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Ebony
In this Snow White retelling, the Evil Queen takes center stage.
As the illegitimate daughter of the Southern King, sixteen-year-old Princess Ebony can never inherit her father's throne. In a world of brown-eyed people, her blue eyes show her true heritage - the daughter of an evil enchantress from the Other kingdom. It doesn't matter that Ebony refuses to embrace the tainted magic in her blood. Only Prince Onyx of the Western Kingdom seems able to look past her strange eyes and see who she really is. But when Onyx's heart is captured by the lovely Northern Princess, Ebony will go to any lengths to get him back. Even if it means turning to magic and risking becoming the very thing she hates.
As the illegitimate daughter of the Southern King, sixteen-year-old Princess Ebony can never inherit her father's throne. In a world of brown-eyed people, her blue eyes show her true heritage - the daughter of an evil enchantress from the Other kingdom. It doesn't matter that Ebony refuses to embrace the tainted magic in her blood. Only Prince Onyx of the Western Kingdom seems able to look past her strange eyes and see who she really is. But when Onyx's heart is captured by the lovely Northern Princess, Ebony will go to any lengths to get him back. Even if it means turning to magic and risking becoming the very thing she hates.
- GenresFantasy
158 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2022
4 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Izi Miller
52 books25 followersIzi Miller has a bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University. She loves going on adventures with her husband, eating ice cream, cuddling with her black cats, decorating cakes, making paper flowers, and re-reading Harry Potter.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 21, 2023
4.5. This blew me away!!!
I read this through an audiobook.
I was provided an audio copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I love a good retelling, and this one did not disappoint. It isn’t often that I find a retelling of a fairytale from the villain's perspective (please drop any recs for books like these in the comments) and I absolutely loved it. Seeing her grow from ignored child to lovesick teen to vengeful queen was enthralling. The story flowed very well, relying on flashbacks to inform us of how Ebony got to where she was. The plot twists made me audibly gasp– I honestly did not see many of them coming, and y’all know how I am with plot twist. Overall, I would recommend this one to fans of fantasy and retellings.
Rating: 4.5/5
I read this through an audiobook.
I was provided an audio copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I love a good retelling, and this one did not disappoint. It isn’t often that I find a retelling of a fairytale from the villain's perspective (please drop any recs for books like these in the comments) and I absolutely loved it. Seeing her grow from ignored child to lovesick teen to vengeful queen was enthralling. The story flowed very well, relying on flashbacks to inform us of how Ebony got to where she was. The plot twists made me audibly gasp– I honestly did not see many of them coming, and y’all know how I am with plot twist. Overall, I would recommend this one to fans of fantasy and retellings.
Rating: 4.5/5
January 14, 2022
What if the Evil Queen wasn't just Snow White's step mother but... Her contemporary?! OK, so maybe you've read anti-hero stories where the Evil Queen isn't evil, but I've never come across one quite like this before. The only problem? It should have been longer to develop more, but if you like yourself a quick fairy tale inspired read where princesses aren't picture-perfect and handsome princes not all they've cracked up to be, you've come to the right place.
Instead of focusing in on the character of Snow White, we're with Princess Ebony of the Southern Kingdom as she recounts events leading up to her 18th birthday, which will prove to be an eventful day. An outcast socially since she was born with the blue eyes associated with the enchatresses of the mysterious "Other Kingdom", Ebony is shunned by all including her own father and absent mother. Her only companion is Prince Onyx, and over time they've grown close. But when disaster strikes the nearby Northern Kingdom and Onyx cuts himself off from her, Ebony can't stand the idea that she's lost the only person that ever mattered to her. She's determined to get his love back, whatever the cost...
The story starts with dual timelines and uses them to distractingly good effect. It hops between the now - a pensive Ebony reflecting on everything wrong with her life - and back when she and Onyx started to become "a thing". Sometimes this can be a confusing plot device, but here it only serves to build tension. What's happening to Ebony now? How did she and Onyx come together and fall apart? It dangles those answers just out of reach in a way that'll have you turning those pages.
Narrated in first person, it makes the teenage Ebony more relatable. She's not good or evil; just a hurt girl with some more magical means available to her when it comes to her problems. Which, naturally, she's terrible at solving due to her warring emotions of wanting to be selfish, but also not wanting to destroy others because of her desires. You wanted a strong but flawed leading lady who isn't totally unbelievable one way or the other? You got one.
While it seems like it's going to be a basic magical castles-and-witches type fantasy setup, there's some really imaginative twists to how this world's magic works with the fairy tale. "Bring me her heart" has a very different (and non-anatomical) meaning. There's also a clever twist to how fairy tales have been blended together to create a different plot while retaining just enough of the original to be recognisable.
A couple of things did have me pausing for a moment (lack of description, inconsistencies, or strange world building things that didn't feel foreshadowed or developed ) but most of it can be put down to this being a novella. I honestly wish it could be more fleshed out because it was such an interesting fantasy world that I'd have loved to have felt more immersed in.
Overall it was a surprising and gripping YA fantasy read that plays with your expectations while never laying it on too thick with the romance or the darkness. I loved the twist at the end, and the epilogue was just so different to what I was expecting it actually gave me reason to smile.
If you like novellas, messy fairy tales, and flawed YA leads, pick this one up!
Instead of focusing in on the character of Snow White, we're with Princess Ebony of the Southern Kingdom as she recounts events leading up to her 18th birthday, which will prove to be an eventful day. An outcast socially since she was born with the blue eyes associated with the enchatresses of the mysterious "Other Kingdom", Ebony is shunned by all including her own father and absent mother. Her only companion is Prince Onyx, and over time they've grown close. But when disaster strikes the nearby Northern Kingdom and Onyx cuts himself off from her, Ebony can't stand the idea that she's lost the only person that ever mattered to her. She's determined to get his love back, whatever the cost...
The story starts with dual timelines and uses them to distractingly good effect. It hops between the now - a pensive Ebony reflecting on everything wrong with her life - and back when she and Onyx started to become "a thing". Sometimes this can be a confusing plot device, but here it only serves to build tension. What's happening to Ebony now? How did she and Onyx come together and fall apart? It dangles those answers just out of reach in a way that'll have you turning those pages.
Narrated in first person, it makes the teenage Ebony more relatable. She's not good or evil; just a hurt girl with some more magical means available to her when it comes to her problems. Which, naturally, she's terrible at solving due to her warring emotions of wanting to be selfish, but also not wanting to destroy others because of her desires. You wanted a strong but flawed leading lady who isn't totally unbelievable one way or the other? You got one.
While it seems like it's going to be a basic magical castles-and-witches type fantasy setup, there's some really imaginative twists to how this world's magic works with the fairy tale. "Bring me her heart" has a very different (and non-anatomical) meaning. There's also a clever twist to how fairy tales have been blended together to create a different plot while retaining just enough of the original to be recognisable.
A couple of things did have me pausing for a moment (lack of description, inconsistencies, or strange world building things that didn't feel foreshadowed or developed ) but most of it can be put down to this being a novella. I honestly wish it could be more fleshed out because it was such an interesting fantasy world that I'd have loved to have felt more immersed in.
Overall it was a surprising and gripping YA fantasy read that plays with your expectations while never laying it on too thick with the romance or the darkness. I loved the twist at the end, and the epilogue was just so different to what I was expecting it actually gave me reason to smile.
If you like novellas, messy fairy tales, and flawed YA leads, pick this one up!
May 8, 2022
Once Upon A Time meets Christo’s To Kill A Kingdom, a fabulous Evil Queen villain story
I loved this amazing Snow White retelling told from the POV of the Evil Queen. Fresh, creative, fast-paced, twisted - everything I love!
The shocking beginning reminded me of Christo’s To Kill A Kingdom while the rest of the story is for fans of Once Upon A Time. A rather convincing story that will have you rooting for the villain while the usual goody isn’t turned bad either, so double whoop!
Princess Ebony is the illegitimate daughter of the Southern King. When Western prince Onyx, her childhood friend proposes to court her she is ecstatic. In a year at the annual Northern Ball, Onyx is expected to propose, except this is also the coming-out-ball for Snow, the Northern King’s daughter…and the plot thickens…
The story weaves between past and present from the POV of Ebony. This is a prequel to Snow White (and another fairytale, but read it yourself to catch which one) and it is about how Evil Queens are made, not born.
Quite an interesting explanation behind heterochromia and for the true intention behind “bring me her heart” plus a few other sayings have been reimagined.😉 And I do agree, rhymes are the language of mirrors.
Definitely and underhyped book. Recommended for fans of Once Upon A Time, retold fairytales, villains to heroes and coming of age stories, easy fast-paced YA reads and HEAs. I will definitely be looking out for this indie/hybrid author in the future.
I loved this amazing Snow White retelling told from the POV of the Evil Queen. Fresh, creative, fast-paced, twisted - everything I love!
The shocking beginning reminded me of Christo’s To Kill A Kingdom while the rest of the story is for fans of Once Upon A Time. A rather convincing story that will have you rooting for the villain while the usual goody isn’t turned bad either, so double whoop!
Princess Ebony is the illegitimate daughter of the Southern King. When Western prince Onyx, her childhood friend proposes to court her she is ecstatic. In a year at the annual Northern Ball, Onyx is expected to propose, except this is also the coming-out-ball for Snow, the Northern King’s daughter…and the plot thickens…
The story weaves between past and present from the POV of Ebony. This is a prequel to Snow White (and another fairytale, but read it yourself to catch which one) and it is about how Evil Queens are made, not born.
Quite an interesting explanation behind heterochromia and for the true intention behind “bring me her heart” plus a few other sayings have been reimagined.😉 And I do agree, rhymes are the language of mirrors.
Definitely and underhyped book. Recommended for fans of Once Upon A Time, retold fairytales, villains to heroes and coming of age stories, easy fast-paced YA reads and HEAs. I will definitely be looking out for this indie/hybrid author in the future.
March 4, 2023
~AUDIO REVIEW~
What a great story! It drove me crazy (in a good way) that the story kept going back and forth in time. Just as I thought the 18th year of the story would keep telling more… BAM… it would jump back to the 17th year making me want to throw my phone. I so badly wanted to know the ending. I craved to know.
This story tells about Ebony’s few years of life from right before her 18th birthday to right after. The girl with the blue eyes… I found this story very engaging and though short I was captivated the entire time. I’d love to read/listen to more from Izi Miller.
Victoria Connolly did an amazing job. At first, I thought I would have to speed up the narration a tad bit, but once I got the tone of the story, I found Victoria portrayed the tone and characters very well. I was able to feel all the sorrow and deep pain, the hope, and even the little bit of happiness when there was some. Her voice was clear and I found it really nice to listen to. I honestly don’t listen to many female narrators, but I will definitely be listening to more of Victoria Connolly.
What a great story! It drove me crazy (in a good way) that the story kept going back and forth in time. Just as I thought the 18th year of the story would keep telling more… BAM… it would jump back to the 17th year making me want to throw my phone. I so badly wanted to know the ending. I craved to know.
This story tells about Ebony’s few years of life from right before her 18th birthday to right after. The girl with the blue eyes… I found this story very engaging and though short I was captivated the entire time. I’d love to read/listen to more from Izi Miller.
Victoria Connolly did an amazing job. At first, I thought I would have to speed up the narration a tad bit, but once I got the tone of the story, I found Victoria portrayed the tone and characters very well. I was able to feel all the sorrow and deep pain, the hope, and even the little bit of happiness when there was some. Her voice was clear and I found it really nice to listen to. I honestly don’t listen to many female narrators, but I will definitely be listening to more of Victoria Connolly.
May 11, 2023
I’m a little torn on where to land on stars. Overall I loved the plot. It’s a unique view in a fairytale retelling, and has elements I haven’t seen. Buutttttt…. Let’s talk about Ebony. She got the short end of the stick, she really did but did she have to be so whiny? There are a few section if I were to listen to this book over I would skip. There’s also a few spots of just best you down repetitiveness that I physically yelled at the book. “We get it already”. This isn’t a fairy tale happily ever after fairy tale. It’s unique and not all ends with hearts and flowers so it can be a nice change of pace. If physical abuse is a trigger I would be aware this book contains a few instances. The narrator did well and I would listen to her again
January 26, 2022
Couldn't put this story down
This is a new perspective of the Snow White fairytale. Not at all what I expected and I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that it is gripping with action and emotion till the very end.
This is a new perspective of the Snow White fairytale. Not at all what I expected and I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that it is gripping with action and emotion till the very end.
October 23, 2023
What a fabulous little origin story! I absolutely loved it, especially tying it into Rose Red and Sleeping Beauty. So brilliant!
August 26, 2023
Princess Ebony isn't like anyone else in her kingdom, and because of her illegitimacy, she is unable to inherit the throne. Despised by her father, she is desperate for love.
What a cool Snow White retelling! This is a nice quick novel and thoroughly enjoyable. Ebony lives a tough life despite being a princess and no one likes her. I could feel her anguish in the author's words as she moves through the world and trying to find where she fits in. I loved the magic involved and the complexity of how Ebony learned it. The twist on the "mirror mirror on the wall" was excellent and a core part of the story. Overall a very enjoyable read!
Thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted copy. This review is my own.
What a cool Snow White retelling! This is a nice quick novel and thoroughly enjoyable. Ebony lives a tough life despite being a princess and no one likes her. I could feel her anguish in the author's words as she moves through the world and trying to find where she fits in. I loved the magic involved and the complexity of how Ebony learned it. The twist on the "mirror mirror on the wall" was excellent and a core part of the story. Overall a very enjoyable read!
Thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted copy. This review is my own.
August 10, 2023
Ebony by Izi Miller
Narrated by Victoria Connolly
If you watched the Once Upon a Time TV series and loved Regina Mills backstory you would be a fan of this snow white retelling. The story is very short so it might be considered a novella. I was so frustrated with the main characters actions throughout the story but thats also what makes for good stories. I kept thinking Why doesnt she move on from onyx? But weve all been there. Just not the murder part. The romance is just courting and a little flirtation but thats about it so its very PG if thats what you’re looking for.
The audiobook is super short and I really liked the narrator, however their pacing was way too slow for me. I had to put it to 1.5x speed. I received this audiobook free as an advanced reader copy to review.
Narrated by Victoria Connolly
If you watched the Once Upon a Time TV series and loved Regina Mills backstory you would be a fan of this snow white retelling. The story is very short so it might be considered a novella. I was so frustrated with the main characters actions throughout the story but thats also what makes for good stories. I kept thinking Why doesnt she move on from onyx? But weve all been there. Just not the murder part. The romance is just courting and a little flirtation but thats about it so its very PG if thats what you’re looking for.
The audiobook is super short and I really liked the narrator, however their pacing was way too slow for me. I had to put it to 1.5x speed. I received this audiobook free as an advanced reader copy to review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews