Title: Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow #1)
Author: Danielle Paige
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2016
Genre: YA Fairy Tale Retelling, YA Fantasy
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page
My Review:
It breaks my heart when a book looks this beautiful and breaks your heart. Just like those mirror shards on the cover.
Nah, I’m just being melodramatic. It wasn’t that bad, really. It felt like Paige was warming up, sketching a world as she went, and she was just in too much of a hurry to give us the details up front that we so required.
My best comparison? Stealing Snow was like a traditional soap opera: you sit down to watch it one day, knowing a couple minutes in that it’s going to be horrible. Next thing you know, you are sitting on the couch, waiting for “your stories” to come on so you can find out if Janice marries her boyfriend’s dad’s evil twin brother who lies in a coma.
Yeah, it was like that. But let me elaborate a bit on the plot first. Don’t want to get ahead of myself here…
And don’t worry: I won’t be giving any real spoilers that aren’t already on the Goodreads blurb. Want to save you the fun. 😉
Snow (yes, her name is Snow. That kind of irritated me right from the start. Not a nickname, a real name) sits at Whittaker Institute, a mental hospital in upstate New York. All we know is that she tried to walk into a mirror at five and has the scars to show for it. She loves a boy named Bale, who happens to be a firebug. Big ol’ pyro. We know what he’s in there for, but we really only know that Snow has some anger issues and bad dreams. They’ve both been locked up for 11 years.
Now I got a little confused because she nicknames her pills after the Seven Dwarfs (sleepy, grumpy, happy, etc), and I originally thought this was a Snow White retelling. I mean, her name is Snow, and there’s a reference to the dwarves…but that’s it. Apparently, it is actually a Snow Queen retelling, which I know nothing about. So thought I would also get that out of the way, too. Okay, back to the mental hospital.
Bale and Snow are separated after they kiss and he breaks her wrist. (Well, he is in a mental institution so it’s not surprising), and Snow blames herself. One night, while sneaking in to see him, she sees a pair of arms pull him into the mirror. Bale is gone, but no one is going to believe Snow…she’s in a mental hospital. One night a boy named Jagger sneaks in and tells her to stop taking her pills and gives her the means to escape. She manages to slip out of this maximum security institution and meets Jagger in the forest. When he shows her another mirror carved into a tree, they end up in the snow-covered land of Algid.
So, at this point, and after this a bit, I was losing interest. The writing was dull and I couldn’t picture anything. But I gave it the old college try and continued on.
Snow loses Jagger and meets a witch that says she will train her. Snow is part of a prophecy: she really is the daughter of an evil king, and she has the power of snow inside her. (I guess it’s fortunate she was named Snow and not…well, you get the idea…). Despite Snow loving Bale, she starts to develop feelings for Kai, a boy in employ to the witch training her. He hates anything related to magic, so he instantly doesn’t like Snow.
Good thing there’s Jagger. Who’s also handsome and thrilling, and not to be trusted.
No kidding. Snow’s destiny is annoying.
She is on a mission to save Bale and get back home, but have Kai and Jagger also stolen Snow’s heart? (Yes, we have a love tetrahedron! Jk, but a love square) Will her magical father try to kill her like the prophecy says? Will more things happen that make this book so much like a soap opera that you can’t stop reading and you want to read more…just to see what happens next? Oh, there’s so much drama I’m leaving out, and mainly because I don’t want to spoil it for those who still plan on reading it. But you’ll see what I mean. You’ll see. (Oh, I wish I could tell you: the cliché of ALL soap operas! Argh!)
Is It Classroom Appropriate?
Yes, but no. Not bringing this into my classroom. I can’t do it. That’s all I’ll say about that.
Age Range:
So, despite how mega-popular this book is, it’s NOT on Lexile.com. Hmm. Wonder why? Anyway, there’s noting terrible in it: no sex, but there is a couple of “shit”s in there. Not too many. I would suggest 13 and up. They might like the writing better anyway. I’m not saying Paige’s writing is bad…but it took me over 60% of the book to actually get into a flow for the story.
End Result:
So I didn’t hate it. I thought I would, and if I had DNF’d it like I wanted to, I probably would rate it so much lower. But because I was eventually able to get into the story, if even just for the soap opera-y parts, I rate Stealing Snow ★★★☆☆. But I will warn you: the writing is mediocre. At best. This book takes patience. A lot of it. Is the payoff worth it? Probably not. Am I going to read the sequel? Eventually. Only because the same thing happened to me with Court of Fives (I hated the protagonist so much that I couldn’t enjoy the story), but once I read the sequel I started to like the book better. Maybe the sequel can redeem this series. I don’t know. I won’t be first in line for it, though. And I do advise you to read everything in your book arsenal, TBR, and wish list first before reading this. This is time you’ll NEVER GET BACK. So be prepared.
I do this for you. I do this so you won’t have to. Only read Stealing Snow if after this review, you STILL want to read it. Then the book might be for you.
Happy Reading all of you! Hope you read something worth your time!
Yeah, I think I’ll take your word on this book XD Thanks for reading it for the rest of us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I’m here for! ::tips imaginary hat::
Lol. Seriously though, I really am glad to keep you away. Keep you far, far away. Because despite how I felt, I’m probably going to have to read the stupid sequel just to find out wtf happens! Argh!
😉😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
THANK YOU XD ;D
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anytime! 😂😉
LikeLike
After seeing so many negative reviews of this book, I don’t think I’ll be reading it. Fantasy is not my favourite genre, so if avid fantasy lovers aren’t loving it, then I probably won’t, either. Great review, Stephanie!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It is a shame bc I am an avid fantasy lover and I just couldn’t love it. And I wanted to so badly bc of the pretty cover and the fact that everyone didn’t like it….but like with Vassa in the Night, the majority of the readers got it right: this one isn’t the story that so many people waited to read. 😞
LikeLiked by 1 person
You already know my feelings on this book 😂 This is a super informative review though and will be super helpful to others. I’m glad you enjoyed it a little more than I did. It’s a shame it was so disappointing though because it definitely had potential.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It did!! The only reason I even liked it at all was it was like watching a car wreck: you want to look away but you can’t. The ending spiced it up…but as I said, it was so like a soap opera! Next we’ll find out that Bale is Snow’s brother or something! Ugh. 😝
LikeLike
This review was really funny! The book is like a soap opera? I think I’ll pass!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes, it is so much like one…that’s the only way to describe the love square and the random revelations along the way…”Days of our Lives” has nothing on Stealing Snow…except for maybe better writers, lmao! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading it so I don’t have to! I have heard so many bad things about this book, I couldn’t be bothered reading it – even a library copy. This was such a funny review! Great job 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, mine was a library copy! And it’s hard to imagine now how jealous I was of other people getting the ARC of this book, but I no longer feel jealousy but instead I feel pity! Smh. 😟
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahah I was the same! So glad I didn’t have to read it 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I was foolish and thought I would be the one to love it, since I love a A LOT of stuff. But no, I was sorely mistaken. Should’ve let it be. I’m sure it’ll happen again: I’ll want to read something so bad…and people will say it sucks…and I’ll read it anyway…and it’ll suck. 😒
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate when that happens!! It’s kind of turned me off reading her other works too
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww! So sad to hear that about this one. I still may try it eventually. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I was sad, too. I had hoped everyone else had gotten it wrong…but no. I don’t want to discourage you from reading it yourself if you want to see if you like it. I certainly understand that.
Thanks for reading, as always. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg, this sounds like a bit of a traincrash… 😀 hahaha, loved your funny review, had some good chuckles while reading… but it does sounds like one of those seriously dramatic Turkish soaps that my mom is hooked on! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
by the way, is it actually frickin 6AM where you are at?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. I wasn’t even aware you responded. It’s now 10:15am, a little bit less early for me. Girl, I’m in the US! And in Michigan! It’s always early, lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 hahaha… gods, you were up early!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, you saw my response to Megan. Yeah, let’s just say I was CONSCIOUS at 6am. I was definitely not awake. And I burned my iPad case from falling asleep and dropping my cigarette.
I’m dangerous at 6am…
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG!!! Girl, you’re lucky you didn’t set the room on fire!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no worries there! I smoke on the patio. Only thing that would burn up would probably be me! (So, yeah, I’m trying to be more careful…don’t want to start myself on fire!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
phew!!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never seen a Turkish soap before, but I’m definitely intrigued…probably just like US soaps…evil twins, ppl in comas, marrying relatives, falling in love with relatives…people getting killed off the show…that’s pretty much what I remember from Days of Our Lives (I had a sitter that used to watch them). I’m not saying all that is in there,,,but there’s some soap-opera-ish stuff! Like, at the end of one chapter, I was like, “Oh, she did NOT go there!” 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I think soaps are soaps regardless what country creates them… the Turkish soaps I watched while I visited home briefly were like soooo full of drama. the dialogue is always total cringe but man, do you get hooked on them!?! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right? Me too! I thought they were so glamorous! I wanted to live in LA and have sexy friends like Dylan and Brandon!
LikeLike
Oh, yeah. Pretty much anything on TV that is for teens is like soap operas on steroids! Have you ever seen One Tree Hill? My sister was OBSESSED with it forever…I never watched but a couple episodes, and it was ridiculous. Beverly Hills 90210 (the first one) was like that, too. Someone had a drug problem, someone else had an eating disorder, and they were ALL sleeping around.
Great things to teach our youth, huh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 hahahaha, yeah… I used to watch Beverly Hills (the original) and thought wow, they all have such interesting lives and found mine so utterly dull.. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! I think you’re the second blogger I talk to saying that this book is a bit disappointing, and I think I will take your word for it. I definitely get soaked in an episode or two of a soap opera once in a while, haha, but there are so many books to be read, I think I’ll stay away from that one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I would try to talk you out of it but I think that’s the best decision you can make! Only so many precious reading hours in a day!
Oh, and the writing! So mediocre! The protagonist had the personality of a snack cracker…and she was supposedly crazy so you’d think she’d be a little more…colorful. You know?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha, oh I do know what you mean, it annoys me whenever the character feels so bland
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree that the story got better over some time…but it took awhile to get into for me. But I think you make good points! 😊👍
I will be reading the sequel to see if it gets better and what happened…when it comes out, you wanna buddy read it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhh well I have to see if I’ll have time to get to the first book before ahah but that could be great! I’ll let you know 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good to me! I’ll be around for awhile, lol! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great then! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I enjoyed this book more than anyone else I’ve seen haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you like it? It’s ok…we all have different tastes! I’ve loved books ppl have hated. But I’m curious what you thought about it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought it was flawed (the writing was pretty not great) but I don’t know, I got quite into the story and I liked most of the characters. Plus for once there was no love triangle! The love square was a bit excessive but lord I hate a love triangle, I could handle the square haha 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Sunshine Blogger Award! – Girl Who Reads
So far, I think this is one of the highest ratings I’ve seen for this book. I’m not looking forward to reading and I don’t think I ever will. Awesome review. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much! It’s hard for me to rate under 3 stars. Consider this my lowest rating, lol. If I had rated it after the first 50%, when I thought about DNFing it, it would have been 2. But if I can get through it without chucking it at the wall, it usually gets three, lol.
Stay away…stay VERY far away, lmao! 😂
LikeLike
Great review! I’m curious now, haha. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what happened to me after I read the reviews about this book, lol! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a fan of soap operas or love squares so I probably won’t be reading this one. I’m really glad you ended up finding some things you enjoyed about it though. Great review! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It was honestly thanks to major drama that sucked me in…it’s like, oh, now a whole bunch of stuff is going to happen RIGHT AT THE END! Nothing, nothing, nothing, then tons of something. So I have to read the sequel…but I’m not going to be waiting in line and freaking out over it, and I don’t think many others will either, lol. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!!
See I’m such an impatient reader that that would have driven me crazy. 😂 I need stuff to happen or I end up getting distracted.
Well I hope you end up enjoying the sequel. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh. I hope so too. Lol. 😬😵
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review for this book. I definitely agree with your comments on this book being like a soap opera. I swear some of the reveals at the end of Stealing Snow felt like something I would see one of the soaps I used to watch when I was younger; so cheesy and dramatic but at the same time kind of impossible to tear your eyes away from what was unfolding.
I’m glad there were parts of this book you enjoyed, I feel you definitely enjoyed it a little bit more than me either way, and I hope the second book is better. I’ll be picking up the second book as well and I’m hoping it gets better! If not I’ll be looking forwards for more soap reveals! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well…you know what that means!
Buddy read! You, me, and Stealing Snow, the sequel!
I thought you rated it pretty high, from what I recall, and I was surprised that I didn’t like it as much as you. Didn’t you give it four stars? I could be mistaken…there are so many reviews and sometimes I confuse one person’a with another’s…but I was hoping our opinions would be similar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, definitely I feel that would be hilarious and maybe the only way to get through the book if it’s similar to the first!
No I think I only gave this on two stars, I reviewed it quite a while back but I know I definitely didn’t rate it four stars. I wasn’t a fan of it for a lot of reasons and I think a few were ones you mentions, I know I didn’t like the love square at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok, def thinking of Vassa in the Night! That’s the one! I remember there was one you loved and I didn’t…but I’m glad we agree on this one.
Well, since we are both so compulsive about reading sequels, I think a buddy read on that would be hilarious! We’d have so many laughs until we (most likely) throw the book against the wall!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah Vassa in the Night was one I enjoyed so much more. Stealing Snow was definitely a two star read for me (I haven’t checked my review but I’ve never rated a book one star and I won’t have given it more than two)
Well I’d read it on my Kindle if anywhere so it definitely won’t be thrown against the wall, but I do agree we’d likely have a laugh reading it together! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea! Read it via kindle and that way no one gets hurt via our projectile books! 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I’d never risk throwing my Kindle, no matter how bad a book is! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, me either! Im not hurting my iPad…I’d rather die! 😵
LikeLiked by 1 person
No matter how bad the book is there are some lines we will never cross! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review!! (and great blog too)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
Sorry…you were in my Spam! But I pulled you out! Yay! 👏👏👏
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent review as usual, I love how you advise people to read everything before this book hahahaha
I’ve read so many negative reviews about this one!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Annie!
Yes, I advise people to stay far away from this one, lol! I read it so that no one else has to!! 😂😂😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had similar views on this one – and later on found out that majority didn’t like it so well made a habit of checking goodreads review before getting any book :p
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good habit! I’m just one of those that likes a lot of books, and I had been waiting for this one FOREVER…so I had to read it or I would never know.
But now I know!! Lmao!! 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh well – in that case I’ll just watch out for your reviews :p
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, thank you! I’ll take the book bullet any day! 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like I’ve read no positive reviews for this book AT ALL, haha. Sorry to hear that it didn’t 100% work for you, but 3 stars is actually quite… positive in comparison to what I’ve seen. 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah…it takes absolute garbage for me to rate less than three stars, lol! 😉
LikeLike
Have you ever? I’m curious to see the kinds of books you rate one-star. 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
So far, I don’t think so! Wow, That’s crazy! If I did, I would rate 1Q84 one star…it was god-awful. And I couldn’t even finish it. But I didn’t rate it bc it was a DNF.
I think I need to be tougher…or get more discriminating in my taste!
LikeLike
Oh noooo, haha. I actually liked that one – not Murakami’s best work by faaar, but I love his writing enough to be able to sink into the story and ignore how nonsensical it is. :p
And hey, it’s okay to not be so “tough”! Always better to enjoy whatever you’re reading. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good point!
And Murakami’s book was just so long! I didn’t know when I started it that it was 3 in 1: all I knew was that it was 900+ pages and I couldn’t get past 30%. I tried so hard with that book, and when I mentioned it to someone, they said, “Oh, you can’t just dive in to Murakami’s books…you have to work up to it.” Then they suggested a book that would be “easier” for me. I was thinking, “Thanks a lot, condescending bitch!”
Hahahaha! So yeah, it was too much for me. And that’s the only one I really DNF’d…well, that and The Hangman’s Daughter. Wasn’t what I thought. I used to try and push on, but my mom said I shouldn’t waste time on something I wasn’t enjoying and she was right. There is one that has been perpetually on my shelf, and it’s a middle grade book called Sunborn Rising. Beautiful art and a cool children’s story, but not meaty enough for me. That’s why I rarely review middle grade either. 😊
LikeLike
Oh nooo, haha. I actually sometimes do the same – I just feel like Murakami’s a bit of an acquired taste, and some of his other books are easier to read (i.e. easier to get into) because they’re less slow, and I would recommend those too. I never realised I could come across as condescending. 😂
I love Middle Grade books but don’t read that many of them! Sometimes the language used is a bit simpler than I like… but the good ones are really good, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, Mechanica was on sale on Amazon, and you know I can’t resist a good sale…it has a beautiful cover. I also checked out from the library The Girl Who Drank The Moon. Another beautiful cover…I hope I can get into them!
LikeLike
Ah your review has made me feel slightly better about this book. I love crappy drama filled shows lol.
Still disappointed that this book keeps getting bad reviews though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was broken-hearted. I knew right after the first three chapters that I wasn’t going to like it…the writing is really not good. Like, NOT good. The drama picks up, much later, and then at the end it sucks you in. I’d put it at the end of your TBR if at all. 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bleh!! I bought it so it’s not going anywhere lol. I’ll probably get around to reading it when I’m 80!! Haha.
Thanks for the heads though 😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
When did you buy it? I didn’t know that!
I rarely buy books new bc they’re so expensive…or was it one you were waiting for?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awhile ago from Big W it was only like $12 or something so not too bad.
I was looking forward to it ☹️️ I read the pre-novellas and they weren’t too bad. The writing was kinda off but I thought that might have been because it was a short story waaaah!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, man! (When you say the big W, do you mean that AUS store Waterstones? We don’t have that out here…just B&N).
What, A. Bummer.
Oh, I got an idea! When you have a blogoversary or trying to celebrate something or trying to get more followers, offer it up in a giveaway! That always works! Ppl love free books, even if they suck! 😂
That or you could send it in the #SFATW thing…are you doing that? It’ll be like, here you go, from my country…a crappy book!
Or…maybe frisbee? 😉📚
😂😂😂😂 😉😘
LikeLike
I don’t know what Waterstones is. Lol. Big W is similar to Target?
Ahh that’s a great idea. I am supposed to be participating in a book exchange thing on instagram. That could work 😂😂
What’s #SFATW? It sounds fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I thought you had a Waterstones there: it’s a British bookstore, so I figured it would be in AUS. But it’s like a Target? Cool!
#SFATW is a program where you select what you want to send (it’s being run by drizzleandhurricanebooks) and you send a book package from your country and your partner sends one from theirs. I got Anne @ Inked Brownies! It’s gonna be fun: I really should do a post about it. There’s like three I have missed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I wish we had it here.
Yeah similar to Target. We also have Kmart which is similar too.
Then we have Dymocks which is the big book shop chain here. And a little bookshop which is amazing. Has floor to ceiling bookshelves with the ladder to reach the top shelves. Ahhhmazing!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The #SFATW sounds fun. You should definitely do a post about it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will be doing a post shortly and it should be fun!! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I’ll keep an eye out for it.
I’m doing Aus secret santa. And my book arrived today 🎉
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds freaking cool!! I wish we had one of those!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing!! I hope it stays open.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds fun! What book did you get?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t opened it. 🙂
My copy of The Diabolic showed up the other day though!!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I will be sending your package out, too, so more book mail. Could you DM your address to me when you get a chance? My mom offered to take care of the shipping bc she thought it was so sweet that you’re letting me keep Replica! It is going to be cool!
And did you see? I won my first Twitter drawing. An ARC of Heartless! So thrilled! That or Roseblood are the ones I’ve wanted so bad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww your mum is lovely!! I’ll send my address through to you 😊
CONGRATULATIONS!! That’s awesome!! Heartless ARC is amazing!! We have the US cover over here. Devo as. I wanted to get a pretty cover 😒
I hope you get Roseblood soon!! Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, you really made me laugh with your advice to read everything from tbr before this one.
I guess 3 stars from you are lower then from me?
But oh, since this book came out I’m hearing only bad things about it. Like there’s too many love interests, some kind of mental illness bug or sth. I don’t know… But I know I’m not so curious about the book anymore…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ from me is usually my lowest…my rating system is at the bottom of the page…maybe I should move it to the sidebar? So ppl can see it?
I reserve two stars for books with errors or editing issues and one star for a book that would work better as kindling. I came up with my rating system back when I was reading A LOT of indie books: three stars meant I could at least get through the book. It’s probably too generous but I have yet to read a book that’s HORRIBLE. This was just not good. But it had enough to keep me going. Three I guess means mediocre.
I guess I feel the same about this as Vassa in the Night: kept my attention, but wouldn’t recommend it. Lol.
Yeah, if you have NOTHING ELSE to read, then read this. 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This time the cover doesn’t promise a good read huh? I was devastated that I got rejected for this ARC on NetGalley but after seeing your review, I’m actually happy hehe.. I’m surprised that there’s no uniqueness to Snow White being still Snow in this book. At least in Lunar Chronicles, her name is Winter. Thanks for taking the time to read this book for me so that I don’t have to waste my time to read it.. hahaha..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I got denied for it too and I was devastated!
Glad to have you back, btw!
Yeah, this is supposedly not a retelling of Snow White, but of The Snow Queen, which I have never read! It was so slow (even for me!) and then super-fast. I took the book bullet for you, lol! Don’t waste your precious time on this. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a completely accurate review for this book. Much of the plot was poorly explained, the setting was murky, and I often found myself confused with the characters (their actions, their words, everything) and with the flow of the book. I originally bought this, because I’m a fan of the original Anderson fairytale, but this was disappointing and, yes, too much like a soap opera (the amount of “reveals” in this book were appalling). Also, if Snow was meant to be a young Snow Queen, she was painted all wrong. The Snow Queen is cool and unfeeling, not easily provoked and angered like the girl in this book. The correlations to the original story were there (much more so than in Frozen), but it still wasn’t the same incredible fairytale that Anderson first envisioned. All this to say, I’ll probably buy the sequel if I see it at the bookstore since this book ended in such an awful place. Surely it can only get better.
LikeLike
That’s exactly how I feel about this book! And the love square…really? Three guys that you have feelings for? Kind of tacky. So yes, I’m hoping the sequel is better. I haven’t read her Dorothy Must Die series, but it’s very popular, so maybe it’s just this particular Retelling? I don’t know but you make so many valid points it’s as if you took the words right out of my mouth!
Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike