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Coiled
A healing touch. A hideous face. A looming curse.
As the ugly twin to a perfect sister, Princess Laidra lives her life in the shadows--until her parents offer her as bait for a giant serpent.
Her escape attempt leaves her shipwrecked on a secluded island with only one inhabitant: Prince Calen, who lives under a curse. If anyone looks upon him, he turns into a giant serpent. Speaking to him in the darkness, Laidra sees past the monster to Calen's lonely soul, and she determines to free him from the magic's hold.
But if Laidra can't break the curse in time, Calen will become a mindless creature of scales and fangs forever.
A YA mythology/romance that retells the myth of Eros and Psyche with adventure, magic, and true love.
As the ugly twin to a perfect sister, Princess Laidra lives her life in the shadows--until her parents offer her as bait for a giant serpent.
Her escape attempt leaves her shipwrecked on a secluded island with only one inhabitant: Prince Calen, who lives under a curse. If anyone looks upon him, he turns into a giant serpent. Speaking to him in the darkness, Laidra sees past the monster to Calen's lonely soul, and she determines to free him from the magic's hold.
But if Laidra can't break the curse in time, Calen will become a mindless creature of scales and fangs forever.
A YA mythology/romance that retells the myth of Eros and Psyche with adventure, magic, and true love.
234 pages, Paperback
Published June 15, 2017
12 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Burke
94 books566 followersBorn in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 8, 2017
**3.5 stars rounded down to 3**
Oh boy. Okay, so I had the hardest time deciding how to rate this book because I had so many differing thoughts about it. I finished it last night but needed some time to organize my thoughts.
First of all, Coiled was the first (I believe) romance novel I've read. Romance is not a genre that I've ever found appealing, but Coiled drew my attention through its fantasy-based setting and premise.
Let me also point out that the writing itself was professional. Were my rating based on style/voice alone, this would have easily been 4-5 full stars.
Here are some of the aspects of Coiled that I enjoyed/appreciated the most:
-Laidra as a protagonist evokes a very tangible sense of empathy. Not only that, but she's a complex, relatable character that doesn't rely on physical prowess or a haughty nature to be "strong", something I detest about current trends.
- The overarching themes/messages are convicting without being preachy, and they're lessons I think a LOT more YA books need to be instilling in young readers. Emphasis on the word 'overarching'. More on that later.
- The bickering between the demi-gods (is that the right term?) towards the end got pretty entertaining.
- I wasn't familiar with the Greek mythos behind this story, but I feel like the plot stands on its own. For a guy who generally avoids romance novels AND retellings like jalapeños on a summer day, the fact that I genuinely enjoyed this book--which is both--says something about the story's strength.
- I really appreciated the fact that most of the antagonists ended up with varying degrees of redemption. A refreshing change from the average BAD GUY LOSE AND GO BOOM.
I did, however, have a few problems:
- Some of the moments that could have had a lot of emotional impact () and the affected characters' reactions to those moments felt glossed over. I felt they needed to slow down and really develop those moments to maximize that impact. They weren't bad at all, just...I was left wishing for more punch, I guess.
- For a book that markets itself as clean YA (and given what little I know about the author's background), there was quite a bit of material that honestly made me uncomfortable. Naked characters (because of plot reasons), frequent and casual mentions of physical intimacy, drawn-out perversion in the case of some characters, and multiple instances of extended physical interaction with clear sexual implications between characters who barely know each other at first (again, for plot reasons) kept catching me off guard because the overall tone and "feel" of the book is based on genuine, clean/pure relationships. Never anything graphic or explicit, but it kind of felt like opposing magnets trying to coexist in the same space. This was my main issue with the book and the biggest reason why I didn't give it 4 stars. Because, again, it's marketed as a clean read for young audiences, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it to Christ-centered teens (which, as far as I can tell, are the primary intended target audience) despite its solid and valuable overall message.
- On a less significant note (sorry, that last point really got me going!), I don't think the Greek mythology and the vague/subtle Christian worldview meshed as well as the author probably meant them to. It wasn't a prominent enough factor to make a huge difference for me, though. I just wish the author had chosen one or the other, and for this specific story, I think the mythology had more going for it for obvious reasons.
- On an even less significant note, the magic (supernatural power?) was too ambiguous for me to really appreciate it. I didn't really understand the curses, or how they worked, until the very end. Moreover, Zephia's pendant/jewel thingy made no sense to me. It seemed to function based on plot convenience with little to no explanation of what it actually is or why it does what it does.
All that being said, please take this review with the following grains of salt:
-I'm not a romance genre reader. Never have been, never will be.
-I'm a pessimist, and I'm picky when it comes to books.
-I brought up these points not to be a party-pooper, but because I valued the book enough to put careful thought behind my review/discussion and the matters I thought were important.
- I DID ENJOY READING THIS STORY OVERALL! It definitely has a lot of strengths and very human, relatable, and LIKEABLE characters. H.L. Burke is unquestionably a talented writer and story-teller, and I envy her ability to create such well-rounded protagonists.
Oh boy. Okay, so I had the hardest time deciding how to rate this book because I had so many differing thoughts about it. I finished it last night but needed some time to organize my thoughts.
First of all, Coiled was the first (I believe) romance novel I've read. Romance is not a genre that I've ever found appealing, but Coiled drew my attention through its fantasy-based setting and premise.
Let me also point out that the writing itself was professional. Were my rating based on style/voice alone, this would have easily been 4-5 full stars.
Here are some of the aspects of Coiled that I enjoyed/appreciated the most:
-Laidra as a protagonist evokes a very tangible sense of empathy. Not only that, but she's a complex, relatable character that doesn't rely on physical prowess or a haughty nature to be "strong", something I detest about current trends.
- The overarching themes/messages are convicting without being preachy, and they're lessons I think a LOT more YA books need to be instilling in young readers. Emphasis on the word 'overarching'. More on that later.
- The bickering between the demi-gods (is that the right term?) towards the end got pretty entertaining.
- I wasn't familiar with the Greek mythos behind this story, but I feel like the plot stands on its own. For a guy who generally avoids romance novels AND retellings like jalapeños on a summer day, the fact that I genuinely enjoyed this book--which is both--says something about the story's strength.
- I really appreciated the fact that most of the antagonists ended up with varying degrees of redemption. A refreshing change from the average BAD GUY LOSE AND GO BOOM.
I did, however, have a few problems:
- Some of the moments that could have had a lot of emotional impact () and the affected characters' reactions to those moments felt glossed over. I felt they needed to slow down and really develop those moments to maximize that impact. They weren't bad at all, just...I was left wishing for more punch, I guess.
- For a book that markets itself as clean YA (and given what little I know about the author's background), there was quite a bit of material that honestly made me uncomfortable. Naked characters (because of plot reasons), frequent and casual mentions of physical intimacy, drawn-out perversion in the case of some characters, and multiple instances of extended physical interaction with clear sexual implications between characters who barely know each other at first (again, for plot reasons) kept catching me off guard because the overall tone and "feel" of the book is based on genuine, clean/pure relationships. Never anything graphic or explicit, but it kind of felt like opposing magnets trying to coexist in the same space. This was my main issue with the book and the biggest reason why I didn't give it 4 stars. Because, again, it's marketed as a clean read for young audiences, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it to Christ-centered teens (which, as far as I can tell, are the primary intended target audience) despite its solid and valuable overall message.
- On a less significant note (sorry, that last point really got me going!), I don't think the Greek mythology and the vague/subtle Christian worldview meshed as well as the author probably meant them to. It wasn't a prominent enough factor to make a huge difference for me, though. I just wish the author had chosen one or the other, and for this specific story, I think the mythology had more going for it for obvious reasons.
- On an even less significant note, the magic (supernatural power?) was too ambiguous for me to really appreciate it. I didn't really understand the curses, or how they worked, until the very end. Moreover, Zephia's pendant/jewel thingy made no sense to me. It seemed to function based on plot convenience with little to no explanation of what it actually is or why it does what it does.
All that being said, please take this review with the following grains of salt:
-I'm not a romance genre reader. Never have been, never will be.
-I'm a pessimist, and I'm picky when it comes to books.
-I brought up these points not to be a party-pooper, but because I valued the book enough to put careful thought behind my review/discussion and the matters I thought were important.
- I DID ENJOY READING THIS STORY OVERALL! It definitely has a lot of strengths and very human, relatable, and LIKEABLE characters. H.L. Burke is unquestionably a talented writer and story-teller, and I envy her ability to create such well-rounded protagonists.
June 12, 2018
The reviews that alerted me to its release said Coiled was a retelling of the myth of Eros & Psyche, one of my favourites. Which proved to be true, although partially.
Because I believe it's also based on the 17th century salon fairy tale The Green Serpent by Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, that was also inspired by Eros & Psyche, so it would make Coiled a retelling of a retelling. As it isn't well-known today, I don't expect most would've known and noted down that fact, but I bet author H. L. Burke has read (or at the very least is familiar with) the tale by Madame d'Aulnoy, owing to not only the presence of the basic plotline from that tale but also to the number of elements that will be recognisable to those who read the French tale. It's not hard to spot, really. Just a couple examples, Prince Calen's cursed state is exactly the same as for the Green Serpent, and the protagonist princess from d'Aulnoy is called Laidronette and in Burke's she is called Laidra (from Laide = ugly).
But it isn't purely fairy-tale based; it also has other elements from Greek mythology, specifically the legend of Perseus and Andromeda, and the Gorgons that transform people into stone with a glance. And it also has the Hero Quest plot typical of Hellenic stories. Worldbuilding-wise, it's also recognisably an Ancient Greece derivative world, with the places and cities and gods sporting different nomenclature. And plot-wise, it's a sweet story, appropriate for the target audience, and uncomplicated, to be savoured when you're in for something shortish and charming.
For those interested, SurLaLune has Madame d'Aulnoy's tale for reading online here.
Because I believe it's also based on the 17th century salon fairy tale The Green Serpent by Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, that was also inspired by Eros & Psyche, so it would make Coiled a retelling of a retelling. As it isn't well-known today, I don't expect most would've known and noted down that fact, but I bet author H. L. Burke has read (or at the very least is familiar with) the tale by Madame d'Aulnoy, owing to not only the presence of the basic plotline from that tale but also to the number of elements that will be recognisable to those who read the French tale. It's not hard to spot, really. Just a couple examples, Prince Calen's cursed state is exactly the same as for the Green Serpent, and the protagonist princess from d'Aulnoy is called Laidronette and in Burke's she is called Laidra (from Laide = ugly).
But it isn't purely fairy-tale based; it also has other elements from Greek mythology, specifically the legend of Perseus and Andromeda, and the Gorgons that transform people into stone with a glance. And it also has the Hero Quest plot typical of Hellenic stories. Worldbuilding-wise, it's also recognisably an Ancient Greece derivative world, with the places and cities and gods sporting different nomenclature. And plot-wise, it's a sweet story, appropriate for the target audience, and uncomplicated, to be savoured when you're in for something shortish and charming.
For those interested, SurLaLune has Madame d'Aulnoy's tale for reading online here.
June 23, 2017
Greek mythology retold. A giant, man-eating serpent. A rejected princess with a hideous curse and an astounding gift.
From the moment I first heard about H.L.'s upcoming novel to the moment I saw the cover, I knew this was a story I wanted to read.
A retelling of Eros & Psyche, as well as a Beauty & the Beast retelling in its own right, Coiled is the story of Laidra -- a girl forced into hiding by her own family, treated as if she was the child who was never meant to be, and thrown into political schemes as bait for a monstrous snake.
The characters -- Calen is so adorable! Which is saying a lot, because I hate snakes. But (thankfully!), Calen was no problem for me! He was such a cute, lovely little ginormous guy! ^_^
ZEPHIA. She was probably my favorite character in the entire book! A clever, powerful demigoddess, daughter to a wind god? Yes, please!
And Valen. Uhg, Valen. He and his father are both such terrible people that I love/hate it. The pair of them would both, without a doubt, qualify for Paper Fury's "best worst villain to hate".
The romance -- The romance was definitely sweet. As the story progressed, however, I felt like the affection between Laidra and Calen was starting to be displayed a little too physically. A good dose of innocence in the romantic area would've been preferred, but otherwise, the romance was considerably clean. (See notes below.)
The writing -- H.L.'s voice is fast-paced, but not too much -- just enough to keep the story going at a likable, adventure-ready pace.
The setting -- The mythology elements shown through just enough to deliver an allegorical tale evidently set in a fantasy land inspired by ancient Greece. And, being the Greek mythology nerd that I am, I loved uncovering the subtle little references to characters such as Theseus and Perseus!
The plot -- About halfway through, when a certain unfortunate event occurred to a certain primary character, an unforeseen journey came into view. I tend to prefer romance in a story when it's "all or nothing", so I personally would've liked that journey to... not exist? It was certainly enlightening and relevant to the story, but I would've preferred to focus on the relationship between the main characters.
This made for such a lovely read! I'd recommend this to anyone searching for a sweet, romantic read with mythological elements thrown in. :)
You may want to know: There are some brief and rather undescriptive references to nudity, as well as strong suggestions/implications. There is violence and references to warfare, along with the involvement of "gods", drinking, magical elements, and kissing. The "ba-word" is used once.
NOTE: I received a free ebook copy of Coiled from the author, in exchange for my honest review. Read my original review here: http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/2017/0....
From the moment I first heard about H.L.'s upcoming novel to the moment I saw the cover, I knew this was a story I wanted to read.
A retelling of Eros & Psyche, as well as a Beauty & the Beast retelling in its own right, Coiled is the story of Laidra -- a girl forced into hiding by her own family, treated as if she was the child who was never meant to be, and thrown into political schemes as bait for a monstrous snake.
The characters -- Calen is so adorable! Which is saying a lot, because I hate snakes. But (thankfully!), Calen was no problem for me! He was such a cute, lovely little ginormous guy! ^_^
ZEPHIA. She was probably my favorite character in the entire book! A clever, powerful demigoddess, daughter to a wind god? Yes, please!
And Valen. Uhg, Valen. He and his father are both such terrible people that I love/hate it. The pair of them would both, without a doubt, qualify for Paper Fury's "best worst villain to hate".
The romance -- The romance was definitely sweet. As the story progressed, however, I felt like the affection between Laidra and Calen was starting to be displayed a little too physically. A good dose of innocence in the romantic area would've been preferred, but otherwise, the romance was considerably clean. (See notes below.)
The writing -- H.L.'s voice is fast-paced, but not too much -- just enough to keep the story going at a likable, adventure-ready pace.
The setting -- The mythology elements shown through just enough to deliver an allegorical tale evidently set in a fantasy land inspired by ancient Greece. And, being the Greek mythology nerd that I am, I loved uncovering the subtle little references to characters such as Theseus and Perseus!
The plot -- About halfway through, when a certain unfortunate event occurred to a certain primary character, an unforeseen journey came into view. I tend to prefer romance in a story when it's "all or nothing", so I personally would've liked that journey to... not exist? It was certainly enlightening and relevant to the story, but I would've preferred to focus on the relationship between the main characters.
This made for such a lovely read! I'd recommend this to anyone searching for a sweet, romantic read with mythological elements thrown in. :)
You may want to know: There are some brief and rather undescriptive references to nudity, as well as strong suggestions/implications. There is violence and references to warfare, along with the involvement of "gods", drinking, magical elements, and kissing. The "ba-word" is used once.
NOTE: I received a free ebook copy of Coiled from the author, in exchange for my honest review. Read my original review here: http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/2017/0....
May 17, 2021
I love the tale of Psyche and Eros ever since I studied it back in a mythology class in college. But retellings of it are rare, especially since most retellings end up more similar to East of the Sun, West of the Moon (a very closely related tale that is VERY similar) and less like Psyche and Eros.
This one is a true Psyche and Eros retelling with a few glimmers of East of the Sun, West of the Moon thrown in. The main characters were well done, and I loved some of the ways that the tale was twisted and retold! As this one sticks very close to the myth, there are mentions of gods and goddesses in a very Greek/Roman gods kind of way, but these are revealed to be under the true power of the unknown God.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator was all right. Not terribly annoying, but not spectacular either (and the narration had a background hiss the entire time). But I still enjoyed the book despite some of the flaws in the audiobook.
This one is a true Psyche and Eros retelling with a few glimmers of East of the Sun, West of the Moon thrown in. The main characters were well done, and I loved some of the ways that the tale was twisted and retold! As this one sticks very close to the myth, there are mentions of gods and goddesses in a very Greek/Roman gods kind of way, but these are revealed to be under the true power of the unknown God.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator was all right. Not terribly annoying, but not spectacular either (and the narration had a background hiss the entire time). But I still enjoyed the book despite some of the flaws in the audiobook.
August 2, 2020
Thank you so much to NetGalley an Uncommon Universes Press for allowing me to read and review this lovely myth retelling by H.L. Burke. This was, I believe, actually based off a Greek myth, but also has strong elements of "Beauty and the Beast" incorporated. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It takes place in a mythical island kingdom where twin princesses have been cursed shortly after birth. One is incredibly lovely, and only grows lovelier every time she is cruel to someone or something. Her twin has a sort of opposing power, the power to heal, but is physically ugly, and every time she uses her power, a new wart or other blemish appears. Laydra, the shunned sister, is forced to live under veils and kept away from anyone who might see her. Eventually, her parents send her away to another island where another pair of male twins is also cursed, Calen, the "worse" twin of the pair turning into a giant snake anytime someone sets eyes on him.
'
As you can imagine, a touching and sweet romance ensues, and I genuinely enjoyed the way the author developed their relationship despite the challenges and insecurities both carried. The secondary characters and political machinations were also interesting to read. Overall a very nice fairy tale retelling.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
It takes place in a mythical island kingdom where twin princesses have been cursed shortly after birth. One is incredibly lovely, and only grows lovelier every time she is cruel to someone or something. Her twin has a sort of opposing power, the power to heal, but is physically ugly, and every time she uses her power, a new wart or other blemish appears. Laydra, the shunned sister, is forced to live under veils and kept away from anyone who might see her. Eventually, her parents send her away to another island where another pair of male twins is also cursed, Calen, the "worse" twin of the pair turning into a giant snake anytime someone sets eyes on him.
'
As you can imagine, a touching and sweet romance ensues, and I genuinely enjoyed the way the author developed their relationship despite the challenges and insecurities both carried. The secondary characters and political machinations were also interesting to read. Overall a very nice fairy tale retelling.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
September 7, 2017
9/6
3.5 stars
I was looking for something short and pleasant, and this fit the bill. I liked the protagonists, the curses were interesting, and I love the concept behind the romance: two people become friends and then fall in love based solely on the strength of their respective characters and shared interests. Like sign me RIGHT UP.
There's a few things you should probably know going in. In no particular order:
1. This book has some vague Christian overtones...or rather, vague monotheistic overtones, I suppose. I mention this because I know this can be a deal-breaker or a deal-maker for some readers.
It was a little jarring in a story set in a society with its own pantheon of gods, but it worked well enough, I guess.
2. There's some definite deus ex machina, BUT this book draws heavily from Greek mythology (especially Cupid and Psyche), and in my reading experience, Greek gods have a hard time NOT meddling, so it belongs here.
3. There's a scene in which Calen's brother and father are HUGE CREEPS (surprising no one) towards a woman who is, if not specifically a sex slave, a slave - like all slaves- who does not get a say in what sexual things they do/did/will do to/with her. This serves as an establishing character moment for them, but yIKES. Endless yikes. It seemed kind of unnecessary.
I generally enjoyed this book, but I am super salty about the following very spoilery thing:
I generally enjoyed this one, especially the first half (give or take), despite my saltiness, and would have liked for it to have been a bit longer (or maybe even stretched out into two books...yes, I know
I said I wanted something short. Shush.). I'd definitely read more books set in this world!
9/5
3.5 stars. I need a bit to compose my thoughts, but I'll share em when I do.
3.5 stars
I was looking for something short and pleasant, and this fit the bill. I liked the protagonists, the curses were interesting, and I love the concept behind the romance: two people become friends and then fall in love based solely on the strength of their respective characters and shared interests. Like sign me RIGHT UP.
There's a few things you should probably know going in. In no particular order:
1. This book has some vague Christian overtones...or rather, vague monotheistic overtones, I suppose. I mention this because I know this can be a deal-breaker or a deal-maker for some readers.
It was a little jarring in a story set in a society with its own pantheon of gods, but it worked well enough, I guess.
2. There's some definite deus ex machina, BUT this book draws heavily from Greek mythology (especially Cupid and Psyche), and in my reading experience, Greek gods have a hard time NOT meddling, so it belongs here.
3. There's a scene in which Calen's brother and father are HUGE CREEPS (surprising no one) towards a woman who is, if not specifically a sex slave, a slave - like all slaves- who does not get a say in what sexual things they do/did/will do to/with her. This serves as an establishing character moment for them, but yIKES. Endless yikes. It seemed kind of unnecessary.
I generally enjoyed this book, but I am super salty about the following very spoilery thing:
I generally enjoyed this one, especially the first half (give or take), despite my saltiness, and would have liked for it to have been a bit longer (or maybe even stretched out into two books...yes, I know
I said I wanted something short. Shush.). I'd definitely read more books set in this world!
9/5
3.5 stars. I need a bit to compose my thoughts, but I'll share em when I do.
August 14, 2017
Alright, I'll admit, I was leery going into this book because the cover is a little teenie bopper and the characters are 16. Not my usual style, but I'm a sucker for anything even vaguely beauty and the beast. And I was NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL.
If you haven't read this book, the only thing I have to say to you is
This book was so incredibly sweet, and honestly, I've been in a reading funk. There are SO MANY books out there that are just.... blah. I've been avoiding reading lately just because I couldn't find something that made me want to keep reading.
Until this book.
I stayed up until 1am because I refused to put it down, and the ending was perfection. There were a few grammar and spelling errors I picked up on, but nothing to make me even think about docking this book any stars.
The lines were so beautiful I found myself reading them out loud to hear what they sounded like. Yes the characters read as a LOT older than 16 (like a lot) but that was part of why I liked this book so much. It didn't come off as a YA, although the parents were involved quite a bit, and I was thoroughly pleased by that. I mean some of the quotes are just perfection.
I can't imagine anything more valuable than what you have given to me and... I think I would sacrifice anything rather than lose your friendship."
Noooooooo my heart! Stop it. I can't.
Whatever happens, I don't blame you. I know you; you're good and kind and whatever happens next won't be you.
Anyways, go run and grab this book. It's full of wonderful, realistic, heart wrenching characters. Gorgeous magical backdrops and a uniquely thought out world. Amazing snakes and inspiration taken from all kinds of interesting Pantheons. And wonderfully engaging, thoughtful, writing.
Now as soon as I get my paycheck, I'm ordering a hardcopy of this sucker to sit on my shelf with the rest of the books I was pleasantly surprised with.
If you haven't read this book, the only thing I have to say to you is
This book was so incredibly sweet, and honestly, I've been in a reading funk. There are SO MANY books out there that are just.... blah. I've been avoiding reading lately just because I couldn't find something that made me want to keep reading.
Until this book.
I stayed up until 1am because I refused to put it down, and the ending was perfection. There were a few grammar and spelling errors I picked up on, but nothing to make me even think about docking this book any stars.
The lines were so beautiful I found myself reading them out loud to hear what they sounded like. Yes the characters read as a LOT older than 16 (like a lot) but that was part of why I liked this book so much. It didn't come off as a YA, although the parents were involved quite a bit, and I was thoroughly pleased by that. I mean some of the quotes are just perfection.
I can't imagine anything more valuable than what you have given to me and... I think I would sacrifice anything rather than lose your friendship."
Noooooooo my heart! Stop it. I can't.
Whatever happens, I don't blame you. I know you; you're good and kind and whatever happens next won't be you.
Anyways, go run and grab this book. It's full of wonderful, realistic, heart wrenching characters. Gorgeous magical backdrops and a uniquely thought out world. Amazing snakes and inspiration taken from all kinds of interesting Pantheons. And wonderfully engaging, thoughtful, writing.
Now as soon as I get my paycheck, I'm ordering a hardcopy of this sucker to sit on my shelf with the rest of the books I was pleasantly surprised with.
April 7, 2020
I got a copy of this at a conference and then read it on the plane ride home. Yep, read the whole thing in one sitting. I've said in my reviews of other of HL Burke's books that I've enjoyed them. Well, I'm pretty much a lifelong fan now.
The story is gripping, the characters really interesting and developed, and relatable (even though I don't have magic and don't turn into a giant green snake if someone looks at me :P ). I loved Laidra. She was gentle and kind even if her appearance was considered hideous. She could have chosen to hide away forever, but she wants nothing more than to use her gift. She has a great and satisfying arc that leaves you cheering (but not loudly since I was on a crowded plane ;) ).
Even if the villains are horrible, they're still portrayed as human and obviously hurting, so you end up kind of rooting for some of them to come back to being decent people. And a few of them do.
The pacing was perfect. You think things are going well and then....they don't. A lot of fun twists and turns, and a very satisfying ending! The romance was adorable. Laidra and Calen are so precious together!
The only thing I had a brief problem with is the ages of the characters. I was a bit confused on the MCs' ages and not sure I bought Laidra as a 16 year old. But it's not really a big deal at all.
So yeah, loved it! And I highly recommend!
* there was a bit of "sensual" stuff in here and references/characters feelings about consummating a marriage. There's no details, but since the breaking of the curse involves marriage, it gets brought up. But like I said, nothing specific and detailed.
The story is gripping, the characters really interesting and developed, and relatable (even though I don't have magic and don't turn into a giant green snake if someone looks at me :P ). I loved Laidra. She was gentle and kind even if her appearance was considered hideous. She could have chosen to hide away forever, but she wants nothing more than to use her gift. She has a great and satisfying arc that leaves you cheering (but not loudly since I was on a crowded plane ;) ).
Even if the villains are horrible, they're still portrayed as human and obviously hurting, so you end up kind of rooting for some of them to come back to being decent people. And a few of them do.
The pacing was perfect. You think things are going well and then....they don't. A lot of fun twists and turns, and a very satisfying ending! The romance was adorable. Laidra and Calen are so precious together!
The only thing I had a brief problem with is the ages of the characters. I was a bit confused on the MCs' ages and not sure I bought Laidra as a 16 year old. But it's not really a big deal at all.
So yeah, loved it! And I highly recommend!
* there was a bit of "sensual" stuff in here and references/characters feelings about consummating a marriage. There's no details, but since the breaking of the curse involves marriage, it gets brought up. But like I said, nothing specific and detailed.
August 14, 2017
I love H.L. Burke’s books, so I was absolutely delighted when I won this in a giveaway! (I loathe snakes, but her funny snek memes make me laugh, and I ended up really enjoying this book despite the scary snakes. XD)
I was only vaguely familiar with the Eros and Psyche myth this retells, but it did feel familiar enough (and kind of Beauty-and-the-Beast-ish too), that I quite enjoyed the retelling aspect! :)
The mirror curses were fascinating and that whole fairytale-ish element was well done!
It had a rather “Greek myth” feel to it, even though it’s clearly supposed to be a bit different, which was interesting because I haven’t read much like that. It felt fresh and different for a fantasy novel. The mix of “gods” with a Christian theme was surprisingly well done!
I loved the sweet true-love romance and these lovable characters and their great dialog. :D Quite fun! ^_^
Laidra was such a good soul, and Calen was super nice and awesome. :) Also, Zephia was really cool. :O I loved the parts with her and Laidra as well, even if I missed Calen for those bits.
The villainous characters were chilling and creepy, but also oddly human, so that you get the feeling they’re just hardened from their lives and more “real” and sometimes almost feel bad for a couple of them—almost. :P Not quite. XD
Some of it was grittier than I would have liked and I could have done without a few of the references, but mostly it was just very well written and gripping. :)
Overall, it’s not my favorite but I still really liked it! It’s a great fairytale romance tale, fresh, engaging—sometimes fun or heartbreaking or sweet by turns. I quite enjoyed it! ^_^ Looking forward to more great novels by this author! :)
(Note: I won a copy of this book in a giveaway and was not required to write a review; these opinions are my own.)
(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
I was only vaguely familiar with the Eros and Psyche myth this retells, but it did feel familiar enough (and kind of Beauty-and-the-Beast-ish too), that I quite enjoyed the retelling aspect! :)
The mirror curses were fascinating and that whole fairytale-ish element was well done!
It had a rather “Greek myth” feel to it, even though it’s clearly supposed to be a bit different, which was interesting because I haven’t read much like that. It felt fresh and different for a fantasy novel. The mix of “gods” with a Christian theme was surprisingly well done!
I loved the sweet true-love romance and these lovable characters and their great dialog. :D Quite fun! ^_^
Laidra was such a good soul, and Calen was super nice and awesome. :) Also, Zephia was really cool. :O I loved the parts with her and Laidra as well, even if I missed Calen for those bits.
The villainous characters were chilling and creepy, but also oddly human, so that you get the feeling they’re just hardened from their lives and more “real” and sometimes almost feel bad for a couple of them—almost. :P Not quite. XD
Some of it was grittier than I would have liked and I could have done without a few of the references, but mostly it was just very well written and gripping. :)
Overall, it’s not my favorite but I still really liked it! It’s a great fairytale romance tale, fresh, engaging—sometimes fun or heartbreaking or sweet by turns. I quite enjoyed it! ^_^ Looking forward to more great novels by this author! :)
(Note: I won a copy of this book in a giveaway and was not required to write a review; these opinions are my own.)
(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
June 15, 2017
I don't normally consider myself a romance reader--apparently, only when it's done right, and Coiled does it really right. I was originally interested in this book because of the myth-retelling aspect, but got sucked in to a well-told tale with many twists and coils. Pun intended.
A twist on Eros and Pysche, the story of Laidra and Calen is at times heartbreaking, heartwarming, and full of intrigue, adventure, and even an Olympian-style quest.
Laidra is cursed with hideousness that worsens whenever she heals someone, while Calen is cursed with the incredibly debilitating--and rather inconvenient to say the least--problem of turning into a giant snake when he is seen by another person. There's beautiful symmetry with the two curses, and ugly humanity rears its head in different ways when their respective families are confronted with just how to handle their cursed children.
I enjoyed this read from beginning to end, and though I thought I could see where it was going one moment, was pleasantly surprised by each turn of events. I thought the tale was expertly woven, and--importantly for me--no cringe-worthy romance: I loved watching Laidra and Calen's relationship develop right from the start.
Burke's characters always have real depth to them, especially here. Even the gods and demi-gods, though by definition are stuck within a certain role, each has quite a personality and lends their voice to the story.
Would highly recommend for a pleasant read that will give you a good adventure, love, curses, intrigue, and even a magical beast or two!
I read an advanced copy and was happy to review.
A twist on Eros and Pysche, the story of Laidra and Calen is at times heartbreaking, heartwarming, and full of intrigue, adventure, and even an Olympian-style quest.
Laidra is cursed with hideousness that worsens whenever she heals someone, while Calen is cursed with the incredibly debilitating--and rather inconvenient to say the least--problem of turning into a giant snake when he is seen by another person. There's beautiful symmetry with the two curses, and ugly humanity rears its head in different ways when their respective families are confronted with just how to handle their cursed children.
I enjoyed this read from beginning to end, and though I thought I could see where it was going one moment, was pleasantly surprised by each turn of events. I thought the tale was expertly woven, and--importantly for me--no cringe-worthy romance: I loved watching Laidra and Calen's relationship develop right from the start.
Burke's characters always have real depth to them, especially here. Even the gods and demi-gods, though by definition are stuck within a certain role, each has quite a personality and lends their voice to the story.
Would highly recommend for a pleasant read that will give you a good adventure, love, curses, intrigue, and even a magical beast or two!
I read an advanced copy and was happy to review.
January 26, 2023
I truly adored this sweet tale of trials, curses, romance, and perseverance through it all. So many times, the characters could have just given up, accepted their fate, and moved on... but they kept persevering.
I think one of my favorite things was how much the characters leaned on and believed in each other. They provided the strength the other needed. When Laidra was ready to give up on herself, Calen was right there, believing in her sweetness and goodness and inner beauty for her. And when it seemed like the curse had conquered all, Laidra stuck right by Calen's side, determined to do all she could for him.
If you're looking for a fantasy romance with plenty of Greek-myth-feel to it, then this is your story. Reminiscent of favorites like Till We Have Faces and Labyrinth of Shadows, this story is a fun mythical romp through familiar landscape.
I think one of my favorite things was how much the characters leaned on and believed in each other. They provided the strength the other needed. When Laidra was ready to give up on herself, Calen was right there, believing in her sweetness and goodness and inner beauty for her. And when it seemed like the curse had conquered all, Laidra stuck right by Calen's side, determined to do all she could for him.
If you're looking for a fantasy romance with plenty of Greek-myth-feel to it, then this is your story. Reminiscent of favorites like Till We Have Faces and Labyrinth of Shadows, this story is a fun mythical romp through familiar landscape.
January 12, 2019
Fun Cupid and Psyche Retelling
This was a good book — not amazing, but still good. I enjoyed the setting (ancient Greece-esque) and the storyline. Ms. Burke did an excellent job of keeping the heart of the myth while still giving it new life and spirit. My one issue with the book is the numerous awkward references to the wedding night activities. (Nothing explicit; it's just a little odd and annoying.)
This was a good book — not amazing, but still good. I enjoyed the setting (ancient Greece-esque) and the storyline. Ms. Burke did an excellent job of keeping the heart of the myth while still giving it new life and spirit. My one issue with the book is the numerous awkward references to the wedding night activities. (Nothing explicit; it's just a little odd and annoying.)
June 6, 2017
I've been a fan of Burke's work for a while now--picking my favorite is hard, though her most recent release, Spellsmith and Carver, came close to knocking Nyssa Glass from the top spot.
Coiled, releasing in just a few short weeks, is another amazing tale from an awesome writer.
This book is a retelling of Eros and Psyche wrapped in coils upon coils of Burke's own special touches. Laidra is a princess cursed with ugliness--Calen is a prince cursed to become a snake if he is gazed upon. Together, they might find a happiness neither thought possible.
I loved watching Laidra's and Calen's relationship develop and was rooting for them from the start--and rooting for their tormentors to get their just desserts. Though I would have liked a little more at the end with them and their families, ultimately this story is about two hurt souls finding a way to heal together, and in that respect, Coiled is as shiny as the scales on a freshly bathed snake.
I highly recommend this to readers who love retellings of myths, romance, and snakes. Even if you don't like snakes, give Calen a chance--he's a big softy at heart, I swear.
I received an ARC copy of this book and chose to review it because I enjoyed it so much!
Coiled, releasing in just a few short weeks, is another amazing tale from an awesome writer.
This book is a retelling of Eros and Psyche wrapped in coils upon coils of Burke's own special touches. Laidra is a princess cursed with ugliness--Calen is a prince cursed to become a snake if he is gazed upon. Together, they might find a happiness neither thought possible.
I loved watching Laidra's and Calen's relationship develop and was rooting for them from the start--and rooting for their tormentors to get their just desserts. Though I would have liked a little more at the end with them and their families, ultimately this story is about two hurt souls finding a way to heal together, and in that respect, Coiled is as shiny as the scales on a freshly bathed snake.
I highly recommend this to readers who love retellings of myths, romance, and snakes. Even if you don't like snakes, give Calen a chance--he's a big softy at heart, I swear.
I received an ARC copy of this book and chose to review it because I enjoyed it so much!
October 5, 2017
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review.
I went into this book expecting cute. For the most part, I got it. I love Psyche/Cupid based book and this was far more accurate than the Beauty and the Beast scenario.
Laidra, the heroine, is very real. She's cursed to be ugly, though with the power to heal. However, each time she heals, it turns her even uglier. Calen is cursed as well; he is cursed to never be seen without turning into a monster. So, for almost all his life, no one has been able to look at him. When the two are put together, they begin to fall for who the person is, with looks having no influence on their emotions.
In this, I found the romance sweet, though, at times it got overly sappy. I did love the twists, but I felt it could have really developed the characters more than it did.
Kudos on the Greek/Roman myth infusion. That was fun to read, especially the bickering. I wish there had been FAR more of the bickering. It would have developed the world more.
So, some pluses, some minuses, but in all, good.
3 stars
I went into this book expecting cute. For the most part, I got it. I love Psyche/Cupid based book and this was far more accurate than the Beauty and the Beast scenario.
Laidra, the heroine, is very real. She's cursed to be ugly, though with the power to heal. However, each time she heals, it turns her even uglier. Calen is cursed as well; he is cursed to never be seen without turning into a monster. So, for almost all his life, no one has been able to look at him. When the two are put together, they begin to fall for who the person is, with looks having no influence on their emotions.
In this, I found the romance sweet, though, at times it got overly sappy. I did love the twists, but I felt it could have really developed the characters more than it did.
Kudos on the Greek/Roman myth infusion. That was fun to read, especially the bickering. I wish there had been FAR more of the bickering. It would have developed the world more.
So, some pluses, some minuses, but in all, good.
3 stars
June 20, 2017
Coiled
After reading the first couple of pages I wanted to cry. I could feel all of Laidra's pain and isolation and it kept me glued to the story. I had to find out whether Laidra would triumph over her demons, and as I read I discovered a much deeper, more in-depth story. "Coiled" was like a twist on "Beauty and the Beast," but it explored the idea of being cursed due to someone else's failings and selfishness.
I believe this story gave us some thought-provoking questions to consider. For example, could you continue to love even if things did not change? What does real love look like? Are hatred and revenge acceptable when you have been hurt? Can our actions determine our children's fate?
"Coiled" had lots of substance, but it was also fun to read. It is definitely one of those "get your chores done before you read this book" type of stories.
After reading the first couple of pages I wanted to cry. I could feel all of Laidra's pain and isolation and it kept me glued to the story. I had to find out whether Laidra would triumph over her demons, and as I read I discovered a much deeper, more in-depth story. "Coiled" was like a twist on "Beauty and the Beast," but it explored the idea of being cursed due to someone else's failings and selfishness.
I believe this story gave us some thought-provoking questions to consider. For example, could you continue to love even if things did not change? What does real love look like? Are hatred and revenge acceptable when you have been hurt? Can our actions determine our children's fate?
"Coiled" had lots of substance, but it was also fun to read. It is definitely one of those "get your chores done before you read this book" type of stories.
July 11, 2020
2.5 stars
Hmm Coiled was a little weird. And kind of boring. I didn't really enjoy it very much.
Hmm Coiled was a little weird. And kind of boring. I didn't really enjoy it very much.
May 30, 2023
Laidra’s life doesn’t resemble a princess, not even a normal nice world. She’s the half of a cursed twin, with her part being a hideous appearance that gets worse each time she uses her gift of healing. It’s bad enough that her own parents agree to hand her over to a “neighboring kingdom” to help them eliminate their monster problem. Considering all that, Laidra is amazingly strong. Despite knowing the effects on her appearance each time she heals, Laidra does it anyway because of the compassionate heart she has. Beyond that she even actively rallies for a chance to share her gift, to be able to heal people outside the castle. She chooses to believe the better about them, that they would at least tolerate her long enough for her to use her gift. It would give her meaning, purpose, something seldom found confined to a room away from everyone for most of her existence. Sadly, but understandably Laidra entertains no thoughts of any real companionship, certainly never anything romantic in the future with her curse. With all that being said, we warm up to Laidra quickly as we recognize how differently her heart could be with the way the world including her own family has treated her.
And her match turns out to be the Prince Calen, whose life has been anything but that resembling a prince. He’s a prince that transforms into gigantic snake with one look. He has no aspirations to ruling a kingdom one day, as he doesn’t dare show himself anywhere near court. Rather his constant companion is a fear of hurting someone in his serpent form and he does everything to keep that side of him in check. Like Laidra though, he has an inner strength that surpasses most, and his spirit is gentle and kind despite the awful situation he has been served. Again, as with Laidra, we embrace Calen. We see the caring Prince Calen, not a terrifying serpent monster.
Together they show a picture of true love and its transforming power. Prince Calen and Princess Laidra dared to look upon the scales and ugliness and saw the beauty first that laid beneath each other. Theirs was a curse that refused to be broken, but they discovered a love strong enough to accomplish the impossible and sacrificed everything to claim it.
And her match turns out to be the Prince Calen, whose life has been anything but that resembling a prince. He’s a prince that transforms into gigantic snake with one look. He has no aspirations to ruling a kingdom one day, as he doesn’t dare show himself anywhere near court. Rather his constant companion is a fear of hurting someone in his serpent form and he does everything to keep that side of him in check. Like Laidra though, he has an inner strength that surpasses most, and his spirit is gentle and kind despite the awful situation he has been served. Again, as with Laidra, we embrace Calen. We see the caring Prince Calen, not a terrifying serpent monster.
Together they show a picture of true love and its transforming power. Prince Calen and Princess Laidra dared to look upon the scales and ugliness and saw the beauty first that laid beneath each other. Theirs was a curse that refused to be broken, but they discovered a love strong enough to accomplish the impossible and sacrificed everything to claim it.
October 6, 2018
H.L. Burke never disappoints. Like always, she has created a rich world with compelling characters and high stakes. And the cover of this book is gorgeous, by the way.
Several things I really liked: I loved her main characters. Laidra and Calen were such good, kind, wonderful people in spite of the monstrosities forced upon them. I loved how selfless they were, putting the needs of others above their own comfort and survival. The sacrificial nature of this love story was truly well done. Their love story is also so beautiful, two people who look beyond appearances to the beauty within. There was just the right amount of heat in their relationship while still being tactfully handled. It’s a perfect romance with lots of sexual tension but no sex.
Ms. Burke also painted an incredibly rich world, with layers of history and colorful characters. It wasn’t just a retelling of a Greek myth in a typical Greek world: Ms. Burke made it her own and added her own unique spin. I LOVED how she implied the gods weren’t really gods and that an Unknown God had created them. It was a subtle touch that I really appreciated. I’ve never been a huge fan of Greek myths, but Ms. Burke won me over to her side.
There are very few things I wish she would have done differently. This story doesn’t have quite as much snark as her stories usually do, but that isn’t a bad thing. This is first and foremost a love story and didn’t need the snark to pull it off—this only proves what a powerful writer she is. The only thing that bothered me a little is a bit of a spoiler so stop reading if you haven’t read the book yet. I would have liked to see a greater learning curve for the antagonist. Ellea’s growth was allowed to happen naturally, which made her change more real and compelling. However, Volen’s change of heart had to happen so quickly that it didn’t have quite as much impact. Still, I loved that he WAS redeemable in spite of the horrible things he had done—and I especially loved that Calen and Laidra were able to forgive him and realize this fact as well. I thought he should have suffered some horrible consequences for the awful things he had done and wouldn’t have been so gracious to him if I had been in their shoes. :)
If you like well-developed worlds, epic love stories, compelling quests, and original retellings, this story is sure to enthrall you. I highly recommend this book.
I rate this story PG-13 for thematic elements and mild sensuality (no sex).
Several things I really liked: I loved her main characters. Laidra and Calen were such good, kind, wonderful people in spite of the monstrosities forced upon them. I loved how selfless they were, putting the needs of others above their own comfort and survival. The sacrificial nature of this love story was truly well done. Their love story is also so beautiful, two people who look beyond appearances to the beauty within. There was just the right amount of heat in their relationship while still being tactfully handled. It’s a perfect romance with lots of sexual tension but no sex.
Ms. Burke also painted an incredibly rich world, with layers of history and colorful characters. It wasn’t just a retelling of a Greek myth in a typical Greek world: Ms. Burke made it her own and added her own unique spin. I LOVED how she implied the gods weren’t really gods and that an Unknown God had created them. It was a subtle touch that I really appreciated. I’ve never been a huge fan of Greek myths, but Ms. Burke won me over to her side.
There are very few things I wish she would have done differently. This story doesn’t have quite as much snark as her stories usually do, but that isn’t a bad thing. This is first and foremost a love story and didn’t need the snark to pull it off—this only proves what a powerful writer she is. The only thing that bothered me a little is a bit of a spoiler so stop reading if you haven’t read the book yet. I would have liked to see a greater learning curve for the antagonist. Ellea’s growth was allowed to happen naturally, which made her change more real and compelling. However, Volen’s change of heart had to happen so quickly that it didn’t have quite as much impact. Still, I loved that he WAS redeemable in spite of the horrible things he had done—and I especially loved that Calen and Laidra were able to forgive him and realize this fact as well. I thought he should have suffered some horrible consequences for the awful things he had done and wouldn’t have been so gracious to him if I had been in their shoes. :)
If you like well-developed worlds, epic love stories, compelling quests, and original retellings, this story is sure to enthrall you. I highly recommend this book.
I rate this story PG-13 for thematic elements and mild sensuality (no sex).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2022
a delightful story
I loved this book. The curses described in this story are original and full of complexity, the characters themselves develop well and fit together in interesting ways, and the imagery, pacing, and timeline were sharp and consistent. Although Greek and Roman mythology is not a favorite at the moment, I enjoyed the way the author reshaped those myths and characters, particularly at the end (you gotta read it to know!). My favorite part was the references to “the unknown god”, which played wonderfully upon the unknowability of the Almighty.
I don’t really have critical points to offer, which is rare. I fully recommend this book to readers and writers of spiritual fantasy, and I intend to read more of this author’s works.
I loved this book. The curses described in this story are original and full of complexity, the characters themselves develop well and fit together in interesting ways, and the imagery, pacing, and timeline were sharp and consistent. Although Greek and Roman mythology is not a favorite at the moment, I enjoyed the way the author reshaped those myths and characters, particularly at the end (you gotta read it to know!). My favorite part was the references to “the unknown god”, which played wonderfully upon the unknowability of the Almighty.
I don’t really have critical points to offer, which is rare. I fully recommend this book to readers and writers of spiritual fantasy, and I intend to read more of this author’s works.
April 5, 2023
COILED is a tale of two unlikely people finding love in a world of gods, magic, and curses inspired by ancient Greek myth. It works fairly well as a loose retelling of Cupid and Psyche, but I enjoyed it more as its own thing: a complex story of healing and growth and family conflict.
The protagonists are humble, struggling, and likable. The romance is engaging and one that I actually felt invested in (speaking as someone who often dislikes romance plots). And the third act was twisty, a little epic, and very fun.
The book had some foibles. I found the side characters mostly flat, and the world wasn't as well developed or explored as I would have liked.
But it still kept me engaged — sometimes way past my bedtime 😁
So, for sheer enjoyability, I'd give COILED a solid four out of five 🌟, and highly recommend it for a light clean fantasy read.
The protagonists are humble, struggling, and likable. The romance is engaging and one that I actually felt invested in (speaking as someone who often dislikes romance plots). And the third act was twisty, a little epic, and very fun.
The book had some foibles. I found the side characters mostly flat, and the world wasn't as well developed or explored as I would have liked.
But it still kept me engaged — sometimes way past my bedtime 😁
So, for sheer enjoyability, I'd give COILED a solid four out of five 🌟, and highly recommend it for a light clean fantasy read.
June 30, 2025
I loved this so much!
I love when books explore parallels, and so having these two sets of twins where each twin had an opposite curse to their sibling was so cool! Add that to the main characters both being absolute sweethearts and Greek Mythology references, and you have an absolute winner!
I love when books explore parallels, and so having these two sets of twins where each twin had an opposite curse to their sibling was so cool! Add that to the main characters both being absolute sweethearts and Greek Mythology references, and you have an absolute winner!
January 24, 2019
Having met Heidi Lyn burke standing next to her books, I couldn't help but buy Coiled. The read was as delightful as its author and I enjoyed every word. It tasted like a mix of fairy tale + mythology with a nice side of romance thrown in. If any of those appeal to you, Coiled is definitely recommended reading.
September 16, 2017
The era of retelling old myths has been alive and going for some time now with hits and misses along the way depending on the writer’s talent or interest in ancient folklore. This one has the makings to be on the interesting side: royalty, man-eating serpent, curses, magic and that oft used theme of love.
This is a take on the myth of Eros (more commonly known as Cupid) and Psyche. If you don’t remember, or never knew the myth, I’ll give you my personality infused rundown of the love story between the son of Aphrodite and a beautiful human girl who was the youngest daughter of a King and so beautiful stories of her were spread throughout the land.
People began saying she was more beautiful than the goddess of beauty – Aphrodite herself. This angered Aphrodite because she of course is a goddess and no mere human is going to be fairer than her. She sent her son, Eros, to force Psyche to fall in love with the most horrid creature possible as punishment for winning the genetic lottery.
Well Eros couldn’t do it since he fell for her too. Psyche couldn’t find anyone to love her for more than her beauty so her father went to another god, Apollo, who prophesized that Psyche would need to be taken to a mountain top, left there alone and a serpent far worse than the gods would come take her for his wife. The King actually did leave his daughter there alone to befall her fate.
One day she’s whisked off to this enchanting place where she never sees her husband; only hears a voice. To lessen her sadness her sisters come visit but she’s warned by this mysterious husband of hers not to let her sisters push her into anything or she will ruin the incredibly odd marriage she has. They manipulate her into believing she’s married to that dreaded serpent from the prophecy so she lights a candle one night to see who she’s been sleeping with and discovers it’s Eros who leaves her because she didn’t trust him enough to not care who she was married to without proof.
After he abandons her she goes to Aphrodite and begs her mother-in-law for help who like most stereotypical mother-in-law’s wants to make her suffer. MIL tells her she has to complete 3 tasks or she’ll never see Eros again. Psyche does it but that just pisses off Mommy Dearest even more. The rest of the In-Laws had to intervene and tell Eros how his mom was abusing Psyche. He decided to forgive his wife, got pissed at his mom, Zeus made Psyche a goddess and everyone lived happily ever after.
In Burke’s story Psyche becomes Laidra, Eros is now Calen, Zeus is Jovan and Aphrodite is Zephia. Their personalities and other traits are altered too. Calen really is the ‘dreaded’ snake and a twin. Laidra is beyond repulsive covered in hair and warts with a withered body; like Calen is also a twin. Each set of twins was gifted/cursed with a mirror consequence. For every person Laidra helped she became uglier. For every person her sister hurt she became more beautiful. When Calen is around people he becomes a monster; a serpent so he must remain alone. When his brother is around people he remains a normal man but when he is alone he becomes a monster.
An oracle is consulted and they are told that a princess must be dangled in front of the Serpent. Laidra ends up on the island with Calen but can’t look at him only hear his voice. For love to be proven true three seemingly impossible tasks, including one of collecting water into a flask, must be done – another similarity to the original story.
Like with any mythology there will be characters you love, others you hate and some who bring out a bit of both. Thankfully Burke writes with a quick pace as the dialogue and action moves the story along with little drag. Certain sections I found more interesting than others simply because some of the characters were so hateful and egotistical it was easy to grow tired of their storylines quite quickly but eventually even their horrid personalities are needed to bring everything together. Myths were used to teach lessons and this one is no different.
This is a take on the myth of Eros (more commonly known as Cupid) and Psyche. If you don’t remember, or never knew the myth, I’ll give you my personality infused rundown of the love story between the son of Aphrodite and a beautiful human girl who was the youngest daughter of a King and so beautiful stories of her were spread throughout the land.
People began saying she was more beautiful than the goddess of beauty – Aphrodite herself. This angered Aphrodite because she of course is a goddess and no mere human is going to be fairer than her. She sent her son, Eros, to force Psyche to fall in love with the most horrid creature possible as punishment for winning the genetic lottery.
Well Eros couldn’t do it since he fell for her too. Psyche couldn’t find anyone to love her for more than her beauty so her father went to another god, Apollo, who prophesized that Psyche would need to be taken to a mountain top, left there alone and a serpent far worse than the gods would come take her for his wife. The King actually did leave his daughter there alone to befall her fate.
One day she’s whisked off to this enchanting place where she never sees her husband; only hears a voice. To lessen her sadness her sisters come visit but she’s warned by this mysterious husband of hers not to let her sisters push her into anything or she will ruin the incredibly odd marriage she has. They manipulate her into believing she’s married to that dreaded serpent from the prophecy so she lights a candle one night to see who she’s been sleeping with and discovers it’s Eros who leaves her because she didn’t trust him enough to not care who she was married to without proof.
After he abandons her she goes to Aphrodite and begs her mother-in-law for help who like most stereotypical mother-in-law’s wants to make her suffer. MIL tells her she has to complete 3 tasks or she’ll never see Eros again. Psyche does it but that just pisses off Mommy Dearest even more. The rest of the In-Laws had to intervene and tell Eros how his mom was abusing Psyche. He decided to forgive his wife, got pissed at his mom, Zeus made Psyche a goddess and everyone lived happily ever after.
In Burke’s story Psyche becomes Laidra, Eros is now Calen, Zeus is Jovan and Aphrodite is Zephia. Their personalities and other traits are altered too. Calen really is the ‘dreaded’ snake and a twin. Laidra is beyond repulsive covered in hair and warts with a withered body; like Calen is also a twin. Each set of twins was gifted/cursed with a mirror consequence. For every person Laidra helped she became uglier. For every person her sister hurt she became more beautiful. When Calen is around people he becomes a monster; a serpent so he must remain alone. When his brother is around people he remains a normal man but when he is alone he becomes a monster.
An oracle is consulted and they are told that a princess must be dangled in front of the Serpent. Laidra ends up on the island with Calen but can’t look at him only hear his voice. For love to be proven true three seemingly impossible tasks, including one of collecting water into a flask, must be done – another similarity to the original story.
Like with any mythology there will be characters you love, others you hate and some who bring out a bit of both. Thankfully Burke writes with a quick pace as the dialogue and action moves the story along with little drag. Certain sections I found more interesting than others simply because some of the characters were so hateful and egotistical it was easy to grow tired of their storylines quite quickly but eventually even their horrid personalities are needed to bring everything together. Myths were used to teach lessons and this one is no different.
September 27, 2017
When I was reading description of the book I found it interesting, but I was still debating on whether or not I would really want to review it.
And then I read that it was a retelling of the Eros and Psyche myth.
If something is a retelling, it's safe to assume that I'll want to read it.
This book was well written and the characters were developed. I went into this expecting a sort of insta-love situation, but I discovered that this wasn't the case, and that I was in fact rooting for the characters to get together.
Plot-wise I enjoyed the story. There was a quest/journey sort of situation later on in the novel, however. I didn't love this, because I was having a great time just watching the two main characters interact. The quest didn't last for very long, and it was interesting to read.
As far as YA goes, this is pretty clean. There was nothing graphic other than some kissing. However, I do agree with a lot of the reviews that say that there is more focus on the ... physical than necessary, especially as this book is marketed as clean.
Part of the reason for this focus is because in order to break the characters's curses, one must not only marry a person with the same curse, but consummate the marriage.
I read that and was thinking, "OK, that wasn't really necessary but I'll go with it because it is a different twist on the whole 'true love's kiss' thing".
But the main character seemed to bring it up more than was necessary and tbh it was a little uncomfortable.
That being said, no explicit scenes actually happened between the characters, only mentions of it.
I'd say that, for me, that was the biggest drawback.
I'd rate the cleanliness of the content between a PG-13 and a PG-14.
Overall this felt like a solid novel with a good story line. You could see the characters falling in love as opposed to the boring 'love at first sight' trope. If you don't mind the slightly awkward mentions of consummating the marriage, and if you like a solid retelling, this book would be a good pick.
And then I read that it was a retelling of the Eros and Psyche myth.
If something is a retelling, it's safe to assume that I'll want to read it.
This book was well written and the characters were developed. I went into this expecting a sort of insta-love situation, but I discovered that this wasn't the case, and that I was in fact rooting for the characters to get together.
Plot-wise I enjoyed the story. There was a quest/journey sort of situation later on in the novel, however. I didn't love this, because I was having a great time just watching the two main characters interact. The quest didn't last for very long, and it was interesting to read.
As far as YA goes, this is pretty clean. There was nothing graphic other than some kissing. However, I do agree with a lot of the reviews that say that there is more focus on the ... physical than necessary, especially as this book is marketed as clean.
Part of the reason for this focus is because in order to break the characters's curses, one must not only marry a person with the same curse, but consummate the marriage.
I read that and was thinking, "OK, that wasn't really necessary but I'll go with it because it is a different twist on the whole 'true love's kiss' thing".
But the main character seemed to bring it up more than was necessary and tbh it was a little uncomfortable.
That being said, no explicit scenes actually happened between the characters, only mentions of it.
I'd say that, for me, that was the biggest drawback.
I'd rate the cleanliness of the content between a PG-13 and a PG-14.
Overall this felt like a solid novel with a good story line. You could see the characters falling in love as opposed to the boring 'love at first sight' trope. If you don't mind the slightly awkward mentions of consummating the marriage, and if you like a solid retelling, this book would be a good pick.
July 3, 2017
I really enjoyed this story! The romance was so beautiful and loved how it bloomed in an unexpected way that truly reflected a love that looks beyond appearances. The author also certainly threw in a few plot twists that I didn't see coming and had me rereading to make sure I read it right.
One of the things that truly took me off guard and pleasantly surprised me was the faith aspect. I'm not sure if you would call them "Easter eggs" or "hidden nuggets," but regardless, I soaked it up! Though they were certainly not overbearing, I left this story knowing that I am loved by God for who I am and not just because of my purpose on this Earth. Plus, I never get tired of reading the priceless message of inner beauty.
I know I mentioned it in the beginning of my review, but the romance was truly very sweet and definitely recommend this story to romance and mythology lovers! The awkwardness, the strength, and the happy ending left me utterly happy at the outcome of this story (especially when certain monsters and/or gods do NOT overcome).
*(I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
One of the things that truly took me off guard and pleasantly surprised me was the faith aspect. I'm not sure if you would call them "Easter eggs" or "hidden nuggets," but regardless, I soaked it up! Though they were certainly not overbearing, I left this story knowing that I am loved by God for who I am and not just because of my purpose on this Earth. Plus, I never get tired of reading the priceless message of inner beauty.
I know I mentioned it in the beginning of my review, but the romance was truly very sweet and definitely recommend this story to romance and mythology lovers! The awkwardness, the strength, and the happy ending left me utterly happy at the outcome of this story (especially when certain monsters and/or gods do NOT overcome).
*(I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
May 31, 2017
As a discerning Bibliophile and book editor who has enjoyed incredible literary offerings from pretty much every genre, I am not easily impressed.
With COILED, H.L. Burke has wowed my mind, touched my heart, sparked my imagination and delighted my soul.
Burke has artfully woven favorite aspects from timeless classics, such as THE PRINCESS BRIDE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and Greek mythology and crafted a masterpiece that honors its predecessors without ever imitating them.
Burke has created a magical hybrid that immediately resonates as a beloved friend and sparkles throughout as a newly discovered treasure.
Masterfully written, this book is unique, heart-warming and magical.
Absolutely brilliant!!!
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
With COILED, H.L. Burke has wowed my mind, touched my heart, sparked my imagination and delighted my soul.
Burke has artfully woven favorite aspects from timeless classics, such as THE PRINCESS BRIDE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and Greek mythology and crafted a masterpiece that honors its predecessors without ever imitating them.
Burke has created a magical hybrid that immediately resonates as a beloved friend and sparkles throughout as a newly discovered treasure.
Masterfully written, this book is unique, heart-warming and magical.
Absolutely brilliant!!!
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2017
I loved so much about this book I hardly know where to start! The mythology was very cool, the mirror curse was fascinating, and the development of the romance was just so sweet. Both Laidra and Calen were characters I was rooting for all the way, and I appreciated that the secondary characters became increasingly complex as the story unfolded. The plot took several unexpected twists, delivering an ending that was very satisfying but came about in a way I never anticipated. I would highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy or mythology!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
January 31, 2019
4.5 stars for a fantasy that slithers into your heart (and I already liked snakes). Coiled has such a strong feel of Greek mythology, it could easily be titled "The Labors of Laidra" so she could take her place in the pantheon of mythological heroes. The MC, Princess Laidra, is an extremely sympathetic yet strong and selfless character (the three "S's," rather snake-like). The members of the supporting cast, including humans and gods and monsters, are all individual drawn yet have enough similarity to their Greek counterparts that the story feels familiar in a fresh new way.
Recommended for older teens and up, especially those who like Greek mythology and/or snakes!
Recommended for older teens and up, especially those who like Greek mythology and/or snakes!
April 18, 2025
A low spice myth retelling with a lot of adventure and a lot of heart. This retelling of the myth was great, especially with the mirror curses and the idea of a foreign god who rules over the gods. I really enjoyed the main characters and their blossoming romance. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Absolutely a delight.
July 1, 2021
Very Enjoyable
I found this book very compelling with well rounded characters, a plot that moved along at a great pace, and a wonderful background of faith. A very wholesome, satisfying fantasy!
I found this book very compelling with well rounded characters, a plot that moved along at a great pace, and a wonderful background of faith. A very wholesome, satisfying fantasy!
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