Tag: fairytale retelling

Review: A Tangled Magic by Andrea Eames

Anna and AlexisLeave a comment
A Kindle with A Tangled Magic book cover and a blueberry matcha latte in a mug

Alexis:

A Tangled Magic is a Rapunzel retelling that follows Netta, who lives in a tower with only her mother and a telepathic raven for company.

This was an excellent retelling! I loved Netta’s character, and how she was strong yet soft. I thought she was a great version of Disney’s Rapunzel in Tangled, and Eames really showed just how cut off she was from the rest of the world, not to mention lonely. I also enjoyed Eames’ interpretation of her magical Hair.

This was so much fun to read. It has your classic quest plot line, as Netta leaves her tower after being attacked by a group of men to find her mother, who is mysteriously missing. 

I also loved the political intrigue, the magic system, and the theme of power woven throughout the story. Bone magic plays a large role in the world’s history and in the book itself, and Eames’ did a great job of balancing the fairytale and whimsical vibes of this world with the macabre and a dash of body horror. There’s nothing I love more than dark fairytale vibes (besides creepy forests, of course). 

Baldbeak was one of my favorite characters, of course (I mean, a giant telepathic, magical raven)? And I really enjoyed how books and bookbinding played an overall role in the story. 

If you’re tired of romantasy, this will be a great story to pick up! There’s a romantic subplot, and Patrick is both a flawed and lovable love interest (Flynn Rider, anyone)? But Netta and her own goals, and finding herself, are the main focus of the story. 

Overall, this was a refreshing retelling with so many interesting elements and characters. I knew I loved Eames’ writing style from her debut novel, and I loved it in A Tangled Magic, as well. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Erewhon Books/Penguin Random House for my ARC in exchange for a review!

Pub Date: July 28, 2026

VERDICT: 📖📖📖📖📖/5 

Review: Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Anna and AlexisLeave a comment

Alexis:

I absolutely loved parts of this book, but other parts bored me.

The first fifty pages didn’t rope me in, but once Essie leaves the cold planet of Thanda, the story becomes much more interesting.

Essie’s character is by far the most interesting part of the story. She’s a strong but well-rounded character, and it’s rare to find a heroine who loves math, coding, puzzles, and mechanical engineering, not to mention cage fighting, in a book. Once we begin to know her character better, her motivations are clear, and her past is interesting. And I absolutely loved her misfit drones, especially Dimwit, a shining character on the page (despite being a drone!). 

I enjoyed how this was a retelling of Snow White. It was fun piecing together all of the sci-fi versions of the fairytale, but the fairytale pieces didn’t distract from the story, only added interesting twists. 

However, I wish the worldbuilding and imagery were more drawn-out. I initially liked Dane’s character, but it was like I could only glimpse him on the page. Even though he was basically in every scene, he started to feel like a background character.  Lewis did a great job describing Essie’s “stitching,” or coding, but when it came to images of the characters or the world, sometimes it fell flat.

That being said, I still enjoyed it overall! 

VERDICT: 🍎🍎🍎.5/5

TW: Kidnapping, child abuse, rape, murder/death, war