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A Maiden of Snakes
When Marchioness Lamberico fails to conceive a child, she solicits the help of Imelda, the village witch. Nine months later, she gives birth to a baby girl. Biancabella. Though perfect in every other way, the infant is born with a snake wrapped around her neck. To the relief of the marchioness, the creature vanishes at once and, in the joy of motherhood, is soon forgotten. When Biancabella is a young girl, the snake reappears and explains their uncommon sisterhood. Samaritana helps Biancabella unlock her magical gifts and asserts that so long as they are together, all will be well. Their close, though secret, relationship unites them above all others. Years pass, the sisters contented, until the day King Ferrandino of Naples arrives, seeking Biancabella’s hand in marriage. What follows shatters the sisters’ bond, leading to misfortune and betrayal, which forces them to grapple with not only the loss of their connection, but leaves each fighting for her life. Loosely based on the Italian fairy tale Biancabella and the Snake, the story explores how the love can transform from a domineering and covetous power to authenticity and, ultimately, redemption.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2022
About the author
Jane McGarry
7 books90 followersAward winning fantasy author of fantasy romance and retellings. Visit me at www.janemcgarrybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 8, 2023
This is a retelling of an Italian fairytale steeped in old Italy and fantasy.
Read full review in the 2023 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2023 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
February 5, 2023
I love fairytales, and I am Italian, so I jumped on the opportunity to read “A Maiden of Snakes” by Jane McGarry. I was not disappointed! The main character, Biancabella, was born through magical intervention from the town’s witch, as her mother, marchioness Adeleta Lamberico secretly sought her help to conceive a child. She did so knowing that such favor would have a price; but because of her desperation to produce a child, she decided to overlook those rumors. As a result, Biancabella was born with a magical serpent wrapped around her neck. The serpent disappeared from her neck right after birth, but not from her life, as she was Biancabella’s magical sister.
I found this Italian medieval tale captivating and entertaining. The narration transported me back in time, aided by the author’s almost musical descriptions. I loved McGarry’s writing style, as I was able to feel as much as visualize the setting through her mastery use of words fused with sensory information. I loved that the plot, although based on an old existing tale, was an independent storyline, and though it spun from the old and well-known medieval pressure of producing an heir for the powerful royal/husband, the story had nothing to do with royalty. It was more about the complicated love and bond of two sisters: One a human (Biancabella), the other a snake (Samaritana); and how together they became magical, but separated, they find adversity.
“A Maiden of Snakes” by Jane McGarry is a well-written fast read, perfect for young adults but also entertaining for adult readers. Its twists and turns will keep readers guessing what’s next. I definitely found it hard to put down and read it almost in one straight sitting. It’s in the category of an exciting ‘cozy fantasy/fairytale’ which even teens and pre-teens might enjoy, carrying messages about the strength of love and the importance of a sisters’ bond.
Overall, this is a great, entertaining and magical story which readers will find most enjoyable. I give “A Maiden of Snakes” by Jane McGarry five stars and look forward to reading more from this talented author!
I found this Italian medieval tale captivating and entertaining. The narration transported me back in time, aided by the author’s almost musical descriptions. I loved McGarry’s writing style, as I was able to feel as much as visualize the setting through her mastery use of words fused with sensory information. I loved that the plot, although based on an old existing tale, was an independent storyline, and though it spun from the old and well-known medieval pressure of producing an heir for the powerful royal/husband, the story had nothing to do with royalty. It was more about the complicated love and bond of two sisters: One a human (Biancabella), the other a snake (Samaritana); and how together they became magical, but separated, they find adversity.
“A Maiden of Snakes” by Jane McGarry is a well-written fast read, perfect for young adults but also entertaining for adult readers. Its twists and turns will keep readers guessing what’s next. I definitely found it hard to put down and read it almost in one straight sitting. It’s in the category of an exciting ‘cozy fantasy/fairytale’ which even teens and pre-teens might enjoy, carrying messages about the strength of love and the importance of a sisters’ bond.
Overall, this is a great, entertaining and magical story which readers will find most enjoyable. I give “A Maiden of Snakes” by Jane McGarry five stars and look forward to reading more from this talented author!
January 11, 2023
4 1/2 stars
A Maiden of Snakes is a retelling of a fairy tale I’d never heard of—Biancabella and the Snake. And while it is said to be loosely based on the fairy tale, McGarry wrote the story in a style that is reminiscent of said classic fairy tales. It puts me in mind of Gail Carson Levine, though the style is much different. Normally, I wouldn’t want to read a book written in a way that seems less personal, but in this particular story, McGarry masters the art of drawing the reader in, in spite of the lack of connection between reader and character.
Starting with before Biancabella’s birth, I felt that things moved a little too slow for my taste. Some of the events, I felt, could have been condensed. (Of course, this is just my own personal opinion.) I wanted to see Biancabella from the start and her interactions with her snake sister, Samaritana right away. I did like, however, that the story doesn’t have any sort of conflict with the sisters. After Biancabella falls in love, there is a rift between Biancabella and Samaritana, adding a layer of conflict to the overall story other than the true villain, Biancabella’s mother-in-law. I also appreciated that the king’s sisters weren’t the classic evil in-laws but found ways to connect with Biancabella as friends.
And then there’s the sharp turn in the middle which completely changed the tone of the story from lighthearted to more of the darker aspects of fairytales. I was quite surprised! It gave the story another interesting layer and depth to it, and I liked watching the characters and their decisions to see what would happen next.
With plenty of that magical world tucked inside the real so common in classic fairytales and a dash of mystery and solid overall tension, A Maiden of Snakes is a fun retelling worthy of any fairytale lover’s collection.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Maiden of Snakes is a retelling of a fairy tale I’d never heard of—Biancabella and the Snake. And while it is said to be loosely based on the fairy tale, McGarry wrote the story in a style that is reminiscent of said classic fairy tales. It puts me in mind of Gail Carson Levine, though the style is much different. Normally, I wouldn’t want to read a book written in a way that seems less personal, but in this particular story, McGarry masters the art of drawing the reader in, in spite of the lack of connection between reader and character.
Starting with before Biancabella’s birth, I felt that things moved a little too slow for my taste. Some of the events, I felt, could have been condensed. (Of course, this is just my own personal opinion.) I wanted to see Biancabella from the start and her interactions with her snake sister, Samaritana right away. I did like, however, that the story doesn’t have any sort of conflict with the sisters. After Biancabella falls in love, there is a rift between Biancabella and Samaritana, adding a layer of conflict to the overall story other than the true villain, Biancabella’s mother-in-law. I also appreciated that the king’s sisters weren’t the classic evil in-laws but found ways to connect with Biancabella as friends.
And then there’s the sharp turn in the middle which completely changed the tone of the story from lighthearted to more of the darker aspects of fairytales. I was quite surprised! It gave the story another interesting layer and depth to it, and I liked watching the characters and their decisions to see what would happen next.
With plenty of that magical world tucked inside the real so common in classic fairytales and a dash of mystery and solid overall tension, A Maiden of Snakes is a fun retelling worthy of any fairytale lover’s collection.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 4, 2022
When I got the invite to review A Maiden of Snakes, I hesitated to accept the invite for the review. The blurb didn’t stand out to me. After taking a couple of days to think about it, I accepted the invitation. My reason was this: My blog started off reviewing indie authors, and I have made it a point to accept any/all invites that come across my inbox. Well, I am glad I accepted because this book was excellent!!!
A Maiden of Snakes had an exciting storyline. Biancabella is the much-loved child of lesser Italian nobility. A miracle child, she was born with a snake wrapped around her neck. When she was ten, she met with her snake sister (Samaritana) and completed a bonding ritual. But that ritual comes with a price. Biancabella must always stay with her Samaritana. If she does, life will be great. But if they are separated, then bad things will happen to Biancabella. Biancabella doesn’t heed Samaritana’s warning and is married to the King of Naples. Intrigue follows her to court, where her stepmother-in-law looks at her as someone to get rid of. When a deadly sickness overtakes the city, her stepmother-in-law jumps, she has Biancabella kidnapped and leaves instructions for her to be killed. Samaritana interrupts Biancabella’s killer, but it is almost too late. The assassin had cut off her hands. What will happen to Biancabella? Will she and Samaritana make up? Or will Biancabella live with the kindly woodcutter and his family forever? And, more importantly, will the evil stepmother get away with everything she has done?
A Maiden of Snakes is a fast-paced book set in medieval Italy. This book takes place in Monferrato and Naples. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of what these cities were like back in medieval times.
The characters of A Maiden were Snakes were interesting. But I did find them a little underdeveloped.
Biancabella: I liked her but found her almost too innocent and trusting. I also didn’t like that she could easily brush off Samaritana’s concerns because “she was in love.” Towards the end of the book, I found her character much more engaging than the innocent little miss portrayed until the assassin took her from the castle.
Samaritana: I liked her also and thought she was very wise in some ways. But her jealousy when Biancabella met and married Ferrandino got on my nerves. I had wished that elder snakes had stayed to advise her. I also felt that her jealousy caused a lot of Biancabella’s issues when she was in Naples. But Samaritana did come through when Biancabella needed her.
Ferrandino: He annoyed the ever living out of me. How could he not see what his stepmother was doing? How could he not see what she did to his father? And when faced with Biancabella’s stepsister (who was forced to take her place), why didn’t he SAY SOMETHING!!! I was so annoyed with him; it wasn’t even funny. Of course, he did make up for it in the end.
The Stepmother: She was one of the evilest, vile villains to grace the pages of a book. Everything she did in A Maiden of Snakes was for her. She showed no mercy to Biancabella when the plague hit the castle. She knew Biancabella was pregnant and STILL told the mercenary to kill her. She got what she deserved and then some at the end of the book.
The Woodcutter and His Family: Besides Biancabella, he was one of the book’s only good people. He found a critically injured and maimed young woman and brought her back to his house to nurse her back to health. They were prepared to take care of her for the rest of her life (even if Biancabella did have other plans). And when the author revealed Biancabella’s identity (along with Samaritana), they helped to get Biancabella back into Ferrandino’s life (and get rid of the stepmother). They were the MVPs of this book.
A Maiden of Snakes has many secondary characters that flesh out the storylines. They made the scenes more enjoyable (and sometimes sad) to read. There were some that I wished stayed in the story (the elder snakes, for one).
I wasn’t entirely sure what genre to put A Maiden of Snakes. I decided upon Young Adult (Biancabella was around 18), Fantasy (Samaritana did have magic, as did Biancabella), and Romance (Biancabella’s love for Ferrandino and his for her). Romance, I am still undecided. I want to say yes because of the love they had for each other, but at the same time, I want to say no. I do feel that this book fits very well into the young adult and fantasy genres.
Oh yes, before I forget, this entire book was based on the Italian fairytale (Biancabella and the Snake) by Giovanni Francesco Straperola for his book The Facetious Nights.
I liked the storyline with Biancabella and Samaritana. I wish more time had been spent with them, not apart, but I understood the author was following the fairytale.
The storyline with Ferrandino, Biancabella, and his stepmother was sad. There was a point in that storyline where I thought Ferrandino wouldn’t get his HEA with Biancabella. I felt the stepmother got everything coming to her and then some. So, yes, I was thrilled when everything came to a head at the end of the book.
Some trigger warnings do need to be discussed in A Maiden of Snakes. They would be infertility, abandonment (Samaritana’s elder snakes), child abuse (stepmother beating her daughters), a graphic scene where Biancabella’s hands are cut off, and she is beaten, and what happened to the stepmother. If any of these triggers you, I recommend not reading this book.
The end of A Maiden of Snakes was your typical fairytale ending. Everyone got their HEA. I am hoping that Samaritana gets hers in another book.
Three things I liked about A Maiden of Snakes:
It takes place in medieval Italy
Biancabella and Samaritana’s relationship
Based on a fairytale
Three things I didn’t like about A Maiden of Snakes
Samaritana’s jealousy
The stepmother
The blurb/cover
I would recommend A Maiden of Snakes to anyone over 21. There is no sex or language but graphic violence. Also, see my trigger warnings.
A Maiden of Snakes had an exciting storyline. Biancabella is the much-loved child of lesser Italian nobility. A miracle child, she was born with a snake wrapped around her neck. When she was ten, she met with her snake sister (Samaritana) and completed a bonding ritual. But that ritual comes with a price. Biancabella must always stay with her Samaritana. If she does, life will be great. But if they are separated, then bad things will happen to Biancabella. Biancabella doesn’t heed Samaritana’s warning and is married to the King of Naples. Intrigue follows her to court, where her stepmother-in-law looks at her as someone to get rid of. When a deadly sickness overtakes the city, her stepmother-in-law jumps, she has Biancabella kidnapped and leaves instructions for her to be killed. Samaritana interrupts Biancabella’s killer, but it is almost too late. The assassin had cut off her hands. What will happen to Biancabella? Will she and Samaritana make up? Or will Biancabella live with the kindly woodcutter and his family forever? And, more importantly, will the evil stepmother get away with everything she has done?
A Maiden of Snakes is a fast-paced book set in medieval Italy. This book takes place in Monferrato and Naples. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of what these cities were like back in medieval times.
The characters of A Maiden were Snakes were interesting. But I did find them a little underdeveloped.
Biancabella: I liked her but found her almost too innocent and trusting. I also didn’t like that she could easily brush off Samaritana’s concerns because “she was in love.” Towards the end of the book, I found her character much more engaging than the innocent little miss portrayed until the assassin took her from the castle.
Samaritana: I liked her also and thought she was very wise in some ways. But her jealousy when Biancabella met and married Ferrandino got on my nerves. I had wished that elder snakes had stayed to advise her. I also felt that her jealousy caused a lot of Biancabella’s issues when she was in Naples. But Samaritana did come through when Biancabella needed her.
Ferrandino: He annoyed the ever living out of me. How could he not see what his stepmother was doing? How could he not see what she did to his father? And when faced with Biancabella’s stepsister (who was forced to take her place), why didn’t he SAY SOMETHING!!! I was so annoyed with him; it wasn’t even funny. Of course, he did make up for it in the end.
The Stepmother: She was one of the evilest, vile villains to grace the pages of a book. Everything she did in A Maiden of Snakes was for her. She showed no mercy to Biancabella when the plague hit the castle. She knew Biancabella was pregnant and STILL told the mercenary to kill her. She got what she deserved and then some at the end of the book.
The Woodcutter and His Family: Besides Biancabella, he was one of the book’s only good people. He found a critically injured and maimed young woman and brought her back to his house to nurse her back to health. They were prepared to take care of her for the rest of her life (even if Biancabella did have other plans). And when the author revealed Biancabella’s identity (along with Samaritana), they helped to get Biancabella back into Ferrandino’s life (and get rid of the stepmother). They were the MVPs of this book.
A Maiden of Snakes has many secondary characters that flesh out the storylines. They made the scenes more enjoyable (and sometimes sad) to read. There were some that I wished stayed in the story (the elder snakes, for one).
I wasn’t entirely sure what genre to put A Maiden of Snakes. I decided upon Young Adult (Biancabella was around 18), Fantasy (Samaritana did have magic, as did Biancabella), and Romance (Biancabella’s love for Ferrandino and his for her). Romance, I am still undecided. I want to say yes because of the love they had for each other, but at the same time, I want to say no. I do feel that this book fits very well into the young adult and fantasy genres.
Oh yes, before I forget, this entire book was based on the Italian fairytale (Biancabella and the Snake) by Giovanni Francesco Straperola for his book The Facetious Nights.
I liked the storyline with Biancabella and Samaritana. I wish more time had been spent with them, not apart, but I understood the author was following the fairytale.
The storyline with Ferrandino, Biancabella, and his stepmother was sad. There was a point in that storyline where I thought Ferrandino wouldn’t get his HEA with Biancabella. I felt the stepmother got everything coming to her and then some. So, yes, I was thrilled when everything came to a head at the end of the book.
Some trigger warnings do need to be discussed in A Maiden of Snakes. They would be infertility, abandonment (Samaritana’s elder snakes), child abuse (stepmother beating her daughters), a graphic scene where Biancabella’s hands are cut off, and she is beaten, and what happened to the stepmother. If any of these triggers you, I recommend not reading this book.
The end of A Maiden of Snakes was your typical fairytale ending. Everyone got their HEA. I am hoping that Samaritana gets hers in another book.
Three things I liked about A Maiden of Snakes:
It takes place in medieval Italy
Biancabella and Samaritana’s relationship
Based on a fairytale
Three things I didn’t like about A Maiden of Snakes
Samaritana’s jealousy
The stepmother
The blurb/cover
I would recommend A Maiden of Snakes to anyone over 21. There is no sex or language but graphic violence. Also, see my trigger warnings.
September 16, 2022
Read if you like: Magic🐍, Romances♥️, Quick reads📖, Royalty👸🏻🤴🏻, Dual POV✌🏻, Sisters👭
Thank you to @katieandbreypa and @janemcgaryauthor for providing me a copy of The Maiden of Snakes and giving me a spot on this tour!
I truly enjoyed this book! It hooked me from the start and made me want to keep reading to see what would happen next. I absolutely loved the sisterly love between Biancabella and Samaritana as it reminded me of my sisters.
I don’t want to spoil this book too much and I feel anything else I say will but I really enjoyed this book and would recommend reading it! If the blurb makes your curious then you should pick this book up ASAP📚
Thank you to @katieandbreypa and @janemcgaryauthor for providing me a copy of The Maiden of Snakes and giving me a spot on this tour!
I truly enjoyed this book! It hooked me from the start and made me want to keep reading to see what would happen next. I absolutely loved the sisterly love between Biancabella and Samaritana as it reminded me of my sisters.
I don’t want to spoil this book too much and I feel anything else I say will but I really enjoyed this book and would recommend reading it! If the blurb makes your curious then you should pick this book up ASAP📚
September 26, 2022
This was without a doubt an interesting read. I love retellings of fairytales that I am not familiar with. The story was well written, the characters interesting, and I love the dual POV (how often do you get to see the world through the eyes of a snake?). The only thing that I struggled with was the recurring theme of pregnancy throughout the story, as that is a topic I have less affinity with. Nevertheless, that didn't prevent me from liking the book at all. I really appreciated the sister bond between Biancabella and Samaritana. Trigger warnings include violence, fertility problems and miscarriage.
September 15, 2022
I went into this book blind and had no clue whatsoever on what to expect. I actually really enjoyed the book and was very intrigued. A woman who is struggling to conceive turns to the village witch for help. The baby is born, but she has a snake wrapped around her neck. Turns out it's her secret sister. The book talks about the magic abilities they have when together, but also talks about the tragedies they experience as well. I love the bond and relationship the sister's shared. I thought it was extremely sweet. This was a very interesting book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 16, 2023
I enjoy a well-done fairy tale retelling so I jumped on the chance to read this one as the description enchanted me. A Maiden of Snakes is based on an Italian fairy tale, which intrigued me since I'm so much more familiar with Grimm's. This one held some familiarity of Snow White, but not really. And then it took off somewhere else entirely. If curious, you can read the Biancabella and the Snake fairytale here. https://www.wattpad.com/58967424-cree...
Now, A Maiden of Snakes follows the fairy tale closely enough with similar characters, situations, and outcomes - giving more back story and explanation of the magical birth and bond between the girl and the snake. The story is told beautifully as we come to understand just how captivating and special Biancabella is with her beauty, the flowers falling from her hands, and gems falling from her hair. The conflict unfolds as predicted when the sisters get into a fight, feel betrayed by one another, and separate.
A complaint I'm going to make is the editing in the book at times was overlooked. The book I received was not marked as an uncorrected ARC, it does have a barcode and ISBN, but it also didn't have copyright page - so it could be a print on demand or early copy. So it is possible my copy was not the current print edition. The book itself has been out for some time. Yet there were a handful of places that looked unedited (sentences ending without a period, incorrect apostrophe, etc). So I will hope the final copy being sold has already been through a final round of editing.
I also don't quite understand the tagline "obey her and all will be well" as that's not really what is going on here. Who are we obeying? The snake twin, it appears is who is meant, but she's not evil. The mother-in-law? Doesn't quite fit either. The general premise was to teach a lesson of bond and working together to find a compromise that will suit those involved, rather than uttering ultimatums and keeping secrets from each other.
There is redemption, and reconciliation, but not much character development. The characters are as they are told about, either pure evil or pure of heart. The romance was very simple, not much showing but we were told of the girl's feelings right away. Perhaps the intent is to appeal to younger audiences and be more appropriate for all, but as a YA it could have used more depth.
The cover is gorgeous. I love the purples and the greens and the silver over the black. The snakes intertwined in the gate that represents the young girl's garden is visually pleasing. I do enjoy the font, bold and blocky but curvy and beveled. I do like that style mix. I would be interested in reading more from this author.
The story is written in an easy to read tone, making this a great read for young readers and adults alike. The read was clean, though there is violence. The fairy tale feel is lovely and fun, and draws you in. I finished this book in a couple of days, easily enjoying it on a lazy weekend afternoon. An enjoyable read for fans of retellings and unique fairy tales that aren't too mainstream.
3.5 stars
Now, A Maiden of Snakes follows the fairy tale closely enough with similar characters, situations, and outcomes - giving more back story and explanation of the magical birth and bond between the girl and the snake. The story is told beautifully as we come to understand just how captivating and special Biancabella is with her beauty, the flowers falling from her hands, and gems falling from her hair. The conflict unfolds as predicted when the sisters get into a fight, feel betrayed by one another, and separate.
A complaint I'm going to make is the editing in the book at times was overlooked. The book I received was not marked as an uncorrected ARC, it does have a barcode and ISBN, but it also didn't have copyright page - so it could be a print on demand or early copy. So it is possible my copy was not the current print edition. The book itself has been out for some time. Yet there were a handful of places that looked unedited (sentences ending without a period, incorrect apostrophe, etc). So I will hope the final copy being sold has already been through a final round of editing.
I also don't quite understand the tagline "obey her and all will be well" as that's not really what is going on here. Who are we obeying? The snake twin, it appears is who is meant, but she's not evil. The mother-in-law? Doesn't quite fit either. The general premise was to teach a lesson of bond and working together to find a compromise that will suit those involved, rather than uttering ultimatums and keeping secrets from each other.
There is redemption, and reconciliation, but not much character development. The characters are as they are told about, either pure evil or pure of heart. The romance was very simple, not much showing but we were told of the girl's feelings right away. Perhaps the intent is to appeal to younger audiences and be more appropriate for all, but as a YA it could have used more depth.
The cover is gorgeous. I love the purples and the greens and the silver over the black. The snakes intertwined in the gate that represents the young girl's garden is visually pleasing. I do enjoy the font, bold and blocky but curvy and beveled. I do like that style mix. I would be interested in reading more from this author.
The story is written in an easy to read tone, making this a great read for young readers and adults alike. The read was clean, though there is violence. The fairy tale feel is lovely and fun, and draws you in. I finished this book in a couple of days, easily enjoying it on a lazy weekend afternoon. An enjoyable read for fans of retellings and unique fairy tales that aren't too mainstream.
3.5 stars
December 24, 2022
*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
I enjoyed this book which is loosely based on a Italian fairy tale Biancabella and the Snake. Also please read the TWs. This book was different from what I have read before and completely not what I expected in a good way. I really enjoyed the author's writing in this book as the pacing was fast and the world building was easy to understand. I really enjoyed the medieval Italy setting and how the world was described It did take me a bit to get into the story but it didn't take long before I was invested. The story was very well written with different conflicts to keep readers interested. This book has a theme of family relationships but mostly sisterly bond.
The main character in this book is Biancabella who was born with a snake on her neck and is wants to get married to the king. I didn't enjoy her character as she was very naive and there was no development with her. Then there is Samaritana who is Biancabella's sister. I liked how she tried to protect Biancabella even though she was jealous and was doing it for herself. I mean I liked her more then her sister and she did have a but of a development. There were many side characters in this book that played their parts like in a fairytale story. There is no romance in this book but has the family theme in the book.
The ending was well done but I wish I saw more character development with the sisters. I really enjoyed learning about this Italian fairy tale as I never heard of it before. It was also a very short read so I finished it pretty quickly. I was disappointed with the characters and how there was no romance but overall a great story. I recommend it to those who want to read a fairytale with no romance.
I enjoyed this book which is loosely based on a Italian fairy tale Biancabella and the Snake. Also please read the TWs. This book was different from what I have read before and completely not what I expected in a good way. I really enjoyed the author's writing in this book as the pacing was fast and the world building was easy to understand. I really enjoyed the medieval Italy setting and how the world was described It did take me a bit to get into the story but it didn't take long before I was invested. The story was very well written with different conflicts to keep readers interested. This book has a theme of family relationships but mostly sisterly bond.
The main character in this book is Biancabella who was born with a snake on her neck and is wants to get married to the king. I didn't enjoy her character as she was very naive and there was no development with her. Then there is Samaritana who is Biancabella's sister. I liked how she tried to protect Biancabella even though she was jealous and was doing it for herself. I mean I liked her more then her sister and she did have a but of a development. There were many side characters in this book that played their parts like in a fairytale story. There is no romance in this book but has the family theme in the book.
The ending was well done but I wish I saw more character development with the sisters. I really enjoyed learning about this Italian fairy tale as I never heard of it before. It was also a very short read so I finished it pretty quickly. I was disappointed with the characters and how there was no romance but overall a great story. I recommend it to those who want to read a fairytale with no romance.
Read
December 31, 2022Dnf’ed at page 62.
So far nearly nothing has happened and it all feels like expiation. That or the opening of a fairytale where they just give you all the pertinent information.
I’m also just not connecting with the writing style. It feels juvenile and very simple.
I’m also confused as to why some of the chapters have numbers but others say Samaritana. Also when we have a Samaritana chapter, the numbered chapters don’t skip a number. so it’s not like three, Samaritana, five… it’s three, Samaritana, four.
So far nearly nothing has happened and it all feels like expiation. That or the opening of a fairytale where they just give you all the pertinent information.
I’m also just not connecting with the writing style. It feels juvenile and very simple.
I’m also confused as to why some of the chapters have numbers but others say Samaritana. Also when we have a Samaritana chapter, the numbered chapters don’t skip a number. so it’s not like three, Samaritana, five… it’s three, Samaritana, four.
September 27, 2022
⚜️ Book Title - A Maiden Of Snakes
⚜️ Author - Jane McGary
⚜️ Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚜️ Some Genre/Themes/Tropes: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Italian fairy tale retelling and family bonds.
🐍 Synopsis 🐍
When Marchioness Lamberico fails to conceive a child, she solicits the help of Imelda, the village witch. Nine months later, she gives birth to a baby girl. Biancabella. Though perfect in every other way, the infant is born with a snake
wrapped around her neck. To the relief of the marchioness, the creature vanishes at once and, in the joy of motherhood, is soon forgotten. When Biancabella is a young girl, the snake
reappears and explains their uncommon sisterhood. Samaritana helps Biancabella unlock her magical gifts and asserts that so long as they are together, all will be well. Their close, though secret, relationship unites them above all others. Years pass, the sisters contented, until the day King Ferradino of Naples arrives, seeking Biancabella's hand in
marriage.
What follows shatters the sisters' bond, leading to misfortune and betrayal, which forces them to grapple with not only the loss of their connection, but leaves each fighting for her life.
Loosely based on the Italian fairy tale Biancabella and the Snake, the story explores how the love can transform from a domineering and covetous power to authenticity and, ultimately, redemption.
🐍 Review 🐍
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book via @katieandbreypa. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is my honest review.
Going into this book I had no idea about the Italian fairy tale it was based off and I still don’t so I don’t know how similar they are to compare the two….
As for the story itself it was quick and enjoyable. I love the sisterly bond between the two FMCs whilst they both have to overcome difficult circumstances.
I want to say thank you to the author, publisher and @katieandbreypa for the ARC.
⚜️ Author - Jane McGary
⚜️ Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚜️ Some Genre/Themes/Tropes: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Italian fairy tale retelling and family bonds.
🐍 Synopsis 🐍
When Marchioness Lamberico fails to conceive a child, she solicits the help of Imelda, the village witch. Nine months later, she gives birth to a baby girl. Biancabella. Though perfect in every other way, the infant is born with a snake
wrapped around her neck. To the relief of the marchioness, the creature vanishes at once and, in the joy of motherhood, is soon forgotten. When Biancabella is a young girl, the snake
reappears and explains their uncommon sisterhood. Samaritana helps Biancabella unlock her magical gifts and asserts that so long as they are together, all will be well. Their close, though secret, relationship unites them above all others. Years pass, the sisters contented, until the day King Ferradino of Naples arrives, seeking Biancabella's hand in
marriage.
What follows shatters the sisters' bond, leading to misfortune and betrayal, which forces them to grapple with not only the loss of their connection, but leaves each fighting for her life.
Loosely based on the Italian fairy tale Biancabella and the Snake, the story explores how the love can transform from a domineering and covetous power to authenticity and, ultimately, redemption.
🐍 Review 🐍
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book via @katieandbreypa. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is my honest review.
Going into this book I had no idea about the Italian fairy tale it was based off and I still don’t so I don’t know how similar they are to compare the two….
As for the story itself it was quick and enjoyable. I love the sisterly bond between the two FMCs whilst they both have to overcome difficult circumstances.
I want to say thank you to the author, publisher and @katieandbreypa for the ARC.
September 18, 2022
3.75 ⭐️
Clean Romance no 🌶️
Based on an Italian fairy tale, A Maiden of Snakes tells the story of two magically fated twins, one a maiden and one a snake. When treachery befalls the kingdom, the twins work together to right the wrongs.
AMOS is a unique story perhaps because it is a based on an older tale (hands are chopped off and you just don’t see that much anymore). The style of writing is reminiscent of what you would find in a fairy tale (there is a problem so let’s solve it, conveniently planned out).
I don’t know if my critiques can truly be considered such as I’m not sure what is from the original story but a few things I picked up on:
1) the way fairytales can be predictable…not that you have any idea where the story will go from the beginning but fairytales don’t tend to leave a lot of mystery
2) more of a personal pet peeve but I don’t like overly naive FMC
Things I liked:
1) HEA
2) distinct characters/voices
3) the prose is well written, you can tell the author saw the scenes in their head like a movie and wrote it as such, there’s imagery where other authors would have left it out which makes the story more fleshed out and complete
Clean Romance no 🌶️
Based on an Italian fairy tale, A Maiden of Snakes tells the story of two magically fated twins, one a maiden and one a snake. When treachery befalls the kingdom, the twins work together to right the wrongs.
AMOS is a unique story perhaps because it is a based on an older tale (hands are chopped off and you just don’t see that much anymore). The style of writing is reminiscent of what you would find in a fairy tale (there is a problem so let’s solve it, conveniently planned out).
I don’t know if my critiques can truly be considered such as I’m not sure what is from the original story but a few things I picked up on:
1) the way fairytales can be predictable…not that you have any idea where the story will go from the beginning but fairytales don’t tend to leave a lot of mystery
2) more of a personal pet peeve but I don’t like overly naive FMC
Things I liked:
1) HEA
2) distinct characters/voices
3) the prose is well written, you can tell the author saw the scenes in their head like a movie and wrote it as such, there’s imagery where other authors would have left it out which makes the story more fleshed out and complete
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2022
Jane McGarry puts a unique twist on a classic fairytale. At first I was not thrilled to read this book, but as the story went on, I grew to love the characters and the lands they dwelled in.
A Marchioness and her Marquis are ready to have a child of their own but are not having any luck. The Marchioness thinks that with the help of one of the magic witches in their land she will succeed in a pregnancy. Little does she know what she is bargaining for. When she does get pregnant and gives birth to her beautiful daughter, there is a snake wrapped around the throat of her baby, Biancabella.
As life unfolds, Biancabella will find out how much her mother's dealings with magic have impacted her life.
Will having a twin sister who is actually a snake make or break her life as she knows it?
Ferrandino is a new king. With his father's recent passing, he is now in charge of Naples, but he has one big problem: his evil step mother.
Can Ferrandino overcome the threat she brings to his kingdom and find true love to help lead? Or will he befall her evil plans and allow her to take over?
August 31, 2022
I started this yesterday and couldn’t stop reading. What started as a story about a woman’s desire for conceiving a child, turns into a story about the woman’s young daughter, Biancabella and her secret sister Samaritana, who is a snake. The very snake that was wrapped around Biancabella’s neck when she was born. Years after their birth, Samaritana tells Biancabella of their sisterhood, their magical abilities and as long as they are together always, everything will be okay.
A beautiful story about a sisters’ bond that knows no bounds and how they overcome tragedy, betrayal, and misfortune.
I loved this so much. As someone who didn’t have a very close relationship with my siblings, Samaritana’s and Biancabella’s relationship was incredibly heartwarming.
I never knew what was going to happen next and it was an enjoyable, quick read.
Thank you to Katieandbreypa and Jane Mcgerry for my ARC!
A beautiful story about a sisters’ bond that knows no bounds and how they overcome tragedy, betrayal, and misfortune.
I loved this so much. As someone who didn’t have a very close relationship with my siblings, Samaritana’s and Biancabella’s relationship was incredibly heartwarming.
I never knew what was going to happen next and it was an enjoyable, quick read.
Thank you to Katieandbreypa and Jane Mcgerry for my ARC!
September 15, 2022
Maiden of Snakes is loosely based on an Italian fairytale about a child called Biancabella born with a snake wrapped around her neck. This snake is Biancabella’s twin sister and as they grow she helps Biancabella learn more about her magical ability.
This version of the story definitely has a fairy tale feel to it in places and I really enjoyed the slightly more modern retelling of the story. I love Biancabella’s relationship with her snake sister, Samaritana and the bond between the two sisters is really the heart of this story. Maiden of the Snakes is a well written story which is easy to read and enjoyable.
I received an ARC of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.
This version of the story definitely has a fairy tale feel to it in places and I really enjoyed the slightly more modern retelling of the story. I love Biancabella’s relationship with her snake sister, Samaritana and the bond between the two sisters is really the heart of this story. Maiden of the Snakes is a well written story which is easy to read and enjoyable.
I received an ARC of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and is written voluntarily.
September 26, 2022
🐍Fairytale retelling
✨Young Adult (no spice)
🐍Sisters!
✨Magic
🐍Romance
✨Royalty
This was a very enjoyable read! Thanks @katieandbreypa and @janemcgarry for providing me the opportunity to read this!
I adore a good fairytale retelling. This one was no exception! Based on an old Italian fairytale, Biancabella is born with a snake wrapped around her neck. If you know the fairytale, then you know that snake is actually her sister. The magic her mother used to give birth to her came at a cost.
This story really built on the relationship the sisters have together. And how sometimes shared and different trauma can bring you closer to the ones you love, even though trauma tears you apart.
A nice quick read, I would definitely recommend!
✨Young Adult (no spice)
🐍Sisters!
✨Magic
🐍Romance
✨Royalty
This was a very enjoyable read! Thanks @katieandbreypa and @janemcgarry for providing me the opportunity to read this!
I adore a good fairytale retelling. This one was no exception! Based on an old Italian fairytale, Biancabella is born with a snake wrapped around her neck. If you know the fairytale, then you know that snake is actually her sister. The magic her mother used to give birth to her came at a cost.
This story really built on the relationship the sisters have together. And how sometimes shared and different trauma can bring you closer to the ones you love, even though trauma tears you apart.
A nice quick read, I would definitely recommend!
September 10, 2022
I am ashamed to admit that I have had this ARC for almost two months and only just now got around to reading it but it was AMAZING.
One thing I really liked is that there was always something happening; a lot of books have lulls where it just drags on and makes it impossible to read but this one was impossible to put down!
It was a great fairy tale retelling because let’s be honest, the standard fairytales are missing the blood and gore we all know would have been part of it.
I did receive this book as an ARC, however since it has been SO LONG since I got it, it is now published so you can all enjoy it too!
One thing I really liked is that there was always something happening; a lot of books have lulls where it just drags on and makes it impossible to read but this one was impossible to put down!
It was a great fairy tale retelling because let’s be honest, the standard fairytales are missing the blood and gore we all know would have been part of it.
I did receive this book as an ARC, however since it has been SO LONG since I got it, it is now published so you can all enjoy it too!
September 25, 2022
A story retelling that compares somewhat to an old Italian fairytale; unlike anything I've read before. This book follows a intense and wonderful relationship between two sisters that was written in the stars long ago. A prophecy between twin sisters; one human, the other a snake that said if they protect one another always they will always have luck and good fortune. I thought the author wrote this book beautifully.
This book was quite entertaining and definitely had me guessing what would happen with all the twists and turns throughout the book. I really enjoyed this fairytale retelling. I'm so glad that I decided to sign up for this arc.
This book was quite entertaining and definitely had me guessing what would happen with all the twists and turns throughout the book. I really enjoyed this fairytale retelling. I'm so glad that I decided to sign up for this arc.
September 2, 2022
⚠️TW: miscarriage, attemptive murder, extreme violence (all this is in one scene)
This book was not at all what I was expecting! It was such an interesting story about 2 sisters born of a potion and their lives that was prophecy. Seeing how innocent and kind Biancabella is and how protective and insightful Samaritana is!
This story was so cute and I could not help but love both sisters. Watching them grow in their love for one another and the others in their lives makes for a cute fairytale.
This book was not at all what I was expecting! It was such an interesting story about 2 sisters born of a potion and their lives that was prophecy. Seeing how innocent and kind Biancabella is and how protective and insightful Samaritana is!
This story was so cute and I could not help but love both sisters. Watching them grow in their love for one another and the others in their lives makes for a cute fairytale.
October 2, 2022
4.5⭐
A Maiden of Snakes is a fairytale retelling about a bond between two sisters, Biancabella and Samaritana, a human and a snake. It was such a cute story! We get to see both of their perspectives as they learn about life, their magical abilities, and each other. Their personal journeys are a mix of love and loss, understanding and misunderstandings, good luck and misfortune. Their destiny is each other and that's just so beautiful.
A Maiden of Snakes is a fairytale retelling about a bond between two sisters, Biancabella and Samaritana, a human and a snake. It was such a cute story! We get to see both of their perspectives as they learn about life, their magical abilities, and each other. Their personal journeys are a mix of love and loss, understanding and misunderstandings, good luck and misfortune. Their destiny is each other and that's just so beautiful.
September 11, 2022
I have never read the Italian fairy tale this novel is loosely based on, so this story was new to me. I really enjoyed it. It was different and interesting. It was easy for me to get right back into when I had to put it down. It was a fast read and the bond between the sisters was so interesting. I was invested in what happened to each.
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