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Fairest Son
The Fair and Foul courts of the fey folk have long yearned for one to bring them together in peace, but hopes are dashed when the fairest prince and the prophecy concerning him are laid to ruin. Burdened with shame and sorrow, the prince flees to the cold mountains far above the forests and lochs with nothing but animals and goblins for company.
When a human huntress stumbles upon him in her search for a legendary predator, their fates are intertwined. But she hides deadly secrets, and if he dares to trust her, he may risk the doom of both courts to an ancient evil...
A Retelling of Snow White
When a human huntress stumbles upon him in her search for a legendary predator, their fates are intertwined. But she hides deadly secrets, and if he dares to trust her, he may risk the doom of both courts to an ancient evil...
A Retelling of Snow White
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2018
10 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
H.S.J. Williams
6 books327 followersFrom the beginning, H. S. J. Williams has loved stories and all the forms they take. Whether with word, art, or costume, she has always been fascinated with the magic of imagination. She lives in a real fantastical kingdom, the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with her very own array of animal friends and royally loving family. Williams taught Fantasy Illustration at MSOA. She may also be a part-time elf.
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January 9, 2022Hello, Fair Ones!
The hardcover edition with the beautiful new cover by Amanda Roberts @emrobartist is now available! Please ignore the wonky retail image, Ingram Spark is having issues with it, but the physical copy is printing beautifully! https://www.amazon.com/Fairest-Son-H-...
It new cover is for the ebook and for the hardback edition. The paperback will remain as
No, this is not a review by the author because you all already know that I love my book. (Surprise!)
Instead, I'm following the example of some other authors to use this page as a platform to help update you readers on any exciting things that are happening for Fairest Son!
Thank you so much for reading/taking interest in my book, Fair Ones! If you've written a review here and take a moment to post it on Amazon or any other book shop, the faeries will smile upon you and sing your praises (or at least I certainly will.) Namárië!
The hardcover edition with the beautiful new cover by Amanda Roberts @emrobartist is now available! Please ignore the wonky retail image, Ingram Spark is having issues with it, but the physical copy is printing beautifully! https://www.amazon.com/Fairest-Son-H-...
It new cover is for the ebook and for the hardback edition. The paperback will remain as
No, this is not a review by the author because you all already know that I love my book. (Surprise!)
Instead, I'm following the example of some other authors to use this page as a platform to help update you readers on any exciting things that are happening for Fairest Son!
Thank you so much for reading/taking interest in my book, Fair Ones! If you've written a review here and take a moment to post it on Amazon or any other book shop, the faeries will smile upon you and sing your praises (or at least I certainly will.) Namárië!
June 6, 2020
*collapses in a puddle of feels*
My expectations have been blown out the window. I can't even right now.
😍 THIS. THIS IS WHAT A MASTERPIECE IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. 😍 Reading this book brings to mind all the great authors in history. This story--this author captures those same magnificent feelings and *my heart* ....
(I'm a really big fan of H.S.J. Williams .... xD)
Setting - A world of Fey .... The Fair and the Foul. Beautiful forests .... and dark landscapes. Depressing lakes and slimy waters. Bitter mountains, wild parties, and fierce battles.
Plot - Expect the unexpected. I've read a lot of fantasy in my short time on earth. I can predict so many plot twists (cuz cliche) that's it's not funny anymore. But this book. THIS BOOK was a rollercoaster of emotions and surprises. (Don't get me wrong ... every book has cliches .... but this. Miss Williams told it all a new way. She changed its glamour. 😍)
Message: Forgiveness. (*Is about to squeal my head off* THISSSSSSSSSS)
Description - Gahhhhh. I can't even. The word pictures, the stunning beauty of this world, the allegories. *sends 1 billion hearts and stars to H.S.J. Williams* Everything was brilliant and easy to picture. It played out like a movie with hardly a bump.
Romance - So. Cute. I mean, this is a gender swapped fairytale retelling, so you just KNOW it's going to be CUTE. But put that with H.S.J. William's author voice and you get (KA-BOOM) the most epic fairytale retelling of all time. It was clean and beautiful and pure and refreshing. No sickening drama.
Content - So it's violent. . . . very violent? But William's tells it with such grace that even though the scene is painful you know everything is going to be okay. Very few violent scenes. Minor kiss and touch. Dark spell and a Lord of the Dead (if that sort of thing is disturbing to you). Really clean.
Characters - *flails* *collapses in another puddle of feels* They were so amazing. I don't know how it's possible to love fake people so much..... I could just fEeL everything. The hurt, the betrayal, the fear, the love, the kindness, Etc. And the dialogue was epic.
Keeva - The Huntress. The girl. Lost in the dark. She doesn't realize all she wants is a friend. All she wants is someone to love her and be kind to her. But she's strong. She tough. She's survived horrors beyond imagining. So she can survive without a friend too, right?
Idris - The Prince. The boy. Hiding from his people. The people he's supposed to save. The people he can no longer see. He doesn't realize his presence is all they need. His voice is what they long for. His smile is what they dream about. But he's waited this long . . . and it might be too late.
Overall - This glorious bundle of High Fantasy/Clean Romance is beyond words. Read it.
*eyes you suspiciously*
Beware the sidhe's wrath.
My expectations have been blown out the window. I can't even right now.
😍 THIS. THIS IS WHAT A MASTERPIECE IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. 😍 Reading this book brings to mind all the great authors in history. This story--this author captures those same magnificent feelings and *my heart* ....
(I'm a really big fan of H.S.J. Williams .... xD)
Setting - A world of Fey .... The Fair and the Foul. Beautiful forests .... and dark landscapes. Depressing lakes and slimy waters. Bitter mountains, wild parties, and fierce battles.
Plot - Expect the unexpected. I've read a lot of fantasy in my short time on earth. I can predict so many plot twists (cuz cliche) that's it's not funny anymore. But this book. THIS BOOK was a rollercoaster of emotions and surprises. (Don't get me wrong ... every book has cliches .... but this. Miss Williams told it all a new way. She changed its glamour. 😍)
Message: Forgiveness. (*Is about to squeal my head off* THISSSSSSSSSS)
Description - Gahhhhh. I can't even. The word pictures, the stunning beauty of this world, the allegories. *sends 1 billion hearts and stars to H.S.J. Williams* Everything was brilliant and easy to picture. It played out like a movie with hardly a bump.
Romance - So. Cute. I mean, this is a gender swapped fairytale retelling, so you just KNOW it's going to be CUTE. But put that with H.S.J. William's author voice and you get (KA-BOOM) the most epic fairytale retelling of all time. It was clean and beautiful and pure and refreshing. No sickening drama.
Content - So it's violent. . . . very violent? But William's tells it with such grace that even though the scene is painful you know everything is going to be okay. Very few violent scenes. Minor kiss and touch. Dark spell and a Lord of the Dead (if that sort of thing is disturbing to you). Really clean.
Characters - *flails* *collapses in another puddle of feels* They were so amazing. I don't know how it's possible to love fake people so much..... I could just fEeL everything. The hurt, the betrayal, the fear, the love, the kindness, Etc. And the dialogue was epic.
Keeva - The Huntress. The girl. Lost in the dark. She doesn't realize all she wants is a friend. All she wants is someone to love her and be kind to her. But she's strong. She tough. She's survived horrors beyond imagining. So she can survive without a friend too, right?
Idris - The Prince. The boy. Hiding from his people. The people he's supposed to save. The people he can no longer see. He doesn't realize his presence is all they need. His voice is what they long for. His smile is what they dream about. But he's waited this long . . . and it might be too late.
Overall - This glorious bundle of High Fantasy/Clean Romance is beyond words. Read it.
*eyes you suspiciously*
Beware the sidhe's wrath.
August 28, 2018
Fairest Son is a gender-bent retelling of Snow White. I don't know about you, but I was instantly intrigued by that twist alone. But it gets even better! This little tale draws from Irish mythology, including Seelie and Unseelie courts, the sidh, and a lot more that would be too spoilery to mention.
Here's another thing you should know: I read Fairest Son in one sitting. The plan was to read three or four chapters and then move on to writing a blog post. But I kept scrolling . . . and scrolling . . . until I lost track of time and read the story right to the end! (I stopped once for a cookie break. Those are important.)
WONDERFUL THINGS
1. Unexpected twists
No spoilers here, but this story deftly twists and weaves the Snow White we all know into a fresh new tale--a tale that stands strongly on its own, yet sends little winks and nods to its source materials at all the right moments. Every "aha" was a delight!
2. Wild fey
Disney's Tinkerbell is nice and all, but the kind of fairies that really enchant me are those that tend toward the wilder side. A little darker, a little more capricious and untamed, a little truer to the fairy tales of old. The Seelie and Unseelie courts here were populated by just that sort of fairy (a.k.a. sidh), which made me happy.
3. Perfect pacing
Novellas are tricky when it comes to pacing. Longer than short stories, they must have a strong enough plot to merit about 20,000-30,000 words; but shorter than novels, they don't have the space to delve into the characters or the world quite as deeply as a 400-page tome. Yet Williams crafted a story that sucked me in quickly, settled me into the world comfortably, and made me fall in love with the characters in very short order. I didn't feel that anything was lacking or terribly rushed. But now the problem is I want more!
4. Lovable characters
Like I said, I fell in love . . . most strongly with Prince Idris! He is a gentle soul, yet strong. Deeply hurt and disfigured, yet trusting. His mirthful disposition was a ray of sunlight in a snowy landscape. Calling him a "precious bean" or "soft cinnamon roll," as is the practice of many fangirls when talking about this type of character, just isn't good enough for dear Idris!
Our main character, the reserved and secretive huntress Keeva, formed the perfect complement to him. Capable and cunning, she held her own without being an emotionless "strong heroine." And guys, I ship these two so hard!
The band of seven goblins, cleverly named by personality, were a lot of fun too! They paralleled Disney's dwarves somewhat and were surprisingly easy to keep track of--which is no small feat when there are seven of them running around.
5. Pretty prose
I'm a sucker for lovely narrative. It's no substitute for a good story, of course, but it's the delicious icing on the cake. And Williams achieved a style of prose that harkens back to the time of fairy tales, with an omniscient style and a whimsical voice that reminded me at times of Anne Elisabeth Stengl.
6. Stirring themes
THIS IS THE REASON I'M GIVING IT FIVE STARS. I can't tell you how or why or what happened without giving away the ending, but Fairest Son had me grinning, widening my eyes, clutching my heart, and then at last smiling softly with satisfaction, all because of its beautiful themes. Though unexpected, they arose naturally from the story and put a twist on love and redemption that I didn't see coming.
NOT-SO-WONDERFUL THINGS
1. A few typos
Just a small handful, really, and perhaps a phrase or two that could have been smoothed out. Very, very minor details. I loved the story too much to care.
2. It wasn't long enough!
Okay . . . so that's not really a negative, because it is a novella and Williams did do a fantastic job of fleshing everything out within her space limits. But I enjoyed my time in these pages and want more!
IN CONCLUSION
Fairest Son is a beautiful, moving tale of a disfigured fairy prince and the huntress who finds him in the woods. It is a story of recognizing the foul among the fair and uncovering the fair among the foul. It balanced elements of Snow White within a rich world drawn from Irish myth, written with both humor and heart. It's definitely worth a buy, and I hope to get it in paperback as soon as I can! (Partly because there are two gorgeous illustrations inside that need to be petted admired on the page!)
I hope Williams goes on to write full-length novels too, because I would gladly spend more time under her enchanting spell. Five stars from me!
I received a free ebook copy of Fairest Son in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review originally posted on my blog here: http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Here's another thing you should know: I read Fairest Son in one sitting. The plan was to read three or four chapters and then move on to writing a blog post. But I kept scrolling . . . and scrolling . . . until I lost track of time and read the story right to the end! (I stopped once for a cookie break. Those are important.)
WONDERFUL THINGS
1. Unexpected twists
No spoilers here, but this story deftly twists and weaves the Snow White we all know into a fresh new tale--a tale that stands strongly on its own, yet sends little winks and nods to its source materials at all the right moments. Every "aha" was a delight!
2. Wild fey
Disney's Tinkerbell is nice and all, but the kind of fairies that really enchant me are those that tend toward the wilder side. A little darker, a little more capricious and untamed, a little truer to the fairy tales of old. The Seelie and Unseelie courts here were populated by just that sort of fairy (a.k.a. sidh), which made me happy.
3. Perfect pacing
Novellas are tricky when it comes to pacing. Longer than short stories, they must have a strong enough plot to merit about 20,000-30,000 words; but shorter than novels, they don't have the space to delve into the characters or the world quite as deeply as a 400-page tome. Yet Williams crafted a story that sucked me in quickly, settled me into the world comfortably, and made me fall in love with the characters in very short order. I didn't feel that anything was lacking or terribly rushed. But now the problem is I want more!
4. Lovable characters
Like I said, I fell in love . . . most strongly with Prince Idris! He is a gentle soul, yet strong. Deeply hurt and disfigured, yet trusting. His mirthful disposition was a ray of sunlight in a snowy landscape. Calling him a "precious bean" or "soft cinnamon roll," as is the practice of many fangirls when talking about this type of character, just isn't good enough for dear Idris!
Our main character, the reserved and secretive huntress Keeva, formed the perfect complement to him. Capable and cunning, she held her own without being an emotionless "strong heroine." And guys, I ship these two so hard!
The band of seven goblins, cleverly named by personality, were a lot of fun too! They paralleled Disney's dwarves somewhat and were surprisingly easy to keep track of--which is no small feat when there are seven of them running around.
5. Pretty prose
I'm a sucker for lovely narrative. It's no substitute for a good story, of course, but it's the delicious icing on the cake. And Williams achieved a style of prose that harkens back to the time of fairy tales, with an omniscient style and a whimsical voice that reminded me at times of Anne Elisabeth Stengl.
6. Stirring themes
THIS IS THE REASON I'M GIVING IT FIVE STARS. I can't tell you how or why or what happened without giving away the ending, but Fairest Son had me grinning, widening my eyes, clutching my heart, and then at last smiling softly with satisfaction, all because of its beautiful themes. Though unexpected, they arose naturally from the story and put a twist on love and redemption that I didn't see coming.
NOT-SO-WONDERFUL THINGS
1. A few typos
Just a small handful, really, and perhaps a phrase or two that could have been smoothed out. Very, very minor details. I loved the story too much to care.
2. It wasn't long enough!
Okay . . . so that's not really a negative, because it is a novella and Williams did do a fantastic job of fleshing everything out within her space limits. But I enjoyed my time in these pages and want more!
IN CONCLUSION
Fairest Son is a beautiful, moving tale of a disfigured fairy prince and the huntress who finds him in the woods. It is a story of recognizing the foul among the fair and uncovering the fair among the foul. It balanced elements of Snow White within a rich world drawn from Irish myth, written with both humor and heart. It's definitely worth a buy, and I hope to get it in paperback as soon as I can! (Partly because there are two gorgeous illustrations inside that need to be petted admired on the page!)
I hope Williams goes on to write full-length novels too, because I would gladly spend more time under her enchanting spell. Five stars from me!
I received a free ebook copy of Fairest Son in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review originally posted on my blog here: http://traceydyck.blogspot.com/2018/0...
January 2, 2020
I ADORED this story!! H.S.J. Williams has a beautiful, mystical style of writing that captures my heart right from the first page. Her storytelling is exquisite!
The characters in this story are so unique and stunningly written. They've got heart and soul and are so, so deep and complex it takes my breath away. I fell in love with Prince Idris the instant he appeared on the page. And Keeva is so refreshing and unexpected and her story is achingly beautiful.
This is a nice short read, but no less powerful for that. It kept me turning from the first page, and I was so drawn into the world of magic and beauty. This whole story is so vibrant and absolutely bursting with magical fantasy and gorgeous characters.
The heart of the story is so simple, so sweet, and so beautiful.
I can't recommend this enough to lovers of magic and fantasy and beautiful storytelling!
The characters in this story are so unique and stunningly written. They've got heart and soul and are so, so deep and complex it takes my breath away. I fell in love with Prince Idris the instant he appeared on the page. And Keeva is so refreshing and unexpected and her story is achingly beautiful.
This is a nice short read, but no less powerful for that. It kept me turning from the first page, and I was so drawn into the world of magic and beauty. This whole story is so vibrant and absolutely bursting with magical fantasy and gorgeous characters.
The heart of the story is so simple, so sweet, and so beautiful.
I can't recommend this enough to lovers of magic and fantasy and beautiful storytelling!
October 27, 2021
4.5 stars
It wasn't perfect, but it made me fangirl and that means it's perfect enough.
Idk if anyone wants to hear a review of this from me, but I'll write one if you do!
It wasn't perfect, but it made me fangirl and that means it's perfect enough.
Idk if anyone wants to hear a review of this from me, but I'll write one if you do!
February 21, 2020
I just read this delightful reverse retelling and I loved it! A retelling where "Snow White" is a fae prince and there's a huntress instead of a huntsman? Sign me up!
I was so intrigued by the idea of the roles being reversed and having a hero as the Snow White character and a fairy, and I was not disappointed!
I looooved the faerie elements and how they fit into the story. The nods to folklore and traditional faeries (changelings, iron, etc.) PLEASED ME SO MUCH. It felt a smidge Celtic in some bits, which also made me happy.
The retelling parts were sooo intriguing and well done and unexpected but totally worked! I don't want to spoil any of it, because part of the fun is discovering it yourself, but wow.
Prince Idris is A PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL WHO MUST BE PROTECTED. He is just the absolute nicest person to ever live, despite all he's been through. *sobs and protects him from evil villains and authors* Although he is also epic from time to time, so there's that. IDRIS IS FABULOUS.
I loved Keeva and was verrry intrigued by her storyline.
The writing was gorgeous and reminds me of Goldstone Wood and I'm super impressed with how well the point of view of a blind character was written, because skills!
There were several twists that took me by surprise and made me go OH! (No spoilers, but hoo boy. *rubs hands together gleefully*)
ALSO. THE CROWN BIT AT THE END! :O *chills* So. Epic. And the fox and animals! So precious!
All of that and more, packed into a mere novella which I was able to devour in a couple of hours. Such a delightful read! Perfect for those looking for a quick read with fabulous twists on Snow White.
(Warning: there are definitely gruesome parts involving a character being severely maimed, and other creepy parts, so if you're squeamish, beware. That and hanging out in the villain's point of view at times were the only things I didn't love about this. XD)
(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
I was so intrigued by the idea of the roles being reversed and having a hero as the Snow White character and a fairy, and I was not disappointed!
I looooved the faerie elements and how they fit into the story. The nods to folklore and traditional faeries (changelings, iron, etc.) PLEASED ME SO MUCH. It felt a smidge Celtic in some bits, which also made me happy.
The retelling parts were sooo intriguing and well done and unexpected but totally worked! I don't want to spoil any of it, because part of the fun is discovering it yourself, but wow.
Prince Idris is A PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL WHO MUST BE PROTECTED. He is just the absolute nicest person to ever live, despite all he's been through. *sobs and protects him from evil villains and authors* Although he is also epic from time to time, so there's that. IDRIS IS FABULOUS.
I loved Keeva and was verrry intrigued by her storyline.
The writing was gorgeous and reminds me of Goldstone Wood and I'm super impressed with how well the point of view of a blind character was written, because skills!
There were several twists that took me by surprise and made me go OH! (No spoilers, but hoo boy. *rubs hands together gleefully*)
ALSO. THE CROWN BIT AT THE END! :O *chills* So. Epic. And the fox and animals! So precious!
All of that and more, packed into a mere novella which I was able to devour in a couple of hours. Such a delightful read! Perfect for those looking for a quick read with fabulous twists on Snow White.
(Warning: there are definitely gruesome parts involving a character being severely maimed, and other creepy parts, so if you're squeamish, beware. That and hanging out in the villain's point of view at times were the only things I didn't love about this. XD)
(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)
December 24, 2019
You'd think I'd get tired of Snow White retellings at some point... especially since Snow White has never been my favorite fairy tale. Buuuut, you'd apparently be wrong.
This gender-bent Snow White retelling absolutely took my breath away with its beauty. Both main characters were compelling and their arcs wove together perfectly. Even though I've read more than two-dozen Snow White retellings over the past two years, this one still managed to surprise me with a few of its twists and turns... possibly because the elements of the retelling were so subtly woven throughout the story that I actually forgot I was reading a retelling at all. Even though it was not a full-length novel, this little novella makes it onto this year's list without any difficulty at all. It was breathtaking. The writing style itself is lovely. The author wields words like an artist's brush and paints you a picture of this story that you can't help but stare at in awe.
I look forward to more stories from this author!
This gender-bent Snow White retelling absolutely took my breath away with its beauty. Both main characters were compelling and their arcs wove together perfectly. Even though I've read more than two-dozen Snow White retellings over the past two years, this one still managed to surprise me with a few of its twists and turns... possibly because the elements of the retelling were so subtly woven throughout the story that I actually forgot I was reading a retelling at all. Even though it was not a full-length novel, this little novella makes it onto this year's list without any difficulty at all. It was breathtaking. The writing style itself is lovely. The author wields words like an artist's brush and paints you a picture of this story that you can't help but stare at in awe.
I look forward to more stories from this author!
October 8, 2018
Dear Goodreads, stop eating my reviews ~
*reposting*
It’s fair to say that I’m rarely drawn to fairy tale retellings. It’s even safer to state that I definitely do not like Snow White (original or retold). But forget all that. I’ve been in love with this story since I first clapped eyes on a draft three years ago (yes, be jealous).
Many times retellings only push the limits as far as the original story ever did. Perhaps that’s why we call them “retellings.” Same thing, different names. But Fairest Son is a recreation, slicing out of the bounds of the expected and moving plot and reader into undiscovered territory. Its vibrant settings, its merry (and not so merry) cast and the theme all make for something singular and not just a little bit divine.
But for me the pièce de résistance of this work is the style. Once upon a time, writers had a way of presenting a tale and once upon today, we have our own way. But Williams has blended the two styles into a golden voice that’s a bit like cake … one slice, one page just will not do.
*reposting*
It’s fair to say that I’m rarely drawn to fairy tale retellings. It’s even safer to state that I definitely do not like Snow White (original or retold). But forget all that. I’ve been in love with this story since I first clapped eyes on a draft three years ago (yes, be jealous).
Many times retellings only push the limits as far as the original story ever did. Perhaps that’s why we call them “retellings.” Same thing, different names. But Fairest Son is a recreation, slicing out of the bounds of the expected and moving plot and reader into undiscovered territory. Its vibrant settings, its merry (and not so merry) cast and the theme all make for something singular and not just a little bit divine.
But for me the pièce de résistance of this work is the style. Once upon a time, writers had a way of presenting a tale and once upon today, we have our own way. But Williams has blended the two styles into a golden voice that’s a bit like cake … one slice, one page just will not do.
November 21, 2024
A lovely fae retelling of Snow White from an author who happens to be a friend of mine! I enjoyed the use of the prophecy and the twist on the idea of the fairest one. Idris and Keeva are excellent main characters, and they work well as a couple too. The author did an excellent job weaving in many elements of the original fairy tale, often in very creative ways. And, of course, I'm always down for a good fae story!
My one quibble with this story is that I wish it was longer and had more room for character development. Other than that, it's a lovely story, and I'm glad I got to read it!
My one quibble with this story is that I wish it was longer and had more room for character development. Other than that, it's a lovely story, and I'm glad I got to read it!
Read
October 29, 2021yall. no words. i cant. so...beautiful. aaaaauuuuuggggghhhhh...
review to come.
review to come.
September 19, 2025
What a thrilling read! I mean, wow! From chapter one, this one is intense! But also...so beautiful!
Characters:
Idris... my poor boy! All that he's been through but also how kind and compassionate he remains throughout it all. I loved him!
Keeva...wow, her arc was just epic!
And I don't feel like I can say anything much about the rest of the cast without spoilers...lol...but I loved them! At least most of them.😂
Romance:
A slow blossoming, and it's so good!
Language:
N/A
Magic:
Yes. There is faerie magic which is related to plants and such...talks of locks upon someone's life...a Lord of the Dead...and some other super unique and incredibly amazing world building with magic! I loved it!
Not on page spell casting, wands, or chanting.
Violence/Gore:
There is violence from the first chapter and sprinkled throughout from there on, but none of it is gory. It is all handled super well...you understand the severity of the injuries without being grossed out.
Overall:
This was such a good book! I think what made it doubly enjoyable was starting it at my grandparents house and my sister, Jaiden, reading over my shoulder thinking she would make fun of my book choice...lol...only instead she became invested and had me give her updates on how the story went from there...lol...
Amazing story! Recommend for ages 13+
Characters:
Idris... my poor boy! All that he's been through but also how kind and compassionate he remains throughout it all. I loved him!
Keeva...wow, her arc was just epic!
And I don't feel like I can say anything much about the rest of the cast without spoilers...lol...but I loved them! At least most of them.😂
Romance:
A slow blossoming, and it's so good!
Language:
N/A
Magic:
Yes. There is faerie magic which is related to plants and such...talks of locks upon someone's life...a Lord of the Dead...and some other super unique and incredibly amazing world building with magic! I loved it!
Not on page spell casting, wands, or chanting.
Violence/Gore:
There is violence from the first chapter and sprinkled throughout from there on, but none of it is gory. It is all handled super well...you understand the severity of the injuries without being grossed out.
Overall:
This was such a good book! I think what made it doubly enjoyable was starting it at my grandparents house and my sister, Jaiden, reading over my shoulder thinking she would make fun of my book choice...lol...only instead she became invested and had me give her updates on how the story went from there...lol...
Amazing story! Recommend for ages 13+
March 4, 2020
That...
... WAS BEAUTIFUL.
An excellent fairytale retelling. (☆▽☆)
Fresh, yet classic.
The writing was descriptive, without being too flowery. The characters were jumping off the page. The setting was fantastic (literally, haha).
I wanna make fanart for this now...asldjsfksla
... WAS BEAUTIFUL.
An excellent fairytale retelling. (☆▽☆)
Fresh, yet classic.
The writing was descriptive, without being too flowery. The characters were jumping off the page. The setting was fantastic (literally, haha).
I wanna make fanart for this now...asldjsfksla
January 23, 2021
Breathtaking. In beauty, yes, but also in plot. Twice, twists caught me utterly by surprise. (I'm sure the death of cells in my poor sleep-deprived brain made it easier for this story to surprise me, but nevermind that. I don't think I'd have foreseen the twists anyway.)
The characters are perfect — one of them almost literally so, but in an inspiring way rather than an annoying one. I appreciate fictional characters who are actually worth admiring when the author doesn't sacrifice believability for unattainable goodness.
The symbolism is unique, and also perfect. It reminds me of Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, but unlike Heartless it's not a complete allegory where each fragment of story can be interpreted in a way that harmonizes with every other piece. In that respect it's more like The Lord of the Rings than The Chronicles of Narnia.
The setting reminds me vividly of several other books: Echo North, Hunted,and Spinning Silver. It's cold and dark and Faery-like, but not overwhelmingly so. Joy and light are never absent.
Perfect reading for a winter evening, but chilly fall mornings are apparently fine too (even if you're in the midst of discovering an unpleasant allergy).
4.5 out of 5 stars
The characters are perfect — one of them almost literally so, but in an inspiring way rather than an annoying one. I appreciate fictional characters who are actually worth admiring when the author doesn't sacrifice believability for unattainable goodness.
The symbolism is unique, and also perfect. It reminds me of Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, but unlike Heartless it's not a complete allegory where each fragment of story can be interpreted in a way that harmonizes with every other piece. In that respect it's more like The Lord of the Rings than The Chronicles of Narnia.
The setting reminds me vividly of several other books: Echo North, Hunted,and Spinning Silver. It's cold and dark and Faery-like, but not overwhelmingly so. Joy and light are never absent.
Perfect reading for a winter evening, but chilly fall mornings are apparently fine too (even if you're in the midst of discovering an unpleasant allergy).
4.5 out of 5 stars
May 24, 2022
Ok. I'm just going to say that H. S. J. Williams may be the best storyteller there is out there. Period. Like, I read Moonscript and thought since this was her first book it wouldn't be as good (still amazing but not as good) and boy was I wrong. Just WOW. I had never read a gender-swapped fairytale re-telling, but that was AMAZING. Please, if you do anything for me ever. JUST READ THIS. It's all I ask of you.
December 9, 2019
Was a beta for this lovely little book. Idris and Keeva have a road full of intrigue and excitement ahead of them in this action-packed fairy tale. They also connect to each other in a beautiful way, and I love seeing characters so well-embedded in and connected to their environment! Very much a tale for nature lovers, with the wild, wondrous setting and animal companions. <3
August 3, 2018
FAIREST SON is a reverse-retelling of Snow White, written in a lovely classical style. The tale begins in tragedy and ends in triumph, as the best fairy-tales so often do.
The story opens with a prophecy about a Fairest Son who will unite the fae people, Seelie and Unseelie, under one benevolent, wise, and beloved ruler. Then we see that prophecy, in the person of Prince Idris, destroyed by the fearful Unseelie King, Adoh.
Is all hope lost?
Enter our heroine, Keeva, who, during her hunt for the legendary bear Dohmnal, meets Fingall and seven goblins high in the mountains. Here the adventure begins, and I enjoyed every word.
I highly recommend this novella to all lovers of fairy tales and fae worlds. It is action-packed, romantic, and a deeply satisfying read.
The story opens with a prophecy about a Fairest Son who will unite the fae people, Seelie and Unseelie, under one benevolent, wise, and beloved ruler. Then we see that prophecy, in the person of Prince Idris, destroyed by the fearful Unseelie King, Adoh.
Is all hope lost?
Enter our heroine, Keeva, who, during her hunt for the legendary bear Dohmnal, meets Fingall and seven goblins high in the mountains. Here the adventure begins, and I enjoyed every word.
I highly recommend this novella to all lovers of fairy tales and fae worlds. It is action-packed, romantic, and a deeply satisfying read.
December 10, 2019
This is one of my favorite Snow White retellings! The author does a fantastic job rewriting the fairytale in an entirely new way. It's the first gender-swapped retelling of this fairytale that I've read, with the oft-overused setting of fae courts, but changes into something wonderfully original.
Idris is a total sweetheart and fulfills the role of Snow White (!!!) even better than Walt Disney's princess (sorry, but I'm serious. as much as I love Disney, some fairytales have been taken a little too far). I enjoyed Keeva's character too-- she was strong but also sweet and soft even though she harbored her own secrets as well.
By far my favorite retelling of "Snow White" I've ever read :P
Idris is a total sweetheart and fulfills the role of Snow White (!!!) even better than Walt Disney's princess (sorry, but I'm serious. as much as I love Disney, some fairytales have been taken a little too far). I enjoyed Keeva's character too-- she was strong but also sweet and soft even though she harbored her own secrets as well.
By far my favorite retelling of "Snow White" I've ever read :P
August 19, 2019
Such a cool gender swapped fairy tale retelling! I really wanted more and to have the storyline fleshed out and expanded because I would for sure read an entire novel set in this world and with these characters!
I really liked Keeva - quietly capable but also just honest and a good person even if she does have Secrets! Idris is an absolute sweetheart, and yeah, I'd take more of his story. ;)
I love retellings and seeing the ways all the elements from the original stories are put in, and this was so much fun as far as worldbuilding and use of the Snow White elements! The goblins were a lot of fun and seeing all their different personalities come out, even in such a short novel.
Really good novella, and looking forward to reading more from this author!
I really liked Keeva - quietly capable but also just honest and a good person even if she does have Secrets! Idris is an absolute sweetheart, and yeah, I'd take more of his story. ;)
I love retellings and seeing the ways all the elements from the original stories are put in, and this was so much fun as far as worldbuilding and use of the Snow White elements! The goblins were a lot of fun and seeing all their different personalities come out, even in such a short novel.
Really good novella, and looking forward to reading more from this author!
August 1, 2021
4-4.5*
AH, THE WRITING! It's absolutely SO BEAUTIFUL, poetic, and lyrical... I'm all for it. I had to read it all so slowly to absorb it. It was written in that classical fairytale narration type, with the descriptions enlivening the whole mythical-magical atmosphere and making it feel so fairytale-like and ouT of ThIS wORld!!!
The characters didn't stand out to me that much, and I didn't especially connect with either of them. But they still had that realness in them. Oh, and the romance was so adorable! It was, like, innocent cute type while being quite subtle.
Though, I did get confused at some moments when bad things started happening towards the end. I might've not been paying too close attention to the words since I was anxiousssss to see what exactly was happening... but yeah. The poetic writing made it a little hard and slightly unclear to follow, but it might've just been me. Oh, well. XD
Another thing I love is a lot of the little snippets of Christian themes here. There were a few things about forgiveness, love, compassion, and brokenness & beauty.
Anyway! Fairest Son is a really lovely book. It was so rich and atmospheric, the writing and narration style pulling you into another realm... simply magical. 😍
Definitely worth my $1.99. XD
AH, THE WRITING! It's absolutely SO BEAUTIFUL, poetic, and lyrical... I'm all for it. I had to read it all so slowly to absorb it. It was written in that classical fairytale narration type, with the descriptions enlivening the whole mythical-magical atmosphere and making it feel so fairytale-like and ouT of ThIS wORld!!!
The characters didn't stand out to me that much, and I didn't especially connect with either of them. But they still had that realness in them. Oh, and the romance was so adorable! It was, like, innocent cute type while being quite subtle.
Though, I did get confused at some moments when bad things started happening towards the end. I might've not been paying too close attention to the words since I was anxiousssss to see what exactly was happening... but yeah. The poetic writing made it a little hard and slightly unclear to follow, but it might've just been me. Oh, well. XD
Another thing I love is a lot of the little snippets of Christian themes here. There were a few things about forgiveness, love, compassion, and brokenness & beauty.
“Forgiveness is a gift, not meant to be deserved,” he said.I gotta share one more:
For the broken are beautiful when they rise from the shadows and welcome the brightening dawn.(^ AH, I need, like, a wallpaper of that quote... :ppp)
Anyway! Fairest Son is a really lovely book. It was so rich and atmospheric, the writing and narration style pulling you into another realm... simply magical. 😍
Definitely worth my $1.99. XD
June 13, 2020
“In the month that the whitethorn tree bloomed, the Queen of the Seelie gave birth to a son most fair...”
.
“Fairest one, Fairest son,
Altogether under one
Kingdoms Twain, now together,
A crown to last, for now, forever”
.
.
.Well well well, what can I say....
I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!
.I was so intrigued by the premise of this book, I HAD to get it on Black Friday! A gender-swap retelling of Snowwhite!? Sign me up! When I told my brother about this book he was like, how the heck is this going to work!? Well, let me tell you it exceeded my expectations. @h.s.j._williams does a fantastic job with her characters, and her plot is super original but at the same time gives you all the Snow white vibes. And, no, it’s not about a conceited guy who looks handsome and goes talking to animals while he dances 😂 It’s a world where faeries, changelings, humans, and even the mysterious world of Fuath come together to fight for the prophecy of a prince that would unite kingdoms together. But something happens that threatens that prophecy, and three locks must never be discovered if there is a any chance to fulfill it.😏
Also, plot wise and character wise, loved it!
It wraps up very nicely and leaves you with a good satisfying ending (of course is who doesn’t want more, am I right!?😆) .
.
.ps. It’s a clean book!🥳 .
.
“Fairest one, Fairest son,
Altogether under one
Kingdoms Twain, now together,
A crown to last, for now, forever”
.
.
.Well well well, what can I say....
I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!
.I was so intrigued by the premise of this book, I HAD to get it on Black Friday! A gender-swap retelling of Snowwhite!? Sign me up! When I told my brother about this book he was like, how the heck is this going to work!? Well, let me tell you it exceeded my expectations. @h.s.j._williams does a fantastic job with her characters, and her plot is super original but at the same time gives you all the Snow white vibes. And, no, it’s not about a conceited guy who looks handsome and goes talking to animals while he dances 😂 It’s a world where faeries, changelings, humans, and even the mysterious world of Fuath come together to fight for the prophecy of a prince that would unite kingdoms together. But something happens that threatens that prophecy, and three locks must never be discovered if there is a any chance to fulfill it.😏
Also, plot wise and character wise, loved it!
It wraps up very nicely and leaves you with a good satisfying ending (of course is who doesn’t want more, am I right!?😆) .
.
.ps. It’s a clean book!🥳 .
March 26, 2020
Williams has done something few people manage to do: she has created a story that is entirely fresh, entirely epic in its proportions, and beautiful in its messages. And she's done something else on top of that: she has perfectly incorporated the elements of a fairy tale, so clearly that you can tell which tale it is, but so subtly that it does not distract from the story.
I'm giving it four stars because it took me a few chapters to click with it, and because I WISH IT HAD BEEN LONGER DAGNABBIT. But the plot twists, the beautiful descriptions, the story itself, the characters...beautiful. I adored it.
I can't wait to read Moonscript by this author. She is going places.
I'm giving it four stars because it took me a few chapters to click with it, and because I WISH IT HAD BEEN LONGER DAGNABBIT. But the plot twists, the beautiful descriptions, the story itself, the characters...beautiful. I adored it.
I can't wait to read Moonscript by this author. She is going places.
February 14, 2021
I was immediately pulled in to the beauty and lore of this fairy realm. I have not been quite this affected by that sort of world since picking up Tolkien- the origin of my love for all things fae and elven.
Idris will go down as one of my favorite characters. His goodness brought so much depth to the story. More stories could use heroes such as Idris.
Idris will go down as one of my favorite characters. His goodness brought so much depth to the story. More stories could use heroes such as Idris.
December 30, 2022
In this short story retelling of Snow White, we not only encounter a brilliant gender-swap to the classic tale, but we also see familiar pieces to the beloved story put together in a new and unexpected way.
Fairest Son is no light fairytale. From the very first page, it is a tense story with very dark themes like magic, torture, and war. But there is a battle between light and darkness and I loved seeing that reflect in the characters' actions as they attempted to overcome the darkness with light.
The story is brilliant! I loved the twists and even though I knew that this was a Snow White story, I didn't know what was coming next or how key elements of the famous fairy-tale would be interwoven into this fresh new take.
Because this is a short story, it did move a lot faster than I would have liked. There was one aspect to the story that held all the promise for a fearsome battle, but it was resolved in just a few short pages with almost no consequences, so it was just slightly disappointing.
However, Fairest Son as a whole is an excellent story. Beautifully written and intricately cared for even as a short story, so I am certainly looking forward to more works from this author *fingers crossed for a full-length novel*!
So overall, I give Fairest Son 4 out of 5 stars and do warn readers that the torture present and dark themes may disturb some readers.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
Fairest Son is no light fairytale. From the very first page, it is a tense story with very dark themes like magic, torture, and war. But there is a battle between light and darkness and I loved seeing that reflect in the characters' actions as they attempted to overcome the darkness with light.
The story is brilliant! I loved the twists and even though I knew that this was a Snow White story, I didn't know what was coming next or how key elements of the famous fairy-tale would be interwoven into this fresh new take.
Because this is a short story, it did move a lot faster than I would have liked. There was one aspect to the story that held all the promise for a fearsome battle, but it was resolved in just a few short pages with almost no consequences, so it was just slightly disappointing.
However, Fairest Son as a whole is an excellent story. Beautifully written and intricately cared for even as a short story, so I am certainly looking forward to more works from this author *fingers crossed for a full-length novel*!
So overall, I give Fairest Son 4 out of 5 stars and do warn readers that the torture present and dark themes may disturb some readers.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
October 22, 2018
This book is short, yet somehow the author manages to pack so much into it! Yes, it is a Snow White retelling, but it had so many glimmers of other fairy tales from Red Riding Hood to East of the Sun, West of the Moon that it feels completely original. Not to mention the blending of Irish lore and legends on top of everything else.
Not to mention the world in this story is so rich and beautiful. All the descriptions are gorgeous and real, showing the author's artist's background in the way the setting is painted in exquisite detail.
There are some hints of allegorical elements, but it isn't obvious. Another reviewer wrote that it is more a glimmer of truth than a one-on-one allegory, and that's a great way to describe it. None of the characters line up exactly as they would in an allegory or even a story with explicit allegorical elements, but the glimmers of truth about sacrifice and love are there, glowing beneath the surface.
Such a lovely tale and I can't wait to read whatever else this author writes next!
Not to mention the world in this story is so rich and beautiful. All the descriptions are gorgeous and real, showing the author's artist's background in the way the setting is painted in exquisite detail.
There are some hints of allegorical elements, but it isn't obvious. Another reviewer wrote that it is more a glimmer of truth than a one-on-one allegory, and that's a great way to describe it. None of the characters line up exactly as they would in an allegory or even a story with explicit allegorical elements, but the glimmers of truth about sacrifice and love are there, glowing beneath the surface.
Such a lovely tale and I can't wait to read whatever else this author writes next!
December 21, 2019
A stunning and unique retelling of Snow White that is so beautiful it will break your heart and mend it again.
The intriguing, original twists on the classic story don't stop at Snow White being an elf prince and the Huntsman being a woman. There are huge twists, tiny twists, medium twists, and even some twists on the order of events. The best retellings are the ones that hit all the major and minor points of the tale seamlessly, and naturally blending them into the new story. Fairest Son was such a retelling. There was also a subtle thread from another amazing Fairytale.
-I loved and enjoyed the stories of both characters
-The writing was stunningly beautiful
-The retelling was clever and gorgeous and totally WORKED
-Idris melted my heart
-Keeva is a cool and sad muffin
-The story held me captive
[Also, check out the authoress's chibi art if you have the time. They are some of the cutest things on the internet.]
The intriguing, original twists on the classic story don't stop at Snow White being an elf prince and the Huntsman being a woman. There are huge twists, tiny twists, medium twists, and even some twists on the order of events. The best retellings are the ones that hit all the major and minor points of the tale seamlessly, and naturally blending them into the new story. Fairest Son was such a retelling. There was also a subtle thread from another amazing Fairytale.
-I loved and enjoyed the stories of both characters
-The writing was stunningly beautiful
-The retelling was clever and gorgeous and totally WORKED
-Idris melted my heart
-Keeva is a cool and sad muffin
-The story held me captive
[Also, check out the authoress's chibi art if you have the time. They are some of the cutest things on the internet.]
August 5, 2018
This was such a pleasant read. I really enjoyed the writing, it was so lyrical.
It was just like a fairy-tale - quite dark, but with an underlying moral lesson.
The plot was great, but even though I liked the beautiful writing, the fairy-tale-like style also worked against it (for me) - fairy-tales are always brief and everything happens so quickly. They're almost like a summarised story.
This would have been perfect for me as a full length novel. I really wanted to read more, have a slower development and find out more about our two main characters - I really liked both of them (probably Idris more, though - sorry, Keeva!).
Overall, very glad I came across it (via PhantomRin's Tumblr) ^-^
It was just like a fairy-tale - quite dark, but with an underlying moral lesson.
The plot was great, but even though I liked the beautiful writing, the fairy-tale-like style also worked against it (for me) - fairy-tales are always brief and everything happens so quickly. They're almost like a summarised story.
This would have been perfect for me as a full length novel. I really wanted to read more, have a slower development and find out more about our two main characters - I really liked both of them (probably Idris more, though - sorry, Keeva!).
Overall, very glad I came across it (via PhantomRin's Tumblr) ^-^
March 9, 2020
This was more like a mainstream Fae story with a splattering of Snow White motifs from Disney than a retelling of the fairy tale, with a flat female main lead and a too-perfect-for-his-own-good male lead, and guess who the Evil Queen is here (where's the core motif that drives the Snow White tale, by the way?).
I don't know if this novella was one of the rejects for the "Poisoned Apples" anthology that were published privately. Probably so, it would've used a good editor before publishing, because the premise of a gender-bent Snow White is nice and would make for a good story, though I think this is one of those tales that don't work so well when the genders are swapped. Some tales keep their essence/core regardless of the gender, but some can't work as well with gender swaps.
I don't know if this novella was one of the rejects for the "Poisoned Apples" anthology that were published privately. Probably so, it would've used a good editor before publishing, because the premise of a gender-bent Snow White is nice and would make for a good story, though I think this is one of those tales that don't work so well when the genders are swapped. Some tales keep their essence/core regardless of the gender, but some can't work as well with gender swaps.
December 30, 2022
Wow, my heart. This is probably my favorite Snow White retelling. So deep, so beautiful. The prose is both lyrical and indicative of classic fairytales.
The last line of the story really drives the themes home. “For the broken are beautiful when they rise from the shadows and welcome the brightening dawn.”
I felt like I was reading one of Tolkien’s novels!
I love Idris. Such a stoic and valiant soul. The purest and fairest. And then Keeva, broken and in need of love.
Guys, this was just so good! Highly recommend.
The last line of the story really drives the themes home. “For the broken are beautiful when they rise from the shadows and welcome the brightening dawn.”
I felt like I was reading one of Tolkien’s novels!
I love Idris. Such a stoic and valiant soul. The purest and fairest. And then Keeva, broken and in need of love.
Guys, this was just so good! Highly recommend.
September 12, 2019
This book is a perfect example of a retelling that's done right. I usually don't go for Snow White stories, but this story was refreshing and new. If you are in the mood for fairy tale retellings, this one is great and it's short, sweet, and to the point.
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