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ela_35's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book was fine, but I didn’t really like Snow.
The plot was very slow moving as Snow didn’t know what she was doing so not much was happening.
There were a lot of characters, but they weren’t really developed, and the only one that was developed was Snow who was helpless. Everyone around her treats her like she doesn’t know anything (because that’s true) and they don’t tell her everything they know.
The ending was dramatic, and I didn’t like it.
I didn’t really like this book because the main character was hopeless and too young.
kristinasshelves's review against another edition
4.0
Snow White serves as the inspiration for some of my favorite fairytale retellings, so of course I enjoyed Cellier's spin on the classic. There was a good balance of intrigue and action along with the romance plot. I enjoy the allegorical elements woven into all of these interconnected series and thought they were well done in this installment; I'm happy any time the High King is mentioned in connection with the godmothers. While parts of the story read a bit young, as Snow is only 16, I also appreciated the hard hitting allusions in dealing with the children who served in the role of the dwarves.
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
3.0
The 4th book in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series, A Dream of Ebony and White is the adaptation of the Snow White fairytale. While reading in order is helpful, this one almost acts as a standalone except for a few details and could probably be read as such.
Blanche, or Snow as she likes to be called by her friends, has just lost her father. Her stepmother, mad with power thinks she's in the way and seeks to remove Snow from her life. Trying to escape, Snow has to learn to do more than she thought possible, and to save her kingdom, she has to overcome the ruthless Queen.
Snow has a lot of growth in this book. I think her personality is one of the more realistic ones I've encountered in this series so far, and largely because of the way her past history is presented. That being said, I had a hard time aligning the personalities or motivations of all the other characters in this book (except for maybe the stepmother, cause evil is gonna evil). Alexander, her love interest in this book, I just didn't connect with at all, and his personality fluctuations just didn't really ring as realistic for me.
Like all the other books in the series, this one moves fast. There are plenty of events happening and Snow finds herself in a lot of scuffles that are fun to follow. The writing is appropriate for the young adult level. While I found the ending a bit too rushed and easily wrapped up, the book was still an interesting take on the Snow White tale.
Another fast read in the series. Since I'm this far, I have to continue of course.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
Blanche, or Snow as she likes to be called by her friends, has just lost her father. Her stepmother, mad with power thinks she's in the way and seeks to remove Snow from her life. Trying to escape, Snow has to learn to do more than she thought possible, and to save her kingdom, she has to overcome the ruthless Queen.
Snow has a lot of growth in this book. I think her personality is one of the more realistic ones I've encountered in this series so far, and largely because of the way her past history is presented. That being said, I had a hard time aligning the personalities or motivations of all the other characters in this book (except for maybe the stepmother, cause evil is gonna evil). Alexander, her love interest in this book, I just didn't connect with at all, and his personality fluctuations just didn't really ring as realistic for me.
Like all the other books in the series, this one moves fast. There are plenty of events happening and Snow finds herself in a lot of scuffles that are fun to follow. The writing is appropriate for the young adult level. While I found the ending a bit too rushed and easily wrapped up, the book was still an interesting take on the Snow White tale.
Another fast read in the series. Since I'm this far, I have to continue of course.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
divensar's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
4.5
This was such a good fairy tale retelling. I liked the way it was linked in some ways to the earlier books in the series but focused on its own story. It's interesting having the two main characters already know each other long before the book starts. Their love story is beautiful, but it's just different than the earlier books where the heroine and hero meet for the first time or essentially the first time in their stories.
I enjoyed following Snow's growth over the course of the book and the way Cellier transformed the well-known story beats. I laughed out loud when the girl in the cottage asked Snow, "What were you expecting, dwarves?"
I enjoyed following Snow's growth over the course of the book and the way Cellier transformed the well-known story beats. I laughed out loud when the girl in the cottage asked Snow, "What were you expecting, dwarves?"
katherinejensen00's review against another edition
5.0
A Dream of Ebony and White starts slowly but ramps up into a real page-turner full of adventure, secrets, varying loyalties, danger, slow clean romance and more as Snow works to gather the strength needed to take back her kingdom. Snow loses her father and soon has everything else stripped from her by her murderous stepmother who takes over her throne. In order to save her kingdom from utter ruin at the hands of a cruel dictator, Snow must tap into strength she didn't know she had. With everything stripped away from her, Snow must refine herself into a stronger and more capable leader to save the people she loves. Snow deals with a harsh inner critic which is very relatable and makes the story that much more compelling. Snow is also only 16 so it feels like a coming-of-age story as she learns what she is truly capable of and that being at the top doesn't have to mean being totally alone or having no weaknesses. The supporting characters are engaging and well-developed. A Dream of Ebony and White is a suspenseful, empowering, and moving retelling of Snow White.
monetlilypads's review against another edition
4.0
Warnings
Drugs: no
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: no
Other: n/a
Loved Snow's personality. I appreciate her character growth from being so nervous and sad.
Drugs: no
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: no
Other: n/a
Loved Snow's personality. I appreciate her character growth from being so nervous and sad.
laconsstorynook's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not a fan of the snow-white story so I was hesitant going into this book, but I thought it was cute. and I truly appreciate the use of children instead of dwarves. The Romance was very basic though and not very believable or something I was truly rooting for. I was more rooting for Snow finding her own voice and taking back her rightful throne.
deanie's review against another edition
5.0
I rated this book five stars the first time I read it, and I still agree with that. I love Melanie Cellier's retold fairy tales. I think she's my favorite author in the genre, and her intertwined princess tales are masterpieces. In this book, Princess Blanche (aka Snow) flees the castle with the help of her huntsman BFF, and ends up living in the woods with seven orphaned children. The story is all about finding the courage to stand up for yourself, as Blanche does when she confronts her evil stepmother and takes back her crown. It's an amazing story, and I loved it the second time around as much as the first.
anitameri's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.0