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The Secret World of Briar Rose
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A lush and immersive queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling about escapism, grief, and dreaming of a better world, as imagined by YouTube star Cindy Pham
100 years have passed since the last heir of Gyldan fell into eternal slumber and doomed the once-mighty kingdom into poverty and invasion. At least, that’s what the fairy tales claim.
Corin is a jaded thief who doesn’t believe in fables, even when she searches Gyldan’s underground tunnels to find her younger sister, Elly, who ran away to find the sleeping princess in hopes of a better life. Corin's conviction is challenged when she discovers the ruins of the ancient castle, maintained by beings from the kingdom's golden age, who protect a hidden portal into princess Amelia's subconscious. Following Elly’s voice, Corin jumps in the portal and seals the entry behind her.
Inside the lush world of Amelia's dreams, the sisters reunite for a new adventure as they meet Briar Rose, Amelia’s whimsical alter ego, and Malicine, a sharp-tongued demon with a gift for magic. But as they explore ice castles, sunflower mazes, and star-filled oceans, Corin suspects Briar Rose is hiding darker secrets behind her "perfect" paradise – and that there are some things their subconscious can’t bury forever.
100 years have passed since the last heir of Gyldan fell into eternal slumber and doomed the once-mighty kingdom into poverty and invasion. At least, that’s what the fairy tales claim.
Corin is a jaded thief who doesn’t believe in fables, even when she searches Gyldan’s underground tunnels to find her younger sister, Elly, who ran away to find the sleeping princess in hopes of a better life. Corin's conviction is challenged when she discovers the ruins of the ancient castle, maintained by beings from the kingdom's golden age, who protect a hidden portal into princess Amelia's subconscious. Following Elly’s voice, Corin jumps in the portal and seals the entry behind her.
Inside the lush world of Amelia's dreams, the sisters reunite for a new adventure as they meet Briar Rose, Amelia’s whimsical alter ego, and Malicine, a sharp-tongued demon with a gift for magic. But as they explore ice castles, sunflower mazes, and star-filled oceans, Corin suspects Briar Rose is hiding darker secrets behind her "perfect" paradise – and that there are some things their subconscious can’t bury forever.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
213 people are currently reading
31961 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Pham
1 book131k followersCindy Pham is a queer Vietnamese-American author of fantasy books. Based in New York City, she works as a full-time designer while moonlighting as a fiction writer and content creator. Her YouTube channel, @readwithcindy, has amassed over half a million subscribers and focuses on books, movie reactions, and candid commentary. The Secret World of Briar Rose is her debut novel inspired by her experience with depression and suicidal ideation. Her website is readwithcindy.com.
Note from Cindy: As an author, I won’t engage with reviews for my book. However, if you tag me on social media, I’ll assume it’s an open invite to engage and join in on the fun! As a reader, I’ll continue sharing my thoughts on books I read on my Goodreads and YouTube channel. I hope the casual style and no star rating in my “reviews” makes it clear that this account is just a reading diary for me, not official endorsements or admonishments.
Note from Cindy: As an author, I won’t engage with reviews for my book. However, if you tag me on social media, I’ll assume it’s an open invite to engage and join in on the fun! As a reader, I’ll continue sharing my thoughts on books I read on my Goodreads and YouTube channel. I hope the casual style and no star rating in my “reviews” makes it clear that this account is just a reading diary for me, not official endorsements or admonishments.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
Want to read
September 19, 2025i'm seated. the bookstore employees are scared and asking me to leave because 'it's not june 2026 yet' but i'm simply too seated
awaiting-release
September 19, 2025Cindy's videos were what got me into reading as an adult, there's simply no world where I'm not going to read this book!
Want to read
September 19, 2025I've followed Cindy's YouTube channel since I was in middle school and her first book is coming out when I graduate college...I feel so ancient
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
what do you MEAN this is supposed to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling 🫤🫤
I expected dark fairy tale drama, maybe a sharp, clever twist on the classic story. Instead I got ✨(boring) vibes✨ and a wander through Clunky Metaphor Land that's 90% symbolism and 10% actual story.
A princess falls asleep. THAT’S IT. That is the most Sleeping Beauty thing that happens in this entire book. I mean... I guess that's all that happens in Sleeping Beauty, too? Everything else is so disconnected it feels almost misleading to call this a retelling at all. The connection to the original is paper-thin.
Credit where it’s due: the writing is good. It's lyrical and polished.
This is the kind of sad-girl prose you can highlight for Tumblr or Instagram to show what a deep, tortured soul you are.
But OH MY GOD… this was such a slog to get through.
Aesthetic sentences only carry me so far before I start screaming internally and checking how many pages are left. And this book leans on pretty prose like a crutch. After a while, the writing stops feeling impressive and starts feeling like a distraction from the fact that nothing of substance is happening.
Because nothing is happening. This is slow and repetitive. It's weirdly exhausting despite having the narrative momentum of a damp paper towel. It’s not immersive; it’s numbing.
I do like the idea of Amelia’s choice having a ripple effect a century later. That could have been fascinating. That should have been fascinating. But the execution just. does. not. land. It’s emblematic of the entire book: interesting in theory, inert in execution.
Corin and Elly? BORING.
So dull.
Their relationship's supposed to be the emotional core, but there’s no weight to it. They're a void. Their relationship lacks any substance, and the book tells you it’s deep, but never does the work to make you feel it. I wanted their sibling bond to wreck me emotionally. I wanted angst. But I got some cardboard cut outs awkwardly bumbling around while the book whispered, "look, isn't this, like, so sad? please feel sad."
I was so detached the entire time and constantly rolling my eyes at the half-hearted attempts at reconciliation that get destroyed the second they appear. I've never seen characters we're supposed to care about have less chemistry. Like, why did we even bother?
Corin especially. Good lord. I understand what the author is trying to do, but she’s trapped in this endless brooding, victim-cycle nightmare, hating her life and making it everyone else's problem that quickly becomes unbearable. She drags everyone down with her, and I never felt compelled to root for her. I wasn’t invested, I was irritated.
The story's aggressively plot-driven. Characters don’t act like people; they act like chess pieces. They go where they’re told and do what they’re told, because the plot demands it, not because it makes sense. It’s so obvious, and it breaks any sense of immersion the book tries to build.
And then the structure comes in for the killing blow.
Dual POVs have been done before. Done to death, actually. But here it’s a constant back-and-forth and then, because apparently the story wasn’t confusing and slow enough, there’s a THIRD perspective?? WHY???
Any tension evaporates instantly every time we jump. The structure's disjointed and the pacing's dead on arrival.
This book is actively working against itself.
This would have worked so much better if the first half of the book had been Amelia's POV and the latter half Corin’s. It would have kept the momentum instead of the plot constantly undermining itself.
This also has my least favourite trope in all media. It was all a dream. I get that the dream world is the point, I understand the metaphor and that it's supposed to be thematic. I see what it’s trying to do and say. But it completely kills tension. When everything obeys dream logic, nothing feels grounded. Nothing matters.
The book asks for emotional investment while simultaneously removing any reason to give it.
My emotional investment went out for cigarettes and never came back.
I wanted to DNF this so bad at so many points. But I also wanted to write an honest ARC review 😣 so I trudged through, clinging to the idea that maybe it would pay off. It did not.
I’ve never heard of this YouTuber before, so maybe if I had some attachment to her or her story, I’d have felt differently. And I think it’s telling that almost all the 5 star reviews are from her fans (most of whom haven't read it). I get it! Support the person you love! But while there is a great book buried somewhere in here, this is not a good book.
Beautiful concept ≠ fully realised story. There's potential but it's buried under pacing and structural issues and characters that don’t land.
The themes of grief and escapism are lurking, but this being YA neuters them. There’s such a noticeable gap between what this book wants to be and what it actually is. It wants to be deep and dark and emotionally heavy and meaningful, but it keeps pulling its punches to stay light enough for the intended audience and you get some surface-level words that don't build to anything. Everything's so diluted.
This would have been so much stronger as a full-on adult fantasy, because it needed that freedom to actually explore the weight it gestures at instead of skimming the surface.
I expected dark fairy tale drama, maybe a sharp, clever twist on the classic story. Instead I got ✨(boring) vibes✨ and a wander through Clunky Metaphor Land that's 90% symbolism and 10% actual story.
A princess falls asleep. THAT’S IT. That is the most Sleeping Beauty thing that happens in this entire book. I mean... I guess that's all that happens in Sleeping Beauty, too? Everything else is so disconnected it feels almost misleading to call this a retelling at all. The connection to the original is paper-thin.
Credit where it’s due: the writing is good. It's lyrical and polished.
This is the kind of sad-girl prose you can highlight for Tumblr or Instagram to show what a deep, tortured soul you are.
But OH MY GOD… this was such a slog to get through.
Aesthetic sentences only carry me so far before I start screaming internally and checking how many pages are left. And this book leans on pretty prose like a crutch. After a while, the writing stops feeling impressive and starts feeling like a distraction from the fact that nothing of substance is happening.
Because nothing is happening. This is slow and repetitive. It's weirdly exhausting despite having the narrative momentum of a damp paper towel. It’s not immersive; it’s numbing.
I do like the idea of Amelia’s choice having a ripple effect a century later. That could have been fascinating. That should have been fascinating. But the execution just. does. not. land. It’s emblematic of the entire book: interesting in theory, inert in execution.
Corin and Elly? BORING.
So dull.
Their relationship's supposed to be the emotional core, but there’s no weight to it. They're a void. Their relationship lacks any substance, and the book tells you it’s deep, but never does the work to make you feel it. I wanted their sibling bond to wreck me emotionally. I wanted angst. But I got some cardboard cut outs awkwardly bumbling around while the book whispered, "look, isn't this, like, so sad? please feel sad."
I was so detached the entire time and constantly rolling my eyes at the half-hearted attempts at reconciliation that get destroyed the second they appear. I've never seen characters we're supposed to care about have less chemistry. Like, why did we even bother?
Corin especially. Good lord. I understand what the author is trying to do, but she’s trapped in this endless brooding, victim-cycle nightmare, hating her life and making it everyone else's problem that quickly becomes unbearable. She drags everyone down with her, and I never felt compelled to root for her. I wasn’t invested, I was irritated.
The story's aggressively plot-driven. Characters don’t act like people; they act like chess pieces. They go where they’re told and do what they’re told, because the plot demands it, not because it makes sense. It’s so obvious, and it breaks any sense of immersion the book tries to build.
And then the structure comes in for the killing blow.
Dual POVs have been done before. Done to death, actually. But here it’s a constant back-and-forth and then, because apparently the story wasn’t confusing and slow enough, there’s a THIRD perspective?? WHY???
Any tension evaporates instantly every time we jump. The structure's disjointed and the pacing's dead on arrival.
This book is actively working against itself.
This would have worked so much better if the first half of the book had been Amelia's POV and the latter half Corin’s. It would have kept the momentum instead of the plot constantly undermining itself.
This also has my least favourite trope in all media. It was all a dream. I get that the dream world is the point, I understand the metaphor and that it's supposed to be thematic. I see what it’s trying to do and say. But it completely kills tension. When everything obeys dream logic, nothing feels grounded. Nothing matters.
The book asks for emotional investment while simultaneously removing any reason to give it.
My emotional investment went out for cigarettes and never came back.
I wanted to DNF this so bad at so many points. But I also wanted to write an honest ARC review 😣 so I trudged through, clinging to the idea that maybe it would pay off. It did not.
I’ve never heard of this YouTuber before, so maybe if I had some attachment to her or her story, I’d have felt differently. And I think it’s telling that almost all the 5 star reviews are from her fans (most of whom haven't read it). I get it! Support the person you love! But while there is a great book buried somewhere in here, this is not a good book.
Beautiful concept ≠ fully realised story. There's potential but it's buried under pacing and structural issues and characters that don’t land.
The themes of grief and escapism are lurking, but this being YA neuters them. There’s such a noticeable gap between what this book wants to be and what it actually is. It wants to be deep and dark and emotionally heavy and meaningful, but it keeps pulling its punches to stay light enough for the intended audience and you get some surface-level words that don't build to anything. Everything's so diluted.
This would have been so much stronger as a full-on adult fantasy, because it needed that freedom to actually explore the weight it gestures at instead of skimming the surface.
Want to read
October 7, 2025OMG
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING
CINDY IS PUBLISHING HER BOOK?!?!!?!
I'M SATTTTT
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING
CINDY IS PUBLISHING HER BOOK?!?!!?!
I'M SATTTTT
Want to read
September 25, 2025I've been watching Cindy since her Six of Crows as vines compilation days... THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!
Want to read
September 18, 2025CIIIIIINNDDYYYYY GIVE IT !! (please)
Read
September 19, 2025I’m sat. the Goodreads employees are begging me to go away cause this isn’t even published yet, but I’m simply too sat.
Want to read
September 24, 2025This is my Taylor Swift proposal
Want to read
September 23, 2025Omg I literally can't wait to see what Cindy was cooking up this whole time - Im ready for tears and yearning
December 19, 2025
The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham is a lush, queer retelling of the Sleeping Beauty myth that explores grief, escapism, and the yearning for a world that feels kinder and more magical than the one we live in. At its heart this story follows Corin, a hardened thief determined to find her younger sister Elly, who has disappeared chasing the legend of a sleeping princess in a forgotten kingdom called Gyldan.
Reading this book felt like stepping into a dream where wonder and pain twine together in unexpected ways. Cindy Pham’s writing invites you to care deeply about Corin’s fierce loyalty to her sister and to feel the tug of hope even when reality is bleak. The fantasy world inside Princess Amelia’s subconscious sparkles with surreal beauty and imagination, from sunflower mazes to star‑filled oceans yet it harbors shadows that echo the characters’ real world losses and fears (creative dreamscapes are key elements).
What stayed with me most was how the story balances adventure with emotional depth, especially the bond between Corin and Elly which feels alive and urgent.
Rating: 5 out of 5 because it feels both imaginative and emotionally grounded, and the themes of sisterhood and reclaiming hope resonated with me.
Reading this book felt like stepping into a dream where wonder and pain twine together in unexpected ways. Cindy Pham’s writing invites you to care deeply about Corin’s fierce loyalty to her sister and to feel the tug of hope even when reality is bleak. The fantasy world inside Princess Amelia’s subconscious sparkles with surreal beauty and imagination, from sunflower mazes to star‑filled oceans yet it harbors shadows that echo the characters’ real world losses and fears (creative dreamscapes are key elements).
What stayed with me most was how the story balances adventure with emotional depth, especially the bond between Corin and Elly which feels alive and urgent.
Rating: 5 out of 5 because it feels both imaginative and emotionally grounded, and the themes of sisterhood and reclaiming hope resonated with me.
Want to read
December 15, 2025The author of this book had shitted on so many books that I like so now it’s my turn.
I know I said no ya anymore but I have to see what a person that hated books that I liked and called them weak gonna write.
Plus It’s wlw
Ofc I am jk but yk I don’t hate on books just for the sake of it. I criticise
I know I said no ya anymore but I have to see what a person that hated books that I liked and called them weak gonna write.
Plus It’s wlw
Ofc I am jk but yk I don’t hate on books just for the sake of it. I criticise
Want to read
September 25, 2025WAKE ME UP WHEN IT'S JUNE 2026!!!!!!!
January 18, 2026
This is a story in which Sleeping Beauty’s kingdom is relying on her and instead, she quotes Ali Wong: “I don’t wanna lean in; I wanna lie down.”
What if the heroine just gave up? What if they suddenly realized they simply could no longer bear the burden of rebellion? Had no fight left for societal change? Found themselves too weary for the moral good? What if the heroine simply ran away?
“To be strong meant enduring the shame of her mistakes, the consequences of her flaws. And she did not want to be strong.”
The Secret World of Briar Rose is a fairytale whose gauze is ripped away, the thorny reality exposed. It is a portal fantasy for soft, sad girls. Two lonely girls who feel like they have little agency or hope in their own lives find one another in a dream world. And yet, they soon realize that their problems are now nightmares.
This book is dark and refuses to shy away from the realities of depression.
I had very high expectations due to Cindy’s history of brutal honesty, and she certainly delivered. The prose is lush. The worldbuilding is both dreamy yet harrowing. And the use of Sleeping Beauty— the fairytale princess with no agency in her own fate who sleeps for most of her story? As a vehicle for a tale about depression? Perfection.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The quote referenced above is from an unfinished copy.
What if the heroine just gave up? What if they suddenly realized they simply could no longer bear the burden of rebellion? Had no fight left for societal change? Found themselves too weary for the moral good? What if the heroine simply ran away?
“To be strong meant enduring the shame of her mistakes, the consequences of her flaws. And she did not want to be strong.”
The Secret World of Briar Rose is a fairytale whose gauze is ripped away, the thorny reality exposed. It is a portal fantasy for soft, sad girls. Two lonely girls who feel like they have little agency or hope in their own lives find one another in a dream world. And yet, they soon realize that their problems are now nightmares.
This book is dark and refuses to shy away from the realities of depression.
I had very high expectations due to Cindy’s history of brutal honesty, and she certainly delivered. The prose is lush. The worldbuilding is both dreamy yet harrowing. And the use of Sleeping Beauty— the fairytale princess with no agency in her own fate who sleeps for most of her story? As a vehicle for a tale about depression? Perfection.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The quote referenced above is from an unfinished copy.
Currently reading
September 25, 2025(25/9/25)
I'm SAT, I'm WAITING, I'm EXCITED
I've been a fan of Cindy's videos since I was in high school, and when this book releases I'll be 20. Cannot wait to devour this thing as soon as it comes out
Cindy was the one who got me into reading again as a depressed 15 year old needing some escapism in my life, and now I guess it's coming back full circle 💕
I'm SAT, I'm WAITING, I'm EXCITED
I've been a fan of Cindy's videos since I was in high school, and when this book releases I'll be 20. Cannot wait to devour this thing as soon as it comes out
Cindy was the one who got me into reading again as a depressed 15 year old needing some escapism in my life, and now I guess it's coming back full circle 💕
Want to read
February 28, 2026i cannot believe i got the arc ;-; it’s on ‘Read Now’ on Netgalley for two days!!
this is the most beautiful cover i've ever seen.
this is the most beautiful cover i've ever seen.
Read
December 16, 2025THE ARC IS IN MY HANDS.
Want to read
September 24, 2025cindy's content is one of the reasons i fell back in love with reading so i am SAT
Want to read
October 22, 2025pre-read:
Pre-ordered it today so it’s ready for my kindle on June 2026 😝
Pre-ordered it today so it’s ready for my kindle on June 2026 😝
Currently reading
September 25, 2025CINDY I BOW DOWN TO YOU
Want to read
October 1, 2025just seeing the cover of this book makes me feel so proud
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher & author for an ARC of this book via Netgalley.
I'm gonna be completely honest, it's difficult to come up with positive things about this book besides the cover.
This queer retelling of the sleeping beauty had so much potential, but too much time was spent in the dreamworld, and not enough on the characters' personalities. Both MCs felt very one dimensional, imo. Amelia's plot definitely helped her, meanwhile Corin ended up sounding like a broken record. They had no chemistry and I was surprised that they even kissed.
The best character was probably Malicine. It's a shame they weren't one of the MCs. Seriously, the one character whose backstory is complex and intriguing!
The dual POV was fine, I guess. There were times where the story became interesting right before switching. So, while I didn't have that much of a problem with it, I can see why others would.
Now my biggest problem with this book… I was really struggling and got tired of the constant descriptions of the surroundings, while NOTHING ELSE was going on. I didn't want to give up and dnf, so I could give an honest opinion of this ARC, but it took over 60% for something to finally happen and I started to care less and less.
Was it worth it? not really. It did have a plottwist that I didn't expect, but the rest felt very rushed, it made me wish that it had happened earlier to fully flesh those events out.
All in all, i didn't fully hate it but i also didn't love it lol.
P.s. Never add TWO epilogues. It would've been fine with the second one, but that first epilogue ruined the ending for me.
2.5 ⭐
I'm gonna be completely honest, it's difficult to come up with positive things about this book besides the cover.
This queer retelling of the sleeping beauty had so much potential, but too much time was spent in the dreamworld, and not enough on the characters' personalities. Both MCs felt very one dimensional, imo. Amelia's plot definitely helped her, meanwhile Corin ended up sounding like a broken record. They had no chemistry and I was surprised that they even kissed.
The best character was probably Malicine. It's a shame they weren't one of the MCs. Seriously, the one character whose backstory is complex and intriguing!
The dual POV was fine, I guess. There were times where the story became interesting right before switching. So, while I didn't have that much of a problem with it, I can see why others would.
Now my biggest problem with this book… I was really struggling and got tired of the constant descriptions of the surroundings, while NOTHING ELSE was going on. I didn't want to give up and dnf, so I could give an honest opinion of this ARC, but it took over 60% for something to finally happen and I started to care less and less.
Was it worth it? not really. It did have a plottwist that I didn't expect, but the rest felt very rushed, it made me wish that it had happened earlier to fully flesh those events out.
All in all, i didn't fully hate it but i also didn't love it lol.
P.s. Never add TWO epilogues. It would've been fine with the second one, but that first epilogue ruined the ending for me.
2.5 ⭐
February 24, 2026
Sleeping Beauty/Maleficent but make is Sapphic and in a dreamworld!
We follow two POVS set 100 years apart. One is Amelia, the princess who is cursed to sleep and does so for 100 years. The other POV is Corin, a girl in current day who jumps into Sleeping Beauty's active dreams.
The book needed to use the word Briar Rose a lot more . It has a really slow start with a search for the characters sister being what brings her (fate) to meet the princess.
I'm not a big fan of dream settings and I didn't realize this book setting is like 90% dreamworld! The epilogue is also a couple chapters long because the true endings needed to be revealed.
I love the maleficent character (Maleficine and enby) birth scene which was crazy good! They were an amazing side character and I really wish they were also in [REDACTED]s epilogue!
This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling but with the plot of Furyborn mixed in!
Gorgeous beautiful cover and chapter headers
Love the back and forth/past present bc I hated the present LOL
Also yes I followed ReadWithCindy before this and honestly her writing really impressed me! Yet the whole time my internal commentary was read in her voice. Like she wrote something akin to "the snowflake dried like a scab" and I could just hear her sardonic tone saying "ew now I'm picturing peeling a scab" so honestly it made this quite an enjoyable read. Can we have her read and review her own book? Jkjk that might be lowkey traumatizing
We follow two POVS set 100 years apart. One is Amelia, the princess who is cursed to sleep and does so for 100 years. The other POV is Corin, a girl in current day who jumps into Sleeping Beauty's active dreams.
The book needed to use the word Briar Rose a lot more . It has a really slow start with a search for the characters sister being what brings her (fate) to meet the princess.
I'm not a big fan of dream settings and I didn't realize this book setting is like 90% dreamworld! The epilogue is also a couple chapters long because the true endings needed to be revealed.
I love the maleficent character (Maleficine and enby) birth scene which was crazy good! They were an amazing side character and I really wish they were also in [REDACTED]s epilogue!
This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling but with the plot of Furyborn mixed in!
Gorgeous beautiful cover and chapter headers
Love the back and forth/past present bc I hated the present LOL
Also yes I followed ReadWithCindy before this and honestly her writing really impressed me! Yet the whole time my internal commentary was read in her voice. Like she wrote something akin to "the snowflake dried like a scab" and I could just hear her sardonic tone saying "ew now I'm picturing peeling a scab" so honestly it made this quite an enjoyable read. Can we have her read and review her own book? Jkjk that might be lowkey traumatizing
Want to read
September 24, 2025it's queer and there's siblings. oml oml oml. i'm a harder sell on fairy tale retellings but i'm excited
Want to read
September 25, 2025I'm so happy for Cindyyyy!! Als this realising in June 2 is such a nice surprise!
September 25, 2025
All I want to say right now is…I am so proud of you. I hope this book is as woke, fruitful, and loud as you are.
I still believe in FAIRY TALES with or without ROSE COLORED GLASSES.
I’m cheering for that stupid ish 🤭✨🫶🏾‼️
I still believe in FAIRY TALES with or without ROSE COLORED GLASSES.
I’m cheering for that stupid ish 🤭✨🫶🏾‼️
March 9, 2026
The story is told in two timelines, the present in a war torn country following the orphan Corin and the past following the titular Sleeping Beauty, Amelia, with other character perspectives woven in.
Some people might call Corin overly cynical and overbearing, but as the daughter of immigrants whose parents left a war-torn country for a better life, I can see so much of the trauma that shaped them in Corin. It’s not an easy weight to carry, and there is no perfect way to handle how it shapes you. I actually loved that she had to grapple with the resentment and love for her sister – and that she had several lies she had to unravel in order to step into the future, but had been caused to some extent to avoid the pain of having hope. Although this was marketed as a sapphic story, I feel like my favorite relationship was between Corin and her sister. They had me bawling my eyes out at some points.
Amelia was a little harder for me to have the same affection for. She was a solid character with clear motivations. And I completely understood that it was a take on a character who has depression (which I have had struggles with myself). But it does to some extent require a lot of effort to love a character with so much privilege and such antipathy to the struggles of others outside herself. It is required to some extent to make the story work, and I’m glad to see the way she developed.
I don’t want to spoil too much but I did love some of the takes on the characters here who could have easily cast as villains but were given complexity in the brief moments they were there. Especially the Queen, she deserved so much 💔
As for the timelines, it does get confusing a little on the climax of the third act (in a way there’s almost what you could call multiple climax moments) however the ending makes the format so worth it. It reminds me of inception a little in the execution. One thing I will note is if you’re looking for a typical happily ever after, this is definitely non-traditional in the romance department.
In this case I think the story lives up to the beauty of the cover. It’s beautiful and rich. It left me with such pangs of melancholy and satisfaction. I’ll miss the characters so much. Thanks Cindy for the wonderful read.
Some people might call Corin overly cynical and overbearing, but as the daughter of immigrants whose parents left a war-torn country for a better life, I can see so much of the trauma that shaped them in Corin. It’s not an easy weight to carry, and there is no perfect way to handle how it shapes you. I actually loved that she had to grapple with the resentment and love for her sister – and that she had several lies she had to unravel in order to step into the future, but had been caused to some extent to avoid the pain of having hope. Although this was marketed as a sapphic story, I feel like my favorite relationship was between Corin and her sister. They had me bawling my eyes out at some points.
Amelia was a little harder for me to have the same affection for. She was a solid character with clear motivations. And I completely understood that it was a take on a character who has depression (which I have had struggles with myself). But it does to some extent require a lot of effort to love a character with so much privilege and such antipathy to the struggles of others outside herself. It is required to some extent to make the story work, and I’m glad to see the way she developed.
I don’t want to spoil too much but I did love some of the takes on the characters here who could have easily cast as villains but were given complexity in the brief moments they were there. Especially the Queen, she deserved so much 💔
As for the timelines, it does get confusing a little on the climax of the third act (in a way there’s almost what you could call multiple climax moments) however the ending makes the format so worth it. It reminds me of inception a little in the execution. One thing I will note is if you’re looking for a typical happily ever after, this is definitely non-traditional in the romance department.
In this case I think the story lives up to the beauty of the cover. It’s beautiful and rich. It left me with such pangs of melancholy and satisfaction. I’ll miss the characters so much. Thanks Cindy for the wonderful read.
Want to read
September 26, 2025I fell over myself to get this in the to-reads. Actively trying not to stim out but it may be stronger than me.
arc-tbr
February 7, 2026
Want to read
September 20, 2025oh cindy... i'm already kicking my feet and giggling
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