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Runaway Lyrics
What one sister has, she must share with the other . . .
Snow loves music. She has spent her entire life learning, new instruments and memorizing new pieces, only to while away her life in a country manor with only her mother and twin sister as company. If only she could get out on her own and play in front of a real audience.
Rose loves magic. The things she can do with music would amaze her twin sister, but whenever she shows her, Snow quickly forgets as if the event had never happened. If only Rose could get out on her own and work some real magic.
When an airship crashes near their home Snow’s magical abilities awaken. Together the sisters must learn to use their magic, rescue a pair of cursed princes, and discover their own secrets.
Discover the magic of music in this retelling of Snow White and Rose Red.
Snow loves music. She has spent her entire life learning, new instruments and memorizing new pieces, only to while away her life in a country manor with only her mother and twin sister as company. If only she could get out on her own and play in front of a real audience.
Rose loves magic. The things she can do with music would amaze her twin sister, but whenever she shows her, Snow quickly forgets as if the event had never happened. If only Rose could get out on her own and work some real magic.
When an airship crashes near their home Snow’s magical abilities awaken. Together the sisters must learn to use their magic, rescue a pair of cursed princes, and discover their own secrets.
Discover the magic of music in this retelling of Snow White and Rose Red.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
C.O. Bonham
15 books37 followersC.O. Bonham is the pen name for a commonly misspelled first name. When she isn’t writing stories of her own she is busy reading stories by others.
Visit www.cobonham.com to read author interviews, book reviews, and to hear about what she’s working on next.
Visit www.cobonham.com to read author interviews, book reviews, and to hear about what she’s working on next.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 25, 2021
A very sweet, sisterly read. I didn't know much about the original Snow White and Rose Red story, but this was a nice way to be introduced to it. Highly enjoyable!
January 15, 2022
Too many mentions of magic within the first two chapters...about five percent into the book...didn't realize the book had magic in it oh well...
February 27, 2022
A Harmonious Retelling
Runaway Lyrics takes the melody of a favorite fairy tale and expands it into a symphony.
I loved the way the original story elements blended with fun, relatable characters and an intriguing magic system to create an enchanting tale. The treasure, the dwarf, the bear prince and his brother, and the curse are interwoven with new villains in a fantasy world with a steam punk feel. Anyone with a sister will identify with Snow and Rose. The family dynamics will resonate with everyone. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer! I would have loved a little more time developing the romantic relationships, but it's perfect for YA readers. If you enjoy clean, light-hearted fantasy, this book is for you!
Runaway Lyrics takes the melody of a favorite fairy tale and expands it into a symphony.
I loved the way the original story elements blended with fun, relatable characters and an intriguing magic system to create an enchanting tale. The treasure, the dwarf, the bear prince and his brother, and the curse are interwoven with new villains in a fantasy world with a steam punk feel. Anyone with a sister will identify with Snow and Rose. The family dynamics will resonate with everyone. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer! I would have loved a little more time developing the romantic relationships, but it's perfect for YA readers. If you enjoy clean, light-hearted fantasy, this book is for you!
January 15, 2022
I didn't get past 5 percdnt....I didn't know the book had magic. Over sight on my part, I guess. I was gonna give it a try if it was just the music being sort of magicalish....but then someone was looking for a magic book so they could take a magic test....and it mentioned a wizard so I just stopped.
December 23, 2021
This book is a creative mix of the Snow White and Rose Red Fairy Tale with Steampunk elements and more complex musical magic.
I liked how both of the twins as well as the princes were distinct. I have a slight preference for Wicky and would probably follow a book with him as the lead. Magic was creative and book kept things moving without a lot of unnecessary filler.
I liked how both of the twins as well as the princes were distinct. I have a slight preference for Wicky and would probably follow a book with him as the lead. Magic was creative and book kept things moving without a lot of unnecessary filler.
April 7, 2022
I don’t know that I’ve read anything by this author before, but she’s definitely one I want to keep my eye on! In the spirit of a wholly honest review, I have to say I read this book in one sitting. I love the fact that it’s is a Snow White and Rose Red retelling — since the world DEFINITELY needs more of those. And this is a retelling that needs to be on your TBR!
Twin sisters, Snow and Rose, are super close siblings, but they really don’t see eye-to-eye on much. Both love music, but for different reasons. Snow appreciates the structure and memorization that goes into a song (and she struggles playing by ear), but Rose thrives on the improvisation and magic in her music. However, anytime that magic appears before Snow, she acts as though she can never remember it happened, and Rose has given up trying to make her remember.
Everything gets flipped upside-down when an airship crashes near their home and two strangers come to their door in need of help. Snow’s memory begins to return, and the resulting adventure is one wild ride.
And who are those two strangers? Stepbrothers, Wickham and Bayare, are princes who have just escaped from a dangerous situation at home — but not before Bayare was transformed into a bear. Wickham, ever helpful, tries to reverse the spell on his own, and succeeds in returning Bayare to human form during the day, but also in turning himself into an owl at night.
I loved how different each of the four main characters were. Yes, it is a sister story with Snow and Rose, but Bayare and Wickham, for me, took the cake. XD Wickham, especially, was so much fun. I love that we got more animal transformations other than the original bear, and he made such a great owl. Owls are probably my new favorite fictional characters, and Wickham was the best. He began the story as pretty naive, but I enjoyed getting to see him “grow up” in a way and understand the world and people at a greater depth. Bayare is just the sort of fictional, fantasy prince that you want to root for; he has such a great heart.
I can’t write a review of this book without mentioning something about the sisters. Sibling relationships are big for me, and this one wasn’t a disappointment. There are several differences between the two girls, things that keep them estranged. However, Rose and Snow both develop a better understanding and trust for the other twin, and that was really cool to watch happen. Twins are sometimes difficult to write, as they have a tendency to become indecipherable from each other. I was so afraid Snow and Rose would do that as the book progressed, but they thankfully grew together without becoming mirror copies of each other. They each retained their individuality by the end of the story.
The steampunk side of the story was so great! Steampunk really is becoming a genre that deserves this kind of love, and it was so much fun to read in this book. Automatons are everywhere, as well as other classic steampunk vibes, but everything mixes so well with the magic systems that it’s sometimes difficult to see where ends and the other begins. I just loved the extra-ness it all lent to the story. Steampunk for the win!
The Snow White and Rose Red elements from the original fairytale were great, too. Only a few things are altered or cut out, but the many things the author left in really worked for the story! The scenes with the dwarf were great — although, I didn’t see the connections with the dwarf until later.
I’ll be honest — I didn’t care for the mother very much. She suffered from a bit of Disney-poor-parent syndrome, or a parent with good intentions but not so great execution/actions. [SPOILER ALERT] Instead of trying to make the best out the girls’ birth father and their illegal, magical abilities, she merely never told them the truth and hid Snow’s memories of magic to keep the girls safe. I felt like she could have had a better reason for doing what she did, or perhaps have trusted her daughters with more since they were older? Maybe it was just me, but I found it annoying.
My biggest complaint is probably the lack of polish on the story. While the characters and plot really shone, I wish the final draft could have gone through perhaps a few more bits of editing before published. The narrative was super heavy on telling rather than showing, and the punctuation and grammar were sometimes off. And that’s the real reason I’m taking a star off my rating. Overall, probably not a huge issue, but mistakes like that wake a reader up from the dream. It’s just distracting.
Advisory: Some fantasy violence. Nothing too terribly scary, though, IMHO.
And magic. I think the magic system in this book is super unique. The steampunk elements meld nicely with the magical elements, and I really loved that the two worked together, rather than warred with each other. There’s your typical wizard and other fantasy magic, but the twins’ magic is comprised of their music. There are a few scenes in which a spell is cast, sometimes through the general magic, sometimes through the power in music. Additionally, characters are mentioned learning magic, studying for exams on magic. It didn’t bother me as this is clearly a fantasy world, and the spells aren’t something one can repeat outside of the book.
This isn’t necessarily an advisory point, but it coincides with the magic bit above, so I’m putting it here. But this is important. I read a few reviews of this book in which the readers complained about the presence of magic (i.e. they didn’t realize there was magic in the book, and then stopped reading because of it) — and I found that really odd. The magic was a big part of the story, and the actual summary/back blurb for the book states that there is magic. I’m confused — why would you expect a magic-free book when the summary states there is magic? So, be warned: There is magic in this book. If you’re looking for a non-magical adventure, this book isn’t it. But, if you give the magic a chance, there’s a whole lot more to love about this book.
Light romance with a few kisses, but the relationships are built slowly and genuinely. I really liked both couples, and how they helped bring out the best in their respective partners. There are a few mentions of women “sleeping around/being unfaithful” and thus getting pregnant, but not anything super descriptive.
Also, a scene with girls in their “underwear.” When a situation presents itself where the twins need to match each other, the only matching clothing they have with them is their underwear. But, given the descriptions (or the lack, thereof) and the supposed steampunk time era, the underwear really isn’t immodest, and nothing more is said on the matter.
*Please note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and that this review is VERY much overdue! Sorry!*
Twin sisters, Snow and Rose, are super close siblings, but they really don’t see eye-to-eye on much. Both love music, but for different reasons. Snow appreciates the structure and memorization that goes into a song (and she struggles playing by ear), but Rose thrives on the improvisation and magic in her music. However, anytime that magic appears before Snow, she acts as though she can never remember it happened, and Rose has given up trying to make her remember.
Everything gets flipped upside-down when an airship crashes near their home and two strangers come to their door in need of help. Snow’s memory begins to return, and the resulting adventure is one wild ride.
And who are those two strangers? Stepbrothers, Wickham and Bayare, are princes who have just escaped from a dangerous situation at home — but not before Bayare was transformed into a bear. Wickham, ever helpful, tries to reverse the spell on his own, and succeeds in returning Bayare to human form during the day, but also in turning himself into an owl at night.
I loved how different each of the four main characters were. Yes, it is a sister story with Snow and Rose, but Bayare and Wickham, for me, took the cake. XD Wickham, especially, was so much fun. I love that we got more animal transformations other than the original bear, and he made such a great owl. Owls are probably my new favorite fictional characters, and Wickham was the best. He began the story as pretty naive, but I enjoyed getting to see him “grow up” in a way and understand the world and people at a greater depth. Bayare is just the sort of fictional, fantasy prince that you want to root for; he has such a great heart.
I can’t write a review of this book without mentioning something about the sisters. Sibling relationships are big for me, and this one wasn’t a disappointment. There are several differences between the two girls, things that keep them estranged. However, Rose and Snow both develop a better understanding and trust for the other twin, and that was really cool to watch happen. Twins are sometimes difficult to write, as they have a tendency to become indecipherable from each other. I was so afraid Snow and Rose would do that as the book progressed, but they thankfully grew together without becoming mirror copies of each other. They each retained their individuality by the end of the story.
The steampunk side of the story was so great! Steampunk really is becoming a genre that deserves this kind of love, and it was so much fun to read in this book. Automatons are everywhere, as well as other classic steampunk vibes, but everything mixes so well with the magic systems that it’s sometimes difficult to see where ends and the other begins. I just loved the extra-ness it all lent to the story. Steampunk for the win!
The Snow White and Rose Red elements from the original fairytale were great, too. Only a few things are altered or cut out, but the many things the author left in really worked for the story! The scenes with the dwarf were great — although, I didn’t see the connections with the dwarf until later.
I’ll be honest — I didn’t care for the mother very much. She suffered from a bit of Disney-poor-parent syndrome, or a parent with good intentions but not so great execution/actions. [SPOILER ALERT] Instead of trying to make the best out the girls’ birth father and their illegal, magical abilities, she merely never told them the truth and hid Snow’s memories of magic to keep the girls safe. I felt like she could have had a better reason for doing what she did, or perhaps have trusted her daughters with more since they were older? Maybe it was just me, but I found it annoying.
My biggest complaint is probably the lack of polish on the story. While the characters and plot really shone, I wish the final draft could have gone through perhaps a few more bits of editing before published. The narrative was super heavy on telling rather than showing, and the punctuation and grammar were sometimes off. And that’s the real reason I’m taking a star off my rating. Overall, probably not a huge issue, but mistakes like that wake a reader up from the dream. It’s just distracting.
Advisory: Some fantasy violence. Nothing too terribly scary, though, IMHO.
And magic. I think the magic system in this book is super unique. The steampunk elements meld nicely with the magical elements, and I really loved that the two worked together, rather than warred with each other. There’s your typical wizard and other fantasy magic, but the twins’ magic is comprised of their music. There are a few scenes in which a spell is cast, sometimes through the general magic, sometimes through the power in music. Additionally, characters are mentioned learning magic, studying for exams on magic. It didn’t bother me as this is clearly a fantasy world, and the spells aren’t something one can repeat outside of the book.
This isn’t necessarily an advisory point, but it coincides with the magic bit above, so I’m putting it here. But this is important. I read a few reviews of this book in which the readers complained about the presence of magic (i.e. they didn’t realize there was magic in the book, and then stopped reading because of it) — and I found that really odd. The magic was a big part of the story, and the actual summary/back blurb for the book states that there is magic. I’m confused — why would you expect a magic-free book when the summary states there is magic? So, be warned: There is magic in this book. If you’re looking for a non-magical adventure, this book isn’t it. But, if you give the magic a chance, there’s a whole lot more to love about this book.
Light romance with a few kisses, but the relationships are built slowly and genuinely. I really liked both couples, and how they helped bring out the best in their respective partners. There are a few mentions of women “sleeping around/being unfaithful” and thus getting pregnant, but not anything super descriptive.
Also, a scene with girls in their “underwear.” When a situation presents itself where the twins need to match each other, the only matching clothing they have with them is their underwear. But, given the descriptions (or the lack, thereof) and the supposed steampunk time era, the underwear really isn’t immodest, and nothing more is said on the matter.
*Please note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and that this review is VERY much overdue! Sorry!*
October 18, 2021
The sisters drew me into this story because their relationship is so realistic of sisterly love despite the irritations between different personalities. The banter between the half-brothers was fun too. The plot kept getting richer as it developed and I was glad to have some alone-time to finish without interruptions. There is room for another installment, but I felt the satisfaction of a complete story.
One unique thing I really liked was that several different types of love are shown. Yes, there is some romantic love, but the other relationships add depth to the story, particularly the secondary character of Roburt. I don't want to give spoilers, but his sort of giving-love is a treasure often overlooked in our society.
One unique thing I really liked was that several different types of love are shown. Yes, there is some romantic love, but the other relationships add depth to the story, particularly the secondary character of Roburt. I don't want to give spoilers, but his sort of giving-love is a treasure often overlooked in our society.
September 15, 2021
I dearly want to read more of these characters. Yes it has magic, but it was fun.
I know the book isn't coming out for another week, but sorry Kendra, I won't have access to a computer when it comes out so I'm preparing now. My family rarely does plans and they are constantly subject to change so....
I know the book isn't coming out for another week, but sorry Kendra, I won't have access to a computer when it comes out so I'm preparing now. My family rarely does plans and they are constantly subject to change so....
September 16, 2021
Runaway Lyrics is a very enjoyable take on Snow White, Rose Red, though I personally found some elements of the execution a bit lacking.
I enjoyed the sisters, both together and individually. The author did a great job of making each girl unique and very much her own person even though they're also, in a way, two halves of a whole. And, of course, I enjoyed their music-based magic and the way each sister favored one half of that equation. Bayare and Wickham were also a fun pair — I liked their bond and their interactions and the fact that neither hesitates to throw himself into the way of trouble for the sake of the other.
As a retelling of Snow White, Rose Red, Runaway Lyrics works very well; it keeps a surprising number of elements from the original tale while still standing on its own as a story. I liked the twist on the mother's instructions — here a warning that becomes almost ominous at times, and I also think the dwarf was handled well. Plus, there's a bunch of little nods to other stories, both fairy tale and non-fairy tale, which were pretty fun to try to spot.
(Side note — I also appreciate that there's an in-story, non-scandalous reason why the girl on the cover appears to be missing a layer of clothing and is wearing her corset on the outside. It's the little things in life, y'know?)
That said, while there's a fair bit to like in this story, there were some elements that weren't handled as well. The plot felt, well . . . there was a lot going on, and sometimes things felt a little too convenient. I also felt that some of the sisters' internal conflicts (both in the sense of "conflict within an individual" and "conflict between the sisters") could've been handled better — many struggles either resolved too easily or else bounced between "almost resolved" and "very non-resolved" in a way that felt unnatural. I'm also not sure if I'm the biggest fan of the writing style . . . though that might just be because I read an ARC that hadn't gone through its final polish.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story, even if I think it could've been better. If you're looking for a Snow White, Rose Red retelling, it's worth giving Runaway Lyrics a try.
I enjoyed the sisters, both together and individually. The author did a great job of making each girl unique and very much her own person even though they're also, in a way, two halves of a whole. And, of course, I enjoyed their music-based magic and the way each sister favored one half of that equation. Bayare and Wickham were also a fun pair — I liked their bond and their interactions and the fact that neither hesitates to throw himself into the way of trouble for the sake of the other.
As a retelling of Snow White, Rose Red, Runaway Lyrics works very well; it keeps a surprising number of elements from the original tale while still standing on its own as a story. I liked the twist on the mother's instructions — here a warning that becomes almost ominous at times, and I also think the dwarf was handled well. Plus, there's a bunch of little nods to other stories, both fairy tale and non-fairy tale, which were pretty fun to try to spot.
(Side note — I also appreciate that there's an in-story, non-scandalous reason why the girl on the cover appears to be missing a layer of clothing and is wearing her corset on the outside. It's the little things in life, y'know?)
That said, while there's a fair bit to like in this story, there were some elements that weren't handled as well. The plot felt, well . . . there was a lot going on, and sometimes things felt a little too convenient. I also felt that some of the sisters' internal conflicts (both in the sense of "conflict within an individual" and "conflict between the sisters") could've been handled better — many struggles either resolved too easily or else bounced between "almost resolved" and "very non-resolved" in a way that felt unnatural. I'm also not sure if I'm the biggest fan of the writing style . . . though that might just be because I read an ARC that hadn't gone through its final polish.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story, even if I think it could've been better. If you're looking for a Snow White, Rose Red retelling, it's worth giving Runaway Lyrics a try.
April 27, 2023
This was a lovely, sweet tale about two sisters who learn they aren't who they thought they were. I loved how their relationship remained the primary focus of the book even when two handsome young men entered the story. How refreshing not to have the plot revolve around romance!
I loved how the sisters' magic worked--through music. I sadly haven't read many fantasy books where musical instruments are the implements of magic, but that's definitely a key component in Runaway Lyrics. And it had one of my favorite instruments--a violin! It was neat to see how one of the sisters' knowledge of magic grew and changed over the course of the novel. By the end, both sisters were pretty unstoppable, and there did seem to be a need for a check or some consequences on their magic.
It was a little strange how their father wasn't mentioned until about halfway through the book. It was as if they had never had one. Some of the magic--that relating to the young men--wasn't explained super well and seemed rather arbitrary about how it worked. I would have loved a little more reasoning for why it worked the way it did.
I don't recall any Snow White references, but perhaps I just missed them? There were no poisoned apples or sleeping curses, though there were other kinds of curses and there were two handsome princes. I'm also not familiar with the retelling of Rose Red, so I have no idea how many (if any) references there were to that retelling.
The steampunk elements, like their mechanical butler, and the steam car, were a fun element to the story, and I wouldn't have minded even more of those things.
Overall, I enjoyed my jaunt with Snow and Rose, and I look forward to reading the sequel whenever Bonham publishes it!
I loved how the sisters' magic worked--through music. I sadly haven't read many fantasy books where musical instruments are the implements of magic, but that's definitely a key component in Runaway Lyrics. And it had one of my favorite instruments--a violin! It was neat to see how one of the sisters' knowledge of magic grew and changed over the course of the novel. By the end, both sisters were pretty unstoppable, and there did seem to be a need for a check or some consequences on their magic.
It was a little strange how their father wasn't mentioned until about halfway through the book. It was as if they had never had one. Some of the magic--that relating to the young men--wasn't explained super well and seemed rather arbitrary about how it worked. I would have loved a little more reasoning for why it worked the way it did.
I don't recall any Snow White references, but perhaps I just missed them? There were no poisoned apples or sleeping curses, though there were other kinds of curses and there were two handsome princes. I'm also not familiar with the retelling of Rose Red, so I have no idea how many (if any) references there were to that retelling.
The steampunk elements, like their mechanical butler, and the steam car, were a fun element to the story, and I wouldn't have minded even more of those things.
Overall, I enjoyed my jaunt with Snow and Rose, and I look forward to reading the sequel whenever Bonham publishes it!
December 5, 2021
Steampunk with a great story world and unique magical abilities
The story itself was good and I found myself thoroughly immersed most of the time, but occasionally felt thrown out of the novel's fascinating world due to some of the wording. Spelling and punctuation errors (misplaced periods and commas) were also a problem. The magic system was unique and complex. The characters were distinct and enjoyable. The author did a wonderful job of creating differences in personality and abilities in the twin girls. I loved the way the antagonist showed a bit of tenderness and gave the reader something to (almost) like.
The story itself was good and I found myself thoroughly immersed most of the time, but occasionally felt thrown out of the novel's fascinating world due to some of the wording. Spelling and punctuation errors (misplaced periods and commas) were also a problem. The magic system was unique and complex. The characters were distinct and enjoyable. The author did a wonderful job of creating differences in personality and abilities in the twin girls. I loved the way the antagonist showed a bit of tenderness and gave the reader something to (almost) like.
October 31, 2021
Amazing story and execution!
"Runaway Lyrics" is an exciting tale filled with lore, magic, music, and love. C.O. Bonham does a wonderful job of weaving all four stories together and making each character feel unique. Since I love music, I enjoyed imagining the music play out in front of them. Well done, and I'm excited to read more, whether from a potential sequel(?) or an entirely new series from the author altogether!
"Runaway Lyrics" is an exciting tale filled with lore, magic, music, and love. C.O. Bonham does a wonderful job of weaving all four stories together and making each character feel unique. Since I love music, I enjoyed imagining the music play out in front of them. Well done, and I'm excited to read more, whether from a potential sequel(?) or an entirely new series from the author altogether!
March 4, 2022
A charming story with lots of creativity and nods to the Creator. Somewhat hindered by weak technical choices in grammar but still well worth a read. I love fairytale retellings and this one takes on all the challenges of archetypal tales in slightly Steampunk settings and modern language and characterization. The magic is beautifully interwoven with history, family, and unexpected connections.
April 19, 2022
A wonderful fairy tale retelling of Rose Red and Snow White involving identical twins with magical abilities. I enjoyed getting to know the young ladies and their love interests, the two cursed princes. The story sucked me in and was very hard to put down and led to a satisfying happily ever after type end.
September 24, 2023
Runaway Lyrics has a great story, but it had me scratching my head at a few points. If you're trying to save the crown prince and you're being pursued, would you really spend a couple of hours at the mall?
I enjoyed the twist on the benefits (and dangers) of music. A good book.
I enjoyed the twist on the benefits (and dangers) of music. A good book.
Read
August 9, 2021I wrote this book. I like to think it's pretty good. But I've been told I'm not impartial enough to be the judge.
I have read it multiple times though, and I rarely re-read books.
I have read it multiple times though, and I rarely re-read books.
dnf
February 27, 2022Plot and characters' potential was Buried under telling instead of showing, emotions felt rushed, everything was explained. Disappointing when there was a lot of potential with the premise.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews