Welcome to my tour stop! Find my review and giveaway below...
Sons of Day & Night
(The Chronicles of Twinsbane #1)
By Mariposa Aristeo
YA Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Retelling
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 272 Pages
November 18, 2025 by Enclave Escape
Summary
Not even death can tell them apart.
In the wild and lush kingdom of Twinsbane, everyone has a look-alike, and each twin is cursed to die when their double breathes their last. When an ancient plague arises, the kingdom’s only hope is to sever these deadly ties. Yet King Daccias refuses to relinquish the cure, a legendary potion called the Separator.
Waruu, an orphan determined to break these ties, discovers he’s the king’s doppelgänger. He’s certain that if he can switch places, he can save the kingdom. But if anyone learns his true identity, he’ll lose everything—including the people he’s desperately trying to protect.
King Daccias wants nothing more than for his subjects to cease threatening to behead him if he doesn’t hand over the Separator. Intent on catching those opposing him, he finds himself ensnared in his own trap. If he doesn’t break loose, the kingdom will rest in the hands of an insolent boy who knows nothing about the truth behind the events unfolding around him.
To save their kingdom, both Waruu and Daccias must face their greatest enemy—each other.
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My Review
SONS OF DAY & NIGHT is an interesting spin of the classic story of The Prince and the Pauper. It's set in a fantasy land where the people are of the night or of the day, each a doppelgänger of the other. The two main characters are, of course, the king and one of the poor villagers who are each others' doubles. There is enough going on to keep the story interesting, and one character easy to like while the other much less so. There's an opportunity for character development and ever increasing tensions as the clash between the people and the king come to a head. Fans of young adult fantasy and retellings may enjoy this one.
I thought the overall concept of this story to be very intriguing. Taking night versus day and applying that to the actual people with a version of each. I liked Waruu from the start. The opening scene is very reminiscent of Aladdin, which is what it reminded me of, but it's similar to also the classic story this is based on as that also starts with some thieving. Daccias is fairly unlikable. I'm sure on purpose. It's interesting watching them both switch places and the ensuing difficulties.
I would have liked more development in a lot of areas. Daccias just doesn't want to do what the people want or listen to his council or be kind, but initially the story doesn't give the reasoning behind that. There were also a lot of plot holes or places where something happens but there was no explanation or transition. Waruu was thrown into impersonating the king, but there was no shown preparation in the story (he doesn't know who anyone is or practice on what to do and or how to act/speak). It made the story feel a bit thrown together and unrealistic.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an overall enjoyable story with likable characters, especially if you enjoy cheering for an underdog, and an interesting plot. It needed more development, but still an entertaining read.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
More from the Author
How could I refuse to write a retelling of The Prince & the Pauper?
(Kudos to all the zillennial girls who get that reference.)
Ever since I watched the Barbie rendition of this classic tale when I was just a little girl, this story has been on my heart. As I grew older, other more adventurous tales influenced me, such as Dreamwork’s How to Train Your Dragon, Jennifer Nielsen’s The False Prince, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, and more recently, Star Wars’ The Bad Batch.
But no matter the story, one aspect stayed the same—finding people just like me in the unlikeliest of places.
Growing up, I had a different childhood than most. I was pretty isolated with little to no friends, and not much extended family. It wasn’t until my twenties that I met the people who would later become my true family. They weren’t blood relations, and we didn’t interact in person until years later (yay for internet friends!). We are different in all the best ways but the same in the ways that matter and weird in the way that makes life interesting.
The Prince & the Pauper is a story about many things. Empathy, compassion, and learning what it’s like to live in another person’s shoes. When I set out to write Sons of Day & Night, I wanted to pay homage to this underrated tale while deepening the bond between the two very different (but also very alike) heroes. It’s not just a story about switched identities, it’s a story about the family we find even when our world is falling apart.
When my mom passed away from cancer in 2022, I felt like my world truly was falling to pieces. Besides losing a parent, I also lost what little I had of a normal family. But my found family came together to be there for me and be the family I never had.
We don’t share the same genetics, but they are every bit as much my brothers and sisters. As Stitch once said, “This is my family. I found it all on my own.”
Fast forward a few years, and I now live within 60 miles of my found family and see them almost every week. It’s funny to think how a few internet strangers became such a huge part of my life, but sometimes God sends us family in the places we least expect it.
And my hope is that Sons of Day & Night will remind you that there’s always someone out there just like you.
Tour Schedule
Texas Book-aholic, November 20
Inspired by Fiction, November 21
The Lofty Pages, November 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23 (Spotlight)
Wishful Endings, November 24
CeCe Reads and Sings, November 24
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, November 25 (Author Interview)
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 26
Guild Master, November 27 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, November 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 29
Simple Harvest Reads, November 30 (Author Interview)
The Mommies Reviews, November 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 1
Labor Not in Vain, December 2
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, December 3 (Author Interview)
Tour-Wide Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Mariposa is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Are you a fan of The Prince and the Pauper? Does this sound like a retelling you'd enjoy?
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