In this retelling of the classic Snow White tale, the daughter of an owl is forced into human shape by a wizard who’s come to guide her from her wintry tundra home down to the colorful world of men and Fae, and the father she’s never known. She struggles with her human shape and grieves for her dead mother—a mother whose past she must unravel if men and Fae are to live peacefully together.

Trapped in a Fae-made spell, Androw waits for the one who can free him. A boy raised to be king, he sought refuge from his abusive father in the Fae tales his mother spun. And when it was too much to bear, he ran away, dragging his anger and guilt with him, pursuing shadowy trails deep within the Dark Woods of the Fae, seeking the truth in tales, and salvation in the eyes of a snowy hare. But many years have passed since the snowy hare turned to woman and the woman winged away on the winds of a winter storm leaving Androw prisoner behind walls of his own making—a prison that will hold him forever unless the daughter of an owl can save him.

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  I don’t read many novellas, not out of choice, but I’ve never stumbled across any that caught my eye.  Then I saw this book.

An original (which is an accomplishment in itself) retelling of an old fairy tale. Such a stunning tale woven lyrically into a book you just can’t put down.  A quick read, one easily done in one sitting, I whipped through this book unable to stop reading because I needed to know what was happening next.

And the writer’s voice was mesmerizing, wonderfully hypnotic/spell-binding and gripping. The plot flowed expertly, catching you off-guard now and then with unexpected twists and turns… just perfect.  I absolutely loved the character development, with secondaries propelling the Protagonist toward her ultimate goal in such a compelling way.

I found myself emotionally invested in the writing, constantly nodding my head and smiling. And, there were a few sad tears too.  A beautifully written retelling that I recommend to everyone who loves fantasy writing, beautiful world-building and extraordinary story-telling.

I gave this book: