A review by misssusan
Tear You Apart by Sarah Cross

3.0

huh. you know, i'm not really sure how to review this

see the story is oddly compelling, i read it all in one unbroken go. but like. if you were to ask me what i liked about the characters or themes or, well, anything, i wouldn't really have much to say to you

i feel like i read this the way i read when i was twelve, when i pretty much wholesale devoured books without any innate impulse to criticism or thinking it over

anyways. this is a snow white retelling, set in the town of beau rivage, where modern characters play out fairy tale plots (akin to once upon a time. or fables. lots of pop culture takes on this particular idea out there atm). this particular take merges with the twelve dancing princesses and

Spoiler

rumpelstiltskin

. i can't lie, i've read better takes on the latter (run, don't walk to genevieve valentine's the girls at the kingfisher club) but it's fine, the twelve princesses are only serving as the b-plot. the book is relatively low on romance -- vivian, our snow white figure, is already in love with henley, her huntsman, and while their fairytale roles bring them some drama the story presents their feelings as a given and doesn't spend much time developing their relationship. most of the plot momentum comes from vivian's stepmother trying to have her killed as per their story and vivian trying to stay alive

i dunno guys, file it under the realm of it worked for me right now and i have no idea why

3 stars