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Once Upon a Short Story #4
The Dwarf Ring
Snow White suspects the worst...
Young women are disappearing across the kingdom, but Snow White's stepmother is more concerned with using her magic mirror to discover who is fairest in the land. Is the queen's obsession with beauty responsible for the disappearances? Or is the visiting prince to blame? Can Snow White discover the truth in time?
Or will her curiosity be her downfall?
The Dwarf Ring is book four in the Once Upon a Short Story collection.
Discover a unique twist on your favorite fairy tales with these standalone adventures!
This short story of 2,700 words (about 8 pages) was originally given as a gift to my newsletter subscribers. If you would like to receive free bonus content, news, and new release notifications, you can sign up for my newsletter at http://www.angelagmarshall.com/
Young women are disappearing across the kingdom, but Snow White's stepmother is more concerned with using her magic mirror to discover who is fairest in the land. Is the queen's obsession with beauty responsible for the disappearances? Or is the visiting prince to blame? Can Snow White discover the truth in time?
Or will her curiosity be her downfall?
The Dwarf Ring is book four in the Once Upon a Short Story collection.
Discover a unique twist on your favorite fairy tales with these standalone adventures!
This short story of 2,700 words (about 8 pages) was originally given as a gift to my newsletter subscribers. If you would like to receive free bonus content, news, and new release notifications, you can sign up for my newsletter at http://www.angelagmarshall.com/
17 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2019
17 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Marshall
24 books309 followersAngela Marshall loves fairy tales and has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She works as a professional pianist and teacher and enjoys crocheting.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 27, 2019
Creative spelling, cooking and dusting.
Q:
Could I bake a pie to save my life? (c)
Q:
I built a fire and put the pie in the oven. The fire must have been too hot, because the pie burned and filled the cabin with smoke. The dwarfs stared at the charred lump of dough on the table when they came in.
“It’s dinner,” I said. “I thought I would try something new.”
...
“It can’t be any worse than the mush,” the lead dwarf grumbled. (c)
Q:
Could I bake a pie to save my life? (c)
Q:
I built a fire and put the pie in the oven. The fire must have been too hot, because the pie burned and filled the cabin with smoke. The dwarfs stared at the charred lump of dough on the table when they came in.
“It’s dinner,” I said. “I thought I would try something new.”
...
“It can’t be any worse than the mush,” the lead dwarf grumbled. (c)
December 25, 2019
What?! That's the end!? Nooo!! Aw, man! But! Well, darn. It was so cool! Marshall sees these beautiful tales and puts crazy cool spins on them! She turned this one on its head! I'm dying to know how it all ends, but I very much enjoyed the new take.
May 15, 2019
A fun little short story that cleverly turns the familiar elements of "Snow White" inside-out and upside-down without becoming something totally different from the original tale.
April 27, 2020
I am really torn...
On the one hand, this is a brilliant retelling of Snow White. It's clever, pays subtle homage to the original, and was very twists. Also the ending was :O
But on the other hand I'm so over overtly dark takes on Snow White. This is definitely the darkest tale of these so far (of the 5/7 that I've read). So that was wearisome.
Overall, really good though
On the one hand, this is a brilliant retelling of Snow White. It's clever, pays subtle homage to the original, and was very twists. Also the ending was :O
But on the other hand I'm so over overtly dark takes on Snow White. This is definitely the darkest tale of these so far (of the 5/7 that I've read). So that was wearisome.
Overall, really good though
May 20, 2019
A fun, quick read!!
This story turns the fairy tale on its head and keeps a reader guessing.
I really would love to see this turned into a full-length book!!
This story turns the fairy tale on its head and keeps a reader guessing.
I really would love to see this turned into a full-length book!!
May 29, 2020
That was certainly a surprise! I didn't see that twist coming at all. Or the ending - or lack thereof!!
Very nice twist.
Very nice twist.
October 30, 2019
Very short story; takes approximately 10-15 minutes to read.
I love the ending! This would be a very good novella.
I love the ending! This would be a very good novella.
September 22, 2022
I was not expecting that.
July 28, 2020
I want to rate this Snow White retelling higher because dangit, I loved the way everything's turned on it's head. The YAish writing's a breeze to read, the way characters' motives are changed up was a blast... But the end. I cannot like these kind of left hanging, no end endings. All the build up, none of the payoff. I wish this could be made into a full story because I'd read it in a heartbeat.
May 12, 2020
Huh. A story that blatantly just stops rather than finishes at the end. I guess that's a thing sometimes, but it isn't really my thing.
I missed having any characters to root for here, as none of them come off as exactly root-worthy, but the twists the author adds to the plot are pretty interesting.
Maybe one day she'll finish the story.
I missed having any characters to root for here, as none of them come off as exactly root-worthy, but the twists the author adds to the plot are pretty interesting.
Maybe one day she'll finish the story.
December 10, 2019
It was an interesting take on the classic, but I felt like it ended so abruptly.
January 30, 2020
Not up to her usual standards...
I mostly give this author 5* ratings but this was far from her usual standards. I found it uninspiring and not very imaginative.
I mostly give this author 5* ratings but this was far from her usual standards. I found it uninspiring and not very imaginative.
December 3, 2019
Title: The Dwarf Ring (Once Upon a Short Story #4)
Author: A.G. Marshall
Format: Kindle (Free)
[ Enjoyed ] At first no, then yes.
[ Last Read ] Last night.
[ Reread ] Maybe.
[ Cover Lust ] No.
[ Intriguing Title ] Kind of. (Wasn't obvious to me which fairy tale.)
[ Interesting Premise/Plot ] Didn't read blurb.
[ Preview Impressions ] Did not preview.
[ Kept My Attention ] Yes.
[ Got Bored / Mind Wandering ] Nope.
[ Skimmed/Skipped Scenes/Chapters ] No.
[ Reread Past Scenes For Fun ] No.
[ Reread Past ScenesCause My Memory Sucks To Clear Confusion ] No.
[ Stayed Up Late ] No.
[ Took a Long Break Midway ] No.
[ Ending Left Me Feeling ] No! Wait! Don't leave me hanging!!! (Took a few looooooooong seconds for the implied ending to sink in...)
[ Easy Light Reading ] Yes?
[ Turn Brain Off ] *shrugs* (I did.)
[ Guilty Pleasure ] Nah.
Other thoughts I'm throwing in:
This Snow White retelling is so different from what I expected. It's the antithesis of everything I knew from the Disney classic.
Author: A.G. Marshall
Format: Kindle (Free)
[ Enjoyed ] At first no, then yes.
[ Last Read ] Last night.
[ Reread ] Maybe.
[ Cover Lust ] No.
[ Intriguing Title ] Kind of. (Wasn't obvious to me which fairy tale.)
[ Interesting Premise/Plot ] Didn't read blurb.
[ Preview Impressions ] Did not preview.
[ Kept My Attention ] Yes.
[ Got Bored / Mind Wandering ] Nope.
[ Skimmed/Skipped Scenes/Chapters ] No.
[ Reread Past Scenes For Fun ] No.
[ Reread Past Scenes
[ Stayed Up Late ] No.
[ Took a Long Break Midway ] No.
[ Ending Left Me Feeling ] No! Wait! Don't leave me hanging!!! (Took a few looooooooong seconds for the implied ending to sink in...)
[ Easy Light Reading ] Yes?
[ Turn Brain Off ] *shrugs* (I did.)
[ Guilty Pleasure ] Nah.
Other thoughts I'm throwing in:
This Snow White retelling is so different from what I expected. It's the antithesis of everything I knew from the Disney classic.
February 22, 2020
Not as advertised.
This isn’t a Snow White fairy tale retelling. It’s a make up your own ending horror genre short story with nothing positive to say about any character. The author has some difficulty understanding that the fruit of the Spirit is self-control in her other stories and that having characters make up excuses to be cruel or mean to get their own way is still justifying sin that plants the seeds of death in their own souls. However, the summary of her other books is at least accurate. This is not a retelling of Snow White. It’s a gender/villain reversed dark take on the tale of the choice between the Woman and the Tiger. It has a thin veneer of a fairytale setting that uses the labels in the story of Snow White to convey that it’s okay to misuse authority to dishonor others and get away with it if you have civil power, that no one has enough strength to openly stand on their convictions, that mercy involves remaining enslaved or hoping for a coma instead of working for freedom no matter what, and that there is no afterlife where Christ has removed the sting of death because if the main character knew about it she would realize she’s set free for freedom, no one can take that away because God is stronger than evil, and if she resists she absolutely can refuse to be enslaved, act on her right to be free even if it kills her, and explain the reason for her hope with gentleness and respect without giving any ground to her enemies and without plotting murder.
In the authors other stories the characters are at least sometimes nice to each other and hold strong convictions that lead them to act to make their world a more loving and safe place. Her other stories are much nicer.
This isn’t a Snow White fairy tale retelling. It’s a make up your own ending horror genre short story with nothing positive to say about any character. The author has some difficulty understanding that the fruit of the Spirit is self-control in her other stories and that having characters make up excuses to be cruel or mean to get their own way is still justifying sin that plants the seeds of death in their own souls. However, the summary of her other books is at least accurate. This is not a retelling of Snow White. It’s a gender/villain reversed dark take on the tale of the choice between the Woman and the Tiger. It has a thin veneer of a fairytale setting that uses the labels in the story of Snow White to convey that it’s okay to misuse authority to dishonor others and get away with it if you have civil power, that no one has enough strength to openly stand on their convictions, that mercy involves remaining enslaved or hoping for a coma instead of working for freedom no matter what, and that there is no afterlife where Christ has removed the sting of death because if the main character knew about it she would realize she’s set free for freedom, no one can take that away because God is stronger than evil, and if she resists she absolutely can refuse to be enslaved, act on her right to be free even if it kills her, and explain the reason for her hope with gentleness and respect without giving any ground to her enemies and without plotting murder.
In the authors other stories the characters are at least sometimes nice to each other and hold strong convictions that lead them to act to make their world a more loving and safe place. Her other stories are much nicer.
February 8, 2022
Quite possibly my favorite short tale from this author yet. I love me a good open-ended ending, where I don't know the fate of our heroine and it gets me thinking. Those are the kinds of endings I love to write myself. Now for the most part, Snow White really isn't a fairytale I'm interested in. But the way the author turned this one around and completely upside down enamored me from the start. It's a familiar story with a different take, and the concept is unique, not clichéd or overdone. Snow White is not some perfect, pretty little thing, and the dwarves are not the lovable little guys we know from the original story. There's something a lot more sinister lurking behind every corner, and a couple twists I hadn't anticipated that made it all the better. I went into this not expecting to love it, but here I am a few minutes later, still thinking about it. I'd recommend it.
December 10, 2019
Another great fairytale short !
I thoroughly enjoy A.G. Marshall's writing, especially after reading what sort of questioning drives her to some of her plots, and this particular tale is a very good example. As someone else has already said, it turns the original fairytale upside down and backwards, resulting in a fascinating original story with the key players of the source tale present, but... Well, anyway, you may not truly "enjoy" this story as much as the Disney version, but it is well crafted albeit with a tortuous ending. (Truthfully, I hope there is a Part 2, because I to would like to see further on down the road for this one.)
I thoroughly enjoy A.G. Marshall's writing, especially after reading what sort of questioning drives her to some of her plots, and this particular tale is a very good example. As someone else has already said, it turns the original fairytale upside down and backwards, resulting in a fascinating original story with the key players of the source tale present, but... Well, anyway, you may not truly "enjoy" this story as much as the Disney version, but it is well crafted albeit with a tortuous ending. (Truthfully, I hope there is a Part 2, because I to would like to see further on down the road for this one.)
May 25, 2019
Briefer than I expected, but a well-written short story with a pleasing reimagining of the Snow White plot. When I checked the reviews on Amazon, I noticed a reviewer saying the Kindle edition is missing a few pages at the end, which would explain why it ended in a manner that felt quite abrupt. If that’s true, I would love to read the real ending!
March 6, 2020
For someone that is not a big fan of Snow White this was great! It gave a more realistic spin to the characters. Snow White has more a more believable character and her challenge was realistic. Also having Prince Charming as Prince Charn (with a matching personality) was so great... going against the general - Prince Charming is perfect stereotype!
July 15, 2019
Who knew that an alignment-swapped version of Snow White would be so gripping? Y'all should read this story... so that you too can say, "Wait! That's the END? But I want to know what happened after that!"
April 29, 2020
This was a decent story as far as it went. It wasn't clear if some characters were good or evil, and what certain people's motivations were, and I would have liked a little more worldbuilding. The biggest problem was that it had no ending.
May 20, 2019
Okay - good story, but way too short and it ended in the middle! What's up with that??? Not sure where the ending to this story is, but I would like to read it!
September 30, 2019
A really neat version of Snow White that definitely has a twist! Open ended endings usually aren't my favorite thing, but I didn't mind this one quite as much as I usually do.
November 23, 2020
NOOOOOOOOOO WHAT'S WITH THAT ENDING
January 22, 2021
It was a fun and unique take on Snow white. The ending was a bit jaring but other than that it was really good.
February 2, 2021
I’m glad I read true author’s note that this is intended as an open ended story or the abrupt ending would have really bothered me. It is a great set up for a story I wish there was more...
October 30, 2021
The original Snow White tale did not expound on the dwarves. This one makes the dwarves the villains of the tale - for good reason. However is Snow White to get out of this situation?
December 29, 2021
A sweet retelling of snow white.
The dwarfs controls snow with the ring thats on her hand that she can't take off!
Action packed and will transport you into the fairytale!
The dwarfs controls snow with the ring thats on her hand that she can't take off!
Action packed and will transport you into the fairytale!
March 22, 2022
Well, that was anticlimactic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Quick interesting take on Snow White. I like that the author explains what gave her the idea for her short stories and why she writes it the way she does.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews