Blanca & Roja

Award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore retells Swan Lake in this spellbinding YA story of sisters who are each other's best friends—and worst enemies.

The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.

The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca is as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.

But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them.

Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.

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400 pages

Average rating: 5.25

4 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Apr 20, 2024
4/10 stars
мне, конечно, совсем не понравилось, но я в принципе могу понять, почему эта книжка могла понравиться кому-то (кто не я). маклемор has their way with words ([она] недавно came out as non-binary, так что теперь [её] местоимение - they), и в принципе вот эта сказочная, точнее даже магически-реалистская интонация поначалу затягивает и создает настроение

но потом становится слишком очевидно, что истории нет. то, что можно описать двумя-тремя фразами, размазывается почти на 500 страниц. особенно под конец становится очевидно, что вот есть в книге 4 POV-персонажа, и сейчас мы каждый эпизод будем видеть глазами каждого из них по очереди, да-да, одна и та же хрень описывается 4 раза, просто поверх события накладывается 4 набора эмоций

не думаю, что продолжу знакомство с этим автором, несмотря на очевидное умение писать, что-то у меня нет времени на подобные мемуары камня в лесу
Game of Tomes
Apr 11, 2023
8/10 stars
Character and atmosphere are at the forefront for this modern, rural retelling of fairytales. Identity is a major theme, especially how other people try to dictate, whether well-meaning or toxic, what someone’s identity should be. Dictating a gender dichotomy. Narrowly defining what a “good girl” is, what a “strong man” is. Designating who should be a hero and who should be a sacrifice. There are shades of many fairytales here; Snow White and Rose Red, The Ugly Duckling, and Swan Lake are the main ones. If you hate fairytales, you’re not gonna like this book. There is more character depth than the typical fairytale, but also far less plot. Striking visuals are important here just as they are for fairytales, and these images will stay with you long after the pages are closed. 8/10 captivating for me but I don’t think it’s for everyone.

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