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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Sixteen year old Gerta has lived next door to her best friend Kay her whole life, and has been in love with him almost as long. One winter night, she watches in horror as the mythical Snow Queen spirits Kay away in a flying sled pulled by giant otters. What follows is a fairy tale quest as Gerta journeys north in hopes of rescuing him. Along the way, a talking raven and a bandit girl join her on her adventures.
This story provides an imaginative twist on a lesser known tale. It also ends up being a love story, but not in the way you first expect. Excellent characters and a surprising, engaging book from the always-reliable Kingfisher. Five stars.
This story provides an imaginative twist on a lesser known tale. It also ends up being a love story, but not in the way you first expect. Excellent characters and a surprising, engaging book from the always-reliable Kingfisher. Five stars.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this was so cute and whimsical and a perfect read for this time of the year, could only have been made better if it was snowing but it never snows here so …
i read the classic snow queen just before this so it was nice to see all the ways it was similar and different to the original and the best difference was that it’s queer which just makes most books better for me, a queer reader
t kingfishers writing is always beautiful to me and this was more exception. i can’t wait to read more of their books!
i read the classic snow queen just before this so it was nice to see all the ways it was similar and different to the original and the best difference was that it’s queer which just makes most books better for me, a queer reader
t kingfishers writing is always beautiful to me and this was more exception. i can’t wait to read more of their books!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The animal characters in this story steal the show. Seriously, they are all so much fun and I couldn't help but to fall in love with them. Gerta is a wonderful character but the other human side characters are bit lacking, they just don't have much personality. Over all the book is really enjoyable, there are some really emotional moments that just give you all the feels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is everything I want in a fairytale retelling. Kingfisher takes the rough plot of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, and expands and complicates it in fascinating and surprising ways. A sapphic interpretation of Gerta and the Robber Girl is by no means a stretch, but was delightful nonetheless.
And speaking of, that was some of the best YA sapphic romance I’ve ever read! Fraught with the internal angst characteristic of Kingfisher’s romances, but with plenty of swoony moments to balance it.
Kingfisher also introduces plenty of Scandinavian folklore and traditions, in addition to providing context about the location (Sapmí) and the Sami who live there.
And of course, there’s a quirky animal companion- a disabled talking raven who thinks himself the cleverest of all (he’s not wrong). I highly, highly recommend this relatively short, but very cozy read for winter.
Note a TW for pretty graphic/ gory (but consensual??) animal death!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
I love Kingfisher's stories. This ended up being a take on the Snow Queen fairy tale, which I hadn't heard until a couple months ago. I have read two variations on the theme now and both different enough that I'm not sure what the original story is. But I liked this a lot.
Story follows Gerta as she travels north to find her best friend/crush after he was taken by a mysterious cold lady in a sleigh pulled by otters. She is tricked and tranqed by a witch, stopped by a gang of bandits, befriends a raven, and learns to live in a reindeer skin. Lots of dark and twisted elements, little lesbian awakening moment, growing up and found family themes.
Very good writing, clever and artistic as always. A bit of mysticism and magic thrown in, really good blend. The raven was fun, and the reindeer road was an enormous piece of worldbuilding and lore. Great story and I'm glad our hero made her own choices in the end.
Story follows Gerta as she travels north to find her best friend/crush after he was taken by a mysterious cold lady in a sleigh pulled by otters. She is tricked and tranqed by a witch, stopped by a gang of bandits, befriends a raven, and learns to live in a reindeer skin. Lots of dark and twisted elements, little lesbian awakening moment, growing up and found family themes.
Very good writing, clever and artistic as always. A bit of mysticism and magic thrown in, really good blend. The raven was fun, and the reindeer road was an enormous piece of worldbuilding and lore. Great story and I'm glad our hero made her own choices in the end.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No