A review by becandbooks
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
3.0
This is just one of those books that I've wanted to read FOREVER but life was in the way.
And now that I've read it?
Well... while I enjoyed a lot of the things it wasn't everything I hoped for.
Now before you take everything based on what I just said: there is so much GOOD & LOVELY stuff about this book!
I mean this really is a retelling crossover of Snow White and Frozen. And the retelling part of it is so so great. I adored how the original stories are crafted into this new, sapphic, woman-forward story. I LOVED that.
But the actual story wasn't executed in a way that I loved. It felt too drawn out and the story really doesn't feel like it kicks off until the 50% mark. Large parts of the story felt very linear and predictable, partly due to the retelling aspect but also just because you can TELL the good guy/bad guy tropes playing out.
I am not someone who enjoys slow-paced book, so this was the absolute killer for me on a story that I otherwise really appreciated.
The characters, as well, I wanted to love and I guess I loved them in theory. The entire story is centered around two very independent, head-strong, but clearly flawed women. What's not to love about that?
But in reality, the characters were kinda drab. While I related to the what was happening with the characters, I didn't establish any emotional connection with them. Everything felt at an arms length, rather than completely immersive in the story.
And then there is the romance. You know I am always cheering for any type of LGBT+ rep and sapphic relationships in particular are close to my heart. I also adore slow-burn romance typically.
But this one...
To be frank, it was TOO slow. I was honestly second-guessing if THESE characters were the sapphic romance I was expecting for nearly the entire book. I didn't feel it at all. And when it finally happened it was a bit of a fizzled out moment for me.
A lot of my feelings come from the fact that I am not into slow-paced stories and that's what this book is. It took me a long time to get through this book and that's probably partly to blame for my disconnected feelings.
But, that doesn't take away from the great themes that this book does represent and the cleverly constructed retelling that it is.
More reviews | Twitter | Pinterest | The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame (O. Wilde)
And now that I've read it?
Well... while I enjoyed a lot of the things it wasn't everything I hoped for.
“There are worse things in the world to be than delicate. If you're delicate, it means no one has tried to break you.”
Now before you take everything based on what I just said: there is so much GOOD & LOVELY stuff about this book!
I mean this really is a retelling crossover of Snow White and Frozen. And the retelling part of it is so so great. I adored how the original stories are crafted into this new, sapphic, woman-forward story. I LOVED that.
But the actual story wasn't executed in a way that I loved. It felt too drawn out and the story really doesn't feel like it kicks off until the 50% mark. Large parts of the story felt very linear and predictable, partly due to the retelling aspect but also just because you can TELL the good guy/bad guy tropes playing out.
I am not someone who enjoys slow-paced book, so this was the absolute killer for me on a story that I otherwise really appreciated.
“He knew that if he raised his daughter without love, and that if he told her often enough that she wasn't capable of it, she would soon start to prove him right, if only because it was all she'd ever known.”
The characters, as well, I wanted to love and I guess I loved them in theory. The entire story is centered around two very independent, head-strong, but clearly flawed women. What's not to love about that?
But in reality, the characters were kinda drab. While I related to the what was happening with the characters, I didn't establish any emotional connection with them. Everything felt at an arms length, rather than completely immersive in the story.
And then there is the romance. You know I am always cheering for any type of LGBT+ rep and sapphic relationships in particular are close to my heart. I also adore slow-burn romance typically.
But this one...
To be frank, it was TOO slow. I was honestly second-guessing if THESE characters were the sapphic romance I was expecting for nearly the entire book. I didn't feel it at all. And when it finally happened it was a bit of a fizzled out moment for me.
“You'll find something that's yours alone. And when you do, don't let anyone take it from you.”
A lot of my feelings come from the fact that I am not into slow-paced stories and that's what this book is. It took me a long time to get through this book and that's probably partly to blame for my disconnected feelings.
But, that doesn't take away from the great themes that this book does represent and the cleverly constructed retelling that it is.
More reviews | Twitter | Pinterest | The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame (O. Wilde)