Reviews

Burning Roses by S.L. Huang

haia_929's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.25

ioana313's review

4.0

What a beautiful story of flawed people deciding to take the first step to redemption, to forgiveness. What a heartbreaking story of all kinds of messy, complicated love, sprinkled with fairytales reimagined to fit this world.

readingunderthecovers's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

eqlamont18's review

4.0

i was unaware until just now that there are two short stories in the series before this book, but i still really enjoyed it! it seems to me like the book was written so you can read it with or without them.

i really loved the combination of different fairy tales/myths from different parts of the world. and the ending was so beautiful

dannyphantomsg1's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

novelideea's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

2.0

cadavis3's review

5.0

Burning Roses is a beautiful and gripping modern fairytale. A sapphic melding of eastern and western myth and folklore that will pull at your heartstrings from beginning to end. You'll recognize many of the figures in this novella, but they have all been recast in new and surprising ways. It's a story about love, loss, betrayal, and the dual nature of the human spirit. A story well crafted and wonderfully told.

spiringempress's review

3.0

Burning Roses interweaves various fairy tales, including Red Riding Hood, Hou Yi, Goldilocks, and Beauty and the Beast into a short story about two middle-aged women: Rosa and Hou Yi, who is a woman in this retelling. Both women are hiding from a dark past and questionable decisions. However, the two are brought together to put an end to violent sunbird attacks and slowly unburden onto each other. Good representation and an interesting short story.

r00bs's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I read this without realising it was part of a series, and without any knowledge going in, so didn't realise it was retelling anything; the twisting allusions are really lovely, and with an unusual edge. 

emmackey's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.75