What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ealdspell Cycle #2
Eirwen
THIS BOOK IS NO LONGER IN RETAIL DISTRIBUTION. New title is "Of Heart and Stone.
All hearts are capable of breaking.
Especially a heart of stone.
Eirwen Blackvein grew up in a dwarven mining camp at the edge of the map. A perfect place to hide an elven princess destined to destroy a queen and save a kingdom at war, as foretold in a seer’s magic mirror. Except, Eirwen doesn’t know she is the lost princess. Only that she was found as a newborn with her heart carved out. And why she now possesses a heart of stone in her chest, one forged by the dwarves.
A heart made from the black stone she mines to power war machines for her realm’s king.
The same enchanted stone coveted by a neighboring queen to destroy an entire kingdom.
Eirwen’s only desire is to protect her workers from the soldiers who are seizing mines for the crown. Even if it means kidnapping Lieutenant Prince Florian Halivaard, the youngest son of a warmongering king she discovers half-dead outside of the Dark Forest.
With monarchs from different kingdoms willing to kill for her heart’s magic, Eirwen finds herself at the center of a losing battle. Her only chance to protect those she loves and defend her kingdom is to trust her enemy—a prince with haunting silver eyes fated by the faeries to one day meet a heart of stone.
A heart he will break.
Eirwen is a gritty young adult epic dystopian fantasy spin on the romantic tale of Snow White, blending 1930s-1940s aesthetics and World War II technology with faerie magic. Guaranteed to please readers who love angsty, enemies-to-lovers slow-burn fated romances, twisted faerie tales, and strong found family themes.
All hearts are capable of breaking.
Especially a heart of stone.
Eirwen Blackvein grew up in a dwarven mining camp at the edge of the map. A perfect place to hide an elven princess destined to destroy a queen and save a kingdom at war, as foretold in a seer’s magic mirror. Except, Eirwen doesn’t know she is the lost princess. Only that she was found as a newborn with her heart carved out. And why she now possesses a heart of stone in her chest, one forged by the dwarves.
A heart made from the black stone she mines to power war machines for her realm’s king.
The same enchanted stone coveted by a neighboring queen to destroy an entire kingdom.
Eirwen’s only desire is to protect her workers from the soldiers who are seizing mines for the crown. Even if it means kidnapping Lieutenant Prince Florian Halivaard, the youngest son of a warmongering king she discovers half-dead outside of the Dark Forest.
With monarchs from different kingdoms willing to kill for her heart’s magic, Eirwen finds herself at the center of a losing battle. Her only chance to protect those she loves and defend her kingdom is to trust her enemy—a prince with haunting silver eyes fated by the faeries to one day meet a heart of stone.
A heart he will break.
Eirwen is a gritty young adult epic dystopian fantasy spin on the romantic tale of Snow White, blending 1930s-1940s aesthetics and World War II technology with faerie magic. Guaranteed to please readers who love angsty, enemies-to-lovers slow-burn fated romances, twisted faerie tales, and strong found family themes.
Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2022
79 people are currently reading
1068 people want to read
About the author
Jesikah Sundin
21 books608 followersJESIKAH SUNDIN is a multi-award winning Fae Romantasy, Dystopian Punk Lit, and Historical Fantasy writer, a mom of three nerdlets, a faeriecore and elfpunk geek, tree hugger, nature photographer, and a helpless romantic who married her insta-love high school sweetheart. In addition to her family, she shares her home in Seattle, Washington with a rambunctious husky-chi and a collection of Doc Martens boots. She is addicted to coffee, GIFs, memes, potatoes, cheese, kilts, mossy forests, eyeliner on men, and artsy indie alt rock.
AUTHOR NAMES:
Jesikah Sundin: fae fantasy romance, dystopian
J. Sundin: reverse harem fantasy romance
Jae Dawson: contemporary new adult romance
AUTHOR NAMES:
Jesikah Sundin: fae fantasy romance, dystopian
J. Sundin: reverse harem fantasy romance
Jae Dawson: contemporary new adult romance
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 9, 2022
Ohhh my jeebus, this book. THIS BOOK.
I had the honor of reading this beautiful book prior to release and I just have to say, it is everything. It is more than I expected, and I already know that Sundin's work is going to be a delight.
I also want to preface this by saying I am not really a Snow White fan. I've never really latched onto her character in any way, and I don't generally seek out her stories.
But I have loved Sundin's work for a very long time, and of course I wasn't going to pass up this beauty after the glory that was Æroreh! I knew I would love it, but I didn't think it could possibly steal me from my love of that book. Boy was I wrong.
Eirwen is a snarky, sassy, brilliant character with the squishest heart of stone. Florian is the sweetest, kindest, most driven prince with an eternal patience that, to be honest, I envy, lol. The dwarves have been written anew and they shine in a familiar but entirely new glory. And well. I'm not going to spoil anything. But I inhaled this book. Absolutely inhaled it. Take WWII, take traditional fantasy, squish them together, and you birth this beautiful fairytale retelling with all the brilliance of this truly talented author. And don't worry; there are feels galore. ;)
If you like grumpy and sunshine pairings, mate bonds, fairytale retellings, or even just stories about fierce ladies being all kinds of badass, this. THIS. Go read it as soon as you can. Do it.
tl;dr - Take WWII, take traditional fantasy, squish them together, and you birth this beautiful fairytale retelling with all the brilliance of this truly talented author. And don't worry; there are feels galore. ;)
I had the honor of reading this beautiful book prior to release and I just have to say, it is everything. It is more than I expected, and I already know that Sundin's work is going to be a delight.
I also want to preface this by saying I am not really a Snow White fan. I've never really latched onto her character in any way, and I don't generally seek out her stories.
But I have loved Sundin's work for a very long time, and of course I wasn't going to pass up this beauty after the glory that was Æroreh! I knew I would love it, but I didn't think it could possibly steal me from my love of that book. Boy was I wrong.
Eirwen is a snarky, sassy, brilliant character with the squishest heart of stone. Florian is the sweetest, kindest, most driven prince with an eternal patience that, to be honest, I envy, lol. The dwarves have been written anew and they shine in a familiar but entirely new glory. And well. I'm not going to spoil anything. But I inhaled this book. Absolutely inhaled it. Take WWII, take traditional fantasy, squish them together, and you birth this beautiful fairytale retelling with all the brilliance of this truly talented author. And don't worry; there are feels galore. ;)
If you like grumpy and sunshine pairings, mate bonds, fairytale retellings, or even just stories about fierce ladies being all kinds of badass, this. THIS. Go read it as soon as you can. Do it.
tl;dr - Take WWII, take traditional fantasy, squish them together, and you birth this beautiful fairytale retelling with all the brilliance of this truly talented author. And don't worry; there are feels galore. ;)
October 5, 2022
Jesikah Sundin is a fantastic story teller! She always has such incredible and rich world building. She makes you fall in love, gives you some mystery and keeps you guessing, breaks your heart and then puts it back together 😆 There IS a HEA. EIRWEN is a fun spin on Snow White that I'm sure you'll enjoy! Jesikah includes a pronunciation guide, glossary, and historical notes for your enjoyment 😁💙
TW: Death of a wild animal (not graphic or even really on page) Otherwise it's a clean read!
💬 Some Quotes:
Winter was in her veins. Mælfallyn felt her daughter’s magic the moment she released her first cry and watched as snowflakes drifted within her quivering breath. Ebony hair as black as raven stone, eyes like burning coals—dark and intense—her skin the palest moon in a midnight sky, with lips the deep red of spilled blood.
.
"Cursed pickaxes, what happened?”
(I always love a fun/silly curse word)
.
Outrage demanded she reject the baked goods in her hand. But resisting desserts wasn’t a strength she had ever possessed.
.
“I will find you, Eirwen Fionn. Then I will kiss you until the world forgets we exist and time only belongs to us.”
“After strudels.”
His gaze caressed her face and he whispered, “After strudels."
TW: Death of a wild animal (not graphic or even really on page) Otherwise it's a clean read!
💬 Some Quotes:
Winter was in her veins. Mælfallyn felt her daughter’s magic the moment she released her first cry and watched as snowflakes drifted within her quivering breath. Ebony hair as black as raven stone, eyes like burning coals—dark and intense—her skin the palest moon in a midnight sky, with lips the deep red of spilled blood.
.
"Cursed pickaxes, what happened?”
(I always love a fun/silly curse word)
.
Outrage demanded she reject the baked goods in her hand. But resisting desserts wasn’t a strength she had ever possessed.
.
“I will find you, Eirwen Fionn. Then I will kiss you until the world forgets we exist and time only belongs to us.”
“After strudels.”
His gaze caressed her face and he whispered, “After strudels."
February 11, 2022
WOW! This spin on a fairytale classic is simply superb. It’s well written, it’s beautifully written and the storyline just draws you in so you never want to leave. The world building is incredible and the story is gripping and full of surprises. The characters are fantastic and our heroine Eirwen is strong, bold, sassy, snarky and is definitely a born leader. It’s an amazing read and one I would definitely recommend!
May 14, 2023
A compelling retelling of Snow White like no other you've seen before.
Jesikah Sundin eloquently tells a fantastic story with great depth, managing to weave historical facts (don't forget to check out the "Historical Notes" part after reading Eirwen's story) with fiction into a beautifully fitting whole. This retelling of Snow White is not just the fairy tale that everyone knows from Disney. It has its own twists, and elements from the Grimm brothers' version are integrated alongside Norse and German mythology. Even though the core of this book is a well-known story, it continues to surprise you at every turn. The subtle omniscient narrator also gives an extra fairy-tale touch to the story.
The world that is created within Ealdspell is very complex and intricate, which gives it a lot of depth. I myself read this book as the first of the series, so I was a bit confused in the beginning by the many names and places that came across. However, this improved throughout the book and made me more curious about Æroreh. Actually, I think this is an advantage, it shows how much time and thought has gone into this series to build such a world. That always gives a book a better chance to appeal to my taste. A lot of attention has also been paid to the characters. They all have strong and admirable personalities, as well as their weaknesses. But this is what makes them who they are, rather than punishing them for it or devaluing them. I think I would argue quite often with Eirwen and her brothers, all those strong characters together, but to read about them I really liked them. Likewise, Florian is a great character (a real cinnamon roll, but only in the best sense of the word), a fine example of how this book is also an argument against toxic masculinity culture. Together with Eirwen of course, who proves several times that a woman can also be fierce and skilful and really stand her ground in a "man's world".
In short, really worth reading. No matter how hard I search, I cannot immediately find a flaw in this book. Maybe just that the large amount of names, places and history (some of which I think come from in Æroreh) are a bit overwhelming at the beginning to be a complete standalone. But nevertheless, this doesn't hinder the rest of the story, and by the end of the book, you're well along with how everything fits together.
(As a Belgian reader, it's also nice to see the occasional sentence in French or German and know what it says without even needing the translation that comes later).
I'm definitely going to start one of her other books soon, because Jesikah Sundin has convinced me with Eirwen that the rest will also be absolutely worth reading.
I received an advanced copy of this book for review.
Jesikah Sundin eloquently tells a fantastic story with great depth, managing to weave historical facts (don't forget to check out the "Historical Notes" part after reading Eirwen's story) with fiction into a beautifully fitting whole. This retelling of Snow White is not just the fairy tale that everyone knows from Disney. It has its own twists, and elements from the Grimm brothers' version are integrated alongside Norse and German mythology. Even though the core of this book is a well-known story, it continues to surprise you at every turn. The subtle omniscient narrator also gives an extra fairy-tale touch to the story.
The world that is created within Ealdspell is very complex and intricate, which gives it a lot of depth. I myself read this book as the first of the series, so I was a bit confused in the beginning by the many names and places that came across. However, this improved throughout the book and made me more curious about Æroreh. Actually, I think this is an advantage, it shows how much time and thought has gone into this series to build such a world. That always gives a book a better chance to appeal to my taste. A lot of attention has also been paid to the characters. They all have strong and admirable personalities, as well as their weaknesses. But this is what makes them who they are, rather than punishing them for it or devaluing them. I think I would argue quite often with Eirwen and her brothers, all those strong characters together, but to read about them I really liked them. Likewise, Florian is a great character (a real cinnamon roll, but only in the best sense of the word), a fine example of how this book is also an argument against toxic masculinity culture. Together with Eirwen of course, who proves several times that a woman can also be fierce and skilful and really stand her ground in a "man's world".
In short, really worth reading. No matter how hard I search, I cannot immediately find a flaw in this book. Maybe just that the large amount of names, places and history (some of which I think come from in Æroreh) are a bit overwhelming at the beginning to be a complete standalone. But nevertheless, this doesn't hinder the rest of the story, and by the end of the book, you're well along with how everything fits together.
(As a Belgian reader, it's also nice to see the occasional sentence in French or German and know what it says without even needing the translation that comes later).
I'm definitely going to start one of her other books soon, because Jesikah Sundin has convinced me with Eirwen that the rest will also be absolutely worth reading.
I received an advanced copy of this book for review.
March 28, 2023
Of Heart and Stone is an enemy to lovers Snow White retelling featuring both technology and faes. It’s also partly a gender swapped version of the story, where the two main characters split aspects of the original character between them.
Set in the mining world of the Dwarfs, this retelling has a badass female heroine and a soft prince. The story gets into the nitty and gritty aspects of mining and drilling, and our female main character Eirwen doesn’t back down from this tough life. She’s the adopted daughter of the dwarfs, and has grown up within the mining world. Although she has a literal heart of stone, she loves and is fiercely protective of her adoptive family. Meanwhile Prince Florian has grown up in the worst toxic masculine world possible, where a boy who loves to bake and can talk to animals is ridiculed for being too “feminine”. I adore him, he’s single handedly fighting against abusive male norms at the court!
The two of them had a nice dynamic between them, but the story never managed to fully capture my attention. Which is a shame since the book tackles subjects of toxic masculinity, the effects of war on ordinary people and exploiting nature resources as well as humans for profit. This book was just more angsty and darker than the first book in this series. Which I know people will love, but unfortunately I’m not one of them. I prefer books with good vibes and sweet romances.
----
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Jesikah Sundin for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the mining world of the Dwarfs, this retelling has a badass female heroine and a soft prince. The story gets into the nitty and gritty aspects of mining and drilling, and our female main character Eirwen doesn’t back down from this tough life. She’s the adopted daughter of the dwarfs, and has grown up within the mining world. Although she has a literal heart of stone, she loves and is fiercely protective of her adoptive family. Meanwhile Prince Florian has grown up in the worst toxic masculine world possible, where a boy who loves to bake and can talk to animals is ridiculed for being too “feminine”. I adore him, he’s single handedly fighting against abusive male norms at the court!
The two of them had a nice dynamic between them, but the story never managed to fully capture my attention. Which is a shame since the book tackles subjects of toxic masculinity, the effects of war on ordinary people and exploiting nature resources as well as humans for profit. This book was just more angsty and darker than the first book in this series. Which I know people will love, but unfortunately I’m not one of them. I prefer books with good vibes and sweet romances.
----
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Jesikah Sundin for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
Let me just start off by saying if you have not read a book by Jesikah Sundin you need too. Her world building skills are absolutely amazing. I’ll say this in every book review for her because I can’t get over it.
Eirwen is a retelling of Snow White with a pretty awesome dystopian fantasy spin to it! I loved that Snow White was fierce and messy instead of this beauty that wore dresses and was so gentle. Florian is a sweet prince that loves to bake and isn’t afraid to cry an I just love the message this book is giving. They’re story is simply wonderful. It’s dark but so sweet an I fell in love with these characters. I looked forward to finding out what was going to happen and to reading this book every day. It drags you in, sends you on this wild adventure, breaks you and then ever so gently puts you back together. I cried through two chapters so hard I could barely read. It took me a while to get through them. The morning after finishing this book I was sad once I remembered the story was over.
Definitely a book I wish I could read again for the first time 💜🤌🏻
January 31, 2022
A classic tale brilliantly reimagined for the modern age...
Eirwen (Snow White) works tirelessly in the mines with her beloved dwarf foster brothers to meet the impossible ore quotas of the oppressive Clifstan king. She knows she's different, from her heart of black stone to her latent magical abilities to the fact that she'd much rather swoon over machinery than males, but she's too busy taking care of her village to worry much about such mysteries. It's not until an outcast Prince Florian stumbles, near death, into their village with a very sexy motobike that her world turns upside down, and she starts to uncover her birthright (and the fact that a heart of stone can, in fact, fall in love).
Eirwen is for anyone who loves fairy tales but can't get over how cringy and out of touch those old stories are. From its gritty industrial aesthetic to its thoughtful and nuanced exploration of gender roles, Eirwen a multi-layered story that surprises and delights.
Eirwen (Snow White) works tirelessly in the mines with her beloved dwarf foster brothers to meet the impossible ore quotas of the oppressive Clifstan king. She knows she's different, from her heart of black stone to her latent magical abilities to the fact that she'd much rather swoon over machinery than males, but she's too busy taking care of her village to worry much about such mysteries. It's not until an outcast Prince Florian stumbles, near death, into their village with a very sexy motobike that her world turns upside down, and she starts to uncover her birthright (and the fact that a heart of stone can, in fact, fall in love).
Eirwen is for anyone who loves fairy tales but can't get over how cringy and out of touch those old stories are. From its gritty industrial aesthetic to its thoughtful and nuanced exploration of gender roles, Eirwen a multi-layered story that surprises and delights.
September 16, 2023
OHaS is a standalone novel but part of a connected series of retellings and is a New Adult Fantasy Romance.
Book Cover: /* - Okiedokie, this book has been through a cover change recently, and when I bought this book it had one of the protagonists centered on the cover, but now it is a important animal in the book. Both are pretty, but I honestly can't figure out a final score for this part of the review, so I'll leave this part be.
Summary/Tagline: 4* - I go back and forth being intrigued by the stone heart thing, but also confused because the book is dual pov, so the synopsis sounds like we are only following one of the protagonists instead of 2. However, still intrigued so let's go.
Characters: 3* - Alrighty, so we follow 2 protagonists, Eirwen, an elf who has the Snow White physical details, is in charge of mining magical ores for the dwarves, is a mechanic, but is also anti dresses, romances, and feminine things in general. To me, she was written to be the I'm not like other girls trope, and to be honest, a lot of that is just hate girlie things now. Florian is the other protagonist, the fourth son to his King, trapped in a family where he is forced to fight, mocked, abused for baking, caring for animals, and not at all willing to kill. The role of Snow White is split in two characters, one who complains about dealing with sexism, but we never see them, and Florian, who's name means flower, is dealing with panic attacks and ptsd. These two are supposed to be love interests for each other, but Eirwen isn't around when he's going through that, and when they are together, it's mostly taunts, taunts,taunts, oogle each other's bodies because Florian is so hot and look at those muscles and Eirwen is beautiful, but terrifyingly or fiercely beautiful, only to go back to taunting each other some more until over halfway into the book. Unfortunately, I didn't buy their romance, especially when the romance focuses only on the physical and rarely, if ever, on the emotional. So, I ended up feeling numb when the 2 are together, unlike Florian though, super nice guy while also trying to figure himself while baking and gaining a friendship with Mogrik and Dalbreath. They are two out of a bunch of side characters in this book. I forgot most of the other names. Florian's family sucks though, just trust me on that. So yeah, moving on.
World Building: 5* - Now, besides the sudden and slightly confusing second Prologue, I found the world and lore unique and I like what the author did by splitting Snow White into two characters and creating a thrilling magic system out of it using Eirwen's stone heart and a interesting idea/use of both Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology, and setting it in WWII like fantasy setting. It was interesting, fun, and unique. The author also chose to use the comb from the original tale! I rarely see people use the comb in a Snow White retelling. I like that lol. However, this book gender essentializes, constantly being reminded who is male and who is female, although it isn't as bad as some books that go as far as female hands and a voice so male, but it was annoying to read nonetheless.
Story: 4* - Okiedokie, I will do my best here. Eirwen has many, MANY foster siblings, but their missing ore quotas for the king which will spell bad things for her town if they can't figure out what to do against the tyrant, slave driving King. Florian is commanded by his father to find someone called the Black Witch and bring her to the castle to find more magical ores for them. Being forced to be proven to be a man, he doesn't question the mission and goes after finding a group to go with him through the Cursed Forest to find her. A traumatic journey later, the two meet, threats were made, even though Florian was ready to die right then and there, they learn that things will get worse and the two must try and work together to save the dwarves, stop Florian's family, while trying not to die by their own family's hands. I went back and forth for not feeling much for a while, and like I said, I never bought the romance in this book, but I really enjoyed following Florian's journey to finally stand up against his family. Afterwards I just wanted to wrap him in a blanket, hold him, and tell him everything will finally be ok. So, yeah.
Over All: 4* - In the end, this story wasn't bad. It was unique and thrilling, and I do wish I liked both protagonists instead of one of them, which is a step up from my last Snow White retelling I read. In the end, I wanna try more books from this author, hopefully I like the other ones more.
Book Cover: /* - Okiedokie, this book has been through a cover change recently, and when I bought this book it had one of the protagonists centered on the cover, but now it is a important animal in the book. Both are pretty, but I honestly can't figure out a final score for this part of the review, so I'll leave this part be.
Summary/Tagline: 4* - I go back and forth being intrigued by the stone heart thing, but also confused because the book is dual pov, so the synopsis sounds like we are only following one of the protagonists instead of 2. However, still intrigued so let's go.
Characters: 3* - Alrighty, so we follow 2 protagonists, Eirwen, an elf who has the Snow White physical details, is in charge of mining magical ores for the dwarves, is a mechanic, but is also anti dresses, romances, and feminine things in general. To me, she was written to be the I'm not like other girls trope, and to be honest, a lot of that is just hate girlie things now. Florian is the other protagonist, the fourth son to his King, trapped in a family where he is forced to fight, mocked, abused for baking, caring for animals, and not at all willing to kill. The role of Snow White is split in two characters, one who complains about dealing with sexism, but we never see them, and Florian, who's name means flower, is dealing with panic attacks and ptsd. These two are supposed to be love interests for each other, but Eirwen isn't around when he's going through that, and when they are together, it's mostly taunts, taunts,taunts, oogle each other's bodies because Florian is so hot and look at those muscles and Eirwen is beautiful, but terrifyingly or fiercely beautiful, only to go back to taunting each other some more until over halfway into the book. Unfortunately, I didn't buy their romance, especially when the romance focuses only on the physical and rarely, if ever, on the emotional. So, I ended up feeling numb when the 2 are together, unlike Florian though, super nice guy while also trying to figure himself while baking and gaining a friendship with Mogrik and Dalbreath. They are two out of a bunch of side characters in this book. I forgot most of the other names. Florian's family sucks though, just trust me on that. So yeah, moving on.
World Building: 5* - Now, besides the sudden and slightly confusing second Prologue, I found the world and lore unique and I like what the author did by splitting Snow White into two characters and creating a thrilling magic system out of it using Eirwen's stone heart and a interesting idea/use of both Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology, and setting it in WWII like fantasy setting. It was interesting, fun, and unique. The author also chose to use the comb from the original tale! I rarely see people use the comb in a Snow White retelling. I like that lol. However, this book gender essentializes, constantly being reminded who is male and who is female, although it isn't as bad as some books that go as far as female hands and a voice so male, but it was annoying to read nonetheless.
Story: 4* - Okiedokie, I will do my best here. Eirwen has many, MANY foster siblings, but their missing ore quotas for the king which will spell bad things for her town if they can't figure out what to do against the tyrant, slave driving King. Florian is commanded by his father to find someone called the Black Witch and bring her to the castle to find more magical ores for them. Being forced to be proven to be a man, he doesn't question the mission and goes after finding a group to go with him through the Cursed Forest to find her. A traumatic journey later, the two meet, threats were made, even though Florian was ready to die right then and there, they learn that things will get worse and the two must try and work together to save the dwarves, stop Florian's family, while trying not to die by their own family's hands. I went back and forth for not feeling much for a while, and like I said, I never bought the romance in this book, but I really enjoyed following Florian's journey to finally stand up against his family. Afterwards I just wanted to wrap him in a blanket, hold him, and tell him everything will finally be ok. So, yeah.
Over All: 4* - In the end, this story wasn't bad. It was unique and thrilling, and I do wish I liked both protagonists instead of one of them, which is a step up from my last Snow White retelling I read. In the end, I wanna try more books from this author, hopefully I like the other ones more.
December 30, 2025
Where do I even begin? This book didn't just live up to its promise it shattered all my expectations and then carefully, beautifully, pieced them back together, much like the journey of its heroine. Jesikah Sundin, you have crafted a masterpiece.
From the moment I met Eirwen Blackvein in her soot-stained mining camp at the edge of the world, I was utterly captivated. The concept of a Snow White retelling where the princess literally has a heart of stone a heart she mines from the very earth to power a war machine is sheer genius. But it’s the execution that left me breathless. This is not a simple fairy tale; it’s a profound exploration of sacrifice, identity, and what it truly means to be human when you are made of something inhuman.
Eirwen is a protagonist for the ages. Her strength isn’t just in her physical resilience, but in her fierce, stubborn loyalty to her found family of miners. Watching her navigate the terrifying revelation of her destiny the lost princess, the destroyer of queens, a living weapon with a heart that cannot feel, yet somehow does… it was a poignant paradox that drove the narrative with relentless emotional force.
And then there is Prince Florian Halivaard. Sundin’s characterization is nothing short of brilliant. He is not a swooning prince of ballads, but a weary, haunted soldier of a Norse-and-WWII-inspired world, burdened by his warmongering family and a fate he never asked for. The faerie prophecy that he would break the heart of stone is the sword of Damocles hanging over every single, exquisite interaction between them. The enemies-to-lovers tension is masterfully calibrated a slow, medium-burn that simmers with shared trauma, reluctant respect, and a devastating sense of inevitable doom. The trope of “he falls first” is delivered with such raw vulnerability in Florian’s silver-eyed gaze; his anguish over his destined role became my anguish.
The world-building is immersive and uniquely textured. Blending fae magic, pagan ritual, and a 1930s-40s aesthetic shouldn’t work, but here it creates a stark, gritty, and utterly believable reality. The Dark Forest feels ancient and sentient, the politics are viciously compelling, and the enchanted black stone (kól) is a plot device that is both a magical MacGuffin and the very core of Eirwen’s soul. The supporting cast from the loyal miners to the promised snarky cat added layers of warmth and humor that perfectly balanced the story’s darker themes.
What impressed me most, however, was how the author took the familiar beats of “fated mates” and “fated to break” and turned them on their head. The question throughout isn’t just will he break her heart, but how and what does “break” even mean when the heart in question is stone? Can it shatter into nothing, or can it be cracked open to let something new grow? The resolution of this central metaphor was so satisfying, so emotionally resonant, that I finished the last chapter with tears in my eyes and a full heart.
Of Heart and Stone is a standalone that feels both complete and tantalizingly connected to a larger, rich world. It is a story about war and peace, destiny and choice, and the revolutionary idea that love might not be about possessing something fragile, but about having the courage to transform something unbreakable.
This is more than a fantasy romance. It is a work of art. To the author: I am in awe. You have not only written a compelling story but forged an experience of heart and, yes, stone one that has permanently etched itself into my own reader’s heart. I will be shouting its praises from the rooftops and diving into the rest of The Ealdspell Cycle immediately.
Bravo.
From the moment I met Eirwen Blackvein in her soot-stained mining camp at the edge of the world, I was utterly captivated. The concept of a Snow White retelling where the princess literally has a heart of stone a heart she mines from the very earth to power a war machine is sheer genius. But it’s the execution that left me breathless. This is not a simple fairy tale; it’s a profound exploration of sacrifice, identity, and what it truly means to be human when you are made of something inhuman.
Eirwen is a protagonist for the ages. Her strength isn’t just in her physical resilience, but in her fierce, stubborn loyalty to her found family of miners. Watching her navigate the terrifying revelation of her destiny the lost princess, the destroyer of queens, a living weapon with a heart that cannot feel, yet somehow does… it was a poignant paradox that drove the narrative with relentless emotional force.
And then there is Prince Florian Halivaard. Sundin’s characterization is nothing short of brilliant. He is not a swooning prince of ballads, but a weary, haunted soldier of a Norse-and-WWII-inspired world, burdened by his warmongering family and a fate he never asked for. The faerie prophecy that he would break the heart of stone is the sword of Damocles hanging over every single, exquisite interaction between them. The enemies-to-lovers tension is masterfully calibrated a slow, medium-burn that simmers with shared trauma, reluctant respect, and a devastating sense of inevitable doom. The trope of “he falls first” is delivered with such raw vulnerability in Florian’s silver-eyed gaze; his anguish over his destined role became my anguish.
The world-building is immersive and uniquely textured. Blending fae magic, pagan ritual, and a 1930s-40s aesthetic shouldn’t work, but here it creates a stark, gritty, and utterly believable reality. The Dark Forest feels ancient and sentient, the politics are viciously compelling, and the enchanted black stone (kól) is a plot device that is both a magical MacGuffin and the very core of Eirwen’s soul. The supporting cast from the loyal miners to the promised snarky cat added layers of warmth and humor that perfectly balanced the story’s darker themes.
What impressed me most, however, was how the author took the familiar beats of “fated mates” and “fated to break” and turned them on their head. The question throughout isn’t just will he break her heart, but how and what does “break” even mean when the heart in question is stone? Can it shatter into nothing, or can it be cracked open to let something new grow? The resolution of this central metaphor was so satisfying, so emotionally resonant, that I finished the last chapter with tears in my eyes and a full heart.
Of Heart and Stone is a standalone that feels both complete and tantalizingly connected to a larger, rich world. It is a story about war and peace, destiny and choice, and the revolutionary idea that love might not be about possessing something fragile, but about having the courage to transform something unbreakable.
This is more than a fantasy romance. It is a work of art. To the author: I am in awe. You have not only written a compelling story but forged an experience of heart and, yes, stone one that has permanently etched itself into my own reader’s heart. I will be shouting its praises from the rooftops and diving into the rest of The Ealdspell Cycle immediately.
Bravo.
July 22, 2023
Second book in her Ealdspell Cycle series which is a Snow White retelling during in what can be described as a WWII setting. The leads tackle stereotypes that can be harmful to ones wellbeing and how to be oneself without being ashamed of it. There is a refreshing take on the Snow White elements that make this standout in the crowd compared to other retellings.
Eirwen is not your typical damsel in distress. She works the mines with her dwarven brothers trying to prove that she is a capable foreman and leader. She much rather go back to being a regular miner and give into her impulses or tinker with machines. But she takes her role as leader serious and refuses to back down to protect those she cares for. But her anger for their position of being under the rule of a totalitarian king makes the magic in blood boil which can cause repercussions if not controlled.
Florian is the youngest prince in the a military style family that is all about showing power and masculinity. He rather spend his days in a kitchen or protecting life instead of taking them. This is seen as weakness and he is mocked his entire life as being less and feminine. In what he knows is a mission that is meant to be his death, he goes out in search of a the legendary Black Witch and told not to come back without her.
After being on this mission and close to death, Florian is discovered by Eirwen and some of her dwarves. He is brought back as a prisoner but they discover there is more in danger than just the collapse of the dwarves and their mines at the hand of the king.
There is so much I love about this book that I have a hard time just talking about one or two things. The side characters just make this story so much better. I love Mo - Happy - he had me laughing several times with his antics. Our Bashful reads romance novels and leaves them laying around everywhere. Lu - Grumpy - is prickly on the outside but, as Eirwen said, such a soft strudel on the inside. I absolutely adored both main leads. Eirwen is all action but can be reasoned with eventually, as Mo likes to say "so angry, so violent". Florian is someone I wanted to wrap in a blanket and tell him nothing is wrong with him. He manages to find himself in a world that tells him he is wrong and I just love that.
Eirwen is not your typical damsel in distress. She works the mines with her dwarven brothers trying to prove that she is a capable foreman and leader. She much rather go back to being a regular miner and give into her impulses or tinker with machines. But she takes her role as leader serious and refuses to back down to protect those she cares for. But her anger for their position of being under the rule of a totalitarian king makes the magic in blood boil which can cause repercussions if not controlled.
Florian is the youngest prince in the a military style family that is all about showing power and masculinity. He rather spend his days in a kitchen or protecting life instead of taking them. This is seen as weakness and he is mocked his entire life as being less and feminine. In what he knows is a mission that is meant to be his death, he goes out in search of a the legendary Black Witch and told not to come back without her.
After being on this mission and close to death, Florian is discovered by Eirwen and some of her dwarves. He is brought back as a prisoner but they discover there is more in danger than just the collapse of the dwarves and their mines at the hand of the king.
There is so much I love about this book that I have a hard time just talking about one or two things. The side characters just make this story so much better. I love Mo - Happy - he had me laughing several times with his antics. Our Bashful reads romance novels and leaves them laying around everywhere. Lu - Grumpy - is prickly on the outside but, as Eirwen said, such a soft strudel on the inside. I absolutely adored both main leads. Eirwen is all action but can be reasoned with eventually, as Mo likes to say "so angry, so violent". Florian is someone I wanted to wrap in a blanket and tell him nothing is wrong with him. He manages to find himself in a world that tells him he is wrong and I just love that.
January 22, 2024
Unfortunetely, Of Heart and Stone turned out to be a letdown for me. It’s the third book by Jesikah Sundin that I’m reading and since I fell in love with her writing style in Bound by Ravens and The Night Market I had very high expectations for this book as well. Sadly, I ended up disappointed. I’m not sure when this was published, so maybe it’s a case of improvement for the author, however, I have to be honest, this story was very mediocre. The idea itself was amazing - the Snow White retellings are not that popular, so it was very refreshing to read something else. The execution was not that good though. The main thing was that the storyline was simply not engaging - for the majority of the book nothing really happened and I found myself bored and uninterested.
Moreover, I was not a fan of the main character. I didn’t dislike her, but I didn’t care for her at all, so it was really hard to root for her. She was very one-dimensional and bland. An entirely different case was her love interest. Florian was the star of this story - he was such a interesting and remarkable character, I could not help but feel for him. He was the total opposite of a typical leading man in a fantasy romance and I loved that. Also, all the family moments with Eirwen’s brothers deserve some recognition, because they were amazing. The way the family is written in that story and how much importance it has was a huge advantage to the book. These were the two things that in the end, saved the book for me. I would still not recommend it, as I didn’t enjoy it for more than half the time, but it wasn’t bad and it’s possible that I will still pick up other books from the series.
Moreover, I was not a fan of the main character. I didn’t dislike her, but I didn’t care for her at all, so it was really hard to root for her. She was very one-dimensional and bland. An entirely different case was her love interest. Florian was the star of this story - he was such a interesting and remarkable character, I could not help but feel for him. He was the total opposite of a typical leading man in a fantasy romance and I loved that. Also, all the family moments with Eirwen’s brothers deserve some recognition, because they were amazing. The way the family is written in that story and how much importance it has was a huge advantage to the book. These were the two things that in the end, saved the book for me. I would still not recommend it, as I didn’t enjoy it for more than half the time, but it wasn’t bad and it’s possible that I will still pick up other books from the series.
February 11, 2025
This series is sheer perfection. I absolutely love this reworking of Snow White that still keeps all the elements of the original Grimm fairytale and some key elements unique to the Disney version, but that manages to twist everything into an entirely new story. In a nutshell, this is "Snow White meets zombie apocalypse" and it's genius.
I love the dystopian world with motorbikes, nanites, and guns, the war setting is well portrayed, and it all comes together so seamlessly with the magic. That is certainly one thing this author achieves flawlessly: blending technology and magic in ways that make for intriguing worlds that are memorable. I cannot get enough of the grittiness of this world and can't wait to get to the next book in the series.
The characters once again stole my heart. I adore Florian and absolutely love Eirwen. They are each perfect in their imperfections, brilliant in their idiocies, and endearing for who they are. I particularly love how both characters end up embodying all that is associated with Snow White in our cultural memory, adding so many layers and additional depth to the tale in this particular reworking. It's brilliant and so very, very different.
I highly recommend this series, and although this story presents a new couple and could be read as a standalone, I certainly advise starting with Of Dreams and Shadow to really get the full scope of this immeasurably interesting world.
I love the dystopian world with motorbikes, nanites, and guns, the war setting is well portrayed, and it all comes together so seamlessly with the magic. That is certainly one thing this author achieves flawlessly: blending technology and magic in ways that make for intriguing worlds that are memorable. I cannot get enough of the grittiness of this world and can't wait to get to the next book in the series.
The characters once again stole my heart. I adore Florian and absolutely love Eirwen. They are each perfect in their imperfections, brilliant in their idiocies, and endearing for who they are. I particularly love how both characters end up embodying all that is associated with Snow White in our cultural memory, adding so many layers and additional depth to the tale in this particular reworking. It's brilliant and so very, very different.
I highly recommend this series, and although this story presents a new couple and could be read as a standalone, I certainly advise starting with Of Dreams and Shadow to really get the full scope of this immeasurably interesting world.
September 20, 2022
Solid retelling with interesting twists
This book came highly recommended to me and it was my first book by this author. I loved the idea this story but the execution was a bit underwhelming for me because of the cumbersome story building. Several main characters have ~3 identifying titles and have convoluted history/heritage that makes it hard to follow at times. I didn't care for Eirwen's character development but Florian was an excellent male lead! Eirwen is often described as "angry and violent" in a book that criticizes those same characteristics in men. I get that she was usually only violent in a half hearted and not mean spirited way, but I found it to be an odd choice given the underlying premise of the book was to dismantle toxic masculinity. She was still written as a sassy and fierce character without those traits, so it wasn't my favorite writing choice.
The story pacing was slow in the beginning but from ~35% on, I had a hard time putting it down because it was an overall interesting retelling and I was curious how it would play out.
It's a sweet, fade to black romance. Mild cursing, but mostly made up fantasy cursing. While the lead couple is straight, there is strong LGBTQ representation throughout.
This book came highly recommended to me and it was my first book by this author. I loved the idea this story but the execution was a bit underwhelming for me because of the cumbersome story building. Several main characters have ~3 identifying titles and have convoluted history/heritage that makes it hard to follow at times. I didn't care for Eirwen's character development but Florian was an excellent male lead! Eirwen is often described as "angry and violent" in a book that criticizes those same characteristics in men. I get that she was usually only violent in a half hearted and not mean spirited way, but I found it to be an odd choice given the underlying premise of the book was to dismantle toxic masculinity. She was still written as a sassy and fierce character without those traits, so it wasn't my favorite writing choice.
The story pacing was slow in the beginning but from ~35% on, I had a hard time putting it down because it was an overall interesting retelling and I was curious how it would play out.
It's a sweet, fade to black romance. Mild cursing, but mostly made up fantasy cursing. While the lead couple is straight, there is strong LGBTQ representation throughout.
January 24, 2024
Almost Perfect
I loved the MMC <3 He was pretty much a Disney Princess and it was awesome. He was such a protective and nurturing sweetheart without being a pushover. He was manipulated and gas lit by his abusive family and we see him struggle to conquer his self doubt. He was basically the whole package.
The FMC, if we are adhering to sunshine/grumpy tropes was definitely the grump in this story. I wish she had more of an arc to manage her anger/magic problems. Idk why not one elf thought to sit her down and give her at least a Magic 101 lesson. Her grumpiness was definitely more endearing in the 2nd half and I grew to like her character for the MMC. I also had to remind myself that she was still young and had been raised amongst "the boys" so I should forgive her for thinking romance and feelings were "yucky". It goes to show that girls are exposed to toxic masculinity too and can deny having so called feminine traits so they are not considered "weak". In reality I don't think these traits are feminine or masculine, just part of being an emotionally mature person.
I did enjoy the bonus love scene from the MMC's point of view and wished it had been included in the main book.
I loved the MMC <3 He was pretty much a Disney Princess and it was awesome. He was such a protective and nurturing sweetheart without being a pushover. He was manipulated and gas lit by his abusive family and we see him struggle to conquer his self doubt. He was basically the whole package.
The FMC, if we are adhering to sunshine/grumpy tropes was definitely the grump in this story. I wish she had more of an arc to manage her anger/magic problems. Idk why not one elf thought to sit her down and give her at least a Magic 101 lesson. Her grumpiness was definitely more endearing in the 2nd half and I grew to like her character for the MMC. I also had to remind myself that she was still young and had been raised amongst "the boys" so I should forgive her for thinking romance and feelings were "yucky". It goes to show that girls are exposed to toxic masculinity too and can deny having so called feminine traits so they are not considered "weak". In reality I don't think these traits are feminine or masculine, just part of being an emotionally mature person.
I did enjoy the bonus love scene from the MMC's point of view and wished it had been included in the main book.
Read
July 12, 2025Not a good look when a book is as tricked out as this one (fancy pages and maps and illustrations galore, and that's not even touching on the different editions) but has typos on the second page of the actual book ("This child will assuredly be weaponize to bend Ealdspell to her will"). Also, while I appreciated the dedication "to the men who bake cookies and grow flowers," the author added commentary about the MMC's girly habits pretty much every time he made an appearance to the point where there was zero subtlety and it became obvious that the author was hammering the point of IT'S OKAY FOR MEN TO BAKE AND GARDEN at every possible opportunity. By trying so hard to fight against gender stereotypes, this book actually reinforced these ideas by overly emphasizing gender roles and how the "world" views them and this didn't let up even on the last few pages of the book. No star rating since I skimmed, but I would strongly recommend that the author focus less on renaming, rebranding, and making fancy editions of these books and more on finding a really good developmental editor and copyeditor.
May 4, 2022
Dreamy and fierce and simply captivating!
Why did I wait so long to read this??!!! If you love fairy tales, dystopian, steampunk, otherworldly places and names AND slow burn enemies to lovers romances... this book is for you! What a fun twist on a old timeless tale... will there be a happy ever after? I won’t ruin it for you, but I will say that I loved how our leading lady is a fierce, tomboy who is a bossy mechanic and loves to tinker. (I’m pretty sure Eirwen is my spirit animal.) And get ready to fall in love with Florian - a prince who is very much all male but can cook and clean and is such a romantic... (swoon)! Jesikah writes such a poetically beautiful, intriguing tale with a million plot twists and manages to include the steaminess factor with elegant fade outs. Just a side note: I accidentally picked up this one first instead of AEROREH (first book in the cycle) - but it didn’t seem to ruin the story for me at all. :)
Why did I wait so long to read this??!!! If you love fairy tales, dystopian, steampunk, otherworldly places and names AND slow burn enemies to lovers romances... this book is for you! What a fun twist on a old timeless tale... will there be a happy ever after? I won’t ruin it for you, but I will say that I loved how our leading lady is a fierce, tomboy who is a bossy mechanic and loves to tinker. (I’m pretty sure Eirwen is my spirit animal.) And get ready to fall in love with Florian - a prince who is very much all male but can cook and clean and is such a romantic... (swoon)! Jesikah writes such a poetically beautiful, intriguing tale with a million plot twists and manages to include the steaminess factor with elegant fade outs. Just a side note: I accidentally picked up this one first instead of AEROREH (first book in the cycle) - but it didn’t seem to ruin the story for me at all. :)
April 2, 2024
Better than the first
This book was way better than the first book of this series. Way less steam punk stuff. I would've given this book a four or five star rating except for the too many gay references. I can take a few here or there, but I felt like it was being forced on me and then the final push over the edge with Ronan and Gedlen. No thanks. I agree that men can be gentle, but that doesn't make them gay. It would've been a great book without that. So, you may like this book more than I did if you like that pushed upon you. I like more freedom to imagine my own fun world with the characters. Again, this book's storyline was way better than the sleeping beauty one. I do appreciate the low spice in this book that was left to my own imagination. I won't read the next book due to the too frequent gay references in this one. Took some of the enjoyment I had from reading this better done storyline.
This book was way better than the first book of this series. Way less steam punk stuff. I would've given this book a four or five star rating except for the too many gay references. I can take a few here or there, but I felt like it was being forced on me and then the final push over the edge with Ronan and Gedlen. No thanks. I agree that men can be gentle, but that doesn't make them gay. It would've been a great book without that. So, you may like this book more than I did if you like that pushed upon you. I like more freedom to imagine my own fun world with the characters. Again, this book's storyline was way better than the sleeping beauty one. I do appreciate the low spice in this book that was left to my own imagination. I won't read the next book due to the too frequent gay references in this one. Took some of the enjoyment I had from reading this better done storyline.
June 9, 2024
After book 1, I had my reservations about this one. I'm so glad I continued the series. I love this book! It was long, but it had time to get the story going and develop the world and characters. Florian was such a nice change of space for a male lead. I love that he was softer and more emotional. He was still a bad ass. I love how the author showed that men should be able to have and show emotions, and it doesn't make them weak. I also love that Eirwen was doing a typically male job. She's strong and sassy, and I love that about her. Honestly, this book was perfect. I love the mix of technology and the "modern" world with fantasy. It all came together perfectly for this story. And Eirwen, being who she was and who she was related to, made it all come together. I can't wait until book 3!! Beauty and the beast is my favorite fairytale and I have high hopes after this book
July 9, 2023
I have fallen in love with the Ealdspell Cycle series by Jesikah Sundin. These are standalone yet connected books that are all fairy tale retellings that feature a different era of history. Jesikah has labeled her stories in this series as mythpunk, and they are so wonderfully weird. I haven’t read anything like it!
Of Heart and Stone is a Snow White retelling set in the 1930s-40s world with WWII vibes. I absolutely loved how the author changed up the stereotypical roles for the characters. Eirwen and Florian are probably my favorite couple in the whole series. Holy-swoon batman, I was completely wrecked! Enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, and found family. I LOOOOOOOVED this book!!!
Of Heart and Stone is a Snow White retelling set in the 1930s-40s world with WWII vibes. I absolutely loved how the author changed up the stereotypical roles for the characters. Eirwen and Florian are probably my favorite couple in the whole series. Holy-swoon batman, I was completely wrecked! Enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, and found family. I LOOOOOOOVED this book!!!
December 3, 2023
This is my second read of the Ealdspell Cycle series by Jesikah Sundin. I am absolutely hooked.
A Snow White retelling in the mist of WW2 ish vibes with pinch of steam punk and the debunking of gender norms. This story has beautiful layering that kept me hooked.
Of Heart and Stone is a Snow White retelling and I adored how the author shook up the typical gendered roles. Who doesn't love a man than can cook?! Eirwen and Florian are our man characters and I love that there differneces compliment each other. A tough women, a gentle soul man, and enemies to lovers. This was action packed and the romance angle had me swooning!
A special thanks to Jesikah Sundin and her team for sending me this story for my honest review!
A Snow White retelling in the mist of WW2 ish vibes with pinch of steam punk and the debunking of gender norms. This story has beautiful layering that kept me hooked.
Of Heart and Stone is a Snow White retelling and I adored how the author shook up the typical gendered roles. Who doesn't love a man than can cook?! Eirwen and Florian are our man characters and I love that there differneces compliment each other. A tough women, a gentle soul man, and enemies to lovers. This was action packed and the romance angle had me swooning!
A special thanks to Jesikah Sundin and her team for sending me this story for my honest review!
January 3, 2026
loved this mythpunk 7 Snow White retelling
I read this book first accidentally and felt like I may have been missing information from the first book, though they’re technically standalones. I was a little confused or lost on the history, magic system, and lore that made a bit more sense once I read all the extra info at the back of the book.
I did very much enjoy this gender-bent-ish retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The 7 dwarves were my favorite but I enjoyed the elven presence as well! Having two foster mothers from different ethnicities? Races? Was quite an interesting concept!
I loved Prince Florian and his growth throughout the story. Mo and his relationship made my heart melt.
I very much enjoyed this book!
I read this book first accidentally and felt like I may have been missing information from the first book, though they’re technically standalones. I was a little confused or lost on the history, magic system, and lore that made a bit more sense once I read all the extra info at the back of the book.
I did very much enjoy this gender-bent-ish retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The 7 dwarves were my favorite but I enjoyed the elven presence as well! Having two foster mothers from different ethnicities? Races? Was quite an interesting concept!
I loved Prince Florian and his growth throughout the story. Mo and his relationship made my heart melt.
I very much enjoyed this book!
February 5, 2022
This book is a great continuation in a fun and creative world that started in the book Æroreh. I loved reading Æroreh, this one however was even better! The dynamic between Eirwen and Florian is magical and getting to know some of the characters from the previous book better was fantastic. I loved the new spin on the dwarves! They all brought so much to the story! The ending was priceless and a magical experience (no spoilers, you’ll just have to find out for yourself!) and I’m looking forward to seeing where my imagination gets transported to next in the next instillation of The Ealdspell Cycle series!
February 9, 2022
Book 2 in the Ealdspell Cycle series.
Do you love fairytale retellings with a twist? If so, then this series is the one for you. Jesikah Sundin's unique interpretation and presentation of the beloved Snow White fairytale provides an intriguing read.
Fae Elemental Magic meets Techno
Hidden Kingdom...Enchantress...Golden Mirror...Prophecy…Faeries
Life Debt...Heart of Stone...Dwarves...Protection...Trust...Mate Bond...Peace…Protection…Love…Beating Heart
I love the interaction between Eirwen and Florian throughout the book. Eirwen has a strong work ethic and continues in her duties in the mine day after day. When Florian arrives in the village, things immediately begin to change. Can Snow White's stone heart become open to love?
Do you love fairytale retellings with a twist? If so, then this series is the one for you. Jesikah Sundin's unique interpretation and presentation of the beloved Snow White fairytale provides an intriguing read.
Fae Elemental Magic meets Techno
Hidden Kingdom...Enchantress...Golden Mirror...Prophecy…Faeries
Life Debt...Heart of Stone...Dwarves...Protection...Trust...Mate Bond...Peace…Protection…Love…Beating Heart
I love the interaction between Eirwen and Florian throughout the book. Eirwen has a strong work ethic and continues in her duties in the mine day after day. When Florian arrives in the village, things immediately begin to change. Can Snow White's stone heart become open to love?
May 3, 2022
This is the first book I read by Jasikah Sundin and it most certainly won’t be my last. I purchased the two books in this standalone series by covers alone. They are so beautiful that it was easy to judge the book by its cover and realized while I read Eirwen that the cover fit the stories perfectly.
.
Jasikah is a marvel. Her words are descriptive and beautiful like The Wrath and The Dawn's writer Renee Ahdieh. Eirwen is a tale in its own realm. The book fascinated me with its world and can't wait to dive into it again and again.
.
5 Stars and a tip of my Nerd Girl hat! I can’t wait to dive into this world again and again!
.
Jasikah is a marvel. Her words are descriptive and beautiful like The Wrath and The Dawn's writer Renee Ahdieh. Eirwen is a tale in its own realm. The book fascinated me with its world and can't wait to dive into it again and again.
.
5 Stars and a tip of my Nerd Girl hat! I can’t wait to dive into this world again and again!
February 12, 2022
Eirwen is a retelling of the fairy tale Snow White, but it's not your normal retelling. Jesikah brings us stories like no other, they pull you in and don't let you go till the end.
I really enjoyed this story, as I do most retellings, but sometimes you read one that just blows your socks off. This one definitely did that for me. I can't wait to see what else Jesikah brings us.
Do you love fairy tales? Do you love mines and dwarves? Well come on in, grab a seat, and get reading!
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this story, as I do most retellings, but sometimes you read one that just blows your socks off. This one definitely did that for me. I can't wait to see what else Jesikah brings us.
Do you love fairy tales? Do you love mines and dwarves? Well come on in, grab a seat, and get reading!
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2022
This is definitely the most unusual version of Snow White that I have read. The characters of Snow White and Prince Florian are flipped in an unforeseen way. Prince Florian overcomes abuse, PTSD, animals love him, and is the most selfless man-my latest book crush! It takes a while to get used to Snow White's dominant personality, but you understand why. Queen Maelfallyn is the most evil villain by far- makes the Disney villains look like pretenders. I love to read Jesikah's historical notes which add a lot to your understanding of the plot details. Please bring on the next book quickly!
May 19, 2022
This book was amazing! A great stand-alone second in the Ealdspell series, Snow White is fair, but she isn't some prissy princess, and her prince may ride in on a shining steed, but he's so beautifully a woodland-creature-attracting, baking, flower-growing man of magic and tenderness as well as strength. You'll want to swoon (Eirwen would say Gross) at that beautiful story of light from darkness and love despite opposition.
December 28, 2022
What an amazing read!
A classic spin on Snow White and the seven dwarves.
Florian is a wonderful young man, and although he gets made fun of by his family, he is who he is and he doesn't shy away from that. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Eirwen is a character all her own. She is witty, funny, straightforward forward, and loves unconditionally. Once she fully understood her feelings toward Florian, there was no turning back.
A classic spin on Snow White and the seven dwarves.
Florian is a wonderful young man, and although he gets made fun of by his family, he is who he is and he doesn't shy away from that. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Eirwen is a character all her own. She is witty, funny, straightforward forward, and loves unconditionally. Once she fully understood her feelings toward Florian, there was no turning back.
May 2, 2023
Though the world-building and storytelling still blew me away, it didn’t quite live up to the first book for me. It was a bit darker for one. And there are a lot of different characters to try to keep up with and some of the connection between the 2 MCs got lost in such a big story. The MCs were still likable and I loved catching up with some of the characters from Ærorah’s story. A great read overall.
February 11, 2022
This was a great dystopia styled snow white retelling. The story is well written and the characters are so diverse and intriguing. The relationship between Eirwen and Prince Florian is beautifully written and the story moves at a great pace. I enjoyed reading this beautiful retelling. I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews