A well-imagined and brilliantly written version of Snow White. I was completely drawn into the world and felt like I was facing all of Sophie's emotions with her. I absolutely couldn't put it down!

4.5/5

Donnelly does it again, this was almost as close to Stepsister in my enjoyment of it, and it was so different yet just as creative.

Sophie is Snow White but this isn't the tale of a princess who bakes pies and does chores with animals, though there are baked goods and animals in the tale! She has hidden her heart underneath a cool exterior but there's no fooling her Stepmother who believes kindness is the ultimate weakness.

I loved the almost steampunk like solution to Snow White's problem which I will not spoil, and I adored the seven 'dwarves' who help her. Sophie has more help too, there the people and animals she encounters along the way.

Sophie doesn't know how to believe in herself but she's learning in this book, this is a tale of what fear and self-doubt can do and also what power can truly reside in one's self and in kindness itself.

Loved this tale so very much and thought the ending was perfection! I can't wait to own a hardcopy of this great retelling.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am not the biggest fantasy lover, but I am always intrigued by a fairy tale retelling. So when I saw this I was immediately intrigued.
I loved this book, right from the very start I was hooked!!
I loved Donnelly's writing style - it just felt so effortless. It was descriptive, but not so much that it slowed down the plot.
I also loved the strong powerful message the book had. I loved the symbolism of kindness throughout, and that it's not actually a weakness. Most traditional fairy tales have a strong moral and theme, and despite this book being a retelling this book was no exception and I loved that!!

The only downside for me was that it ended rather abruptly and everything just seemed to tie together a little bit too neatly for my liking. I was expecting more of a twist, or more of a challenge for our protagonist Sophie.
That being said, I still devoured this book in just two sittings, and will definitely read whatever Jennifer Donnelly has to offer in the future!!!

I haven’t read anything by Jennifer Donnelly before so this was my first time reading one of her fairy tale retellings but I have heard good things about her other books. This book tells the story of Snow White whilst also answering the question of who the evil queen is talking to in the mirror. Despite the queen being villainous, she is not the main villain of the book. A man is. This book is very much a feminist fairy tale retelling and I am here for it.

‘Slander a king, and the slanderer will lose his head. Slander a queen, and the queen will lose hers.’

One of my favourite things about this book is that it was very obviously a retelling but it was a very unique story. Donnelly has taken the beloved tale and spun it into something new and original and amazing! The main character, Sophie (snow white) begins as a typical princess and is seen by her court and the queen as weak and incapable of ruling without a man’s guidance. She has to hide her true feelings to appear acceptable in the eyes of the court. When the huntsman takes her heart, (yes he actually kills her!!!) Sophie is saved by seven men in the woods, one of which makes her a clockwork heart. This story follows Sophie evolving from a timid princess into a strong independent queen. Sophie makes a physical journey to get her heart back whilst also discovering who she really is.

‘I love fairy tales. They give it to you straight. Nothing the maiden was afraid of killed her; fear itself did. There’s a lesson in that story.’

I love the fact that Donnelly kept in the romance aspect of Snow White as I am a sucker for romance. It kind of had a slight enemies to lovers trope but it was probably more dislike of the royals’ reputation than outright enemies! I loved Will’s character so much and there were so many cute moments that warmed my heart! Arno and Weber were some other characters that I loved, despite the fact that Weber is a spider and I hate spiders!

You gave those people hope, girl, and that’s a dangerous thing.’

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will have a read of some of Donnelly’s other fairy tale retellings. I am thankful to NetGalley, Bonnier Books and Hot Key Books for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book before it’s published.

“A sick girl. A blind boy. An old woman in a wheelbarrow. Orphaned children. A man with a Q carved into his cheek. They make me believe I can.”

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. (Quote subject to change before books publication)

Poisoned is a brilliant retelling of the classic story Snow White. Deemed too weak and kind to rule a kingdom, Sophie’s stepmother orders her Huntsman to carve out her heart. And he does just that. With the help of seven men hiding away in the woods, Sophie miraculously survives. But, it is quickly obvious that the queen may not be the only one out for her blood - nor may she be to blame for her bloodlust. Sophie must now find the courage to fight off the unknown enemy and prove that kindness isn’t a weakness, it’s strength.

I really enjoyed Sophie’s character. You can’t help but like a young woman who is sweet, kind hearted and despite all else, thinks of others and their wellbeing. Donnelly took elements of the Snow White we know and love and brought a breath of fresh air to the character that is incredibly refreshing and unique. We watch her go on this unlikely and trepidatious journey, meeting new people along the way who find a way of grounding her. They help Sophie do the most important thing anyone can do - believe in themselves.
Who knew a hunter and a grave robber would make good friends?

Prior to reading Poisoned, I had been familiar with Donnelly’s writing through her novel Step Sister which I thoroughly enjoyed. After reading a different perspective of Cinderella’s step sisters, I was eagerly hoping that another retelling would be on the horizon. Having seen and now read this story, I can safely say I was not disappointed. The plot moved at the perfect pace for me - there were moments of tension and fluffy moments to counteract them. A few moments felt slightly rushed after there being a build up but there was nothing that ruined the flow of the story - it’s just me being greedy for more!

Overall, Poisoned is another brilliant retelling of the fairytales we know and love. Highly recommend to all Disney and fantasy lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

"Mirror mirror on the wall.. Who will bring about my fall?"
Poisoned is a deliciously dark Snow White retelling like no other, where there is another greater evil, not just the queen.

An inventive take on the story with different unexpected creatures from the incredible imagination of Donnelly. Vivid imagery, with quaint little details of seemingly unimportant things that weave a tapestry of an engrossing world. Beautiful lacing of words that result in wonderous descriptions and quotable phrases.

You know how some side characters steal the show? Well that was true of the dwarves. They were such a delight to read. And let us not forget Arno.

Kindness is considered weakness. Sophie, like women in general, is underestimated. But in the most brutal of odds, not only does Sophie survive, but also begins to thrive. "There is no greater weapon in the world than hope".

Sophie's misguided insistence that she needs the prince to save her is a little annoying but it is a needed antithesis to who she evolves into. Also the times that the protagonist is 'knocked down' should become a drinking game. Her naivete might be a little repetitive.

Sophie's plight with her heart is an allegory to the notion of women supposedly being too emotional, this shows that having feelings and caring is actually a strength. A testament to being your true self, not needing to hide. And quite importantly, believing in yourself.

With a finale that will make you clap and cheer, this story is humorous and gruesome and uplifting, all of these encompassed in a bundle of adventurous fairy tale wonder.

If you think you know the story of Snow White, think again!
This is a quite dark, modern, take on the Snow White story and I'm sure this one will prove as popular a choice with our students as 'Step-Sister' was. It certainly conveys a message to readers that is very much needed in the te world at this time: to be kind.

This is called a feminist retelling of Snow White and it does stick close to the source material. The writing style was simple and the short chapters made it a quick easy read for me. Sophie the main character is what I expected and I thought she was okay but a little bland. She triumphs over fear and I like the message the books gives about love and fear. Sophie is also a little dumb and had me rolling my eyes at how trusting she was. The other side characters were fun, Arno was a favourite of mine. The pacing felt a little off for me as it is quick and bloody in places then there’s times when it’s a little slower. Overall I really enjoyed the story and i think plenty of people will enjoy it.

In this stunning version of Snow White, Jennifer Donnelly treats us to a book about the strength of kindness. Sometimes the villains in stories are not what they seem – this story is the kind that brings out a reader’s empathy. Love, friendship and the power of being softhearted are all strong themes – if you’re looking for a feminist spin on a famous fairy-tale then Poisoned is the book for you.

Sophie’s soft heart is not enough for her cruel step-mother Queen Adelaide. She must find a strong husband to help her rule when the time comes. Queen Adelaide is harsh and vapid, but there’s more to her story than meets the eye. In this book there is a different adversary, and Queen Adelaide has made a terrible deal.

Sophie’s the kind of girl that rescues puppies and saves wolves. When she is hunted down by the Queen’s huntsman, her heart is stolen. She is saved by 7 brothers who have a sad history of their own. From then on, she goes on a journey – both literally and figuratively. For the first time in her life, she has real friends, but will she ever love herself enough to be strong enough to win back her heart?

I loved Sophie’s personality – and this book’s spin on the 7 dwarfs. The romance was also really touching and slow burn, just how I like it. It is fast paced with plenty of action mixed in with great character development. Adelaide’s story was one all too familiar of fairy-tale villains and I really enjoyed this version of an even step-mother.

Overall, this book is worth every star in it’s 5 star rating and I can’t wait to see what Jennifer Donnelly does next.

Jennifer has done it again with this retelling of Snow White, so lyrical and thought provoking. A wonderful cast of characters and a turly fairytale world that is full of all the creatures you would expect and not a Disney Prince in sight!
A great book and I truly hope she does more of these fairytale retellings because I want to buy them all!