Burning Roses

Burning Roses by S.L. Huang

This is a gorgeous little book. A fairytale woven through with both love and regret that follows Rosa and Hou Yi on a quest that forces them to revisit their pasts. And in their own retellings, they encounter some difficult truths about the stories they've told themselves, decisions they've made, and people they've loved. 

The writing is descriptive and beautiful, creating vivid images and engaging the sensory imagination. Huang creates a lush world in this short work that is both tangible and memorable. 

Part quest, part flashback, and part redemption tale, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. 

"The woods surrounded them in dark shades of silver, as if the trees had themselves been carved from moonlight."  

"Her heart leapt and sang, even as it sank, leaden and unsure." 

"Every sense had gone inside out, like her mind had turned slick. She could think, she could move - and in moving, she swam." 

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an unbiased review.