This is an adult story told in fairy tale style, with an entire village under the patriarchal control of the Elders where strangers are rebuffed, superstitions rule and traditions simply must be followed. Edith lives with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher, a powerful, tyrannical, alpha male who is old enough to be her grandfather. She, however, loves the shepherd who visited the village and who has promised to return to marry her. As snow falls, Edith becomes mute and life for her and the whole community is about to change for them all.

This is a story of the abuse of power by a few who subjugate others. It is about rebellion, women learning to fight back, empowering each other to make changes for them all. It is a magical read with love, loss, grief, inspiration and even murder interwoven together to make a very different read.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have read voluntarily and honestly reviewed.

What a complete treat reading The Snow Song was! I didn’t know much about it before I began and it’s lyrical, fairy-tale quality was exactly what I needed right now. A story that flits between the lines of reality and has a healthy amount of superstitions, ghosts and fables was perfect for me. Total escapism wrapped up in a beautiful writing.

I was going through a little reading slump when I picked up The Snow Song and it helped me kick that as I was immediately enchanted by it. A story about the power of stories. And the power of love.

It effortlessly mixes other-worldly fairy tale elements with a setting in vague reality – a remote, small village in an unnamed country, in an unnamed year. Being so indistinct about the place really worked to add to the ethereal atmosphere.

Edith, daughter of the cabinet-maker, falls in love with a shepherd, Demetrius. But he is a stranger, the villagers distrust him for that reason. The unofficial leader of the village, the butcher wants to marry Edith (despite being wildly older than her), so he decrees that if Demetrius doesn’t return from looking after his sheep by the first snowfall, Edith must marry him (the butcher).

The story follows Edith as she waits for Demetrius’ return, and does what she has to to survive. No spoilers from me, but there are twists and shocks in this brilliant page-turning tale.

Edith’s grandmother was a famous storyteller and Edith has the gift of story weaving too. Many fables are entwined through the book and I loved this. It leant a poetic edge to the whole tone:

This was the snow song that storytellers of old had spoken of. Her grandmother had said that those who were innocent thought it was the music of the heavens, those who were guilty heard the devil’s pots and pans falling.

The Snow Song is a fantastic feminist fairy-tale. Edith is such a strong woman. She lives in a time when superstition is king and women have no power. Any out-of-the-ordinary behaviour (such as having an independent thought) can be attributed to superstition and evil in order to keep women in their place. Edith, along with a few other village women, rebel against this and this is what gives the story its heart and passion.

Note how many of the men though, do not get a name: the butcher, the cabinet maker, the cobbler are only referred to by their jobs, the women all have names.

Unexpectedly darker than I first thought it was going to be, The Snow Song addresses some serious themes; paying homage to the often very sinister fairytales it mimics. In some ways, this book reminded me of Jess Kidd, an author I love who also merges reality with other worldly, for exceptionally enjoyable results. A unique, engrossing, beautiful book, add The Snow Song to your winter reading list.

This is a beautifully written, bittersweet fairy tale for adults.  A very quick read but the story is incredibly moving and powerful and will stay with me for a long time.  Highly recommended.

What a beautiful enchanting bittersweet story. I got totally lost in it and kept itching to get back to it.

The book is about a girl who falls in love with a shepherd that is a stranger in her little village. The village people don’t like strangers and they are subject to tradition and superstition. They are also basically held hostage by the bully of a butcher who has everyone in his pocket. Even though Edith loves the shepherd, her alcoholic father tries to force her to marry the butcher. In a storm of heartbreak, she loses her voice but gains a tower of strength in the process helping her to stand up to the patriarchy even as her hands are tied.

I love books about feminism and this explores several strands and storylines about women fighting oppression and finding their own voices both literally and metaphorically. Woven between that is the lyrical story of love, sisterhood, friendship, as well as magic and fairytales. There are also very dark and violent subplots but I think they are handled sensitively and don’t feel gratuitous. It is a love story but also a story about loving and standing up for yourself. 

Highly recommended 4.2/5

My thanks to HQ for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Snow Song’ by Sally Gardner in exchange for an honest review.

In the past I have enjoyed a number of Sally Gardner’s books, including those written under her pen-name, Wray Delaney. This latest one was pure enchantment, beautifully written with a moving love story at its heart. 

‘The Snow Song’ is set some time in the past in a village perched on a mountain in a land of ancient forests; likely Transylvania given the landscape and its local legends of the bloodless that come back from the dead. The village is run by the elders, men to whom tradition is all.

Edith lives with her alcoholic father, who is determined that she will marry the powerful village butcher, a man old enough to be her grandfather. Yet Edith is in love with Demetrius, a shepherd, who is considered an unsuitable suitor as he is an outsider. Demetrius leaves the village to tend to his flock and in his absence Edith’s father forces her to sign an oath that if Demetrius doesn’t return by the first snowfall that she’ll marry the butcher. 

Oh dear! How far will the butcher go to secure Edith as his bride? Will the women of the village ever free themselves from the oppressive yoke of the patriarchal elders? 

There is a powerful fairytale ambiance to this novel and a number of folk tales are interwoven into the narrative. This was an exquisitely crafted novel, a truly magical love story that is sad yet hopeful. While not quite fantasy, there are elements of folklore and magical realism found throughout.

Overall, an ideal winter tale that I adored and highly recommend.

A magical fairytale of the strength of women in a society that oppresses them. This tells the story of Edith, who is being forced to marry the village butcher, a tyrannical brutish man who rules the village with fear. Edith is actually in love with a shepherd and his beautiful music played on a magical violin, but facing opposition from her father and the village Elders, she has a fight on her hands. 
The writing is beautifully descriptive, with the harshness of Winter on the mountain a great parallel with the cruel treatment of the women ignored in the village by the Elders. I loved how Sally Gardner uses the job titles of the male characters rather than naming them, with the exception of Misha and Dementrius, to de-humanise them, and the loss of Edith's speech only adds to the enchantment.
A wonderfully Wintery story full of magic and wonder.

‘Snow Song’ tells the story of Edith, a young woman who one day finds herself drawn to the sound of a violin, meets Demetrius, a shepherd and an outsider of the town.

Edith and Demetrius soon find themselves falling in love but they find their relationship frowned upon by the town’s folks.  Edith has also been set up to marry the town’s butcher, a wealthy man who has power within the town but Edith is determined to marry the one she loves.  Sadly things don’t go to plan when Demetrius goes missing and is presumed dead and Edith is forced to carry on with the proceedings.

However, when the first snow begins to falls, Edith who is now heartbroken, loses her voice and suddenly finds her hair turning white like the snow.

Things soon start to go wrong around town and Edith who is unable to speak for herself is accused of been cursed.  With the wedding coming up, she soon finds herself fighting against the town elders and the ones she loves.

I loved everything about this story, from the characters she had created to the setting of the book.  I also loved how Edith proves herself to be a character to be reckoned with.

The story is beautifully described, I loved the winter feel to the story and I got a real feel for the world that the author had created.

It’s a touching and powerful read that will stay with you for a long time after.

I’d highly recommend this book if you’re a lover of fairy tales and is a perfect read for this time of year.

‘Snow Song’ is a magical and beautifully enchanting fairy tale.

I have never read a book by Sally Gardner before but now when I need a little sprinkling of magic here is an author I will turn to! 

The Snow Song is exactly what an adult fairy tale/ fable should be! A perfect blend of superstition, love and villains! Reading this book I was whisked away into an intriguing place, a village dominated by the butcher, male elders and patriarchal traditions. 

Our main character is Edith, the daughter of an alcoholic cabinet maker. Forced into a life changing deal if her true love does not return by the time the first snowflakes fall she must marry the butcher! Now the tale begins in earnest, Edith is more powerful than she knows and this journey brings out the strength she holds inside.

The Snow Song identifies how powerful our words are, especially when none are said at all. Each character the book have their own sorry tale to tell. Feminism is key theme throughout, prepare to feel empowered and ready to take on the world! 

The imagery and language used kept me eagerly reading on and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. I can not recommend this book enough if you enjoy authors such as Katherine Arden, Michelle Paver and Stacey Halls. A perfect book for a winters day! 4/5 stars from me! 

Thank you @netgalley and @hqstories for a free copy in exchange of an honest review Xxx

A magical read with some very dark shadows. A fairytale but along the lines of Brothers Grimm rather than Disney. 

That cover is stunning!

Poor Edith! She wants to marry one man but the local village where she lives is fearful of outsiders. The traditions of where she lives are restrictive and as she tries to fight for what she wants, It was interesting to see the town and how it was so old fashioned compared to what women like Edith wanted. The town is not what it seems and this is definitely no fairy tale setting. Those living there, especially the women are not happy. This town is one of secrets.

A novel quite like any other I have read in some time.

Overall, the plot is pacey and magical, the words expressive and the characters fully realised. Gardner's new work absolutely lives up to the standard of her previous books. I look forward to reading her book with my students once again!

"The Snow Song" is an absolutely beautiful story. I finished reading this with a clearer understanding of inner strength and the almost constant search some of us have to find out who we are. I may even be a better person for having this "song" residing in my head. For a book of less than 400 pages (though it feels far shorter), the growth of the characters is astonishing. The story itself is simple, which really allows it to shine. The writing is beautiful too. This book should be recommended or gifted to anyone you know who might be struggling. I really think it will help.
 
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

The Snow Song - Sally Gardner

"Edith lives alone with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher. But she is in love with a shepherd who promised to return to her. As the village becomes isolated in a sea of snow, Edith loses her power of speech"

I was immediately drawn to this book by its stunning cover and not really knowing much more about it, however there is such a mixture of darkness and magic within that it takes you to another world. With aspects such as Edith's hair turning white and her losing her voice, it feels other-worldly. The setting in the magical white snow, feels perfect for a fairy tale like read. It really is beautifully written and I think it would be an excellent book for all ages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers for allowing me the chance to enjoy and review this book!

A balance of darkness and love, the snow song is a modern fairytale which would be perfect to curl up and read in the midst of winter. 
Following the young protagonist Edith as she navigates love and finding your own path as a woman in a very traditional male dominated society, it is a beautifully written story of feminism and endurance. 
I went into this book without knowing what to expect and it is outside my usual which would be fantasy but was so pleasantly surprised. The characters drew me in, and the scenery with its hint of winter, snowy mystique kept me there.

The Snow Song is an absolutely beautiful fairytale for adults, and a perfect winter read if you are prepared for some hopeful sorrow and deep injustices. It's left me with an impression which will stay long after the final page. 

Edith meets and falls in love with Demetrius, a shepherd who is an outsider to her rural mountain village. The villagers refuse to accept that Edith will marry Demetrius, who they accuse of being a gypsy. Especially because the butcher, a powerful man who most are indebted to, is determined to marry Edith himself. When winter falls, and Edith still waits for Demetrius to return with his sheep, Edith’s father promises his daughter to the butcher. Mourning the loss of her true love, powerless in the face of marrying a monster old enough to be her grandparent, and trapped in the village by snow, Edith’s hair turns white, and from that day she no longer speaks. 

The story itself is quite simple, in the style of a traditional fairytale, and it is powerful for this simplicity. It is dark but not bleak. For readers who cry, I suggest keeping some tissues handy. There are several secondary characters whose stories weave together with Edith's. An echo runs through each, and these threads work together to make the overarching tale even more powerful. Some characters seem unpleasant at first, but as their truths unfold you understand why they act the way they do. This is a compassionate story, and a deep dive into the human psyche. It also shows how one person can take hold of a community and become a nucleus of unhappiness and hate. 

This is a song of inequality and prejudice, a loss of voice even when words are available. It is a tale of a world where the women have no choice but to comply and keep quiet, outsiders or anyone who questions tradition are shunned, and most submit to established hierarchy. Each character is powerless or held ransom in a different way. Some of their situations made me so angry at the injustice, and desperate for things to get better for them.  

It is also a song of hope and resilience. A song of someone who knows that spring will melt the snow drifts into mountain streams, and bring her love back, whether he is dead or alive. Edith holds on to her love for Demetrius, and no one--not even the butcher--can take that away from her.

I can’t begin to describe how emotional I was reading The Snow Song. A book of this simplicity captured me completely. Of course, under all the layers, it is not simple at all. It is beautifully crafted.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone looking for a powerful winter read, enjoys the magic of fairytales, and wants to see a new but traditional take on the form. 

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for providing an Advance Review Copy, which I have reviewed voluntarily and based on my own opinion.

Beautiful written, imaginative fairy tale.  Delivers powerful message about the strength of women driven by guilt, love and defiance.

Edith’s heart is cracked and her voice silenced under the strain of a catastrophe.   Her fate is linked to the bitter alpha male who has the whole village under his thumb and is determined that he will control Edith, no matter what.  But if Edith can stand her ground, maybe others can too.  

An eloquent fairytale for adults that weaves female empowerment through the rich mystical and magical heritage of fables.   Edith was an interesting character who showed that you can make a change in the world by inspiring others through your actions and reactions. 
       
The cover design is stunning and lured me into Edith’s world.

Having previously read and enjoyed Sally Gardner's 'The Red Necklace' and 'Tinder' with my students, I was excited to read her latest novel 'The Snow Song'. It certainly did not disappoint. As I had come to expect with Gardner's works, the story she weaves here is both lyrical and magical but laced with a hard edge of darkness.

The novel follows the protagonist Edith and the citizens of the town in which she lives, their home perched in the mountains away from civilisation. At the opening, she meets Demetrius, a shepherd, and they fall in love. However, their love, between a towns-person and an outsider, is frowned upon by the traditions of this isolated town, particularly the domineering butcher who wants to marry Edith himself. 

As the twisted plot unfolds, the reader witnesses a battle between the archaic traditions of the town and moving towards progressive freedom.The storytelling style is rather like a fairy tale but less Disney and more Brother's Grimm; Gardner does not shy away from darkness to highlight the extent of the town's corruption, particularly highlighted the disturbing repression and abuse of the women of the town. The setting may be picturesque but it is harbouring a myriad of sins and villains who give the story a biting edge. 

Overall, the plot is pacey and magical, the words expressive and the characters fully realised. Gardner's new work absolutely lives up to the standard of her previous books. I look forward to reading her book with my students once again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic fairy tale style book full of happiness and sadness in equal measures. Very well thought out characters. A must read. Oh and what a beautiful cover!

This book is so magical, the language choices and the attention to detail moved me to tears. The storyline and Main characters were gripping and easy to love. I enjoyed every page and devoured this book in two sittings. 
I can not recommend this hook enough- traditional yet with a modern edge. Suitable for young people as well as The more mature Reader. I can’t imagine anyone who loves to read not loving this book.

The Snow Song is a fierce, feminist read, and a true modern fairytale. Darkness entwined with light, the promise of spring during a cold winter. With her newfound silence, Edith proves the power of words, and just how important it is to choose the right ones. But the right words can only be found when the speaker is given a voice. Gardner tells this truth beautifully, with a host of entrancing characters and a sprinkle of magic.

* spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

I think the cover on this alone is going to get people picking it up and taking it home.
It has the magical quality of a Russian fairy tale... Snow,a little bit of magic,a dark storyline,and a village full of secrets ruled by a tyrant.
It's also got a strong cast of women characters who learn to stand up for themselves and work together.
A very satisfying read.