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gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I thought this was a very interesting retelling of a Disney classic fairy tale. I thought Jen Calonita handle this fairy tale really well and made it someone new whilst keeping to the core of the original classic.
I really enjoyed the dual POV of Snow White and the Evil Queen. It was used well to highlight similarities in their lives and the differences too. It was used really well to help highlight certain aspects of the story. I liked that we also got some backstory and insight into the Evil Queen but wished you could have her fleshed out more.
Overall the story was entertaining and enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the dual POV of Snow White and the Evil Queen. It was used well to highlight similarities in their lives and the differences too. It was used really well to help highlight certain aspects of the story. I liked that we also got some backstory and insight into the Evil Queen but wished you could have her fleshed out more.
Overall the story was entertaining and enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Child abuse
vixenreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Although a reimagining of “Snow White” is bound to lose its timelessness, especially with the overstuffed cast of new characters and how unintentionally hilarious the book’s epic-fantasy approach can be, I will say that it was still an engaging read in how it added much needed characterization and relationship developed that was missing in the original film.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Mental illness, Ableism, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Confinement, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol and Self harm
Be aware of violence involving broken glass, ageism, dysfunctional familial relationships, neglect, and a still troubling kiss of true love.melsage1823's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is technically a Re Read as I read it when I was a child but does it hold up now as an Adult? Well yes, yes it does for the most part. I'm impressed that it only managed to lose a star as normally stuff you liked when you younger, you can often end up disliking as an adult.
Although it's a good book there were quite a few things that made me enjoy the book a lot less. For example I think the length is something that truly bothers me and ruins the story a bit. Some of the chapters are a bit too short and I think because of that it allows for characters like Henri our love interest who is about to be poisoned to feel less developed and fleshed out. For me I love a good short fast paced book but not at the expense of character development.
I also think the what if subtitle is very misleading as The Prince and his poisoning are very minor parts of the book. Calonita did her best to give Henri a personality but I felt like he was just there as a sidekick. It would have made more sense to call it What If The Queen Failed To Poison Snow? or What If Snow Started A Rebellion? This would have made me let off the fact that Henri didn't have much of a character arc apart from protecting Snow and leading Snow to the shocking revelation thather father King Georg is alive
Finally I would have liked to see more Evil Queen fleshed out in present day. Honestly her present day chapters are the shortest and it's a shame that to me, that the only parts where Ingrid gets to shine is her incredibly written backstory.
Apart from that however this was definitely a fun nostalgic read.
My favourite thing about this book is that it took what made the orginal Snow White good and made it more thrilling and action packed. It balanced the themes of true love, whilst also giving Snow more of a character and the chance to shine as a strong powerful ruler. It takes the characters from the original film and develops them better with proper fleshed out backstories. Whilst I'm still not completely satisfied with how the Dwarfs were written I'm glad that they had a proper backstory and motivations as to why they'd help Snow. I also love the development of Snows parents and they're adorable romance in flashbacks.
However the writing that stands out the most in the novel is the incredibly written backstory of Ingrid and her sister Katherine. This backstory makes you understand Ingrid and why she did what she did without trying to make you sympathise with her and root for her to be forgiven. The menacing backstory of the mirror honestly makes you terrified of it. I also like how Ingrid and Katherine's had a sprinkle of Shakespeare inspiration with their backstories heavily mirroring Macbeth and Hamlet. I also like the duality of how their truama informed them. Because of the backstory Katherine becomes more kind and empathetic to everyone and ends up passing on that kindness Snow, whilst Ingrid becomes more vain and cruel as she gives herself more to the mirror.
Finally, although some people might not like the first few chapters mirroring the movie, I actually enjoyed it as we got to see scenes from the movie in pov form which allowed for the characters to feel more animated and colourful in my opinion. I also like how it cleverly tricks you into thinking your going to be getting a similar story to the movie but it instead turns into Snow fighting back against the Queen for her people.
Overall, a very unique retelling of Snow White about fighting for what's right and never giving up. Definitely a good Twisted Tale that I highly recommend.
Although it's a good book there were quite a few things that made me enjoy the book a lot less. For example I think the length is something that truly bothers me and ruins the story a bit. Some of the chapters are a bit too short and I think because of that it allows for characters like Henri our love interest who is about to be poisoned to feel less developed and fleshed out. For me I love a good short fast paced book but not at the expense of character development.
I also think the what if subtitle is very misleading as The Prince and his poisoning are very minor parts of the book. Calonita did her best to give Henri a personality but I felt like he was just there as a sidekick. It would have made more sense to call it What If The Queen Failed To Poison Snow? or What If Snow Started A Rebellion? This would have made me let off the fact that Henri didn't have much of a character arc apart from protecting Snow and leading Snow to the shocking revelation that
Finally I would have liked to see more Evil Queen fleshed out in present day. Honestly her present day chapters are the shortest and it's a shame that to me, that the only parts where Ingrid gets to shine is her incredibly written backstory.
Apart from that however this was definitely a fun nostalgic read.
My favourite thing about this book is that it took what made the orginal Snow White good and made it more thrilling and action packed. It balanced the themes of true love, whilst also giving Snow more of a character and the chance to shine as a strong powerful ruler. It takes the characters from the original film and develops them better with proper fleshed out backstories. Whilst I'm still not completely satisfied with how the Dwarfs were written I'm glad that they had a proper backstory and motivations as to why they'd help Snow. I also love the development of Snows parents and they're adorable romance in flashbacks.
However the writing that stands out the most in the novel is the incredibly written backstory of Ingrid and her sister Katherine. This backstory makes you understand Ingrid and why she did what she did without trying to make you sympathise with her and root for her to be forgiven. The menacing backstory of the mirror honestly makes you terrified of it. I also like how Ingrid and Katherine's had a sprinkle of Shakespeare inspiration with their backstories heavily mirroring Macbeth and Hamlet. I also like the duality of how their truama informed them. Because of the backstory Katherine becomes more kind and empathetic to everyone and ends up passing on that kindness Snow, whilst Ingrid becomes more vain and cruel as she gives herself more to the mirror.
Finally, although some people might not like the first few chapters mirroring the movie, I actually enjoyed it as we got to see scenes from the movie in pov form which allowed for the characters to feel more animated and colourful in my opinion. I also like how it cleverly tricks you into thinking your going to be getting a similar story to the movie but it instead turns into Snow fighting back against the Queen for her people.
Overall, a very unique retelling of Snow White about fighting for what's right and never giving up. Definitely a good Twisted Tale that I highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Violence and War
The Dark parts are to do with The Evil Queen and her bond to the mirror.elizherlihy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Super fun and honestly kind of thrilling Snow White story! I loved this reimagining of one of my favorite princesses!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
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