Before the Magic Mirror

The Before Fairy Tale Series #3

by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple

All I wanted was to marry my prince.

He was ripped from my arms, married another, and had a child with her.
I threw myself into hobbies – hobbies that I hid from the world.
Witchcraft.
But only white magic. My grandmother’s magic.

And when a new beau enters my life, he managed to sweep me off my feet. Everyone was please with the match – my mother, my father, and my beau.

But it wasn’t enough for me. I had to give my prince one more change. One more. For true love? Who wouldn’t? And this time, I’d turn to any magic, including black magic, to get him back.

And if it turned my heart to ice? So be it. I’d cast any spell, chant any curse, concoct any potion. Anything to become his wife and mother to his fair, black-haired child.

If it all turned out, we would have our own happily ever after.

If.

Discover this Snow White dark fairy tale retelling today!

Something different by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple. Meet the villains in your favorite fairy tales! A fairy tale retelling series full of love, a little magic, a strong sense of history, and powerful characters that we fall in love with, only to hate later on.

Not steamy or with HEA endings, this series paints the fairy tale characters in a new light!

Genres: Retellings

136 pages, ebook

Published October 26, 2021

About the author

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Michelle is an author, college writing professor, mother, and wife living on the west coast. Follow her socials here: https://linktr.ee/mddalrympleauthor

This author also writes as M.D. Dalrymple
and Strawberry Chase

Reviews

[Arin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone that doesn't really like the snow white movie whatsoever I enjoyed this book a lot. I wouldn't mind more chapters to be honest. The author does a great job with these stories they are like a dream come true for me in a way. Because they evil characters have always been some of my favorites in movies so if you feel the same way your like these books too. I like how in this one they show the queen love life and how she does care and want to help people. In a way it kinda reminds of once upon a time time the tv show. I do kinda feel bad for the queen somewhat though out this book and the second guy who tried to win or over. There are a lot of interesting parts in this book that I could say more but I'll let you read and find out for yourself. I will say this though with this take on the story I don't blame the queen for a lot of what she does I think I might have done the same thing if I had to go through some of the things she had to face.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting retelling of Snow White and how the Evil Queen became what she is. The author does a fantastic job painting her scenes and moving the story quickly and smoothly. She had me glued to the pages with all the happenings and the things she does with her dark magic. It's a great Halloween story and I loved reading it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It's an interesting interpretation of what may have happened before the usual Snow White story. The characters, their feelings, and their reactions are believable. It will certainly make you think.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a retelling of Snow White, with a twist. We see how the Evil Queen came to be the way she was. How did she come to have the mirror? A little backstory and another 'side' does make all the difference sometimes.

A wonderful, well written read story for those that love a retelling and/or love those that most love to hate.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jignet · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting retelling. A little darkness can turn a bright girl into a desperate woman.

Actually, this book is well written and well done and has a good story line. I am not a fan of dark magic so am giving it a 1/2 star down. I think it is a good book for those who enjoy a little Halloween spook which is what led me to read it. and hey it was a somewhat fun to break out of my shell. I like this authors Highlander books.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting twist on this story. The good mixed with bad and tragic.
Everybody has own way and rights how to deal with situations. But they can choose wrong, or maybe not.
From nice, sweet girl to demanding woman who will do everything to get her man back.
A little Witch craft could be helpful or hurtful.
Very entertaining and engaging storyline and characters full of drama on their own needs.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I give 4,5 *

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical and witty retelling of an old classic. Interesting characters to follow along in this story. There are lots of twist and turns with plenty of drama. There are also some magical moments as well. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This book has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this book and would read more books by this author. Enjoyable and worth the time. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Snow White retelling, I thoroughly enjoyed going through this story, and it had what I wanted from the a fairy tale retelling. The characters were fun and I enjoyed reading this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[tburbr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
An interesting take on the things that lead to the villain becoming the villain in the classic fairy tales. This was a well written book that kept me reading from start o finish.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cassi Sanchez-Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a retelling of Snow White…with a twist of course! The world building is descriptive and beautiful, the characters are lovable and the author grabs your attention from the very beginning.
I look forward to more from this author!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent imagining of the backstory of the Wicked Queen from Snow White. Be warned - this is not your traditional fairy tale but is something completely different. I have read two books in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed them both. I look forward to reading more in the series.

[Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple]

What happens when the villains in our favorite fairy tales aren't as villainous as we think? What happened before the happily ever after?

Book 2 in the Before . . . series -- Before the Magic Mirror releases soon. Start this fantastical series today!




If it all turned out, we would have our own happily ever after.

If.

Discover this Snow White dark fairy tale retelling today!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new twist on a fairy tale. Loved the magic and suspense each time Adalee used magic. I enjoyed this magical story of love between a young girl and a prince. And of patience lost & of greed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michael Alton · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you want to read about the darker part of Disney this book is for you. Great job.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, a brilliant retelling that I really enjoyed and thought really put a different spin on characters that I generally loved before. It was really engaging and a fast read

[Heatherly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story before the Evil Queen.

How her true love was stolen from her and the determination she had to get him back. However, she would use the magic passed down from her grandmother to regain his love. Although, her grandmother warned her about dark magic, her love for the Prince was too strong to avoid. After losing him to another and having a child she ventured into the dark side of magic. After the death of the Queen, her spell finally brought the King back to her. Although, one person still stood in the way of having the King all to herself like it was when they were young. She wants to send Sella "Snow White" away to boarding school but out of anger Sella runs off into the woods. The Queen hires the Huntsman to go looking for the girl, but he returns with "her heart" in a box and gives it to the King. From here we know how the story goes from the Disney Classic Snow White.

I gave this book 4 stars. I love a good "before" or "after" story that displays events that the movies do not show. However, I have enjoyed some of the other books by this author more so.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book I've read written by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is part of the Before Fairy Tale Series; it is a stand-alone short story. The story is about how the evil queen of Snow White became so evil. She’s ln love with the prince but he is stolen from her, married another and had a baby. She use magic to try to win him back.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Different

This story is very different from the traditional Show White and other retellings. With the focus on Werner and his new Queen, and all she experienced in her past before marrying Werner, she becomes a character that in not the hateful Evil Queen. Although you may have more questions when the story ends, that doesn't take away from the story that is told.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the kingdom of Valais and narrated by Adalee von Gueff, Deerwester-Dalrymple’s fantasy provides a back story for Snow White’s Evil Queen.

[Kristie L Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books from the villain's perspective. On to the next one!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the ending I expected but it was very good.

[Susanne Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil Queen from Snow White's story 🖤

[Chrystal Checketts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying reading this series. These stories give you such a great understanding of how a series of events can make anyone a villain.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love retellings! Especially when it comes to the villains of a story. It's not just a retelling but an origin story, too.

This one is about the Evil Queen from Snow White. It's an interesting twist to the story, and i really liked it! It's about what was taken from her, what she was willing to do to get it back, and what happened in between that caused her to go down the dark path of a villain.

But I also felt like Adalee was like a stubborn child who doesn't give in until she gets what she wants. It was just the way she acted about some things that I didn't like. That's why I gave this 4 stars.

If you like retellings and villain origin stories, I recommend this one!