Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem - Melissa Lemon

Originally reviewed at Witchmag's Boekenplank

 

This was one heck off a story fairy-tale. Is it just me, or are there a lot more of these old fairy-tale retellings lately? Not that I mind, I always loved my bed-time stories ^^ It’s just that some aren’t as enjoyable as the original one. If you write about a specific fairy-tale, please let it show in the story! Sorry, just read a book I wasn’t that happy with. Won’t tell names though.

 

Anyways, that last ranting wasn’t meant for this book, oh no. Here it was clear which story was used and it’s a great addition to the retelling genre. I almost liked it better than the original. It has this delicious sinister and dark twist and instantly reminded me of Snow White and the Huntsman. Not because the stories are alike (not at all!), but because it’s also filmed with dark colors. So you could feel the misery and sadness all the better… Nevertheless, it’s also a book I finished in no time. It was that captivating.

 

This was partly because of the way the story is told, it’s like someone reads the story to you. Just like my parents did with Snow White when I was young. It was a bit nostalgic and fit the book perfectly! Besides it’s not just anybody who tells the story, it’s the evil queen’s mirror! THE magical mirror that has to answer the same question every day: Who’s fairest of them all? And one big question of mine gets finally answered: what exactly is the mirror? Is it even a real mirror, or is it a person? I won’t spoil the answer, so just go and read the story Just let me say I was quite satisfied with the answer and how it was used in the story ^^

 

Only disadvantage of having a story read to you is that you don’t get to know the feelings a character really feels ones. You won’t be able to feel how friendship slowly turns into love. You’ll miss the moment they realize they are in love. You won’t experience the tense moments, just before that first kiss. This is just me talking: i’s a love story and I didn’t have my romance time. I can get cranky without it. But this time I was too absorbed in the story to notice it. Till I finished. Then I grumbled a bit. In the end it wasn’t that important. This time.

 

Talking about characters, what would Snow White be without her Seven Dwarves? In this story too, they play an important role. And the difference! These were not the “Disney” dwarves I grew up with, but real people. Born with a genetic defect. We even have a Siamese twin! Although the youngest was once again my favorite. He warmed my heart and made me love him in a single heartbeat. I sincerely enjoyed the time I spent in that little house in the woods ^^

 

And now Snow White herself. She too was way different from our Disney Princess. Not afraid of anything that’s thrown her way, not afraid to speak her mind. Way different from the princess who was scared and running in the woods. The one who was a real damsel in distress and needed to be rescued. That’s not who Kat is. She’s the one doing the rescuing and saving instead ^^

 

Although I said I liked that Kat saves the day. Even though this is an incredible story, with surprising twists and turns. There was still something I missed greatly in this retelling of Snow White. The poisonous apple. Where is my apple? Isn’t that a very big deal in Snow White’s life? So why was it missing? Isn’t the apple essential? Every version of Snow White I’ve read always had the apple, even Snow White and the Huntsman! So I was a bit disappointed that it was left out. For me it’s something that needs to be in a story about Snow White, even if the rest of the story is too amazing for words.

 

Conclusion

4 HEARTS. This is an amazing fairy-tale about a whole new Snow White, even with a missing poisonous apple. It has many twists and turns, so you’ll never know what to expect next. With every word I read this book became better and better. It was very refreshing to have the story read to me and I finally found out what The Mirror is! However, it made me miss my “romantic time,” but the story was great enough that I didn’t feel this as a loss. The characters make more than up for it. With adorable “dwarves” and a strong and kick ass Snow White, I can highly recommend this book to every fairy-tale lover out there. And I’m now off to re-watch Disney’s Snow White. Again.

Source: http://witchmagsboekenplank.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/review-snow-whyte-and-the-queen-of-mayhem-by-melissa-lemon