Review: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Hey book dragons! I hope you’re all good. Here is my review for Girls Made of Snow and Glass. I hope you enjoy it!
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Title: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Format: ebook
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Date Published: 5 September 2017
Goodreads Description: Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber in this feminist fantasy reimagining of the Snow White fairytale.
At sixteen, Mina’s mother is dead, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone has never beaten at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. When she moves to Whitespring Castle and sees its king for the first time, Mina forms a plan: win the kings heart with her beauty, become queen, and finally know love. The only catch is that shell have to become a stepmother.
Fifteen-year-old Lynet looks just like her late mother, and one day she discovers why: a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image, at her father’s order. Entwining the stories of both Lynet and Mina in the past and present, Girls Made of Snow and Glass traces the relationship of two young women doomed to be rivals from the start. Only one can win all, while the other must lose everything unless both can find a way to reshape themselves and their story.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Story
“Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber in this feminist fantasy reimagining of the Snow White fairytale.” This description immediately had me hooked. I dove into this book with high expectations and unfortunately, my expectations were not exactly met. I enjoyed the story, but it only really started to pick up around the 50% mark and I was bored for the first half of the book.
The last 50% was much better, the plot moved faster and the relationship dynamics between Mina and Lynet pick up. I’m a big fan of retellings, especially Snow White retellings, and this one was great.
Writing
I found the writing a little juvenile. I honestly thought Lynet was 10-12 years old in the first chapter. It’s written like a middle grade in the beginning, but once again after the 50% mark the writing evolves.
The world-building was well done, even though I would have wanted it to be more in-depth. I enjoyed the legend of Sybil, the way Mina and Lynet’s powers worked, and the stark contrast between the North and the South.
Characters
Mina and Lynet’s relationship is at the heart of the story and I really enjoyed reading about them. This book portrays a complicated mother and daughter relationship and the dynamics shined through really well.
I will say that this book makes use of the “miscommunication” trope, and the whole last 30% of the book could have been avoided if the two characters just talked to each other.
Other than that, this was a fun and enjoyable read.
Let me know your thoughts on Girls Made of Snow and Glass.
Great review! This book does sound interesting, it’s so frustrating when characters aren’t it haha
Characters not talking to each other drive me mad. I sometimes think do people really behave like this in the real world. Great review.
I don’t think I have the patience for this one
Communication is a big issue in both the fictional and real world.
I’ve had my eyes on this one, but it’s a book I just never seem to get around to actually buy. Thanks for your honest review! I think I’ll wait a bit longer with buying it haha.
I love how simple the cover is.
This makes me think of a book I read similar to this a couple weeks ago. Where communication was all that was necessary.
I don’t think this is for me. Enjoyed your review!
Great review! Not sure if the book is for me, but I enjoyed reading your thoughts ☺️
Great post! I have this book on my TBR for so long but still hasn’t find the right time and mood to read it. I’m glad it does really well on the world building and the relationships, but thank you for warning me about the writing style and the miscommunication! Writing style tends to be really important for me and miscommunication trope can be very frustrating, so at least now I can adjust my expectations 🙂
Such a pretty book! Not sure if I’ll check this one out based on your review. I find plots based on lack of communication really annoying (even though that’s like 50% of Harry Potter and I loved that hahah)
I’ve never come across this title before, but it sounds like something I think I’d enjoy xo
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