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A review by heameljon
Mirror, Mirror by Ann Aguirre
4.0
I received an Advanced Reader Copy in return for an honest review.
What if the evil step-mother in all those fairytales was really misrepresented and misunderstood? What if the step-mother was never really the evil one at all? Maybe we never really knew the truth to those stories, maybe now it is time to bring light to what really happened.
I love a well executed retelling of an old fairytale. In 'Mirror, Mirror', Ann Aguirre puts an interesting spin on Snow White. As with her first book in the 'Gothic Fairytales' series 'Bitterburn', Aguirre placed well known easter eggs, such as a play on the well known poisoned apple, through out the story.
Trude Burgess has loved Viggo Calder her entire life but he was always more interested in Lisabet. So much so it bordered on obsession. Viggo and Lisabet ended up married with a daughter and Trude thought she had lost her opportunity at happily ever after, that was until Lisabet died suddenly. Knowing that Viggo was devastated from his wife's death and only a third of the man he was, Trude agreed to marry him and raise his now eight year old daughter. The marriage was one of convenience but Trude was certain she could turn their friendship into more. Upon moving in with Viggo and Albie she realizes things were never what they appeared to be.
This story is technically a play on Snow White but so unique that it is it's very own story. You could remove the mention of the mirror, the evil-step mother, the 'seven dwarfs', and the poisoned apple and never think of Snow White. Aguirre has a way of developing worlds, characters, and storylines in such a way that you can see every detail in your mind. I loved Trude and her devotion, I grew frustrated with Viggo and his inability to see the truth, and I felt for Albie who always wanted to be loved but had no control over her life. There were parts of the story with tension so thick I felt true concern for the characters and there were sections that had me frightened for their lives.
I am excited for the next installment of the Gothic Fairytales series but so sad to read it is the final installment. All things come in moderation and also must come to an end.
What if the evil step-mother in all those fairytales was really misrepresented and misunderstood? What if the step-mother was never really the evil one at all? Maybe we never really knew the truth to those stories, maybe now it is time to bring light to what really happened.
I love a well executed retelling of an old fairytale. In 'Mirror, Mirror', Ann Aguirre puts an interesting spin on Snow White. As with her first book in the 'Gothic Fairytales' series 'Bitterburn', Aguirre placed well known easter eggs, such as a play on the well known poisoned apple, through out the story.
Trude Burgess has loved Viggo Calder her entire life but he was always more interested in Lisabet. So much so it bordered on obsession. Viggo and Lisabet ended up married with a daughter and Trude thought she had lost her opportunity at happily ever after, that was until Lisabet died suddenly. Knowing that Viggo was devastated from his wife's death and only a third of the man he was, Trude agreed to marry him and raise his now eight year old daughter. The marriage was one of convenience but Trude was certain she could turn their friendship into more. Upon moving in with Viggo and Albie she realizes things were never what they appeared to be.
This story is technically a play on Snow White but so unique that it is it's very own story. You could remove the mention of the mirror, the evil-step mother, the 'seven dwarfs', and the poisoned apple and never think of Snow White. Aguirre has a way of developing worlds, characters, and storylines in such a way that you can see every detail in your mind. I loved Trude and her devotion, I grew frustrated with Viggo and his inability to see the truth, and I felt for Albie who always wanted to be loved but had no control over her life. There were parts of the story with tension so thick I felt true concern for the characters and there were sections that had me frightened for their lives.
I am excited for the next installment of the Gothic Fairytales series but so sad to read it is the final installment. All things come in moderation and also must come to an end.