The Fairest of Them All: A Novel

by Carolyn Turgeon

What if Rapunzel was Snow White’s evil stepmother? Classic fairy tales collide in this imaginative retelling about the endurance of first love, the resentment of being left behind, and the impossibility of reliving the past.

In this kingdom, only one fairy tale can end with happily ever after.

In an enchanted forest, the maiden Rapunzel’s beautiful voice captivates a young prince hunting nearby. Overcome, he climbs her long golden hair to her tower and they spend an afternoon of passion together, but by nightfall, the prince must return to his kingdom…and his betrothed.

After the prince becomes king, he weds his intended and the kingdom rejoices when a daughter named Snow White is born. Beyond the castle walls, Rapunzel waits in her crumbling tower, gathering news of her beloved from those who come to her seeking wisdom. She tries to mend her broken heart, but her love lingers, pulsing in the magic tendrils of her hair.

The king, too, is haunted by his memories, and after his queen’s mysterious death, he is finally able to follow his heart into the darkness of the forest. But can Rapunzel trade the shadows of the forest for the bright light of the castle—and behave as the innocent beauty he remembers?

• ISBN10: 1451683790
• ISBN13: 9781451683790
• Publish Date: 6 August 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Touchstone
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[KitsuneBae]

Should've been good but there were a lot of loose ends that the author didn't fix.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

I lived on Fairy Tales when I was younger with Snow White being my favorite. Of course I grew up on the sanitized Disney version, my room was an advertisement to the Princess and learned how to work the VCR for a constant loop of Snow White and her seven little men. All in my Snow White dress of course. As for Rapunzel, when I was ten I belonged to a creative writing club at my elementary school and remember writing a short story on her. I had an artistic moment and added pop-ups and used yarn for her hair -- I was very proud of myself. I am not sure why I chose that particular fairy tale, perhaps it was because I had Rapunzel-esque hair at the time.

The Fairest of Them All starts out ordinary enough, with the classic elements of Rapunzel and her long hair but with the entrance of Snow White, mixes the two like a strong cocktail. Carolyn Turgeon does this so effortlessly showcasing a wonderful story-teller. I loved the writing, if it hadn't been for the slightly more mature subject matter, The Fairest of Them All could have read like a child's tale with its simplistic elegance. Carolyn Turgeon has given Rapunzel a unique, refreshing voice, pulling you in to a mystical land, lavished with details.

As I said before, I grew up with watered-down fairy tales but began reading the originals a few years ago. Therefore, I was enthused that a nod was given to the Grimm Brothers. Examples being Rapunzel becoming pregnant out of wedlock and dreaming of dancing on coals, an element taken from Snow White. Although I think the biggest, and most known is the magic mirror, the connector that adjoins the erector set with a simple click.

My one complaint is that I didn't think there was a designated villain. Yes, Mathena was not all that met the eye but it felt like such a blip at the end with the problem simultaneously solved, thus it had no effect on me whatsoever. Rapunzel, who in Snow White fashion was suppose to play out the role of evil step-mother, I didn't find that evil either. If anything she was all vanity and finds redemption in the end, wearing stiletto heels rather than iron slippers. In my opinion, there wasn't a singular character that could claim the role.

Overall, I closed The Fairest of Them All with satisfaction, I was enchanted by its originality and look forward to reading more by Carolyn Turgeon.

See all my reviews on my blog She is too fond of books

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review