Snow White’s best-known incarnation is probably the original Disney film, but she’s graced the big screen quite a bit since then. She’s also appeared in plenty of retellings in print. From the rather gruesome Brothers Grimm story, Snow White has been a popular story to play with. Today I’ll be talking about some of the Snow White retellings I’ve read.
Courtesy: MyRecipes
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Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore- This is sort of cheating because it’s not actually a retelling of Snow White and her seven dwarves, but of the lesser known Snow White story about Snow White and her sister, Rose Red. I love McLemore’s writing, very lyrical magical realism, and this novel is beautiful. Sisters who love each other forced into a rivalry, trying to maintain trust and escape their fate. If you’re looking beyond the traditional Snow White story, check this one out.
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Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao- This duology tells the story first of the evil queen and then Snow White herself in an Asian-inspired fantasy world. I actually enjoyed the first more than the second, but both were good reads. Keeps a lot of the Snow White tropes but adds plenty of politics and magic of its own. As I said, I particularly liked Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, which I think is one of the best villain retellings I’ve read, with immersive writing and world building and interesting characters.
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Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen- This is a less fantastical retelling of Snow White in some ways because it has a bit more modern setting, twentieth-century Appalachia. Still plenty of magic and storytelling, but written for a bit younger audience. I liked the reimagined setting, though some of the plot was a bit poorly explained in my opinion. An enjoyable read, but not a standout for me.
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Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust- One of the few Snow White retellings that I’ve read that is sympathetic to both the stepmother and the princess in the same book. Girls of Snow and Glass focuses very much on the female characters (including Lynet’s love interest!), which I enjoyed. It felt like a bit of a long and slow read for me, I think because the premise gives up quite a bit of info that takes the book a while to get to. Still, definitely a fresh take on Snow White with some nice revisions to the traditional tropes.
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The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine- This retelling is one of the only I’ve read that explores the relationship between Snow White and the Huntsman. It had magic, dragons, and court politics, but it just didn’t do it for me. Not sure if the romance focus was too heavy or it just didn’t feel unique enough, but I was not captivated by The Shadow Queen. Part of a series set in that world that looks at Rumpelstiltskin, The False Prince (an Arabian folktale, apparently), and Cinderella. I haven’t read the rest of the series, and probably won’t, but if you’re looking for a more typical YA romance, The Shadow Queen might be your thing.