Review: A Dream of Ebony and White by Melanie Cellier

If you’re a fan of Snow White retellings, this one is a must read! Melanie always crafts such clever retellings of our favorite fairy tales that make them feel fresh and new while at the same time feeling comfortingly familiar-and this one is no different!

Snow has always lived under the shadow of her cruel stepmother, with only her beloved father and her childhood friend-the huntsman, Alexander-to make life bearable. When her father dies, she should be crowned queen, but instead she finds herself fleeing for her life. With no allies, no skills, and no food, her future could be over before it has truly begun.

But there’s more at stake than just one life. If Snow can’t claim her throne, her kingdom faces destruction. Snow has to make a choice: focus on her own salvation or put everything on the line-even those she loves the most. And if she’s going to succeed, Snow must fight the hardest battle of all, against her own doubt and weakness, and gain new skills and strength she never imagined possessing.

Alexander is ready to help her. But if she lets him, the consequences might be more than she can bear-because her heart is in as much jeopardy as the kingdom.

In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Snow must find her inner strength in time to fight for her throne before it’s too late.

This one pulled me in very quickly. I was instantly intrigued by Snow’s plight and loved Alexander—her best friend who may only be a lowly huntsman but has a noble heart of gold—right off. I was left on the edge of my seat for the first several chapters. There in the middle I fell into a bit of a lull with it, but if I’d been actually reading the book versus listening to it on Audible (especially since I’ve been binge listening to this entire series) that probably wouldn’t have been the case. Once I got past that point and got really interested in listening to it again, I didn’t want to turn it off and especially enjoyed the entire ending.

I loved the way Melanie retold the Snow White story. It’s been done so many times, but this one didn’t feel redundant or boring. Her different choice of hero, the twist she put on the “seven dwarves”, the political intrigue and action (particularly towards the end), the emphasis on Snow’s mother and her fateful wish for a child-it all combined to make a Snow White story that stands out. It is exciting and action-packed, while still making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It was definitely the most complex, plot-wise, since the first book in the series, A Dance of Silver and Shadow.

If you like fairytale retellings, especially Snow White ones, definitely give this one a try! 5/5 Stars!