Superb dark, alternative to Snow White – Poisoned by Jennifer Donelly

Title: Poisoned

Author: Jennifer Donelly

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Publication Date: 20^th October 2020

Page Count: 432

Rating: 4.5/5*

My Review:

This is a dark but superb retelling of the classic Snow White fairy tale with its own, unique twists.

Princess Sophie is about to become the Queen and inherit her father’s throne . . . . but her stepmother is determined she won’t! She has spent years convincing Sophie that she’s inept, incompetent, too kind hearted and just too weak and silly to be able to truly be queen. This is a story that shows how Sophie, with a lot of help from her new friends and her own nature, learns to stand up for herself, to fight for what is right and to overcome those who scheme against her. She learns a lot about herself, encounters new allies along the way and discovers that sometimes those you assume are against you may be your best supporters and others may seem kind but be evil in disguise . . . It is a story of knowing what is right and endeavouring to always be kind and considerate in your dealings with others, you never know when or how your kindness may be repaid!

This story is packed with a diverse range of characters, some of whom will be familiar but others certainly aren’t. The author brings them all to life in a enthralling, yet easy, relaxing read. It may well be over 400 pages long but don’t let that put you off – it is a fascinating take on an old classic and the ending hints that there will be more such retellings to come in future. I certainly hope I get to read them!

Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Summary:

Beautiful Sophie, with lips as red as blood, skin as pale as snow, and hair as dark as night, is about to come of age and inherit her father’s throne. But Sophie’s stepmother wants rid of her – beautiful she may be, but too weak and foolish to reign. And Sophie believes her, as she believes all the things that have been said about her – all the poisonous words people use to keep girls like her from becoming too powerful, too strong.

When the huntsman carries out his orders of killing Sophie, she finds a fire burning inside her that will not be extinguished, and sets off to reclaim what was taken from her.

Jennifer Donnelly turns her feminist eye to this most delicious of fairy tales and shows Snow White as she’s never been seen before.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50271319-poisoned

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poisoned-Jennifer-Donnelly/dp/1471408140

Author Information

Jennifer Donnelly is the author of seven novels and a picture book for children. She grew up in New York State, in Lewis and Westchester counties, and attended the University of Rochester where she majored in English Literature and European History.

Jennifer’s first novel, THE TEA ROSE, an epic historical novel set in London and New York in the late 19th century, was called ‘exquisite’ by Booklist, ‘so much fun’ by the Washington Post, a ‘guilty pleasure’ by People and was named a Top Pick by the Romantic Times.

Her second novel, A GATHERING LIGHT, won the Carnegie Medal, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Borders Original Voices Award, and was named a Printz Honor book. Described as ‘rich and true’ by The New York Times, the book was named on the Best Book lists of The Times (London), The Irish Times, The Financial Times, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and the School Library Journal.

REVOLUTION was named a Best Book by Amazon, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and the Chicago Public Library, and was nominated for a Carnegie Medal. The audio edition was awarded an Odyssey Honor for Excellence.

In 2014, Jennifer teamed up with Disney to launch the bestselling WATERFIRE saga, an epic series about six mermaids on a quest to rid the world of an ancient evil. The first book in the series, DEEP BLUE, was released in May, 2014; the second book, ROGUE WAVE, launched in January 2015.

Jennifer Donnelly lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Follow Jennifer at http://www.jenniferdonnelly.com or on Twitter: @JenWritesBooks

Website: http://www.jenniferdonnelly.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JenWritesBooks

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