Normally, Snow White retellings aren’t really my thing. I love how Snow White is a kind, more-girlish heroine with an innocent sort of air, but I often prefer stories with a bit more action. This retelling definitely decided to take Snow White into a darker place without getting too gritty. However, there are still all the elements of the classic story: magic, revenge, politics, true love, and seven dwarves with personalities all their own. What’s not to love?

My favorite part of this book, though, was hands-down Elisabeth and Cedric. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is full of banter and hidden care for each other, and it was almost enough to make me wish it didn’t have to end (almost – I still wanted to see justice prevail). Their relationship definitely carried the middle part of the book as they waited to confront Ismena, which I was more than happy with. I only wish we got more time with the dwarves, as their personalities were very distinct.

ACTION: This book spends a fair chunk of time preparing for action, but it keeps it pretty light. The beginning and the ending both had just enough fighting to keep you on the edge of your seat, but what this book really focuses on is suspense. After Elisabeth flees into the forest, there’s a big chunk of hurry-up-and-wait while she tries to convince Cedric and the dwarves to fight for her. This section does sort of stall, but the ending makes up for it. And although here were light descriptions of violence and injury, nothing was dark enough to warrant a higher rating.

ADVENTURE: One of the best parts about this book was the backstory of Ismena and Elisabeth’s father. We only really get to hear about this side of the story a few times, namely in the beginning, but it’s clear there’s a twisty, political backstory that is dying to be made into a prequel. It even bleeds into the dynamic between Elisabeth and Cedric, and I definitely need to find out more about the kingdom of Mooraven. I also enjoyed exploring the forest with the giant wolves and deadly spiders, and I wish Elisabeth had run off earlier so we could have experienced more.

ROMANCE: This book is very, very light on the romance, but Elisabeth and Cedric are so fun with each other that it doesn’t matter that there aren’t any obvious sparks at first. The banter alone is enough for a re-read, and I love how Cedric is so snarky but still so caring. Elisabeth takes a lot longer to come around, as she argues against almost everything Cedric says, but even her heart is touched by his witty humor and compassion. I only wish they had spent more time together to really develop the relationship, as everything sort of sped up at the end, but c’est la vie.

RELIGION: I don’t recall any religious undertones to this book other than universally accepted moral rules (do not kill, do not lie, etc.). There were mentions of fairy tale creatures, like nymphs, who had magic, but there was no mention of a Creator or organized religion.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This book is a great retelling of Snow White that delivers tension and magic that’s not seen in the original story. The prince and princess are old enemies, the dwarves wield swords, and the evil queen has a solid reason for resenting Snow White. Beauty is definitely a part of this story, but there was a lot more focus on the relationships between the characters and the history of the kingdom/the queen’s takeover, which fits in with the theme of modern retellings. If you want a quick read that delivers on magic, fun, and adventure, give this book a try.