The link to the blog post that I did about Sisters Of The Snake is posted here. I sincerely adored this book and am chomping at the bit for book 2!

This one follows the story of royal twins who were separated at birth for mystical reasons and the desires of parents wanting to keep their children safe. So I did feel like the way this one was written it has some similar vibes with a movie called It Takes Two, where two girls cross each others path and end up shocked by what they discover. And at first I figured it was just going to be another story similar to It Takes Two, the Parent trap and/or The Man in the Iron Mask, all having to do with a story of royal twin siblings, and its very possible that some of their inspiration was drawn from those, but in the end it defiantly took on a mind of its own.

I found that this was such a fun read, as it went back and forth between the two main characters, the twin sisters and what they each have to deal with both individually and collectively! I can't even say if I liked one sister more than they other because I really enjoyed both of them, as they were both two very different and had such personalities.

And while it did have some dark and horrible situations, there was still a lot of humor, and other features that I tend to really enjoy in a YA. It was such a fun mixture of mystical and supernatural elements with good a back story, mixed with the fun drama of siblings and other mysterious discoveries that I found myself really enjoying every part of this book.

I found myself rooting for pretty much all of the main characters and what's funny is I think my favorite character ending up not being a person but an animal, in this case a reptile. There is a snake that is connected into the main characters and I enjoyed her spunk, attitude and just her over all way as she tended to have so many different angles to her.

This story had so many pieces to it and just seemed to add to the over all mystery and feel to the story, I feel that the story was really well written and it really left me wanting more, I was drawn into this one so much, that I would highly recommend that you check out this one and while on that same note, I really hope that there is a squeal to follow this, and it seems to lead that way.

This one needs a sequel, and I am really hoping that a specific situation happens right from the start should there be a book to follow this, so here's hoping!

thank you so much for reading this review, 5 star read!!
Happy Reading!

YouTube Review!
https://youtu.be/EVlpHVFg_d8

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I absolutely LOVED this! I was already going into it excited since it was a book with loads of representation and Sisters of the Snake exceeded ALL of my expectations and more. I can't wait to read the second book and see where the story ends. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for providing early access to reading this book.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot, the characters and the setting! I had low expectations as I’m not a huge fantasy fan but I enjoyed every minute. Would highly recommend!

This novel is a retelling of The Prince and the Pauper. The story was predictable in the beginning bit got more interesting about midway in the novel. There were times when I wished for more depth to the characters. What I enjoyed, however, were the cultural references in the novel - they did enhance my enjoyment of a story that held no surprises.

This book was good in so many different ways! Firstly I loved how there were elements of Indian culture woven into the fantasy world because that enriched a lot of the world building and added more depth. It was really refreshing to see a main character that was a person of color rather than just a classic white savior, and moreover women of color as the protagonists.
Even though Ria and Rani are twins I loved how each of them was so uniquely written and each had so many layers to who they are as people. Plus the character development was incredible and I loved watching them grow through the triumphs and failures of the their journeys as they discovered more about themselves and others, growing closer as the story progressed.
One specific thing I really enjoyed was the flashbacks that we got through the magic. I thought the authors did an incredible job at describing the magic system in the world building and how Ria and Rani’s memories were such a big part of that which added a layer of mystery to the story. Especially surrounding the bloodstone and the Masters of magic.
The ending was so perfect for this type of novel and though I won’t go into specifics I’m so happy that happiness was granted to all of the characters, royals and non-royals alike. Seeing Ria and Rani bond was literally one of my favorite things and I really hope there’s a sequel because I still have SO MANY questions!!!
I’m so so excited to hopefully see more of Ria and Rani in the future and to explore more of the magic that Sarena and Sasha conjure up.

How do a set of twins, magic and snakes change the destiny of one Kingdom? I was curious to find out. There might be spoilers to this review

I requested this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Sisters of the Snake takes place in the village of Abai where twins Rai and Rani live very different lives. Rai is an orphan who lives as a thief. Rani on the other hand, is the Princess of Abai and lives in the palace.

Are you confused? These sisters have a Sister, Sister moment. If you don't know my reference, please do yourself a favor and Google Sister, Sister. The story line goes back and forth from Rai and Rani's POVs and gives the book's reader's their backgrounds.


Magic has mostly disappeared from the area and areas around Abai, except for the kind of magic that lives in the Palace, Snakespeakers. There are six Masters of Magic, one being Master of Snakes.

Rani is a snakespeaker, along with her father, the Raja. She has a snake familiar, Shima. She also is not allowed outside the palace walls and is preparing to become Queen.

Rai, is a thief who takes to survive on the streets in the village. She and her best friend, Amir, steal together to be able to eat. They stick together.

However, things will change for both of them.

One of the biggest plot points in the story is the 100 year truce between Abai and a nearby village of Kaama that will end soon. Rani wants to prove to her Father, the Raja, that she can be the queen that Abai needs, but that entails her leaving the palace. The Raja and Queen refuse to let her leave. Rai on the other hand, get conscripted for the Raja's army to prepare for war against Kaama once the truce is over. She does not want to be a part of the war, so she and Amir plan to leave Abai and escape from the war. They will need to get fake passports to leave the area, which means they will need to steal something of significant value to afford the passports.

The solution for Ria and Amir? Steal from the Palace. They decide to have Ria go into the Palace and steal from the queen's chambers. Rai's jewel heist is on Diwali night where the Palace is having a celebration. She gets escorted into the palace by a guard and finds her way into not the queen's chambers but Rani's chambers. When she is stealing, she hears someone coming and hides in the princess's closet. Rani hears someone in the closet and demands they come out. That's when the turning point happens. That's when they find out they are twins. My favorite quote from the book is, "You're the one who stole my face.." after Rani see's her jewelry gone from her vanity and calls Rai a thief. This is when they find out their magic is more powerful together. Yes, Rai has magic too. They decide to switch places so Rani can prove that she's a worthy queen and Rai can find out who she really is...

Their true adventures begin then, after they switch places.

As far as my opinions go about this book, I really enjoyed it. It might have been geared to a younger audience but I believe that the magic and fantasy of the story is what really got me sucked in. This book gave me strong Aladdin vibes but with twins. There's a lot of the authors in this book since they are twins themselves. I wish that the romance part of the books wasn't so predictable and that it was more. Twins switching and ending up falling for the other twin's love interest/friend.

The adventure and suspense of what happens in the book was up to par with me standards of adventure. The self-discovery for each of the princesses was gratifying to read. Knowing that they are more than a princess and more than a thief. I also enjoyed the bond that these two have with each other even though they didn't know each other existed until Diwali. The villain in the book gave me SERIOUS Jafar vibes, if Jafar was a female and seeking magical powers. There is so much to this book and the ending leaves something to the imagination.

But as much as I liked it, I will still only be able to rate it 3.5 stars. I knew some of the plot points were going to happen before they did and the love interests/romance was lackluster. But I will be excited if there's another book with these princesses in it because I'm invested in the story.




I do recommend you read this! It was just recently published for everyone to enjoy. If you like fantasy and magic... and Aladdin.

Happy Reading,
Court

I liked this book, not a fan of the magic system though. I loved the characters but some of the scenes felt very brief and rushed in which I couldn't grasp some of the aspects of the character but I loved the way the other characters other than Rani and Ria were presented and their support towards the plot development was good. As an overall the book was good and my favourite aspect is the culture and the scenario in which the story takes place.

I tried to like this book, I did but one of the main characters, Rani just felt very annoying to me. I tried to continue but every time her POV popped up I felt like putting the book down and not continuing and there came a time when I couldn't bring myself to continue reading ahead.

I also felt it started off quite slow - not much was happening for the first 30% of the book and I wanted things to hurry up already.

I really enjoyed this story and once I started I couldn’t put it down!

This book had me hooked from the first chapter! I loved both Ria and Rani and how each of them have such distinct personalities that it was always easy to see who was who. The world the book is set in was so great, I loved seeing all the desi culture in the book from the clothes and food and everything in between. I was literally craving all my fave desi foods by the time I finished reading and it reminded me of my holidays to Bangladesh and Pakistan and I just loved seeing it all so much!

This book had me reeling from all the revelations and I loved how it was all built up slowly and we slowly piece things together by being able to see both Rani and Ria’s point of view we are able to see the foreshadowing and that build up to that explosive ending!

I will say that as someone who is kinda scared of snakes, the pit was actually terrifying! I would not want to be subjected to that as a way to be executed! Although I did grow to like Shima who was Rani’s familiar. She was sarcastic and sassy and I did love seeing how she looked out for both Rani and Ria.

Both Rani and Ria had great character arcs and had great development from the girls we meet at the beginning to who they become over the course of the story. Rani realises how ignorant she has been about the suffering of her people and the injustices they face and that her family isn’t as great as she thought in how they treat the common people. Ria is an angry person because of all the suffering she has been through and seen all her life. She wants to escape but as the story goes on she realises she can make a difference for those who are stuck there. I am looking forward to seeing how they both are in the next book especially the two of them together as we don’t actually get to see them together much as they swap lives and go in different directions.

Of course we also get a dash of romance though it isn’t the main theme it is there woven into the story and I really enjoyed seeing it develop. I liked both the love interests and how they both believed in and supported Rani and Ria. It was nice seeing love interests who supported the person they loved and believed in them.

I’m really looking forward to the sequel after that ending and to see where the story goes and I hope we get to learn more about the magic system in the book too.

The Nanua sisters do a thing where they use words from their language freely and I personally love that! Their descriptions of food and clothing are amazing, along with how they describe architecture of the various locations they visit.

Sisters of the Snake is a book where the plot is just on the tip of your tongue. It’s like how La Croix has an afterthought of a flavour, that’s how this book feels. I can see the potential this book and it’s characters had, however, I feel like in a hurry to get the plot moving they sacrificed character development (like personal growth as well as their relationships with others).

There are also a few potholes, how the two sisters would have looked vastly different having grown up in different environments (despite being twins… nutrition and location can alter how you look). If there was a more thorough investigation or reflection of that in the book I’d find the events more… viable?

Overall, as an adult this book did not vibe with me but I know for a fact that 14 year old me would’ve gobbled it up.

Imagine growing up as an orphan girl, having to steal to survive, and trying to find a way to dodge a conscription into the royal army or growing up as a princess, locked away from the outside world in a gilded cage never experiencing life outside its walls and being forced into a marriage with someone you aren’t sure you love. What happens when both girls meet and realize they both look exactly the same? A deal is made to switch places of course!

This is a retelling of The Prince and The Pauper that’s truly a beautiful story about sisterhood and friendship. The magic system is very unique and creative, snake magic was new to me. The South Asian world and culture is a lovely backdrop, but the heart of the story is within the characters. I loved both Rani and Ria. The sisters couldn’t be any different on the surface, but deep down they are a lot alike. Both share a desire to right the wrongs of the palace and only want what’s best for their country. I loved this book from beginning to end and will definitely read more. The ending left me thinking there will be a sequel, but it didn’t end in a cliffhanger which I appreciate.

This book about twin sisters, written by sisters, is so good! I loved the growth of the two sisters throughout the book as they discover what they truly want for themselves and for their kingdom. I was quickly hooked to this story and can’t wait for the sequel!

Sisters of the Snake by twins and co-authors Sasha and Sarena Nanua is the lush, atmospheric, and suspenseful thrill ride we’ve been waiting on in the category of Southeast Asian rep.

This novel is full of adventure, court intrigue, a lost twin princess, caste issues, and danger.

Ria: street urchins stealing to survive has been conscripted to serve in the Raja’s growing army because war is on the horizon. Ria risks it all in a castle heist with her closest friend, Amir, to avoid certain death. What she doesn’t expect to find is her mirror image staring back at her.

Rani: doomed from birth, her very name proclaiming her fate. While Rani has grown up in luxury, she’s never felt warmth or affection from her parents. Only Saaed, her betrothed, and she’s not even certain if he truly loves her, or the position a relationship with her offers.

In a beautifully written, culturally relevant, and diverse retelling of the Prince and the Pauper, readers will find themselves immersed in a gorgeous culture that drips from every page. You’ll find yourself opening a tab on google to research everything and your tapestry will come together. Bright colors, wonderful clothes, enticing foods and landscapes, plus the looming threat of war are the backdrop for this stunning first volume.

Thank you so much to Harper Teen and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of Sisters of the Snake! This book came out on June 15th, but because of work and life getting in the way, I didn't finish reading it until yesterday. I recently have read so many more Indian or Indian-esque books, and I'm kinda loving it.

Sisters of the Snake 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
A lost princess. A dark puppet master. And a race against time—before all is lost.
Princess Rani longs for a chance to escape her gilded cage and prove herself. Ria is a street urchin, stealing just to keep herself alive.
When these two lives collide, everything turns on its head: because Ria and Rani, orphan and royal, are unmistakably identical.
A deal is struck to switch places—but danger lurks in both worlds, and to save their home, thief and princess must work together. Or watch it all fall into ruin.
Deadly magic, hidden temples, and dark prophecies: Sisters of the Snake is an action-packed, immersive fantasy that will thrill fans of The Crown’s Game and The Tiger at Midnight. 

I really liked the whole twins separated at birth due to a prophecy switching places aspect of this book. I also liked that we got the dual points of view and chapters from each twin- I definitely liked Ria's chapters more than Rani's because it felt like they were more interesting and more was happening, but I'm sure others will like Rani's chapters more. I thought the whole magic system was super interesting and I loved Shima (the snake familiar) so, so much! Both of the love interests were good too and I liked how they were already there when each twin took over the other's life. I thought the villain was interesting and there was a good lead into book 2. This book was very basic though, so make sure that you know that when you go into it and you're not looking for a complex, intense fantasy book. The simpleness of it doesn't make it bad or ruin any of the fun while reading it, but it does lead to some plot holes if you look too closely and super simplistic solutions to some problems (again, not a bad thing).

I did struggle a bit at first with this book but I did enjoy it. I think I will be reading the next book when it comes out because I did like the most parts.

This story is about two girls Ria and Rina. One is a princess and the other an orphan. Princess Rani wants to escape her caged life and prove herself. Ria is a street urchin, stealing just about anything to keep herself alive. When their lives collide the girls never thought it would change forever.

This book has deadly magic, hidden temples, and dark prophecies: That is an action-packed, immersive fantasy. If you like the books The Crown’s Game and The Tiger at Midnight this book is for you.

My review:
I usually don't like fantasy books but I don't regret reading this one at all. It was really good and kept me on the edge of my seat with all the action and mysteries going on. I absolutely love the book cover it's so beautiful and has amazing colors and absolutely goes so well with the story. The authors of this book are 2 twin sisters that are Canadian and I think they did amazing on this book I can't wait to read more. The story was so good and well written and the details were amazing and really made everything so beautiful and magical. I really enjoyed the dual perspectives of the story. This book was a very good read.

Thank you to Haper Collins and Frenzy for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua is the first book of Ria & Rani.

Princess Rani longs to prove herself to her parents, the king and queen. Ria is a thief on the streets, just barely getting by. When their lives collide, it is revealed that they are twins. They decide to switch places. Rani, to get a taste of what the outside world is like, and to complete a quest. Ria, to learn about the parents who gave her up. The sisters soon find themselves involved in dangerous situations. The fate of the land is in their hands as evil once hidden is revealed.

Oh my gosh, this book is so great! It is so fast-paced and action-packed. I loved every minute of it. Can’t wait for more Ria and Rani!

Looking for a fun retelling of the tale of the Prince and the Pauper? Look no further! This was a super quick read, with some awesome magic and that is filled with wonderful details about Indian culture! I keep trying to figure out who my favourite character is but picking between Rani and Ria is hard! 😂 I do however totally love Rani's snake familiar, Shima! Especially when she blushes lol. The end did feel a little rushed and there are a few plot holes but I'm hoping there is another book coming that will answer everything! 😁🙌 Absolutely recommend!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5 (rounded up to 5)

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Canada, and Sarena and Sasha Nanua for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

CW!! Death, physical abuse

"She can't find a way to finish her sentence, and I can't find a reason to run.
Because it's not just the princess of Abai before me.
It's a girl who's my mirror image.
A girl whose face is the same as mine."

The princess, Rani, is desperate to get out of the palace, where she has been confined for years. Her previous tutor is brought in, arrested for treason. Rani is expected to execute him, using her power of snakespeaking to command her familiar, Shima, to attack the man. While she dithers, Tutor passes on two things - a ring, and instructions to find the stone. Seeing his daughter's inability to do as ordered, the raja executes Tutor himself. But now Rani has another reason to escape. The ring, combined with a journal from Tutor she received years ago, leads her to believe that the Bloodstone may be found in the Mailan Foothills. The mythical object can grant a wish, and could be the only thing that can keep the raja from starting a new war with Kaama following the end of a century-long truce.

Ria's always lived rough. After Mama Anita was arrested a year ago, she ran away from the orphanage and has been on the streets ever since, spending most of that time thieving with her partner in crime Amir. They're desperate to leave the country - especially now that Ria's name has come up on the conscription list. They decide that Ria will break into the palace on Diwali night, while the royals are busy with their party. She can steal some jewels, and they can sell them and buy fake passports, and their way out of the country. But her plans change in the palace when she and Rani come face to face. It's Rani's idea - a swap. Ria will stay in the palace, enjoying some luxury for once, and hopefully discovering the truth about her past, while Rani goes on her search, to hopefully ensure a peaceful future.

A lot of this was meh for me, unfortunately. Prince and the Pauper retelling, got it. Fantasy find the mythical object quest. I'm not a big fan of romances, so I was a little disappointed that we had two of them here. Towards the end, it felt like there were a lot of assumptions about how new uses of magic should function that just happen to work. Some characters (one struck me in particular) were just too one-dimensional. The two perspectives often read pretty same-y, and a lot of dialogue was described as she/I "gulped" - I've noticed in the past year or so that if an author uses the same word or phrase too often, I really notice and it distracts me from whatever else is happening in the text. Also, this book has a case of the description from the publisher being more spoiler-y than it should be. However, teens who may not be as familiar with these storylines may enjoy this, and it does have a unique magic system.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eARC. Sisters of the Snake came out earlier this week, June 15th.