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annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
As I already hoped, I liked Blanche, Snow for close friends and family, a lot better than Celine and from the very first page until the very last one I enjoyed her story so incredibly much! Maybe Snow wasn't the bravest character I've ever read about and maybe she wasn't good with brute force and maybe she also didn't always do the right thing. But she was so beautifully human and watching her grow into her role as the future queen was such a wonderful experience!
When we met Snow her father had just died and her best friend, Alexander, rushes her out of her room to escape the death that's waiting for her. At that moment Snow is shy, insecure and she knows next to nothing about survival, fighting, climbing and everything else she will actually need to survive. It's an amazing starting point for a story and it's even more amazing to see this shy girl grow into the person she becomes eventually.
This books once more, just like the previous books, has it all. Of course the backbone is the story of Snow White and this book contains all the key elements. The haunted forest, the small cabin, seven kids ("what did you expect? Dwarves?") sheltering her and warming up to her, a handsome and brave huntsman, the magic mirror and of course a poisoned apple. And then some more elements were added: Political suspense, betrayal, courts, secrets and hours and hours of self defence training sessions!
At the moment this is the last book published in this series, but two more will be released this year and I'm really looking forward to them!
When we met Snow her father had just died and her best friend, Alexander, rushes her out of her room to escape the death that's waiting for her. At that moment Snow is shy, insecure and she knows next to nothing about survival, fighting, climbing and everything else she will actually need to survive. It's an amazing starting point for a story and it's even more amazing to see this shy girl grow into the person she becomes eventually.
This books once more, just like the previous books, has it all. Of course the backbone is the story of Snow White and this book contains all the key elements. The haunted forest, the small cabin, seven kids ("what did you expect? Dwarves?") sheltering her and warming up to her, a handsome and brave huntsman, the magic mirror and of course a poisoned apple. And then some more elements were added: Political suspense, betrayal, courts, secrets and hours and hours of self defence training sessions!
At the moment this is the last book published in this series, but two more will be released this year and I'm really looking forward to them!
happyhaidi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
3.0
torla's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
siriusly_loves_books's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
lncolgate's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Kind of meh. Similar problem to Captive of Wing and Feather in that the main villain was in the background the whole time. Very little action. There wasn’t even a lot of political background action which I sort of expected. More focused on Snow’s personal growth, but even that felt kind of lackluster. There wasn’t anything that made me really want to root for her.
Usually the building of the romance saves these books or at least gives me something to enjoy and look forward to. This one I felt Snow and Alexander were so far apart most the time there was hardly time for it to develop. Yes there was the whole childhood friends trope, but I like to see the friendship turn into romance which was really missing.
Some of the Snow White fairytale elements were altered but it didn’t feel like enough to be interesting. Overall the story moved very slow, and even the climax didn’t feel very intense or satisfying.
Usually the building of the romance saves these books or at least gives me something to enjoy and look forward to. This one I felt Snow and Alexander were so far apart most the time there was hardly time for it to develop. Yes there was the whole childhood friends trope, but I like to see the friendship turn into romance which was really missing.
Some of the Snow White fairytale elements were altered but it didn’t feel like enough to be interesting. Overall the story moved very slow, and even the climax didn’t feel very intense or satisfying.
kjrollins's review against another edition
medium-paced
5.0
This was a great retelling of Snow White. Loved the friends to lovers trope! Loved the play on the “dwarves” loved the twist on the “Apple” with the Godmothers thrown in. This was very well written. Character development was spot on and there were absolutely no plot holes! She even ties up things from previous books! Excellent!
leahegood's review against another edition
5.0
When Blanche looses her father, the person she love best, she is left as his heir and the rightful queen of her kingdom. However, her stepmother quickly displays her unwillingness to rule as queen regent. She wants the rulership for herself. Only the suspicion and quick thinking of Snow's best friend, a royal huntsman named Alexander, saves her from a grisly death of her stepmother's design.
Fleeing for her life, a voice of doubt accuses Blanche (known as Snow to her friends) of her weakness and cowardice. When she finds herself abandoned even by Alex, she stumbles across an unlikely refuge and begins to acquire skills she never needed before. Skills that may prepare her to claim her crown and save her kingdom.
I loved so many of the themes in this book! Snow learns the importance of doing what needs to be done despite fear. She learns the importance of relying on the wisdom and support of her friends to fill in the gaps of her own capabilities. She learns to rely on the providence of the High King and his appointed godmothers.
The love story in this book also rang true to me. Instead of the love-at-almost-first-sight of [b:A Dance of Silver and Shadow|36186930|A Dance of Silver and Shadow (Beyond the Four Kingdoms, #1)|Melanie Cellier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504631497l/36186930._SY75_.jpg|57809764] or the immediate spark but slightly (very slightly) more slow-growing romance of [b:A Crown of Snow and Ice|48946946|A Crown of Snow and Ice A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Beyond the Four Kingdoms #3)|Melanie Cellier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574692454l/48946946._SY75_.jpg|64661501], the affection between Snow and Alexander is an organic, time-tested love. Despite his feelings for her, Alexander refuses to act on his emotions out of respect for her and her title. He is determined to love and serve her as queen instead of lover until the High King and his godmothers make his love for her the only path to the survival of both Snow and the kingdom.
That said, Snow does spend a good amount of time admiring Alexander's physique and wishing to kiss him (she doesn't quite have his restraint), and there are a few eager kisses at the end of the book.
Overall, this book rivals [b:A Tale of Beauty and Beast|36199298|A Tale of Beauty and Beast (Beyond the Four Kingdoms, #2)|Melanie Cellier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504824056l/36199298._SY75_.jpg|57828635] on my favorites list for this series.
Fleeing for her life, a voice of doubt accuses Blanche (known as Snow to her friends) of her weakness and cowardice. When she finds herself abandoned even by Alex, she stumbles across an unlikely refuge and begins to acquire skills she never needed before. Skills that may prepare her to claim her crown and save her kingdom.
I loved so many of the themes in this book! Snow learns the importance of doing what needs to be done despite fear. She learns the importance of relying on the wisdom and support of her friends to fill in the gaps of her own capabilities. She learns to rely on the providence of the High King and his appointed godmothers.
The love story in this book also rang true to me. Instead of the love-at-almost-first-sight of [b:A Dance of Silver and Shadow|36186930|A Dance of Silver and Shadow (Beyond the Four Kingdoms, #1)|Melanie Cellier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504631497l/36186930._SY75_.jpg|57809764] or the immediate spark but slightly (very slightly) more slow-growing romance of [b:A Crown of Snow and Ice|48946946|A Crown of Snow and Ice A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Beyond the Four Kingdoms #3)|Melanie Cellier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574692454l/48946946._SY75_.jpg|64661501], the affection between Snow and Alexander is an organic, time-tested love. Despite his feelings for her, Alexander refuses to act on his emotions out of respect for her and her title. He is determined to love and serve her as queen instead of lover until the High King and his godmothers make his love for her the only path to the survival of both Snow and the kingdom.
That said, Snow does spend a good amount of time admiring Alexander's physique and wishing to kiss him (she doesn't quite have his restraint), and there are a few eager kisses at the end of the book.
Overall, this book rivals [b:A Tale of Beauty and Beast|36199298|A Tale of Beauty and Beast (Beyond the Four Kingdoms, #2)|Melanie Cellier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504824056l/36199298._SY75_.jpg|57828635] on my favorites list for this series.
connie_a's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
talesandtreatswithtay's review against another edition
3.0
A cute retelling of Snow White with a friends to lovers romance between Snow and the huntsman.
Snows character starts off as weak and self-deprecating--there were several times her thoughts would be targeted against herself. BUT she did have significant character growth by the end. A part of that journey to greater inner and outer strength was training in the woods to track animals and wield a dagger. The parts about her learning how to read the forest seemed a bit of a stretch since this wasn't overtly helpful to her later on in the book.
The dwarves are represented by 7 children living self-sufficiently in a cabin in the woods. The overall story was light-hearted but the backstories of some of the children hinted at more difficult topics.
Parts of the story read even more YA than other books in the series, but I suppose this is because Snow is 16. (Not to worry we don't have a 16 year old getting married in this book though.)
Christian fiction rating: 0/3 clean fiction
Snows character starts off as weak and self-deprecating--there were several times her thoughts would be targeted against herself. BUT she did have significant character growth by the end. A part of that journey to greater inner and outer strength was training in the woods to track animals and wield a dagger. The parts about her learning how to read the forest seemed a bit of a stretch since this wasn't overtly helpful to her later on in the book.
The dwarves are represented by 7 children living self-sufficiently in a cabin in the woods. The overall story was light-hearted but the backstories of some of the children hinted at more difficult topics.
Parts of the story read even more YA than other books in the series, but I suppose this is because Snow is 16. (Not to worry we don't have a 16 year old getting married in this book though.)
Christian fiction rating: 0/3 clean fiction