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Snow, Glass, Apples
A chilling fantasy retelling of the Snow White fairy tale by bestselling creators Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran.
A not-so-evil queen is terrified of her monstrous stepdaughter and determined to repel this creature and save her kingdom from a world where happy endings aren't so happily ever after.
From the Hugo, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy, Nebula Award-winning and Sunday Times-bestselling writer Neil Gaiman (American Gods) comes this graphic novel adaptation by Colleen Doran (Troll Bridge).
A not-so-evil queen is terrified of her monstrous stepdaughter and determined to repel this creature and save her kingdom from a world where happy endings aren't so happily ever after.
From the Hugo, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy, Nebula Award-winning and Sunday Times-bestselling writer Neil Gaiman (American Gods) comes this graphic novel adaptation by Colleen Doran (Troll Bridge).
64 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2019
443 people are currently reading
15616 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,956 reviews
March 6, 2023
I've read the short story, I've listened to the amazing audio version, and now I've also read the graphic novel version of Snow, Glass, Apples.
If you like creepy renditions of fairy tales, then this is the story for you.
And the art is just fantastic. Loved it!
The gist is that the Grimm Brothers got it wrong and that neither the Wicked Queen nor Snow White was quite what they seemed.
And Prince Charming?
Dear Neil Gaiman,
I am now appropriately freaked out by Snow White.
Thanks,
Anne
Highly Recommended
Read it free HERE
OR
listen to a highly creepy audio rendition acted out HERE.
If you like creepy renditions of fairy tales, then this is the story for you.
And the art is just fantastic. Loved it!
The gist is that the Grimm Brothers got it wrong and that neither the Wicked Queen nor Snow White was quite what they seemed.
And Prince Charming?
Dear Neil Gaiman,
I am now appropriately freaked out by Snow White.
Thanks,
Anne
Highly Recommended
Read it free HERE
OR
listen to a highly creepy audio rendition acted out HERE.
April 29, 2021
Warning: this review is not appropriate for children.
Warning: neither is this graphic novel.
Yet. . . it seems marketed toward children, what with the stunning depiction of the Queen from Snow White and all of her bling on the cover. And, it is, after all, a retelling of the Snow White fairy tale.
It's so appealing to children, it's like a perfectly formed, perfectly red apple, perfectly propped up in the basket. My children naturally assumed it was for safe for them to consume.
Thus begins my rant. . .
Before we begin, I would like to mention that I've been a Neil Gaiman fan, and I'm also a parent of three children, like Mr. Gaiman is.
I'm not overly wholesome; in fact, I've had a fantasy for about three years running that Mr. Gaiman will personally narrate one of his books to me in the dark as I sit propped in his lap, munching on one of his perfectly formed earlobes. (I'm imagining, of course, that under those bushy locks he has perfectly formed earlobes. I also warned you that this review was not appropriate for children).
Regardless, I am wholesome when it comes to children, both my own and children everywhere.
Back to my rant. . .
So, I ordered this 2019 graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran and I picked it up from the library yesterday afternoon. It sat on the top of a happy stack of treasures, and I placed it in the backseat between both of my daughters. All three of my kids are voracious readers and they can't resist a great cover, and the cover of this one is so fabulous, it must have been like picking up a figurine of Swarovski crystal. I hadn't made it past two traffic lights before I started to hear from the backseat, “Mom. . . Mom? What is this? This is disgusting! What are you READING??" (For the record, I was driving). From the other side of the car, my other daughter started in on her own chorus, like the back-up singer in the band, “Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God.”
I looked up in the rearview mirror and was like, “What?? What's going on?”
From the backseat: “Mom. I'm ruined for life. I can never unsee this. . .” And then, “Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God. . .”
I finally pulled over into a parking lot and told them to hand me the book.
Oh my God.
I could not believe my eyes. This book gives the term “gratuitous sex” new meaning. The whole damn thing is sex. Sex, mixed with blood: red blood, black blood. More bonuses: the king's pubic hair, giant phalluses on the Queen's robe, both step-mother and daughter going downtown on men. WTF??
I put the book down nonchalantly on the front seat of the car and proceeded to drive home in silence. Until I heard from the backseat of the car: “I have scar tissue in my eyes now. I will never, ever be able to see again. There is no eraser big enough for my eyes.” Peppered with “Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God.”
Oh my God.
After my daughters went to bed last night, I decided to read it, to see if the soft porn visuals at least seemed to serve some purpose in this story.
No, they didn't. It only got worse, and here's where I take my rant up a notch.
Hey, Neil Gaiman and Company: can we please, please stop SEXUALIZING children?? Is it not bad enough that one in four girls in the United States will be raped or sexually abused in her childhood? Is that not a staggering enough statistic? (Which is probably more like one in three, if more accurately reported anyway?)
Do we really need to see a 6-year-old, especially in a 2019 publication, voluntarily going down on her father, and leaving scars on “her father's thighs, and on his ballock-pouch, and on his male member” from her “playful bites?”
Can we please stop portraying 12-year-olds as “vixens” who want to ride men and bite them?
And why, after riding the grown man, are the 12-year-old's thighs “stained with wet black filth?”
Oh, yes, please, let's make the 12-year-old a WHORE who wants it, and let's simultaneously make her dirty, too.
Should I mention here the act of necrophilia that follows, or should I let it go?
It's a free country where I live, and my opinion is that this is GARBAGE.
Feel free to form your own opinion about this graphic novel, but if you're smarter than I am, you'll keep it away from anyone under the age of 16.
Warning: neither is this graphic novel.
Yet. . . it seems marketed toward children, what with the stunning depiction of the Queen from Snow White and all of her bling on the cover. And, it is, after all, a retelling of the Snow White fairy tale.
It's so appealing to children, it's like a perfectly formed, perfectly red apple, perfectly propped up in the basket. My children naturally assumed it was for safe for them to consume.
Thus begins my rant. . .
Before we begin, I would like to mention that I've been a Neil Gaiman fan, and I'm also a parent of three children, like Mr. Gaiman is.
I'm not overly wholesome; in fact, I've had a fantasy for about three years running that Mr. Gaiman will personally narrate one of his books to me in the dark as I sit propped in his lap, munching on one of his perfectly formed earlobes. (I'm imagining, of course, that under those bushy locks he has perfectly formed earlobes. I also warned you that this review was not appropriate for children).
Regardless, I am wholesome when it comes to children, both my own and children everywhere.
Back to my rant. . .
So, I ordered this 2019 graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran and I picked it up from the library yesterday afternoon. It sat on the top of a happy stack of treasures, and I placed it in the backseat between both of my daughters. All three of my kids are voracious readers and they can't resist a great cover, and the cover of this one is so fabulous, it must have been like picking up a figurine of Swarovski crystal. I hadn't made it past two traffic lights before I started to hear from the backseat, “Mom. . . Mom? What is this? This is disgusting! What are you READING??" (For the record, I was driving). From the other side of the car, my other daughter started in on her own chorus, like the back-up singer in the band, “Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God.”
I looked up in the rearview mirror and was like, “What?? What's going on?”
From the backseat: “Mom. I'm ruined for life. I can never unsee this. . .” And then, “Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God. . .”
I finally pulled over into a parking lot and told them to hand me the book.
Oh my God.
I could not believe my eyes. This book gives the term “gratuitous sex” new meaning. The whole damn thing is sex. Sex, mixed with blood: red blood, black blood. More bonuses: the king's pubic hair, giant phalluses on the Queen's robe, both step-mother and daughter going downtown on men. WTF??
I put the book down nonchalantly on the front seat of the car and proceeded to drive home in silence. Until I heard from the backseat of the car: “I have scar tissue in my eyes now. I will never, ever be able to see again. There is no eraser big enough for my eyes.” Peppered with “Oh. . . my. . . God. . . Oh. . . my. . . God.”
Oh my God.
After my daughters went to bed last night, I decided to read it, to see if the soft porn visuals at least seemed to serve some purpose in this story.
No, they didn't. It only got worse, and here's where I take my rant up a notch.
Hey, Neil Gaiman and Company: can we please, please stop SEXUALIZING children?? Is it not bad enough that one in four girls in the United States will be raped or sexually abused in her childhood? Is that not a staggering enough statistic? (Which is probably more like one in three, if more accurately reported anyway?)
Do we really need to see a 6-year-old, especially in a 2019 publication, voluntarily going down on her father, and leaving scars on “her father's thighs, and on his ballock-pouch, and on his male member” from her “playful bites?”
Can we please stop portraying 12-year-olds as “vixens” who want to ride men and bite them?
And why, after riding the grown man, are the 12-year-old's thighs “stained with wet black filth?”
Oh, yes, please, let's make the 12-year-old a WHORE who wants it, and let's simultaneously make her dirty, too.
Should I mention here the act of necrophilia that follows, or should I let it go?
It's a free country where I live, and my opinion is that this is GARBAGE.
Feel free to form your own opinion about this graphic novel, but if you're smarter than I am, you'll keep it away from anyone under the age of 16.
October 19, 2019
-Mild spoilers-
This Snow White retelling is totally reimagined and nothing like the original. In Neil Gaiman’s adaptation, Snow White isn’t the little innocent sweetheart we all know, but rather some type of blood-sucking monster. In addition, this retelling is told from the not-so-evil queen’s point of view…
“If it were today, I would have her heart cut out, true. But then I would have her head and arms and legs cut off. I would have them disembowel her. And then I would watch, in the town square, as the hangman heated the fire to white-heat with bellows, watch unblinking as he consigned each part of her to the fire. I would have archers around the square, who would shoot any bird or animal who came close to the flames, any raven or dog or hawk or rat. And I would not close my eyes until the princess was ash, and a gentle wind could scatter her like snow.
I did not do this thing, and we pay for our mistakes.”
I personally loved the twist which was refreshing, and the story is extremely dark and creepy. The writing style is lovely and the illustrations by Colleen Doran are very detailed and stunningly beautiful. I would normally include a summary in my review, but I don’t want to spoil this story because it’s very short and there isn’t much to it.
Just a note that this book does contain very graphic sex scenes and isn’t intended for children.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel and ended up reading it twice. It’s incredibly unique the way it was retold and certainly visually stimulating. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer because it ended way too quickly for me. With it being such a short story without much character development, it was still very good. I wish this would be written into a full-length novel.
4****
You can see this full review@ www.readrantrockandroll.com
This Snow White retelling is totally reimagined and nothing like the original. In Neil Gaiman’s adaptation, Snow White isn’t the little innocent sweetheart we all know, but rather some type of blood-sucking monster. In addition, this retelling is told from the not-so-evil queen’s point of view…
“If it were today, I would have her heart cut out, true. But then I would have her head and arms and legs cut off. I would have them disembowel her. And then I would watch, in the town square, as the hangman heated the fire to white-heat with bellows, watch unblinking as he consigned each part of her to the fire. I would have archers around the square, who would shoot any bird or animal who came close to the flames, any raven or dog or hawk or rat. And I would not close my eyes until the princess was ash, and a gentle wind could scatter her like snow.
I did not do this thing, and we pay for our mistakes.”
I personally loved the twist which was refreshing, and the story is extremely dark and creepy. The writing style is lovely and the illustrations by Colleen Doran are very detailed and stunningly beautiful. I would normally include a summary in my review, but I don’t want to spoil this story because it’s very short and there isn’t much to it.
Just a note that this book does contain very graphic sex scenes and isn’t intended for children.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel and ended up reading it twice. It’s incredibly unique the way it was retold and certainly visually stimulating. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer because it ended way too quickly for me. With it being such a short story without much character development, it was still very good. I wish this would be written into a full-length novel.
4****
You can see this full review@ www.readrantrockandroll.com
December 6, 2019
Very weird. Very creepy.
Think it might be my least favourite by Gaiman. Sorry Neil.
There's not many things in the book world I don't like, I have my preferences, but generally I'll read anything. But one thing I've never been a fan of, and probably never will be, is vampires. Don't ask me why because I couldn't really say why, but as narratives and plots go, I don't like them.
I can see what Neil was trying to do, it just wasn't for me. Nude illustrations and Snow White as a blood sucking vampire, I'll pass.
Give me Stardust or Coraline anytime, this isn't the Neil I love.
Think it might be my least favourite by Gaiman. Sorry Neil.
There's not many things in the book world I don't like, I have my preferences, but generally I'll read anything. But one thing I've never been a fan of, and probably never will be, is vampires. Don't ask me why because I couldn't really say why, but as narratives and plots go, I don't like them.
I can see what Neil was trying to do, it just wasn't for me. Nude illustrations and Snow White as a blood sucking vampire, I'll pass.
Give me Stardust or Coraline anytime, this isn't the Neil I love.
June 25, 2021
A delightfully distorted twist on the Snow White tale. Snow White and the Evil Queen's roles are reversed with Snow White becoming a vampire that plagues the Queen's kingdom. Colleen Doran's art is gorgeous, giving the book a classic storybook look. There is a bit of erotica here so be warned. This is my favorite graphic adaptation of Gaiman's short stories yet.
May 22, 2021
There are so many things wrong with this book it's hard to know where to begin. First when this poor baby is orphaned because her mother died in childbirth she is described as evil and that she killed her.
I find the next part unbelievable, when her father dies, it's noted that his daughter's bite marks (age 6 now, yes the same one who 'killed' her mother in childbirth) were found on his testicles and penis.
The story does not conclude that he was a paedophile and rapist abusing his own daughter. He is seen as the victim, I can't believe a book is suggesting this, I can't believe the publisher didn't suggest to the author that he shouldn't portray a six year old in that way and that maybe he needs to get some help.
Surely not, I read on, hoping something will be explained, no, this child is repeatedly described as a monstrous step daughter who is completely evil. She is portrayed as the perpetrator and her father the victim.
I have no idea why an author would want to portray a six year old girl as preying on her father for sex.
Another problem with this book is that it looks like a children's book. A friend's 10 yr old read this after it was checked out on her junior library card. Revolting.
It's unbelievable that a character who is a victim of child sex abuse should be portrayed in this way.
I find the next part unbelievable, when her father dies, it's noted that his daughter's bite marks (age 6 now, yes the same one who 'killed' her mother in childbirth) were found on his testicles and penis.
The story does not conclude that he was a paedophile and rapist abusing his own daughter. He is seen as the victim, I can't believe a book is suggesting this, I can't believe the publisher didn't suggest to the author that he shouldn't portray a six year old in that way and that maybe he needs to get some help.
Surely not, I read on, hoping something will be explained, no, this child is repeatedly described as a monstrous step daughter who is completely evil. She is portrayed as the perpetrator and her father the victim.
I have no idea why an author would want to portray a six year old girl as preying on her father for sex.
Another problem with this book is that it looks like a children's book. A friend's 10 yr old read this after it was checked out on her junior library card. Revolting.
It's unbelievable that a character who is a victim of child sex abuse should be portrayed in this way.
October 16, 2019
“Her eyes were black as coal, black as her hair; her lips were redder than blood. She looked up at me and smiled. Her teeth seemed sharp, even then, in the lamplight.”
"Snow, Glass, Apples" is a story from Neil Gaiman's collection, Smoke and Mirrors It is adapted here in spectacular fashion by Colleen Doran who—in a fascinating and useful appendix—says she was inspired in her work by an early-20th-century illustrator, Harry Clarke. The illustration work is ornate, romantic, a combination of fantasy, horror and erotica in her capable hands. There’s the breath of Aubrey Beardsley in here, too, including beads, flowers, long hair, lush and timelessly mythic.
So, as you know, Snow White (in the Disney film) sang with the birds and animals of the forest and gaily danced and worked with the seven dwarfs. Traumatized by an evil stepmother Queen. Nope, not this time. In this version, Snow, Glass, Apples, narrated by the not-so-evil stepmothet, Snow is beautiful, but the qualities that made her pure and innocent in Disney are the very keys to her evil, and in it she terrorizes the land, and even preys on her own father—she’s horrific, and in Doran’s capable hands, deliciously so.
I really liked this gorgeous adaptation of Gaiman’s (perverse) story, but primarily because of the artwork, some of the best ever.
"Snow, Glass, Apples" is a story from Neil Gaiman's collection, Smoke and Mirrors It is adapted here in spectacular fashion by Colleen Doran who—in a fascinating and useful appendix—says she was inspired in her work by an early-20th-century illustrator, Harry Clarke. The illustration work is ornate, romantic, a combination of fantasy, horror and erotica in her capable hands. There’s the breath of Aubrey Beardsley in here, too, including beads, flowers, long hair, lush and timelessly mythic.
So, as you know, Snow White (in the Disney film) sang with the birds and animals of the forest and gaily danced and worked with the seven dwarfs. Traumatized by an evil stepmother Queen. Nope, not this time. In this version, Snow, Glass, Apples, narrated by the not-so-evil stepmothet, Snow is beautiful, but the qualities that made her pure and innocent in Disney are the very keys to her evil, and in it she terrorizes the land, and even preys on her own father—she’s horrific, and in Doran’s capable hands, deliciously so.
I really liked this gorgeous adaptation of Gaiman’s (perverse) story, but primarily because of the artwork, some of the best ever.
March 3, 2020
“Skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony.”
-- The Brothers Grimm, Sneewittchen
The above quote does seem like a description of a vampire...
It never crossed my mind that Snow White could actually be a vampire until Neil Gaiman made it seem like canon with this retelling. In typically topsy-turvy Gaiman fashion, “Snow, Glass, Apples” portrays a not-so-evil queen desperately trying to stop her wicked step-daughter’s “happily ever after” that was never supposed to be. Stopping ever after, however, is no small task…
I’ve read this short story from a while back, but this time Colleen Doran has presented this dark adult horror adaptation of “Snow White” in a gorgeous art nouveau style that is breathtakingly ornate. Snow White’s deadly innocence and predatory nature are made clear in the pages; and,in some way, the queen always suffers. The details and page-flows are so specific and tantalizing that the book could be devoid of Gaiman’s words and the storytelling would not suffer. To see one of my favorite fairytale retellings told in all its chilly glory in such a rich, beautiful style, was an absolute joy.
I suggest you read this on a really cold night and feel the chill sink into your bones -- preferably by candle light , and with a steaming cup of tea.
-- The Brothers Grimm, Sneewittchen
The above quote does seem like a description of a vampire...
It never crossed my mind that Snow White could actually be a vampire until Neil Gaiman made it seem like canon with this retelling. In typically topsy-turvy Gaiman fashion, “Snow, Glass, Apples” portrays a not-so-evil queen desperately trying to stop her wicked step-daughter’s “happily ever after” that was never supposed to be. Stopping ever after, however, is no small task…
I’ve read this short story from a while back, but this time Colleen Doran has presented this dark adult horror adaptation of “Snow White” in a gorgeous art nouveau style that is breathtakingly ornate. Snow White’s deadly innocence and predatory nature are made clear in the pages; and,in some way, the queen always suffers. The details and page-flows are so specific and tantalizing that the book could be devoid of Gaiman’s words and the storytelling would not suffer. To see one of my favorite fairytale retellings told in all its chilly glory in such a rich, beautiful style, was an absolute joy.
I suggest you read this on a really cold night and feel the chill sink into your bones -- preferably by candle light , and with a steaming cup of tea.
May 20, 2024
На початку я хотіла поставити 5, бо цікаво, але потім некрофілія пішла, і якось все.... А потім ще і оцю королеву вбили, хоча краще б її падчерку.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2019
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Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
🌟 I love dark retellings, I specially like them of fairy tales from my childhood, because as a kid I wanted something fluffy and positive, I grow up and find that the world is a dark place and so flipping those stories is fascinating!
🌟 This is an adult graphic novel as it contain some explicit scenes and gore and it is dark! I can’t say much about the writing because I read the graphic novel version and that reminds me that I should use this opportunity to praise the artist who did the illustrations as she did an outstanding job! The drawings were creepy and were just perfect for the story! I am always mentioning that the illustrations in graphic novel are disappointing me, but not this time!
🌟 The plot is nice, a dark twist to what we know of snow white and the dwarves! It would probably destroy the story you know and scar you for life so beware xD
🌟 Summary: This was a short novel that is a perfect read for Halloween since it is approaching so you may want to add it to that month’s TBR! The whole story is read in 30 mins so it is worth giving a chance if you like stories of this kind!
you can get the book from here: Book Depository
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
🌟 I love dark retellings, I specially like them of fairy tales from my childhood, because as a kid I wanted something fluffy and positive, I grow up and find that the world is a dark place and so flipping those stories is fascinating!
🌟 This is an adult graphic novel as it contain some explicit scenes and gore and it is dark! I can’t say much about the writing because I read the graphic novel version and that reminds me that I should use this opportunity to praise the artist who did the illustrations as she did an outstanding job! The drawings were creepy and were just perfect for the story! I am always mentioning that the illustrations in graphic novel are disappointing me, but not this time!
🌟 The plot is nice, a dark twist to what we know of snow white and the dwarves! It would probably destroy the story you know and scar you for life so beware xD
🌟 Summary: This was a short novel that is a perfect read for Halloween since it is approaching so you may want to add it to that month’s TBR! The whole story is read in 30 mins so it is worth giving a chance if you like stories of this kind!
you can get the book from here: Book Depository
September 2, 2019
“If it were today, I would have her heart cut out, true. But then I would have her head and arms and legs cut off. I would have them disembowel her. And then I would watch, in the town square, as the hangman heated the fire to white-heat with bellows, watch unblinking as he consigned each part of her to the fire. I would have archers around the square, who would shoot any bird or animal who came close to the flames, any raven or dog or hawk or rat. And I would not close my eyes until the princess was ash, and a gentle wind could scatter her like snow.
I did not do this thing, and we pay for our mistakes.”
In this dark, twisted retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Neil Gaiman re-imagines the classic tale, making Snow White the villain and the queen the victim. As a fan of fairytale retellings, I appreciated the original point of view of the author: after all, there are so many versions of this and other tales, that finding an original twist is certainty a sing of great artistic talent.
While I loved the main plot, I wasn't particularly a fan of the execution itself: explicit sex scenes in comics are my pet peeve, and this one was full of them; that paired with a somewhat old art-style which doesn't meet my taste, made me appreciate this graphic novel less. Looking at the art as a sketch though, I realized my main problem with this kind of illustration is not with the drawing itself, but with the colouring.
I enjoyed this read, but it's definitely not a new favourite. Nonetheless, some pages of this book are stunningly beautiful. As always with Neil Gaiman, I have mixed feelings.
I did not do this thing, and we pay for our mistakes.”
In this dark, twisted retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Neil Gaiman re-imagines the classic tale, making Snow White the villain and the queen the victim. As a fan of fairytale retellings, I appreciated the original point of view of the author: after all, there are so many versions of this and other tales, that finding an original twist is certainty a sing of great artistic talent.
While I loved the main plot, I wasn't particularly a fan of the execution itself: explicit sex scenes in comics are my pet peeve, and this one was full of them; that paired with a somewhat old art-style which doesn't meet my taste, made me appreciate this graphic novel less. Looking at the art as a sketch though, I realized my main problem with this kind of illustration is not with the drawing itself, but with the colouring.
I enjoyed this read, but it's definitely not a new favourite. Nonetheless, some pages of this book are stunningly beautiful. As always with Neil Gaiman, I have mixed feelings.
January 27, 2020
This is THE best Snow White retelling I’ve ever read by far! It’s such a gruesome and unique take on one of my favourite fairytales and I couldn’t have loved it more. It was such an awesome spin on Snow White, it had me hooked right from the first page and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how dark Gaiman would take it. And it got pretty damn dark and I absolutely lapped it up! At this point I’m convinced that Gaiman has made a pact with the devil to just consistently churn out masterpieces, it’s absolutely unbelievable how everything he touches turns to PURE GOLD. And don’t get me started on the artwork because it’s just so gorgeous that I don’t have the words to give it any justice, just do your eyes a favour and read it yourself!
April 4, 2021
I never understand why my idealist ass keeps reading his book like this and get horrified for the rest of the day.
Such a twisted and disturbing retelling of Snow White, that will only leave you appalled (at least for me). It's also refreshing to see it from the Queen's POV.
Only Neil Gaiman.
Such a twisted and disturbing retelling of Snow White, that will only leave you appalled (at least for me). It's also refreshing to see it from the Queen's POV.
Only Neil Gaiman.
March 23, 2021
“Think of every fairy-tale villainess you've ever heard of. Think of the wicked witches, the evil queens, the mad enchantresses. Think of the alluring sirens, the hungry ogresses, the savage she-beasts. Think of them and remember that somewhere, sometime, they've all been real.
Mab gave them lessons.”
-Jim Butcher, Small Favor
This is one of those rare works by Neil Gaiman that I hadn’t heard of before I delved into his MasterClass on storytelling. Now, his MasterClass is enough popular worldwide by now; so much, it may be even unnecessary for me to recount what made me so interested to read one of the least loved work by him, but I think it’s better to do it still for those who don’t remember it. While speaking about the German fairytale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,(meanwhile, please don't read his words if you're not familiar with the story) he suddenly said:
“…I mean, what kind of person has hair as black as coal, lips as red as blood, skin as white as snow and gets to lie in a coffin for a year and then get up, and they’re fine again? And what kind of prince, rides past on a horse and says, ”Hey, she’s gorgeous, will you bring her back to my castle?” 'Cauz that’s kinda weird too! And all of a sudden I’m looking at something which is a story I’ve looked at a thousand times, as if I’ve never seen it before and… If you view it from over there, you’re telling a story about a vampire princess and a necrophile prince; and actually if you tell that story, then the heroine of the story has to be her stepmother who was obviously doing everything she possibly could to save the kingdom and protect everybody from her terrible, terrible dangerous daughter. That’s a story!”
(I tried my best to quote him as accurately as I could’ve comprehended.) And he gave it off as a homework for everyone to try and turn a very popular folktale entirely upside down in a same way, and if possible try and flesh out the characters more. I’m lagging behind on my homework, but that’s irrelevant in here. Let’s get back to the story.
Probably there’s nothing left to say about the plot than the author disclosed in his class. It’s extremely disturbing, to tell in brief. Honestly, I wouldn’t have read this story probably had I known the way it was going to come, for we all know what happens at the end of the story, don’t we? It’s the way it was twisted and re-twisted, and infused with numerous shockingly sanguinary and erotic, frequently masochistic elements, more than often way too much for my taste. However it’s an experimental work, and that is undoubtedly something that deserves some serious credit. After all who could’ve believed such a popular children’s story can be converted into such a convoluted and sickeningly brutish tale of, well, sadist creatures?
Meanwhile it’s the first ever audiobooks I managed to finish, probably due to the amazing narrative style, or, likely because it was so short. And I kind of had a bit of trouble being quite after that…they tell us to be optimistic and try to see the good in everything. But, quite clearly, something very contradictory is going on in here...
Mab gave them lessons.”
-Jim Butcher, Small Favor
This is one of those rare works by Neil Gaiman that I hadn’t heard of before I delved into his MasterClass on storytelling. Now, his MasterClass is enough popular worldwide by now; so much, it may be even unnecessary for me to recount what made me so interested to read one of the least loved work by him, but I think it’s better to do it still for those who don’t remember it. While speaking about the German fairytale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,(meanwhile, please don't read his words if you're not familiar with the story) he suddenly said:
“…I mean, what kind of person has hair as black as coal, lips as red as blood, skin as white as snow and gets to lie in a coffin for a year and then get up, and they’re fine again? And what kind of prince, rides past on a horse and says, ”Hey, she’s gorgeous, will you bring her back to my castle?” 'Cauz that’s kinda weird too! And all of a sudden I’m looking at something which is a story I’ve looked at a thousand times, as if I’ve never seen it before and… If you view it from over there, you’re telling a story about a vampire princess and a necrophile prince; and actually if you tell that story, then the heroine of the story has to be her stepmother who was obviously doing everything she possibly could to save the kingdom and protect everybody from her terrible, terrible dangerous daughter. That’s a story!”
(I tried my best to quote him as accurately as I could’ve comprehended.) And he gave it off as a homework for everyone to try and turn a very popular folktale entirely upside down in a same way, and if possible try and flesh out the characters more. I’m lagging behind on my homework, but that’s irrelevant in here. Let’s get back to the story.
Probably there’s nothing left to say about the plot than the author disclosed in his class. It’s extremely disturbing, to tell in brief. Honestly, I wouldn’t have read this story probably had I known the way it was going to come, for we all know what happens at the end of the story, don’t we? It’s the way it was twisted and re-twisted, and infused with numerous shockingly sanguinary and erotic, frequently masochistic elements, more than often way too much for my taste. However it’s an experimental work, and that is undoubtedly something that deserves some serious credit. After all who could’ve believed such a popular children’s story can be converted into such a convoluted and sickeningly brutish tale of, well, sadist creatures?
Meanwhile it’s the first ever audiobooks I managed to finish, probably due to the amazing narrative style, or, likely because it was so short. And I kind of had a bit of trouble being quite after that…they tell us to be optimistic and try to see the good in everything. But, quite clearly, something very contradictory is going on in here...
October 25, 2019
A short story by one of my favourite authors that I‘ve known for a while. But now, finally, it is getting an illustrated edition and I couldn‘t be happier about it!
For those who don‘t know yet: this is a retelling of the classic fairytale Snow White. As some of us might have suspected for a while, the little princess isn‘t as innocent as she liked people to believe. I mean, just the description of what she looked like ...
Here‘s the deal: . I does make perfect sense if you think about it.
But the main event isn‘t really the story itself, it‘s the art. Everyone who loves beautiful, detailed illustrated editions has to get this. Some examples of panels I liked especially (can‘t find a good image of my absolute favourite but you‘ll get the idea):
Yes, this is an adult retelling of the tale. Yes, this is erotic. And yes, it is gothic/creepy. But why the hell not?!
A wonderful addition to my library!
For those who don‘t know yet: this is a retelling of the classic fairytale Snow White. As some of us might have suspected for a while, the little princess isn‘t as innocent as she liked people to believe. I mean, just the description of what she looked like ...
Here‘s the deal: . I does make perfect sense if you think about it.
But the main event isn‘t really the story itself, it‘s the art. Everyone who loves beautiful, detailed illustrated editions has to get this. Some examples of panels I liked especially (can‘t find a good image of my absolute favourite but you‘ll get the idea):
Yes, this is an adult retelling of the tale. Yes, this is erotic. And yes, it is gothic/creepy. But why the hell not?!
A wonderful addition to my library!
August 24, 2021
داستان سفیدبرفیِ شیطانی و مادرخواندهای که سعی در نجات کشورش از اون دخترک رنگپریدهی بدون قلب داره!
چقدر از ریتلینگهایی که جای شخصیت مثبت و منفی رو عوض کنن خوشم میاد. این ریتلینگ از فیری تیل سفیدبرفی هم از دیدگاه ملکه بیان میشه، ملکهای که عاشق شوهرشه ولی دخترخواندهی خونآشامش کریپی و خطرناکه.
آرت کتاب فوقالعاده عالی بود. داستان قابل پیشبینیه {ریتلینگه به هر حال} ولی نقاشیها و قلم زیبای نیل گیمن باعث شدن ازش خوشم بیاد.
جزئیات! جذابیت! خلاقیت!
نذارید اسم و موضوع کتاب گولتون بزنه، اصلا کودکانه نیست. پر از صحنههای:
- برهنگی و سکس و خونخواری
- خشونت واقعا عجیب
- اشارههایی به تجاوز و کودکآزاری.
یه چیزی که اذیتم کرد این بود که روایت به اندازهی روایت اصلی سفیدبرفی ساده بود، فقط منفی و مثبت بودن شخصیتها جابهجا شده بود. روایت کلاسیک خوبی علیه بدی. اما مثلا سپکوفسکی توی ویچر ریتلینگی از سفیدبرفی نوشته بود که توش واقعا نمیدونستی طرف کدوم باشی، طرف سفیدبرفی باشی یا جادوگره؟ کدوم «بدیِ کمتر»ـه؟ چیزی که این داستان روش وقت نذاشته بود و شخصیتهاش سطحی بودن.
چقدر از ریتلینگهایی که جای شخصیت مثبت و منفی رو عوض کنن خوشم میاد. این ریتلینگ از فیری تیل سفیدبرفی هم از دیدگاه ملکه بیان میشه، ملکهای که عاشق شوهرشه ولی دخترخواندهی خونآشامش کریپی و خطرناکه.
آرت کتاب فوقالعاده عالی بود. داستان قابل پیشبینیه {ریتلینگه به هر حال} ولی نقاشیها و قلم زیبای نیل گیمن باعث شدن ازش خوشم بیاد.
جزئیات! جذابیت! خلاقیت!
نذارید اسم و موضوع کتاب گولتون بزنه، اصلا کودکانه نیست. پر از صحنههای:
- برهنگی و سکس و خونخواری
- خشونت واقعا عجیب
- اشارههایی به تجاوز و کودکآزاری.
یه چیزی که اذیتم کرد این بود که روایت به اندازهی روایت اصلی سفیدبرفی ساده بود، فقط منفی و مثبت بودن شخصیتها جابهجا شده بود. روایت کلاسیک خوبی علیه بدی. اما مثلا سپکوفسکی توی ویچر ریتلینگی از سفیدبرفی نوشته بود که توش واقعا نمیدونستی طرف کدوم باشی، طرف سفیدبرفی باشی یا جادوگره؟ کدوم «بدیِ کمتر»ـه؟ چیزی که این داستان روش وقت نذاشته بود و شخصیتهاش سطحی بودن.
August 23, 2025
First and foremost, just to point out, just to say that I do not in general and as a matter of course have major issues with retellings and reimaginings of folk and fairy tales making use of specifically, of obviously (young) adult themes and contents (and even sexuality, necrophilia and vampirism) as long as it is in fact clearly shown and stated that a given retelling is in fact not meant for children. However, I really do NOT consider the latter to be the case regarding Neil Gaiman (story) and Colleen Doran's (illustrations) 2019 graphic novel retelling of Schneewittchen (Snow White). Because albeit Snow, Glass, Apples is definitely and certainly NOT AT ALL a graphic novel even remotely suitable for children, the book cover both looks like a typical and totally inoffensive picture book and I also located Snow, Glass, Apples in the Children's Room of my local library, which really does make me hugely cringe, as no, that is in my opinion not really appropriate (well, that is actually also an understatement). And please, this also has nothing to do with book banning and book censorship either but simply with the fact that Snow, Glass, Apples is not meant for younger audiences but externally still looks deceptively like a typical children's picture book and seems to also often be shelved in public libraries as being a children's book.
But even if Snow, Glass, Apples would more specifically show that it is a retelling of Schneewittchen meant for adult audiences and not for children, honestly and entirely personally speaking, both Neil Gaiman's featured text and equally so Colleen Doran's accompanying artwork for Snow, Glass, Apples (and yes indeed, even though the combination of Gaiman's words and Doran's images seems to work well together and is definitely both verbally and visually stunning and lush) are much much too freakishly explicit and grotesque for me and have actually and in fact both textually and also visually offended and nauseated me right from the onset, right from the first pages of Snow, Glass, Apples and to such and extent that I have decided to not continue reading. For yes, when the not-so-evil stepmother of Snow, Glass, Apples describes her stepdaughter as evil pretty much right from the moment of her birth because Snow White supposedly deliberately "murdered" her mother in childbirth I both totally freaked out and also even kind of intensely despised Neil Gaiman for a not so brief moment (as honestly, I cannot believe there are still MORONS out there who would believe and perpetuate that kind of an attitude, that infants whose mothers have died giving birth to them are depraved and evil, are personally responsible and have somehow deliberately and on purpose killed their mothers). Furthermore, when that negativity and blaming Snow White continuously and for basically everything does not stop, when for example Gaiman's text and Colleen Doran's images also categorically claim that six year old Snow White sexually abused and murdered her father and that this mentality seems to go on and on and on in Snow, Glass, Apples (and that I also do not really care that Snow White turns out to be a vampire), sorry, but I simply had to stop my perusal and to also only consider a one star rating for Snow, Glass, Apples, for a Schneewittchen retelling that in my humble opinion basically is just spewing verbal and also visual hatred, is overly and gratuitously sexual and also totally disgustingly considers a baby whose mother dies giving birth as somehow inherently evil and prone to depravity, to being monstrous (and how six year old girls are supposedly sexually promiscuous and abusing adults), this just makes me want to scream and to also vomit.
So no, I will therefore not in any way ever be recommending Snow, Glass, Apples, but I also do realise that I seem to be amongst the minority with my one star rating, but that yes, I certainly and indeed do totally and absolutely stand firmly by said rating (and in particular so since I am also not the only nay-sayer regarding Snow, Glass, Apples either).
But even if Snow, Glass, Apples would more specifically show that it is a retelling of Schneewittchen meant for adult audiences and not for children, honestly and entirely personally speaking, both Neil Gaiman's featured text and equally so Colleen Doran's accompanying artwork for Snow, Glass, Apples (and yes indeed, even though the combination of Gaiman's words and Doran's images seems to work well together and is definitely both verbally and visually stunning and lush) are much much too freakishly explicit and grotesque for me and have actually and in fact both textually and also visually offended and nauseated me right from the onset, right from the first pages of Snow, Glass, Apples and to such and extent that I have decided to not continue reading. For yes, when the not-so-evil stepmother of Snow, Glass, Apples describes her stepdaughter as evil pretty much right from the moment of her birth because Snow White supposedly deliberately "murdered" her mother in childbirth I both totally freaked out and also even kind of intensely despised Neil Gaiman for a not so brief moment (as honestly, I cannot believe there are still MORONS out there who would believe and perpetuate that kind of an attitude, that infants whose mothers have died giving birth to them are depraved and evil, are personally responsible and have somehow deliberately and on purpose killed their mothers). Furthermore, when that negativity and blaming Snow White continuously and for basically everything does not stop, when for example Gaiman's text and Colleen Doran's images also categorically claim that six year old Snow White sexually abused and murdered her father and that this mentality seems to go on and on and on in Snow, Glass, Apples (and that I also do not really care that Snow White turns out to be a vampire), sorry, but I simply had to stop my perusal and to also only consider a one star rating for Snow, Glass, Apples, for a Schneewittchen retelling that in my humble opinion basically is just spewing verbal and also visual hatred, is overly and gratuitously sexual and also totally disgustingly considers a baby whose mother dies giving birth as somehow inherently evil and prone to depravity, to being monstrous (and how six year old girls are supposedly sexually promiscuous and abusing adults), this just makes me want to scream and to also vomit.
So no, I will therefore not in any way ever be recommending Snow, Glass, Apples, but I also do realise that I seem to be amongst the minority with my one star rating, but that yes, I certainly and indeed do totally and absolutely stand firmly by said rating (and in particular so since I am also not the only nay-sayer regarding Snow, Glass, Apples either).
August 31, 2020
Beautifully written. Beautifully illustrated.
January 7, 2020
***This review is the residual product of me loving the novel, composing an amazing review on it (in Goodreads) and a glitch on the site not letting me save it and it getting lost in the abyss due to 'the title not existing' apparently as per GR!!!! - I'm a dumb... for composing it directly on the Goodreads site vs in word, where I usually write my reviews first to ensure THIS does not happen!!! Grrr.***
Amazing illustrations!
I don't want to say that I am becoming a fan of Neil Gaiman's work, but so far I really enjoyed the few books by him that I have read - the last being 'Stardust'. His award-winning works stand to reason for his unique, macabre flavor and his incredible talent in the storytelling craft is superb.
This retelling of Snow White starts off beautifully with the widowed king falling in love with the future stepmother of Snow White at the opening. This is not a graphic novel you can hand to your children...as it depicts explicit coupling scenes, albeit tastefully created illustrating love and lust. I foremost was enamored with the visually stunning images, which some of them held secrets to discover upon second glance while all of them were bright and enchanting.
In this version of the tale, Snow White is a creepy, evil character, who shows no remorse in her father's demise and is devoid of the smallest inkling of affection towards her stepmother, who certainly has tried to gain it and to like her too. Fearing for her life and safety, the stepmother boards up the windows and doors of the castle until she makes an inevitable decision...one that should keep the kingdom safe and prosperous.
Like the apple in the original tale has become the well-known symbolism for Snow White, the heart that the stepmother cuts out of Snow White in this twisted tale to hang among fruit to dry should be the one Snow, Glass, Apples is to be remembered by. To the queen, the heart devoid of its beat becomes the indicator of her kingdom's security and prosperity while Snow White slumbers in the woods.
So, of course, there is a prince to enter the tale. He is a handsome one, but riddled with a peculiar affliction, one that the queen's warmth cannot cure. In greatest moments of despair, his coldest desires are met, taken by vengeful force sending beats of the once dead in rhythmic drums of danger, and what was once dead has woken anew.
This twisted tale has Gaiman written all over it. I love the fantastic illustrations and could have kept on reading. If it wasn't for me having to recreate this review half as good as my original writings, I'd swoon a bit more. Despite my grumblings about this mess-up and my rather small and pathetic review, this novel made my five-star rated list of graphic novels to recommend.
I hope you will enjoy this novel too :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Amazing illustrations!
I don't want to say that I am becoming a fan of Neil Gaiman's work, but so far I really enjoyed the few books by him that I have read - the last being 'Stardust'. His award-winning works stand to reason for his unique, macabre flavor and his incredible talent in the storytelling craft is superb.
This retelling of Snow White starts off beautifully with the widowed king falling in love with the future stepmother of Snow White at the opening. This is not a graphic novel you can hand to your children...as it depicts explicit coupling scenes, albeit tastefully created illustrating love and lust. I foremost was enamored with the visually stunning images, which some of them held secrets to discover upon second glance while all of them were bright and enchanting.
In this version of the tale, Snow White is a creepy, evil character, who shows no remorse in her father's demise and is devoid of the smallest inkling of affection towards her stepmother, who certainly has tried to gain it and to like her too. Fearing for her life and safety, the stepmother boards up the windows and doors of the castle until she makes an inevitable decision...one that should keep the kingdom safe and prosperous.
Like the apple in the original tale has become the well-known symbolism for Snow White, the heart that the stepmother cuts out of Snow White in this twisted tale to hang among fruit to dry should be the one Snow, Glass, Apples is to be remembered by. To the queen, the heart devoid of its beat becomes the indicator of her kingdom's security and prosperity while Snow White slumbers in the woods.
So, of course, there is a prince to enter the tale. He is a handsome one, but riddled with a peculiar affliction, one that the queen's warmth cannot cure. In greatest moments of despair, his coldest desires are met, taken by vengeful force sending beats of the once dead in rhythmic drums of danger, and what was once dead has woken anew.
This twisted tale has Gaiman written all over it. I love the fantastic illustrations and could have kept on reading. If it wasn't for me having to recreate this review half as good as my original writings, I'd swoon a bit more. Despite my grumblings about this mess-up and my rather small and pathetic review, this novel made my five-star rated list of graphic novels to recommend.
I hope you will enjoy this novel too :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
September 20, 2019
actual rating: 2.5
If I was rating the short story I probably would have rounded down, but I'm rating the new graphic novel and the art was absolutely gorgeous so I decided to round up. I guess the story isn't awful either but today it just kind of reads like edgy bullshit for the sake of edgy bullshit. I'm sure 'what if Snow White was a vampire' was a much more original thought back in 1995 but today it just kind of makes me roll my eyes. Also I really don't see why he felt it was necessary to imply she had sex with her dad but I've come to realize that old school Gaiman is just Like That™ sometimes.
If I was rating the short story I probably would have rounded down, but I'm rating the new graphic novel and the art was absolutely gorgeous so I decided to round up. I guess the story isn't awful either but today it just kind of reads like edgy bullshit for the sake of edgy bullshit. I'm sure 'what if Snow White was a vampire' was a much more original thought back in 1995 but today it just kind of makes me roll my eyes. Also I really don't see why he felt it was necessary to imply she had sex with her dad but I've come to realize that old school Gaiman is just Like That™ sometimes.
September 1, 2019
Absolutely stunning, gorgeous and ever so slightly evocative of stained glass images—the artwork by Coleen Doran beautifully complements and adds another dimension to Neil Gaiman’s horror version of Snow White.
January 1, 2021
More of an excuse to draw nudes than a real attempt at subverting this traditional fairy tale. This may be my last Gaiman.
November 21, 2022
The illustrations are STUNNING and I really enjoyed Gaiman’s dark and gothic retelling of Snow White. Most definitely NOT for children!!
September 15, 2019
I was definitely a fan of illustrator Colleen Doran's richly detailed art nouveau style, but the story itself rubbed me the wrong way.
In particular, it gave me the same gross vibes as in The Last Wish where the narrator was very clear that oh yes, that pre-pubescent child is a slut, alright. She definitely wanted TeH sEx. In this case, she was six.
Supposedly, this is because Snow White is a vampire and the prince is a necrophiliac, but yuck.
In particular, it gave me the same gross vibes as in The Last Wish where the narrator was very clear that oh yes, that pre-pubescent child is a slut, alright. She definitely wanted TeH sEx. In this case, she was six.
Supposedly, this is because Snow White is a vampire and the prince is a necrophiliac, but yuck.
January 4, 2021
Gorgeous artwork and an erotic, creepy retelling of Snow White.
July 15, 2024
Ugh! I wish I hadn't wasted my time on this graphic (and I mean graphic!) retelling of Snow White, but I was inspired to do so by a GR reader whose children were accidentally exposed to it when she checked it out of the library.
I can see why she was outraged that the book was in the children's section of her library and was disgusted at the subject matter which included descriptions of a six year old vampire girl and the bites she left on her father's "male member" and everywhere on his body as she sucked the life out of him. And that is just the beginning.
This book has no business being shelved in the children's section of a library or bookstore. What is with the children's librarian in that library, as well as a library in my system, that they didn't read the reviews and pay attention to the cataloging information provided to them. I am not a librarian, but I believe the cataloging information says "young adult," not children's. Even "young adult" is not correct, in my opinion. A quick glance through this book when the library received it would have resulted in the book being shelved properly and saved the parent and her children a lot of distress. Thankfully, in my library, the book was in the adult section where it belongs.
This book even had a note from the illustrator that said that she and Gaiman decided not to use certain sketches which looked "too much like a young adult novel. We didn't want this book to appeal to kids, for obvious reasons." That is the understatement of the year - were those reasons "graphically" described and illustrated sex scenes and the burning to death of a woman in an oven?! That statement is a pitiful attempt to excuse themselves, in my opinion. Obviously, this book is going to appeal to children and young adults because of the re-telling of the Snow White story and the admittedly stunning illustrations, including the cover art.
If you would like to read a more detailed review of this book, please read Julie's excellent review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Her children's reactions to this book could be a review of their own. After you read it, you might want to contact your local library to see if the book is shelved in the children's section. If it is, you might want to ask the librarian to read it and hopefully move it to the adult section where it belongs.
Mr. Gaiman, please ask your publisher to put an "adult content" or "parental advisory" label on any of your future graphic novels that contain similar content. It might help libraries shelve these books in the adult section where they belong. Ms. Doran, your artwork is gorgeous, much too beautiful to be gracing a book that, in my opinion, contains child pornography, among other repulsive topics and scenes.
I can see why she was outraged that the book was in the children's section of her library and was disgusted at the subject matter which included descriptions of a six year old vampire girl and the bites she left on her father's "male member" and everywhere on his body as she sucked the life out of him. And that is just the beginning.
This book has no business being shelved in the children's section of a library or bookstore. What is with the children's librarian in that library, as well as a library in my system, that they didn't read the reviews and pay attention to the cataloging information provided to them. I am not a librarian, but I believe the cataloging information says "young adult," not children's. Even "young adult" is not correct, in my opinion. A quick glance through this book when the library received it would have resulted in the book being shelved properly and saved the parent and her children a lot of distress. Thankfully, in my library, the book was in the adult section where it belongs.
This book even had a note from the illustrator that said that she and Gaiman decided not to use certain sketches which looked "too much like a young adult novel. We didn't want this book to appeal to kids, for obvious reasons." That is the understatement of the year - were those reasons "graphically" described and illustrated sex scenes and the burning to death of a woman in an oven?! That statement is a pitiful attempt to excuse themselves, in my opinion. Obviously, this book is going to appeal to children and young adults because of the re-telling of the Snow White story and the admittedly stunning illustrations, including the cover art.
If you would like to read a more detailed review of this book, please read Julie's excellent review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Her children's reactions to this book could be a review of their own. After you read it, you might want to contact your local library to see if the book is shelved in the children's section. If it is, you might want to ask the librarian to read it and hopefully move it to the adult section where it belongs.
Mr. Gaiman, please ask your publisher to put an "adult content" or "parental advisory" label on any of your future graphic novels that contain similar content. It might help libraries shelve these books in the adult section where they belong. Ms. Doran, your artwork is gorgeous, much too beautiful to be gracing a book that, in my opinion, contains child pornography, among other repulsive topics and scenes.
April 7, 2020
Αυτή την περίοδο διαβάζω (εκτός των άλλων) το The view from the cheap seats, μια συλλογή από essays του Neil Gaiman και σε ένα από αυτά αναφέρει και τότε που πήγε σε ένα συμπόσιο και αντί για ομιλία διάβασε την εν λόγω ιστορία. Κάπου την είχε ξαναπάρει το μάτι μου αλλά εξαιτίας αυτού αποφάσισα να το ψάξω και να το διαβάσω. Είναι ένα retelling της Χιονάτης, πιο σκοτεινό, πιο ενήλικο και από την μεριά της “κακιάς” μητριάς. Στην αρχή διάβασα μια έκδοση που είχε μόνο το κείμενο και μετά κοίταξα και την εικονογραφημένη εκδοχή. Πολύ ωραία και εντυπωσιακή η εικονογράφηση αλλά να πω την αλήθεια προτιμώ τις εικόνες από το δικό μου κεφάλι.
Μου άρεσε πολύ και αφήνω εδώ και το κομμάτι με το περιστατικό από το συμπόσιο για όποιον ενδιαφέρεται:
Several months ago I found myself, somewhat to my own surprise, in a distant country attending a symposium on myths and fairy tales. I was a featured speaker, and was told that I would be addressing a group of academics from all over the world on the subject of fairy tales. Before this, I would listen to papers being delivered to the group, and address a roundtable discussion.
I made notes for the talk I would give, and then went along to the first presentation: I listened to academics talk wisely and intelligently about Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood, and I found myself becoming increasingly irritated and dissatisfied, on a deep and profound level.
My difficulty was not with what was being said, but with the attitude that went along with it—an attitude that implied that these tales no longer had anything to do with us. That they were dead cold things, which would submit without resistance to dissection, that could be held up to the light and inspected from every angle, and would give up their secrets without resistance.
Most of the people at the conference were more than willing to pay lip service to the theory of fairy tales as stories that had begun as entertainments that adults told adults, but became children’s stories when they went out of fashion (much as, in Professor Tolkien’s analogy, the unwanted and unfashionable furniture was moved into the nursery: it was not that it had been intended to be children’s furniture, it was just that the adults did not want it any longer). “Why do you write with myths and with fairy tales?” one of them asked me.
“Because they have power,” I explained, and watched the students and academics nod doubtfully. They were willing to allow that it might be true, as an academic exercise. They didn’t believe it.
The next morning I was meant to make a formal address on the subject of myth and fairy tales. And when the time came, I threw away my notes, and, instead of lecturing them, I read them a story.
It was a retelling of the story of Snow White, from the point of view of the wicked queen. It asked questions like, “What kind of a prince comes across the dead body of a girl in a glass coffin and announces that he is in love and will be taking the body back to his castle?” and for that matter, “What kind of a girl has skin as white as snow, hair as black as coal, lips as red as blood, and can lie, as if dead, for a long time?” We realize, listening to the story, that the wicked queen was not wicked: she simply did not go far enough; and we also realize, as the queen is imprisoned inside a kiln, about to be roasted for the midwinter feast, that stories are told by survivors.
It is one of the strongest pieces of fiction I’ve written. If you read it on your own, it can be disturbing. To have it read to you by an author on a podium, first thing in the morning, during a conference on fairy tales, must on reflection have been, for the listeners, a rather extreme experience, like taking a gulp of something they thought was coffee, and finding that someone had laced it with wasabi, or with blood.
At the end of a story that was, after all, just “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” an audience of several dozen people looked pale and troubled, like people coming off a roller coaster or like sailors recently returned to land.
“As I said, these stories have power,” I told them as I finished. This time they seemed far more inclined to believe me.
Μου άρεσε πολύ και αφήνω εδώ και το κομμάτι με το περιστατικό από το συμπόσιο για όποιον ενδιαφέρεται:
Several months ago I found myself, somewhat to my own surprise, in a distant country attending a symposium on myths and fairy tales. I was a featured speaker, and was told that I would be addressing a group of academics from all over the world on the subject of fairy tales. Before this, I would listen to papers being delivered to the group, and address a roundtable discussion.
I made notes for the talk I would give, and then went along to the first presentation: I listened to academics talk wisely and intelligently about Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood, and I found myself becoming increasingly irritated and dissatisfied, on a deep and profound level.
My difficulty was not with what was being said, but with the attitude that went along with it—an attitude that implied that these tales no longer had anything to do with us. That they were dead cold things, which would submit without resistance to dissection, that could be held up to the light and inspected from every angle, and would give up their secrets without resistance.
Most of the people at the conference were more than willing to pay lip service to the theory of fairy tales as stories that had begun as entertainments that adults told adults, but became children’s stories when they went out of fashion (much as, in Professor Tolkien’s analogy, the unwanted and unfashionable furniture was moved into the nursery: it was not that it had been intended to be children’s furniture, it was just that the adults did not want it any longer). “Why do you write with myths and with fairy tales?” one of them asked me.
“Because they have power,” I explained, and watched the students and academics nod doubtfully. They were willing to allow that it might be true, as an academic exercise. They didn’t believe it.
The next morning I was meant to make a formal address on the subject of myth and fairy tales. And when the time came, I threw away my notes, and, instead of lecturing them, I read them a story.
It was a retelling of the story of Snow White, from the point of view of the wicked queen. It asked questions like, “What kind of a prince comes across the dead body of a girl in a glass coffin and announces that he is in love and will be taking the body back to his castle?” and for that matter, “What kind of a girl has skin as white as snow, hair as black as coal, lips as red as blood, and can lie, as if dead, for a long time?” We realize, listening to the story, that the wicked queen was not wicked: she simply did not go far enough; and we also realize, as the queen is imprisoned inside a kiln, about to be roasted for the midwinter feast, that stories are told by survivors.
It is one of the strongest pieces of fiction I’ve written. If you read it on your own, it can be disturbing. To have it read to you by an author on a podium, first thing in the morning, during a conference on fairy tales, must on reflection have been, for the listeners, a rather extreme experience, like taking a gulp of something they thought was coffee, and finding that someone had laced it with wasabi, or with blood.
At the end of a story that was, after all, just “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” an audience of several dozen people looked pale and troubled, like people coming off a roller coaster or like sailors recently returned to land.
“As I said, these stories have power,” I told them as I finished. This time they seemed far more inclined to believe me.
August 13, 2022
A chilling fantasy retelling of the Snow White fairy tale by bestselling creators Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran. A not-so-evil queen is terrified of her monstrous stepdaughter and determined to repel this creature and save her kingdom from a world where happy endings aren't so happily ever after.
This version of Snow White turns things around, transforming the wicked stepmother into a tortured soul trying desperately to protect her husband and kingdom while the bedazzling Snow White has been transformed into a manipulative, bloodsucking monster that remains alive even if you rip her heart out. I love horror retellings of fairy tales, and this was well done. Turning beautiful princesses into demented monsters with a thirst for destruction is always a treat.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
This version of Snow White turns things around, transforming the wicked stepmother into a tortured soul trying desperately to protect her husband and kingdom while the bedazzling Snow White has been transformed into a manipulative, bloodsucking monster that remains alive even if you rip her heart out. I love horror retellings of fairy tales, and this was well done. Turning beautiful princesses into demented monsters with a thirst for destruction is always a treat.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
August 20, 2020
although I knew this was Snow White retelling, for some reason I wasn't expecting anything this dark and macabre 😂nor did I expect the mild vampiric influences. It reminded me of the work of Angela Carter, especially her short story The Snow Child. Frankly, this may not be my favourite Gaiman story, but the one aspect I did really like was the fact that the stepmother was the narrator and that she wasn't the 'evil' one.
Certainly not one for younger readers, but it is an quick read with a lovely art style (I especially enjoyed reading the artist notes at the end of the book.)
thank you to the awesome alice for gifting me this one!! <3
Certainly not one for younger readers, but it is an quick read with a lovely art style (I especially enjoyed reading the artist notes at the end of the book.)
thank you to the awesome alice for gifting me this one!! <3
October 23, 2019
I was really disappointed in this book. I bought if for numerous reasons: a twist on a classic fairy tale, an author that I generally respect, and the art! The previews were fantastic! I thought it was a sure thing! Wow was I wrong.
The story could have been good IF its focus was on the Queen vs. Snow White dynamic (you know...character and plot), instead it was focused the worst kinds of sex fantasies. There are themes here of rape, incest, sexual predators, and necrophilia. I knew the story was dark, so I expected a decent amount of focus on gore and even a bit of sexual misconduct but there is no redemption to what happens in this story. It is clearly focused on the sex and nothing else.
The artwork saddens me. Its truly beautiful. Colleen Doran clearly is talented. There are some non-sexual violence pages which are absolutely stunning. However, the art is what gives us permission to look at the disgusting thing this book is trying to make "okay". I've seen books with far more substance be completely trashed because they portrayed a rape scene (graphic or not) even though that scene resulted in tonnes of character development and a greater understanding of what the victims go through and overcome.
Yet this book is getting 5 star reviews. Not cool.
The story could have been good IF its focus was on the Queen vs. Snow White dynamic (you know...character and plot), instead it was focused the worst kinds of sex fantasies. There are themes here of rape, incest, sexual predators, and necrophilia. I knew the story was dark, so I expected a decent amount of focus on gore and even a bit of sexual misconduct but there is no redemption to what happens in this story. It is clearly focused on the sex and nothing else.
The artwork saddens me. Its truly beautiful. Colleen Doran clearly is talented. There are some non-sexual violence pages which are absolutely stunning. However, the art is what gives us permission to look at the disgusting thing this book is trying to make "okay". I've seen books with far more substance be completely trashed because they portrayed a rape scene (graphic or not) even though that scene resulted in tonnes of character development and a greater understanding of what the victims go through and overcome.
Yet this book is getting 5 star reviews. Not cool.
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