Reviewed by inlibrisveritas on
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one to begin with, but as soon as it became apparent that this was going to read exactly like a old fairy tale I fell in love. It has that style that one gets from oral tradition stories, where this is just enough detail to pull you in but not bog you down. The fact that it also pulls in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and puts them at the forfront is perfection, because Snow White really gets the short end with her own fairy tale. Cleaning, attempted murder, and sleeping until a guy wakes her up…so the fact that she’s going to go free Sleeping Beauty from the same fate is just awesome.
Add the awesome story to Chris Riddell’s illustrations and you have a unique little story that stands out. I love Riddell’s work. I read a series of middle grade books that he illustrated and immediately wished his work would be in more books. There is so much beauty in the details.
If you’re looking for a super short fairy tale retelling then definitely grab this one. It’s perfect for the retelling lover, and it has that charm that Gaiman is known for.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 16 November, 2015: Finished reading
- 16 November, 2015: Reviewed