Scan barcode
A review by iaiatales
The Twins' Secret by Elisabetta Gnone
5.0
This trilogy is a pillar of my childhood. To this day, I can vividly recall every single detail contained within these pages—the thrill, the perfect whimsical writing, the awe of being thrown into this magical world. I read these books for the first time when I was 8, and I like to think it was my first curious dip into fantasy. Years later, I still believe them to be the perfect cottagecore, magical fairytale novels.
They are a gentle ode to nature and simplicity, a comfort blanket for a cold mid-autumn afternoon. There is just something about Fairy Oak, its inhabitants, and its lore that draws you in. Every single character has a peculiar depth that still stands out to me after many years. The complexity and richness of the writing and world-building have always charmed me and served as a balm for the imagination of that little girl with wild curls who kept reading well past bedtime.
I’ve always had the sneaky suspicion that I found something special when I bought this book at a second-hand fair all those years ago. Just by reading it, I felt like I was being let in on a well-kept, bygone secret. But it’s only now, reading it with new eyes, that I realize the astounding beauty of it all. I have read a lot of books and tales since then, but these stand out for their ability to bring the words on paper alive like the purest magic—from the depiction of the quaint town, the ancient magic and colorful nature, the coziness of the Periwinkles’ house, to the mysterious enemies lurking in the dark.
The illustrations are absolutely delightful and made me obsess for many years over the quirky fashion and aesthetic of Fairy Oak.
Between these pages, I’ve known friendship, mystery, love, magic, grief, heartache, and so many memories that will always fill my heart to the brim.
They are a gentle ode to nature and simplicity, a comfort blanket for a cold mid-autumn afternoon. There is just something about Fairy Oak, its inhabitants, and its lore that draws you in. Every single character has a peculiar depth that still stands out to me after many years. The complexity and richness of the writing and world-building have always charmed me and served as a balm for the imagination of that little girl with wild curls who kept reading well past bedtime.
I’ve always had the sneaky suspicion that I found something special when I bought this book at a second-hand fair all those years ago. Just by reading it, I felt like I was being let in on a well-kept, bygone secret. But it’s only now, reading it with new eyes, that I realize the astounding beauty of it all. I have read a lot of books and tales since then, but these stand out for their ability to bring the words on paper alive like the purest magic—from the depiction of the quaint town, the ancient magic and colorful nature, the coziness of the Periwinkles’ house, to the mysterious enemies lurking in the dark.
The illustrations are absolutely delightful and made me obsess for many years over the quirky fashion and aesthetic of Fairy Oak.
Between these pages, I’ve known friendship, mystery, love, magic, grief, heartache, and so many memories that will always fill my heart to the brim.