To be fair I must first say that I have always enjoyed reading the Fairy Tales as told through various generations. In recent years we have seen various books emerge re-telling these well known tales through the eyes of a different character.
The story of Snow White dates back as far as the 16th century. While it has many variations, I have come to appreciate the ones which stem from the version depicted by the Brothers Grimm; included in this blood line we find Disney’s 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Serena Valentino, the writer behind such beautifully wicked graphic novels as Nightmares and Fairy Tales, and the Goth Comic Gloomcookie, revisits the kingdom of the Widower King, his daughter Snow White. She lures us in not by retelling the same story we have all read, or in most cases seen, but by telling us the events that lead up to the Queen’s treacherous attempt to murder her step-daughter.
Daughter of a Mirror maker, abused by her father, she could not believe that she was chosen to be courted by the widower king. The tale of the queen is not what one would expect. The tale draws us in on the date of the queens wedding, Snow White is still just a child, and the new Queen is quite overwhelmed by the responsibility that she has now acquired. The Queen’s past is revealed to be torrid and while she resents her father, she vows to give Snow White everything she never had in a family and more. 
Serena has obviously done her homework before writing this tale. In an endearing moment the Queen is telling Snow White a story about dragons. Those who are unfamiliar with the other versions of Snow White wouldn’t know that in other countries there are no references to dwarfs, instead they are dragons. She has also done a lot to bring back the wickedness of the Grimm tale, in which the Queen is Snow Whites actual mother and not her step mother. While she was unable to change the Queen from being a step-mother, she has brought so much compassion along with the character that you can see that she treats Snow as though she were her natural daughter.
After having finished the book I must admit that I could see the story as though it were an animated film. Through Serena’s beautifully chosen words and the way she develops not only the main characters but the secondary characters as well the book draws in the passion of the original 1937 film. Read a chapter and close your eyes and you can practically see it as it would have been animated to coincide with the movie.
Ms. Valentino I applaud you as this book is nothing short of amazing. I would recommend it to anyone that is a fan of the classic fairy tales.
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