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To Rival a Reflection: A Snow White Retelling
What if Snow White wanted to be the fairest of them all?
As the daughter of the king’s ambassador to Appledale and the prettiest girl in Jardonia, Snow White has always believed herself worthy of a prestigious destiny. When an Enchantress appears to Snow White through a mirror and offers her enchanted gifts and the promise of queendom, she is eager to accept the honor of being the Fairest One of All. There is just one should someone fairer come along, she must forfeit her position as Fairest One—and lose the chance to marry a prince and become queen.
When her reflection begins to fade until it disappears altogether and shows up at her door as the new Fairest One, Snow White begins to see the curse beneath the Enchantress’s empty promises. With her own reflection vying for a place on the throne, Snow White must fight to protect Jardonia from this wicked rival and to keep the love of the prince who has captured her heart.
Will Snow White be able to overcome the curse of the magic mirror? Or will she forever suffer from the bitter poison of her own conceit?
To Rival a Reflection is a retelling of Snow White with inspiration from The Shadow. It is one of twelve novellas in The Shattered Tales, a collection of twelve fractured retellings of your favorite fairy tales. They can be enjoyed in any order, so fall in love with the swoony sweet romance, magical adventures, and tale-shattering twists one happily-ever-after at a time!
As the daughter of the king’s ambassador to Appledale and the prettiest girl in Jardonia, Snow White has always believed herself worthy of a prestigious destiny. When an Enchantress appears to Snow White through a mirror and offers her enchanted gifts and the promise of queendom, she is eager to accept the honor of being the Fairest One of All. There is just one should someone fairer come along, she must forfeit her position as Fairest One—and lose the chance to marry a prince and become queen.
When her reflection begins to fade until it disappears altogether and shows up at her door as the new Fairest One, Snow White begins to see the curse beneath the Enchantress’s empty promises. With her own reflection vying for a place on the throne, Snow White must fight to protect Jardonia from this wicked rival and to keep the love of the prince who has captured her heart.
Will Snow White be able to overcome the curse of the magic mirror? Or will she forever suffer from the bitter poison of her own conceit?
To Rival a Reflection is a retelling of Snow White with inspiration from The Shadow. It is one of twelve novellas in The Shattered Tales, a collection of twelve fractured retellings of your favorite fairy tales. They can be enjoyed in any order, so fall in love with the swoony sweet romance, magical adventures, and tale-shattering twists one happily-ever-after at a time!
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2023
About the author
Selina De Luca
3 books22 followersSelina De Luca is a new Canadian author in the genre of clean fairytale retellings and fantasy for adult and YA audiences. When she’s not writing, she is elbow-deep in sandboxes, bubble blowing, diaper changes, kitchen messes, and messy kisses. Aside from fiction novels, Selina also writes the occasional song with piano accompaniment and some short/flash fiction for fun. She also sings in choirs and dreams of theatrical productions and of her future books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Did Not Finish
March 26, 2026I couldn’t take this book anymore. This is the weirdest retelling of Snow White I have ever read. I don’t even know where to begin. The whole story just felt so fake. The characters were flat. I don’t even know how to explain it. I stopped once it got to the part of cutting out your heart and spirits of the dead…just no, thank you. Not worth my time.
December 5, 2023
Due to spending almost a week in Disneyland in Paris I was a little bit behind on my review copies. But, after finishing this book I'm all caught up again. And I was really excited to read this book. Snow White might not be my favorite fairytale, but it always works amazing for retellings. I was therefore really glad I was given an arc.
I absolutely loved how original this book was and yet how many elements of the original tale were present. The author did a wonderful job using all the material available while also twisting those elements and adding loads of original content. And yet the fairytale vibe of the story was still very present and magical.
I have to admit that I didn't entirely like the romance. I understand that this is a fairytale, but it was hard to really root for the prince and Snow White to end up together. They had only a few conversations and the amount of drama, especially during the finale of the story, kinda made clear that their love needed some more time to grow.
However, even though the romantic drama in the finale was not entirely my thing, I did like all the surprise reveals. So many questions were answered in such a logical way. I personally would have liked to see a little more of the thirteenth kingdom, but maybe the author could explore that part of their world in another novel.
I absolutely loved how original this book was and yet how many elements of the original tale were present. The author did a wonderful job using all the material available while also twisting those elements and adding loads of original content. And yet the fairytale vibe of the story was still very present and magical.
I have to admit that I didn't entirely like the romance. I understand that this is a fairytale, but it was hard to really root for the prince and Snow White to end up together. They had only a few conversations and the amount of drama, especially during the finale of the story, kinda made clear that their love needed some more time to grow.
However, even though the romantic drama in the finale was not entirely my thing, I did like all the surprise reveals. So many questions were answered in such a logical way. I personally would have liked to see a little more of the thirteenth kingdom, but maybe the author could explore that part of their world in another novel.
December 12, 2023
This year has seen the rise of a lot of Snow White retellings. Of them all, this was the most unique. Due to an enchantment, Snow White has enhanced her beauty, becoming the most beautiful of them all - whatever that means. (The dwarves insightfully point out that everyone has a different standard of beauty.) There are hints of Dorian Gray and the Snow Queen embedded in the story.
Snow had a lesson to learn about true beauty, and that lesson was a challenging one. The dwarves were most often the heroes of the story, although even they were not immune to enchantment. And, unfortunately, there was never a clear answer about how to differentiate between truth and enchantment, something I longed for by the end of the tale. Yet, enough fairy tale elements remained to predict the ending.
I received an ARC of the book as part of the Shattered Tales MAS promotion and have reviewed it willingly.
Snow had a lesson to learn about true beauty, and that lesson was a challenging one. The dwarves were most often the heroes of the story, although even they were not immune to enchantment. And, unfortunately, there was never a clear answer about how to differentiate between truth and enchantment, something I longed for by the end of the tale. Yet, enough fairy tale elements remained to predict the ending.
I received an ARC of the book as part of the Shattered Tales MAS promotion and have reviewed it willingly.
December 7, 2023
Snow White is declared the fairest and her home transformed. Promised a prince, she waits seven years. She asks for a friend when lonely and is given her own reflection, a vain and cruel girl who steals her life. Except she has started to realize how wrong her vanity was. When Prince Dorian falls for her it seems her dream is coming true. But Ice Blue and the enchantress have plans for her, plans she may not be able to fight against. Snow and Dorian must save each other before its too late.
A great retelling. I love the twist put on it and the character development was great.
A great retelling. I love the twist put on it and the character development was great.
December 27, 2024
To Rival a Reflection by Selina De Luca was one of this month's gifts from the fabulous Fairy Tale Advent Calendar. It is the fourth book I've read from the Shattered Tales series that reimagines the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Opinions may vary on this one. I am not generally fond of fractured fairy tales, but some people love them. I prefer books that are closer to the original stories. Still, this book was a beautifully written new and creative take on "Snow White" with some elements of "The Snow Queen" thrown in for good measure. At the end of the day, it just didn't have the same magic and impact that the original fairy tale did for me.
This version of Snow White is obsessed with her reflection and takes on many of the traits of the wicked stepmother from the original story. Armed with a magic mirror and an enchantress's prophecy that she would one day become queen as long as she remains the fairest one of all, Snow White spends her days in a lonely castle admiring her appearance. One day, the isolation becomes too much, and she wishes for a female companion to keep her company while she waits for her prince to find her. The mirror responds by sending her Ice Blue, her wicked reflection who tries to take over her life in the same vein as the "house of horrors" episode of the Tangled series. Ice Blue scares away the gullible Prince Dorian with her vanity, but Snow White wins him over after explaining her situation to him.
The dwarfs in this story are just there without serving much purpose. Their impact is greatly lessened when they aren't protecting Snow White from a would-be murderer. They have some interactions with the prince and Ice Blue, but for the most part, the book would not have been very different without them. They simply provide additional stooges for Ice Blue to manipulate into believing she is Snow White due to their virtually identical appearance. The main difference between the two doppelgangers is supposed to be Snow's softer personality, but Ice Blue is a reflection of many of Snow White's internal traits as well, making it difficult to root for her as a reader. It got a little tedious how everyone kept falling for Ice Blue's tricks, proving that there was very little difference between the two of them.
While I prefer more faithful adaptations, there were some things I enjoyed about this book. Making Snow White the vain one instead of her stepmother was an interesting twist that I've never seen done before. It was also unique to make her own vanity form another person who was, in some ways, better at achieving her goals than she was, though that is also a trope that has been done before. The fantasy world that the enchantress came from was fascinating, and I would have loved to learn more about it. The girl who befriended Snow White in the village could have been a great rival character for Snow White's friendship if she wasn't overshadowed by the dwarfs.
To Rival a Reflection is a thought-provoking retelling that challenges the traditional notions of Snow White's character. By making her the vain one, Selina De Luca raises questions about the nature of beauty, identity, and the consequences of one's actions. While the story may not have resonated with me on an emotional level, its unique twists and turns made for a compelling read. Fans of fractured fairy tales will likely appreciate the author's creative spin on this beloved classic.
This version of Snow White is obsessed with her reflection and takes on many of the traits of the wicked stepmother from the original story. Armed with a magic mirror and an enchantress's prophecy that she would one day become queen as long as she remains the fairest one of all, Snow White spends her days in a lonely castle admiring her appearance. One day, the isolation becomes too much, and she wishes for a female companion to keep her company while she waits for her prince to find her. The mirror responds by sending her Ice Blue, her wicked reflection who tries to take over her life in the same vein as the "house of horrors" episode of the Tangled series. Ice Blue scares away the gullible Prince Dorian with her vanity, but Snow White wins him over after explaining her situation to him.
The dwarfs in this story are just there without serving much purpose. Their impact is greatly lessened when they aren't protecting Snow White from a would-be murderer. They have some interactions with the prince and Ice Blue, but for the most part, the book would not have been very different without them. They simply provide additional stooges for Ice Blue to manipulate into believing she is Snow White due to their virtually identical appearance. The main difference between the two doppelgangers is supposed to be Snow's softer personality, but Ice Blue is a reflection of many of Snow White's internal traits as well, making it difficult to root for her as a reader. It got a little tedious how everyone kept falling for Ice Blue's tricks, proving that there was very little difference between the two of them.
While I prefer more faithful adaptations, there were some things I enjoyed about this book. Making Snow White the vain one instead of her stepmother was an interesting twist that I've never seen done before. It was also unique to make her own vanity form another person who was, in some ways, better at achieving her goals than she was, though that is also a trope that has been done before. The fantasy world that the enchantress came from was fascinating, and I would have loved to learn more about it. The girl who befriended Snow White in the village could have been a great rival character for Snow White's friendship if she wasn't overshadowed by the dwarfs.
To Rival a Reflection is a thought-provoking retelling that challenges the traditional notions of Snow White's character. By making her the vain one, Selina De Luca raises questions about the nature of beauty, identity, and the consequences of one's actions. While the story may not have resonated with me on an emotional level, its unique twists and turns made for a compelling read. Fans of fractured fairy tales will likely appreciate the author's creative spin on this beloved classic.
December 13, 2023
Another Take on Snow White
I liked how the original elements of the story were told in different ways: the dwarves, the comb, the bodice, the apple, the death like sleep. It was also interesting how her worst traits and vanity turned against her.
I didn’t like the ending. It could have been 40 pages shorter. When I was ready to Snow White to have overcome all and live happily, bam! more obstacles. I felt like she and Dorian had already been through enough.
I liked how the original elements of the story were told in different ways: the dwarves, the comb, the bodice, the apple, the death like sleep. It was also interesting how her worst traits and vanity turned against her.
I didn’t like the ending. It could have been 40 pages shorter. When I was ready to Snow White to have overcome all and live happily, bam! more obstacles. I felt like she and Dorian had already been through enough.
Read
February 12, 2024The concept for this book was really intriguing, but I just couldn’t get hooked in unfortunately. I have such a hard time being pulled into books these days that i cannot finish books I’m not sucked in.
However, as I don’t want to pull the rating of this one down - especially as I think other readers will love it, it just wasn’t for me - I’m leaving it without a rating, sorry author…
However, as I don’t want to pull the rating of this one down - especially as I think other readers will love it, it just wasn’t for me - I’m leaving it without a rating, sorry author…
August 25, 2024
BEST Snow White retelling I've read. Very different, but in a good way. Not at all what you expect. This book was really great! 5⭐️
January 9, 2024
There were things about this book that I really liked. The setting was immersive and engaging. I loved the dwarves and Ilara, and the chosen elements of Snow White were interesting. In summary, I liked the fairytale aspects of this book. But I didn't care for the romance. If it had been left as a light element of the plot, I'd have been much happier. This felt too much like insta-love for me. Also, there were moments where both main characters entertain thoughts I found far too suggestive for unmarrieds to be contemplating, and the two instances of "growling" made me cringe.
If you're a die-hard fairytale romance reader, this one's probably for you, but it just isn't for me.
I received an eARC if this book from the author. All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinion.
If you're a die-hard fairytale romance reader, this one's probably for you, but it just isn't for me.
I received an eARC if this book from the author. All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinion.
September 15, 2026
જ⁀➴ The only reason this isn't my favorite Snow White retelling of all time is because the movie "Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarves" exists, and also because the last ~30 pages low-key fell off, but it's still pretty damn close.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5
SPICE: 💌 (kissing only)
VIOLENCE: ❎ (no significant violence or gore)
જ⁀➴ Snow White (our FMC) was genuinely a fantastic, very easy to root for character. Her character arc was easily my favorite part of this book and a very well-written redemption arc. I love that she was flawed and vain at the beginning and that she basically caused the problems that followed herself,
I absolutely adore soft girl FMCs, and Snow White, after learning her lesson, embodies everything I love: humble, gentle, and honest about her mistakes. She is refreshingly genuine and kind—a perfect 10/10 character.
જ⁀➴ Dorian (our MMC) was fine, I guess. He had far less development than Snow White, which is unfortunately common in romance (I'm really not sure why). He was brave, caring, and sympathetic, and I appreciate that he never became pathetic, as well as the fact that they fell in love pretty much simultaneously.
જ⁀➴ Their romance was overall easy to root for. It developed naturally, and they felt compatible. Another highlight that I wanted to point out was that I loved how active Snow White was in pursuing him. It's refreshing to see a girl take active steps toward pursuing a man she likes instead of sitting around and waiting for him to do all the work.
The only issues I have with it aren’t really criticisms but more of a sense that something felt "too normal," if that makes sense. The book explicitly states it’s true love, yet it didn’t quite feel destined in a distinctive way. What I'm trying to say is that the writing depicted two people falling in love in a typical way, rather than portraying true lovers recognizing each other as their soulmate. This wouldn't be a flaw usually, but since the book specifically described it as true love, it felt worth pointing out.
જ⁀➴ Our side characters were also fine, basically all that they needed to be for the length of the book. The Dwarves were great; I love how this book did them. Ice Blue and the Enchantress were also exactly as the story needed them to be. The focus was clearly on Snow White and her development, and I actually really like that choice to focus on her rather than spreading around attention; this truly felt like her story.
જ⁀➴ Our world, writing, plot, and pacing were, for the most part, really good. The writing wasn't outstanding, but it was still a lovely style that carried the story sufficiently.
I especially liked that it didn't spend too much time on needless worldbuilding; we were told exactly as much as we needed to know about the world, and that is perfect for a novella with a fairly tight and fast-paced plot, like this one. It wasn't anything super noteworthy, but just like the writing style, the worldbuilding we got served its purpose well, and that's all we need. Anything more would have felt out of place or too much.
The plot was also excellent for about 85% of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative twists and interpretations of the Snow White tale, which were thoughtfully chosen and well-executed. The storyline was engaging, easy to follow, and held my attention throughout. That said, I wasn’t a fan of the somewhat erratic POV shifts in the second half. In my view, the book would have been stronger if it had stuck to a single POV, especially given its focus on Snow White’s character development.
However, most of my issues and the reason I deducted a star are actually with the ending; it was dragged out in a way that felt jarring and pointless.
I also ended up rolling my eyes at some of the writing at the very end, specifically at how the subtlety of the "beauty comes from within" message vanished, and it was suddenly stated very blatantly countless times over just a few pages.
Additionally, although this is a personal preference, I really dislike excessive flowery romance language and praise, whether in internal narration or dialogue, especially from Dorian. It especially bothered me in the final chapter, made worse by the fact that by then, it was already clear they were in love, so it seemed redundant.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
જ⁀➴ My closing thoughts are that I genuinely loved this book, despite the few issues. Give me more books where the FMC causes her own problems, please! Those are so much more engaging than horrible things happening to an innocent FMC for no reason, most of the time.
۶ৎ I would recommend this to anyone looking for a really original retelling of Snow White that keeps your attention, or just for a quick but engaging fairytale with very likable characters.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5
SPICE: 💌 (kissing only)
VIOLENCE: ❎ (no significant violence or gore)
. ݁⋆ ۶ৎ ݁˖ . ݁
💗 sympathetic heroine who becomes softer
🗡️ caring and brave hero
❤️🩹 redemption arc
✨ fast-paced
🪞 the value and meaning of beauty
💞 they fall together
. ݁⋆ ۶ৎ ݁˖ . ݁
જ⁀➴ Snow White (our FMC) was genuinely a fantastic, very easy to root for character. Her character arc was easily my favorite part of this book and a very well-written redemption arc. I love that she was flawed and vain at the beginning and that she basically caused the problems that followed herself,
I absolutely adore soft girl FMCs, and Snow White, after learning her lesson, embodies everything I love: humble, gentle, and honest about her mistakes. She is refreshingly genuine and kind—a perfect 10/10 character.
જ⁀➴ Dorian (our MMC) was fine, I guess. He had far less development than Snow White, which is unfortunately common in romance (I'm really not sure why). He was brave, caring, and sympathetic, and I appreciate that he never became pathetic, as well as the fact that they fell in love pretty much simultaneously.
જ⁀➴ Their romance was overall easy to root for. It developed naturally, and they felt compatible. Another highlight that I wanted to point out was that I loved how active Snow White was in pursuing him. It's refreshing to see a girl take active steps toward pursuing a man she likes instead of sitting around and waiting for him to do all the work.
The only issues I have with it aren’t really criticisms but more of a sense that something felt "too normal," if that makes sense. The book explicitly states it’s true love, yet it didn’t quite feel destined in a distinctive way. What I'm trying to say is that the writing depicted two people falling in love in a typical way, rather than portraying true lovers recognizing each other as their soulmate. This wouldn't be a flaw usually, but since the book specifically described it as true love, it felt worth pointing out.
જ⁀➴ Our side characters were also fine, basically all that they needed to be for the length of the book. The Dwarves were great; I love how this book did them. Ice Blue and the Enchantress were also exactly as the story needed them to be. The focus was clearly on Snow White and her development, and I actually really like that choice to focus on her rather than spreading around attention; this truly felt like her story.
જ⁀➴ Our world, writing, plot, and pacing were, for the most part, really good. The writing wasn't outstanding, but it was still a lovely style that carried the story sufficiently.
I especially liked that it didn't spend too much time on needless worldbuilding; we were told exactly as much as we needed to know about the world, and that is perfect for a novella with a fairly tight and fast-paced plot, like this one. It wasn't anything super noteworthy, but just like the writing style, the worldbuilding we got served its purpose well, and that's all we need. Anything more would have felt out of place or too much.
The plot was also excellent for about 85% of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative twists and interpretations of the Snow White tale, which were thoughtfully chosen and well-executed. The storyline was engaging, easy to follow, and held my attention throughout. That said, I wasn’t a fan of the somewhat erratic POV shifts in the second half. In my view, the book would have been stronger if it had stuck to a single POV, especially given its focus on Snow White’s character development.
However, most of my issues and the reason I deducted a star are actually with the ending; it was dragged out in a way that felt jarring and pointless.
I also ended up rolling my eyes at some of the writing at the very end, specifically at how the subtlety of the "beauty comes from within" message vanished, and it was suddenly stated very blatantly countless times over just a few pages.
Additionally, although this is a personal preference, I really dislike excessive flowery romance language and praise, whether in internal narration or dialogue, especially from Dorian. It especially bothered me in the final chapter, made worse by the fact that by then, it was already clear they were in love, so it seemed redundant.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
જ⁀➴ My closing thoughts are that I genuinely loved this book, despite the few issues. Give me more books where the FMC causes her own problems, please! Those are so much more engaging than horrible things happening to an innocent FMC for no reason, most of the time.
۶ৎ I would recommend this to anyone looking for a really original retelling of Snow White that keeps your attention, or just for a quick but engaging fairytale with very likable characters.
December 23, 2023
*4.5 stars*
What a creative twist on Snow White! I have never read a retelling quite like this! As the daughter of the king’s ambassador to Appledale and the prettiest girl in Jardonia, Snow White has always believed herself worthy of a prestigious destiny. The appearance of an Enchantress through a mirror who offers her enchanted gifts and the promise of queendom, she is eager to accept the honor of being the Fairest One of All. There is just one catch: should one fairer come along, she must forfeit her position and lose the chance to marry a prince and become queen. When her reflection begins to fade, then disappears and shows up at her door, Snow White begins to see the curse behind the empty promises. With her own reflection vying for the throne, she must fight to protect Jardonia and to keep the love of the prince who has captured her heart. Will she be able to overcome the curse of the magic mirror or forever suffer from the bitter poison of her own conceit?
Oh my goodness! From the first chapter, this was quite the ride. I have never read a retelling quite like it and it was such fun to read. Snow had a lot to learn. I appreciated how she grew over the book. She was so focused on her beauty and destiny, but discovered what was truly important. I adored getting the chance to see her perspective change. It was so exciting to read about her fighting the curse and all the twists it brought! The dwarves were lovely and it was a joy to see them bring Snow into their lives. They truly helped her come into herself and discover the importance of her inner beauty.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the story, which did feel a bit fast at times, especially because of the shorter length of the story. But it was exciting and enjoyable to read! This is a sweet fairytale inspired romance with only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
What a creative twist on Snow White! I have never read a retelling quite like this! As the daughter of the king’s ambassador to Appledale and the prettiest girl in Jardonia, Snow White has always believed herself worthy of a prestigious destiny. The appearance of an Enchantress through a mirror who offers her enchanted gifts and the promise of queendom, she is eager to accept the honor of being the Fairest One of All. There is just one catch: should one fairer come along, she must forfeit her position and lose the chance to marry a prince and become queen. When her reflection begins to fade, then disappears and shows up at her door, Snow White begins to see the curse behind the empty promises. With her own reflection vying for the throne, she must fight to protect Jardonia and to keep the love of the prince who has captured her heart. Will she be able to overcome the curse of the magic mirror or forever suffer from the bitter poison of her own conceit?
Oh my goodness! From the first chapter, this was quite the ride. I have never read a retelling quite like it and it was such fun to read. Snow had a lot to learn. I appreciated how she grew over the book. She was so focused on her beauty and destiny, but discovered what was truly important. I adored getting the chance to see her perspective change. It was so exciting to read about her fighting the curse and all the twists it brought! The dwarves were lovely and it was a joy to see them bring Snow into their lives. They truly helped her come into herself and discover the importance of her inner beauty.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the story, which did feel a bit fast at times, especially because of the shorter length of the story. But it was exciting and enjoyable to read! This is a sweet fairytale inspired romance with only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
April 21, 2026
This is a Snow White retelling with a dash of Andersen's The Snow Queen thrown in for good measure, adding up to a well-done fairytale retelling with all the traditional elements worked in alongside original twists, including .
For me, the real page-turning factor was finding out how Snow White and Prince Dorian were going to deal with Ice Blue. I also loved the theme of finding the magic and enchantment of the everyday, and the idea that the question of who's Fairest of All is subjective. The dwarves were delightful - and we get some female dwarves as well.
So why four stars and not five? I guess I found that the change in Snow White's character came a bit out of nowhere, and it would have been a bit more believable if there had been some hint in the earlier part of the story that this aspect of her personality existed, even if it was buried or (more appropriately for the fairytale world) lying asleep, waking to be woken. I also didn't like the part where . I would have liked to see the villains get their well-deserved fate as well as seeing the main characters get their happy ever after.
But it was a gripping read and enjoyable overall.
For me, the real page-turning factor was finding out how Snow White and Prince Dorian were going to deal with Ice Blue. I also loved the theme of finding the magic and enchantment of the everyday, and the idea that the question of who's Fairest of All is subjective. The dwarves were delightful - and we get some female dwarves as well.
So why four stars and not five? I guess I found that the change in Snow White's character came a bit out of nowhere, and it would have been a bit more believable if there had been some hint in the earlier part of the story that this aspect of her personality existed, even if it was buried or (more appropriately for the fairytale world) lying asleep, waking to be woken. I also didn't like the part where . I would have liked to see the villains get their well-deserved fate as well as seeing the main characters get their happy ever after.
But it was a gripping read and enjoyable overall.
January 7, 2024
Everyone knows the story of Snow White but Selina has taken the tale and twisted it up in the most wild and wonderful ways imaginable! She certainly stayed quite true to the original but had no qualms in making it her very own, resulting in a tale that was worlds better than the story that the Brothers Grimm blessed us with. Snow White is usually a beautiful victim forced to run from her evil stepmother or forfeit her own life, but in this version Snow herself is the Fairest One of All and is filled with utter conceit. It takes a prince and seven (rather hilarious and extremely blunt!) dwarves to set her straight and make her realise that the world does not revolve around her, nor should it. When her reflection comes to life and quite literally takes over her life Snow must figure out how to break the curse or lose everything. Her journey from pride to humility is one I thoroughly enjoyed walking with her, and the lesson in this cautionary tale (that pride can be our own downfall) is one every reader could learn. I have to admit that I have rarely been as impressed with a retelling as I was with Selina De Luca’s and I was thoroughly shocked when I was reminded that this was in fact her debut. I cannot wait to read more epic books from this fantastic new author on the block and my only wish is that she would hurry up and write them!
December 1, 2023
Another amazing Shattered Tale and I'm so impressed this was a debut! A Snow White retelling with a pretty big twist! I liked the fact she was still called Snow White even though other traditional characters had their names changed. I also loved all the references within the story to the original, the obvious and the subtler ones and a couple I didn't see coming. The message about beauty and vanity that ran through this whole tale was a lovely one that's so important, especially nowadays. Snow White starts out incredibly vain about her beauty and isn't a particularly likable character so that she can go on a journey of self-discovery that was really great to see. The story itself was so good, similar to the original but with magical fantasy twists that made it a whole new story.
I loved the setting of Appledale and Snow White's Enchanted castle (and the surrounding areas like the forest and beyond). It was really well described and easy to picture. The characters were all excellently written, both the good and the evil. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Selina's future books!
I loved the setting of Appledale and Snow White's Enchanted castle (and the surrounding areas like the forest and beyond). It was really well described and easy to picture. The characters were all excellently written, both the good and the evil. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Selina's future books!
December 3, 2023
Be careful what you ask for
Being a perpetual Prom Queen isn’t all that’s it’s cracked up to be. This morality tale is great for our youth and even a gentle reminder for us adults.
Some of the lessons in here deal with:
Envying others
The price we pay
What true love is
How we are misled
Deserve versus earn
Choices we make based on values
I like the role played by the dwarves – no spoilers, but they had a more active role than mere hosts.
True beauty ‘lies beneath the mess’ and our true friends will help us see that. They judge us for our self-destructive behaviors, hold up a mirror for us to truly see ourselves, and help guide us back to our true selves.
When you start feeling fake like ‘a rose encased in wax’ or lonely like ‘leaving a garden to enter a singular vase’, look in a mirror for what changes to make.
Fave line:
‘Such vices in a king or queen can corrupt the entire kingdom.’
Totally looking forward to ‘A Healing Hope’ – expected 19 June.
Being a perpetual Prom Queen isn’t all that’s it’s cracked up to be. This morality tale is great for our youth and even a gentle reminder for us adults.
Some of the lessons in here deal with:
Envying others
The price we pay
What true love is
How we are misled
Deserve versus earn
Choices we make based on values
I like the role played by the dwarves – no spoilers, but they had a more active role than mere hosts.
True beauty ‘lies beneath the mess’ and our true friends will help us see that. They judge us for our self-destructive behaviors, hold up a mirror for us to truly see ourselves, and help guide us back to our true selves.
When you start feeling fake like ‘a rose encased in wax’ or lonely like ‘leaving a garden to enter a singular vase’, look in a mirror for what changes to make.
Fave line:
‘Such vices in a king or queen can corrupt the entire kingdom.’
Totally looking forward to ‘A Healing Hope’ – expected 19 June.
December 5, 2023
This is mainly a Snow White retelling with inspiration from the Shadow, which is a fairy tale I'm not familiar with, but it has a few spooky vibes with the character that follows Snow White around, which I love haha! Here are some things I liked about this book:
🍎 Themes of true beauty: I love how Snow White grows from the vain girl she is in the beginning to realizing what true beauty is. I also appreciate how the side characters help her come to this realization and they show true friendship!
🍎 The romance is clean, sweet, and swoony, of course! Prince Dorian is very lovable and he and Snow White together are cute!
🍎 Lots of nods to the original Snow White: This feels very much like a true fairy tale retelling, even down to the names of some of the characters! The addition of Ice Blue is very fun and she's an easy love-to-hate character!
🍎 Themes of true beauty: I love how Snow White grows from the vain girl she is in the beginning to realizing what true beauty is. I also appreciate how the side characters help her come to this realization and they show true friendship!
🍎 The romance is clean, sweet, and swoony, of course! Prince Dorian is very lovable and he and Snow White together are cute!
🍎 Lots of nods to the original Snow White: This feels very much like a true fairy tale retelling, even down to the names of some of the characters! The addition of Ice Blue is very fun and she's an easy love-to-hate character!
January 17, 2025
I had so much fun ☺️ reading the books from The Shattered Tales 🧚🏻♀️ collection. This book took a thrilling 🤫 spin on the classics story of Snow White 🍎that had me invested right to the end.
Snow White. After her father goes missing, she is tempted by an Enchantress 🪞 and lives in a world of vanity and jewels 💎 for 7️⃣ years. Only after her reflection comes out of the mirror and shows her how truly cruel 😡 she’s become does Snow White realize it is time for a change. Snow White is a beautiful, feminine character who realizes the beauty and magic ✨ of the real world.
Prince 👑 Dorian. He stumbles upon a castle 🏰 and meets a cruel princess 👑 , Ice Blue 🧊 . While journeying home he stumbles upon Snow White 🍎 , the spitting image of Ice Blue, except kind and loving 🥰 .
This book had Picture of Dorian Gray crossed with Snow White and WOW y’all it kept me so invested 😱. I never knew what to expect. I definitely recommend any of these shattered tale books if you’re wanting a clean, and unique fractured fairytale 📚.
Snow White. After her father goes missing, she is tempted by an Enchantress 🪞 and lives in a world of vanity and jewels 💎 for 7️⃣ years. Only after her reflection comes out of the mirror and shows her how truly cruel 😡 she’s become does Snow White realize it is time for a change. Snow White is a beautiful, feminine character who realizes the beauty and magic ✨ of the real world.
Prince 👑 Dorian. He stumbles upon a castle 🏰 and meets a cruel princess 👑 , Ice Blue 🧊 . While journeying home he stumbles upon Snow White 🍎 , the spitting image of Ice Blue, except kind and loving 🥰 .
This book had Picture of Dorian Gray crossed with Snow White and WOW y’all it kept me so invested 😱. I never knew what to expect. I definitely recommend any of these shattered tale books if you’re wanting a clean, and unique fractured fairytale 📚.
December 5, 2023
This was by no means an bad book. I enjoyed the twist and the message of the book was good. Despite this, there were a couple things that bothered me.
I thought it was a little too action-packed. By that I mean that I thought it could have been fleshed out in some parts more and other parts could have been deleted. It felt like there was too much going on in a small space.
The other thing that confused me *spoilers ahead*
was that Ice Blue married Prince Dorian, then Snow White did. I know it's a fantasy world, but that still bothered me.
Overall, I enjoyed and I would a read another book by Selina De Luca.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thought it was a little too action-packed. By that I mean that I thought it could have been fleshed out in some parts more and other parts could have been deleted. It felt like there was too much going on in a small space.
The other thing that confused me *spoilers ahead*
was that Ice Blue married Prince Dorian, then Snow White did. I know it's a fantasy world, but that still bothered me.
Overall, I enjoyed and I would a read another book by Selina De Luca.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 6, 2023
4.5
It starts off by giving you a reminder of Snow White. The whole “mirror mirror on the wall…” Even though it has some similarities, you still get a unique story with it’s own twist with the plot and characters. You get Snow White but at the beginning she was a bit more like obsessive with her mirror and then as the story progresses, you get a different Snow White who is more acceptance. I liked that. There was growth in the story.
One thing I did notice, there was a lot of self dialogue. When I would think she would be talking to someone, she wasn’t.
I enjoyed getting to know all the characters especially those who are around her more often. You get a prince who must I add was swoony. Overall, it’s a great retelling!
It starts off by giving you a reminder of Snow White. The whole “mirror mirror on the wall…” Even though it has some similarities, you still get a unique story with it’s own twist with the plot and characters. You get Snow White but at the beginning she was a bit more like obsessive with her mirror and then as the story progresses, you get a different Snow White who is more acceptance. I liked that. There was growth in the story.
One thing I did notice, there was a lot of self dialogue. When I would think she would be talking to someone, she wasn’t.
I enjoyed getting to know all the characters especially those who are around her more often. You get a prince who must I add was swoony. Overall, it’s a great retelling!
December 22, 2023
This was a really interesting spin on Snow White. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Beauty is not everything, and Snow White learns a very powerful lesson in this tale. I thought this story was well told but did have some unnecessary things in the end that kind of just dragged it on when it could have been wrapped up pages before. Also … spoiler… I didn’t really like how the prince just marries Ice Blue and after the mishap goes to Snow White and they get married like nothing happened. Other than that, I did enjoy the story.
I was given a copy of this book and was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts.
I was given a copy of this book and was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2023
What an interesting take on Snow White! We meet many familiar characters, but there are also a few far more sinister beings who appear in the pages of this story.
I love the overarching theme of this series (The Shattered Tales), where a crucial element is of something glass splintering and a main character's personhood shattered and reassembled into something far more attractive than before.
This is certainly a series that is not to be missed. The heat level is low (thank you!) and the topics deep. Not a lot of fluff in these stories, there's substance wrapped up in them.
Nicely done.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
I love the overarching theme of this series (The Shattered Tales), where a crucial element is of something glass splintering and a main character's personhood shattered and reassembled into something far more attractive than before.
This is certainly a series that is not to be missed. The heat level is low (thank you!) and the topics deep. Not a lot of fluff in these stories, there's substance wrapped up in them.
Nicely done.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
February 21, 2024
I don't know how I didn't get to read this book sooner but I finished it all on a day.
Or all in a few hours on February 20th 2024.
My utmost opinion is that it was brilliantly executed.
This is a re-imagining of Sow White filled with conflict, twists, turns, and moments of clarity about the true meaning of beauty. How vanity is far from beautiful.
Suffice to say I enjoyed this book.
The world-building was impeccable as was the character building.
I would recommend this book.
It's appropriate for teenagers.
I would describe this as YA.
It was an ARC copy.
I'm greatful for it.
My thoughts are my own.
Or all in a few hours on February 20th 2024.
My utmost opinion is that it was brilliantly executed.
This is a re-imagining of Sow White filled with conflict, twists, turns, and moments of clarity about the true meaning of beauty. How vanity is far from beautiful.
Suffice to say I enjoyed this book.
The world-building was impeccable as was the character building.
I would recommend this book.
It's appropriate for teenagers.
I would describe this as YA.
It was an ARC copy.
I'm greatful for it.
My thoughts are my own.
December 6, 2023
Such a great debut novel!
This was an interesting Snow White retelling! Snow was a super realistic character; the interactions between her and Prince Dorian fluttering my heart more times than I counted. The dwarves were less-grumpy and easy to cooperation—I mean, I liked them almost too soon and wished I had dwarves for friends, lol!
The suspense in this story kept me going on and on, racing through pages. Though I did with we had an epilogue, the story was so good like every other books in Shattered Tales. Highly recommend!
All opinions are solely mine.
This was an interesting Snow White retelling! Snow was a super realistic character; the interactions between her and Prince Dorian fluttering my heart more times than I counted. The dwarves were less-grumpy and easy to cooperation—I mean, I liked them almost too soon and wished I had dwarves for friends, lol!
The suspense in this story kept me going on and on, racing through pages. Though I did with we had an epilogue, the story was so good like every other books in Shattered Tales. Highly recommend!
All opinions are solely mine.
December 6, 2023
This was a really unique spin on Snow White, stuffed to the brim with twists and turns. The start was a little slow, but the pace picked up when the villain was introduced. I must say the romance developed too fast for me personally, but I enjoyed seeing the character development of Snow White and her interactions with the dwarves were my favourite moments. I'd recommend this book to those who want a really fresh spin on Snow White with lots of atmosphere and twisty moments.
Thank you kindly to the author for the ARC.
Thank you kindly to the author for the ARC.
December 8, 2023
When Snow White’s father goes missing, the only clue is an enchanted mirror. A mirror that promises Snow White beauty, wealth, and a future prince.
For seven years, Snow White revels in her vanity, basking in the title of “Fairest One of All.” But when she finally admits to being lonely, everything goes horribly wrong. Her reflection – the embodiment of everything vain and self-centered about her – steps out of the mirror, and two princes seek to woo her: one kind and true, one sly and duplicitous.
With help from her seven Dwarf friends, Snow White must defeat the mirror’s enchantment and find her true love before it’s too late.
“It was the purest antidote to the poison of a vainglorious dream – this beautiful life.”
Snow White starts off as the exact character I dislike reading – spoiled, vain, and full of herself. But as she learns and changes through the story, she grows on you.
I love how De Luca twisted this story – so many elements from the original, but presented in a whole new way.
4.5 Roses
A few kisses
No major injuries
No swearing
Mention of kidnapping, entrapment, and mind control of sorts.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
For seven years, Snow White revels in her vanity, basking in the title of “Fairest One of All.” But when she finally admits to being lonely, everything goes horribly wrong. Her reflection – the embodiment of everything vain and self-centered about her – steps out of the mirror, and two princes seek to woo her: one kind and true, one sly and duplicitous.
With help from her seven Dwarf friends, Snow White must defeat the mirror’s enchantment and find her true love before it’s too late.
“It was the purest antidote to the poison of a vainglorious dream – this beautiful life.”
Snow White starts off as the exact character I dislike reading – spoiled, vain, and full of herself. But as she learns and changes through the story, she grows on you.
I love how De Luca twisted this story – so many elements from the original, but presented in a whole new way.
4.5 Roses
A few kisses
No major injuries
No swearing
Mention of kidnapping, entrapment, and mind control of sorts.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
December 30, 2023
I wasn't so sure I liked Snow White at the beginning of this book, but after some hard-learned lessons, self-reflection, reminders of her mother, and advice from friends, she really grew to be the kind of person you could admire. The kind of woman a Prince would love, the kind of friend you could be loyal to, and the kind of person who could care about her people and be a good Queen.
My favorite parts of the book were the times spent with the dwarves! They were wonderful, kind, selfless, loyal characters who exemplified great values.
My favorite parts of the book were the times spent with the dwarves! They were wonderful, kind, selfless, loyal characters who exemplified great values.
November 23, 2023
This delightful and truly unique retelling of Snow White has all the traditional elements of the tale although it takes a long time for it to become aparent that some of them are there (and were all along). Most of these elements also have a clever twist to them, creating a wonderfully original story. The pacing in the last third or so did seem to drag things out just a little more than would be ideal, but otherwise it's a great piece of work from what appears to be a first time author.
December 5, 2023
Out of all the Shattered Tales that I've read so far, I feel this one connects with the original the most, but tells the story in a completely different way. It was fun to have Snow White super vain at the beginning because of her beauty. I liked the change up with the prince being the one under the sleeping spell from the apple, and the huntsman/stepmother twist at the end was fun how she brought it all together to reflect the original.
December 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The author cleverly added some elements from the original Grimm Brothers tale that you don’t see in the Disney movie or most other retellings. The plot line of what if Snow White wanted to be the fairest one of all is one I’m surprised (to my knowledge) hasn’t been done before. To Rival a Reflection is the most creative Snow White retelling I have ever read and is a solid five stars.
December 12, 2023
This was an interesting retelling of Snow White. The kingdom is in flux, the king has disappeared and then his #2 has disappeared. Snow White finds a mirror and get caught up in an enchantment that isolates her. And as we all know, you can't get something for nothing.
I didn't really enjoy this, it was a bit too far out there for my taste. The writing was fine, the characters were developed well.
I didn't really enjoy this, it was a bit too far out there for my taste. The writing was fine, the characters were developed well.
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