Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua, a sister author duo, was a fantastical and beautiful read! I love that this is an Indian/Desi-inspired fantasy retelling of the Prince and the Pauper because there is something so amazing about diversifying your bookshelf and reading inclusive books!
I personally like diverse retellings of classic literature and folklore – it brings in different perspectives, voices, and nuances!
Before we get to the book review and overview, I want to give out a few trigger warnings within the book. Despite fiction books being a form of escapism from the realities of our world, sometimes those realities can be reflected in fiction.
Trigger Warnings
- Death
- Violence (Torture)
- Child Abuse
- Confinement
- Bullying
Disclaimer
- Book reviews are based on my personal opinion, my thoughts while reading the book, and how the book fulfills my book rating system and its categories.
- Reviews are not meant to be hurtful – we all have different opinions on what we like in books, such as preferences in story point of view (POV), writing style, story pacing, etc.
For my reviews, I will do my best to create spoiler-free book reviews to those who have not read the book or those who plan to read the book in the future.
Now here is a breakdown of the six categories:
- PLOT: The story develops with the characters’ growth and plot. In Abai, Rani is a princess sheltered from the outside world and her kingdom; Ria is an orphan and skilled thief who wants to leave the city of Nabh to avoid her conscription royal army for the upcoming war. In need of money, Ria sneaks into the palace to steal as a way to leave the country until she unexpectedly comes face-to-face with Rani, who are identical to each other! Rani convinces Ria to switch places on Diwali night to experience the life of the other. As the war grows near, both girls must figure out the mysterious prophecy and search for a mythical object to save Abai.
- SETTING: The story’s main settings are the country of Abai – between the city of Nabh and the Royal Palace. Additionally, the book references other Rani and Ria world locations like Amratstan, Kakmaan, and the Mailan Foothills. I really admire the world-building in this series!
- WRITING STYLE: The Nanua sisters writing was marvelous – a balance of physical details, action, & inner monologue! Chapters are written in different Character POVs (point of view): Ria and Rani. The dialogue was enjoyable in the book. The medium pacing of the story builds up the plot and the action of the story. I will critique that there were some scenes and dialogues that felt a bit formulaic and predictable.
- CONFLICT/ RESOLUTION: Since the story focuses on Rani and Ria, the book centers on their respective internal/external conflicts within their chapter POV. They both discover new things about themselves and their motivations, which progresses and shifts along with the story plot. One critique would be that near the ending, where some conflicts are resolved too easily, and others are unresolved/ unanswered.
- CHARACTERS: The primary characters are Rani (the sheltered princess) and Ria (the orphan and thief). Supporting characters include Amir (Ria’s friend), Saeed (Rani’s tutor and betrothed). Like most prince-and-pauper retellings, supporting and minor characters clash or question the actions of the switched duo. In addition, the minor characters (such as the adults in the story and flashbacks) help the reader move the story forward and illustrate the main characters’ motivations and personalities.
- CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: As a reader, I could already see some character development and growth (particularly in Part II of the book). There was a lot of internal/external conflict between Rani and Ria and how they changed from the beginning to the end – especially when unraveling mysteries about themselves and their country. The book’s main characters’ internal/external conflicts regarding love, confidence, and identity were wonderfully crafted. The Nanua sisters illustrate the blossoming young love of teenagers, the complication of feelings and circumstances, and the search for truth and answers.
Overall Book Rating & Review
Sisters of the Snake took me some time to complete reading, but I enjoyed it so much whenever I had the chance to delve into this book!
Sisters of Snake was a beautiful Prince and the Pauper retelling! The plot twists and character growth kept me wanting more; The inclusion of Indian culture and cuisine was so beautifully done to craft the story’s colorful and vibrant world! I enjoyed the character development and world-building the most! The plot and conflict/ resolution enticed me into reading the story!
However, I felt like some of the conflict/resolution and dialogue were formulaic and predictable at times. I was saddened that there was no map of this world for such a wonderful fantasy world-building story – A map is not really necessary, but I would have liked it paired with this beautiful fantasy world and the lovely dust jacket. I felt like some of the dialogue and conflict/resolution was predictable for my liking, but the last chapter definitely made up for it!
Therefore, it’s a 4 Star rating for me! I’m looking forward to reading the second book of Ria and Rani!
Found Book Tropes
- Prince and the Pauper
- Street Urchin
- Sheltered Princess
- Swapped Roles
- Twin Switch
- Arranged Marriage
- Plot Twist
- Cliff Hanger
NOTE: A sequel to Sisters of the Snake is being worked on at the time of this blog post so a released date has not been announced at this time.
Questions for You
- What are your thoughts on Sisters of the Snake?
- Are there any book retellings you recommend?
- What are some things you hope to be in the sequel?
Midnight Skies 