I just thought this was a little bit of a miss. In the beginning, I really enjoyed Kat’s perspective and her passion for her position, but when she met Gwyn and the instalove started and it started to get a bit hairy. As the story continued, the book kept going on this rail and it all just made me just slightly disappointed. Kat seemed a little too immature and wishy washy for her age and just a little naive…. I mean how did she not question Gwyn and her weird background sooner. There were so many red flags and she was just okay with it. It didn’t make sense and I worried about her safety. I also thought Gwyn was a little ridiculous too and her story, even at the end, was questionable. UGH I SO WANTED THIS BUT I NEEDED MORE!
Although the relationship was just a wee bit too unbelievable for my taste and just a little too choppy, the steam was SO GOOD! DAMN IT WAS YUMMY AND JUST PERFECT FOR THIS READ! So if you are looking for some girlish steam, this book is defintely a contender for you. Their love scenes were also so romantic in that nature setting that just reminded me of some very fond memories.
Overall, I am glad that I read this book and it had some great moments, but it wasn’t my favorite in the end…
gracews_library's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Eira is a sweet sapphic retelling of The Snow Queen- think Frozen but Queer and more modern.
While it took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, it moves at a nice, quick pace adding an almost film-like effect. There were times I felt it was moving too quickly, but that cinematic quality is felt with the pace and that worked really well. It had a nice air of predictability- the kind of comfort when you enter a story knowing that, no matter what happens along the way, there will be a good ending.
The lore surrounding the Eira ghost is a nice touch and one that I think would have been nice to see explored a bit more. The references to the original Snow Queen story were a good addition too.
I enjoyed the scenes where see Kay and Gwyn interacting with side characters, they gave more insight into who these characters are.
Overall, this is a good book and a nice, light-hearted read. The cinematic flow of the book was one of the strongest aspects of it for me and I look forward to reading more by this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Eira is a sweet sapphic retelling of The Snow Queen- think Frozen but Queer and more modern.
While it took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, it moves at a nice, quick pace adding an almost film-like effect. There were times I felt it was moving too quickly, but that cinematic quality is felt with the pace and that worked really well. It had a nice air of predictability- the kind of comfort when you enter a story knowing that, no matter what happens along the way, there will be a good ending.
The lore surrounding the Eira ghost is a nice touch and one that I think would have been nice to see explored a bit more. The references to the original Snow Queen story were a good addition too.
I enjoyed the scenes where see Kay and Gwyn interacting with side characters, they gave more insight into who these characters are.
Overall, this is a good book and a nice, light-hearted read. The cinematic flow of the book was one of the strongest aspects of it for me and I look forward to reading more by this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
elpisgalaxy's review
5.0
A new take on the tale of the Snow Queen, this fairy tale retelling explores the budding relationship between Kay a park ranger in Glacier National Park and Gwyn, a resident of it. The Eira ghost, a legend among the park has been sighted more frequently than normal and Kay meets a young woman on the trails named Gwyn. The two of them begin to date but it isn't smooth sailing. The more she learns about Gwyn, the more questions she has.
I really enjoyed this book. While I'm not familiar with Glacier National Park, the author did a good job painting an image of the place and the life of a park ranger. I also liked how you learned more about each character through their interactions with each other. For us, it is pretty obvious who the Eira ghost is but for Kay watching her figure it out was fascinating. I also liked Gwyn's development throughout the book after being very reclusive for years, it was interesting to see her open up and even help out at times.
I highly recommend this if you want to read high quality LGBTQ+ fiction and if you like fairy tale retellings.
5/5 Stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this book. While I'm not familiar with Glacier National Park, the author did a good job painting an image of the place and the life of a park ranger. I also liked how you learned more about each character through their interactions with each other. For us, it is pretty obvious who the Eira ghost is but for Kay watching her figure it out was fascinating. I also liked Gwyn's development throughout the book after being very reclusive for years, it was interesting to see her open up and even help out at times.
I highly recommend this if you want to read high quality LGBTQ+ fiction and if you like fairy tale retellings.
5/5 Stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
brennooth's review
5.0
I was lucky to get an ARC for this book. Now, this was a lovely alternative version of The Snow Queen. When I started reading this I did realize how little I knew about this fairytale to begin with. Somehow it was one of those that just wasn't too memorable back when I was a kid. I loved this version a lot though. Both MCs are absolutely lovely and you can so easily feel their pain and understand their actions. This was a really nice read and I can only recommend it.
thepetitepunk's review
4.0
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Eira was a quick, enjoyable twist on the fairytale The Snow Queen. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story. It wasn’t exactly a novella, but enough it was rather short, it didn’t feel like anything was missing. I also appreciated the queer relationship—nothing is better than a queer fairytale retelling.
Overall, I was impressed by Eira. I haven’t had much luck with the past few retellings I’ve read, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Eira was a quick, enjoyable twist on the fairytale The Snow Queen. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story. It wasn’t exactly a novella, but enough it was rather short, it didn’t feel like anything was missing. I also appreciated the queer relationship—nothing is better than a queer fairytale retelling.
Overall, I was impressed by Eira. I haven’t had much luck with the past few retellings I’ve read, so this was a pleasant surprise.
karliah's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I received a free ARC through BookSirens for an honest review. I am writing this voluntarily with my own candid view of the novel.
Eira is a fairy tale retelling of the Snow Queen with a F/F romance twist. The story follows Kay, a park ranger, and Gwyn, the 'Eira Ghost' of the park, as they meet and fall in love while tackling the challenges of isolation, avoidance, and what it means to fully trust another.
All in all, I found the story to be charming and an enjoyable read. The relationship did move quite quick, but the speed makes sense in terms of the length of the book and the fact this plot is restricted to a single summer. The struggles they faced in their relationship felt realistic - it wasn't all glitter and sunshine with the only struggle being Gwyn's curse. There were the negatives: the fear of communication and avoiding their problems. There were also the positives: respecting boundaries and gradually building a trust in one another. It blended very well, and I must commend Smith's ability to weave complex yet realistic relationships that are neither perfect nor toxic.
The story is split into two 3rd person POVs between Kay and Gwyn. I found myself wishing the reader was restricted to one side or the other, whether it be uncovering Gwyn's secret through Kay's perspective or experiencing Gwyn's positive development due to Kay. It could've also left room for wonder on the reader's part, whether it be connecting the dots between Gwyn and the Eira Ghost through Kay, or uncovering Kay's true feelings through Gwyn. However, as is works perfectly well too, as we get to see both perspectives and get to really know both characters as the story progresses.
The ending was sweet but felt abrupt. I wish there was more conflict leading up to it. There was still a sense of urgency, but not as much as I would have liked for such an important moment in the story.
Unfortunately, Eira does possess quite a few glaring errors and clunky sentences. They can be quite distracting, which did affect my reading experience.
All in all, if you're looking for a quickish story to read with a complex F/F relationship, this is your cup of tea. Don't expect a complicated narrative, but do expect to come out of it generally satisfied with a retelling of a now-popular fairytale.
Eira is a fairy tale retelling of the Snow Queen with a F/F romance twist. The story follows Kay, a park ranger, and Gwyn, the 'Eira Ghost' of the park, as they meet and fall in love while tackling the challenges of isolation, avoidance, and what it means to fully trust another.
All in all, I found the story to be charming and an enjoyable read. The relationship did move quite quick, but the speed makes sense in terms of the length of the book and the fact this plot is restricted to a single summer. The struggles they faced in their relationship felt realistic - it wasn't all glitter and sunshine with the only struggle being Gwyn's curse. There were the negatives: the fear of communication and avoiding their problems. There were also the positives: respecting boundaries and gradually building a trust in one another. It blended very well, and I must commend Smith's ability to weave complex yet realistic relationships that are neither perfect nor toxic.
The story is split into two 3rd person POVs between Kay and Gwyn. I found myself wishing the reader was restricted to one side or the other, whether it be uncovering Gwyn's secret through Kay's perspective or experiencing Gwyn's positive development due to Kay. It could've also left room for wonder on the reader's part, whether it be connecting the dots between Gwyn and the Eira Ghost through Kay, or uncovering Kay's true feelings through Gwyn. However, as is works perfectly well too, as we get to see both perspectives and get to really know both characters as the story progresses.
The ending was sweet but felt abrupt. I wish there was more conflict leading up to it. There was still a sense of urgency, but not as much as I would have liked for such an important moment in the story.
Unfortunately, Eira does possess quite a few glaring errors and clunky sentences. They can be quite distracting, which did affect my reading experience.
All in all, if you're looking for a quickish story to read with a complex F/F relationship, this is your cup of tea. Don't expect a complicated narrative, but do expect to come out of it generally satisfied with a retelling of a now-popular fairytale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
2 sex scenes that go into detailbronwyn_reads's review
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
3.0
Thank you Book Sirens for this copy of Eira in exchange for an honest review.
An Ice Queen WLW retelling? I was immediately hooked! This is the perfect novella to palette cleanse between tougher books. It's a sweet romance between a park ranger and a "ghost".
Gwyn is cursed to harm anyone she loves but can she overcome that with Kay?
I understand it is a novella, but I did wish things weren't so rushed. There was a lot of up and down for them to be so in love by the end.
elementarymydear's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Kicking off Pride month with a sapphic Snow Queen retelling? Yes please and thank you!
Kay is a park ranger at the Glacier National Park, and after years of working there she has uncovered all but one of its secrets: the Eira Ghost, a mysterious spirit who haunts the park. She has no idea that the romantic feelings she has for Gwyn, a guarded stranger who wonders the park alone, might have anything to do with the ghost.
Find this and other reviews on my blog!
This was a really fun modern fairytale, with the perfect balance of the original tale and the new story. I really liked the way Adrian J. Smith wove the two together – I won’t spoil how but it was a nice twist on the usual, with the fairytale included as part of the plot. There were also some nice nods to both the original fairytale and various iterations of it dotted throughout, little Snow Queen Easter eggs!
While the romance was perhaps a little bit insta-love, it was still one you could root for and get behind. The romantic moments were incredibly satisfying. Kay and Gwyn’s relationship is the core of the story and has enormous heart to it. It’s also nice to see a sapphic retelling where the queerness is not a hindrance to the story. While I have read some great retellings that incorporate a homophobic society into the story, it was nice to read one with no homophobia at all, and only a brief coming out scene to acknowledge that they live in a heteronormative society.
It would have been nice to have the supporting characters fleshed out a little more, especially Kay’s friendship with her room-mate Gladys. Given that this is at its heart a fairytale, though, it didn’t detract from the overall story which was very much about our two main characters. I did also like the nods to Wales, although I will admit with my beginner Welsh I didn’t realise the title was Welsh until it was mentioned in the book!
If you’re looking for a queer fairytale, I would highly recommend checking this one out. It has plenty of heart with a sprinkling of ice magic on the top.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy for review. All views expressed are my own honest opinions.
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