This reimagining of Snow White added a few important twists to the story that I really felt brought new life to a tired fairy tale. There are no dwarves. Thankfully. There is a huntsman, but he has a lot more riding on capturing the wayward princess than he ever has before. There is magic – big magic – tied to land and intentions and heart. And this pretty princess with skin as white as snow? Well, she doesn’t need a rescue. She is a hardcore warrior in her own right, and this version of the story makes it clear that her courage is the real thing that packs a punch and not some idealized virtue that sounds nice in a eulogy.
Goodreads Summary
Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.
In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.
But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.
My Thoughts
I have to admit that I’m almost done with fairy tale revisions, and I had to take a break before starting over and giving this book my real attention. I’m glad I took that break. This book does deserve to be savored rather than devoured simply because the relationships are complex, the dangers feel real, and just when you want to cover your eyes or slam the book closed, another turn of events keeps you in the game. Lorelai, the protagonist, is easy to connect with, and a strong female protagonist I believe my high school readers will admire and enjoy. There is a bit of romance, and the author nicely sidesteps the dreaded insta-love by providing a deeper connection. I think most readers will be quite pleased with their relationship and the relationships throughout this book. It reminded me of Princess of Thorns a bit, and if you enjoyed that book, I feel sure this one will grab you as well. I’m adding it to my classroom library wish list and recommending it to all my readers who like their ladies tough and true. Language and situations are appropriate for middle and high school readers, but adult readers will enjoy it as well.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
