Disclaimer: I received this book for free from KidLitExchange and the publishing company. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4/5

Genre: YA Retelling/Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence, some scary moments with animals)

Pages: 224

Author Website

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Snow and Rose didn't know they were in a fairy tale. People never do....

Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants.

Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon.

But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow.

This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells.

Bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin has created a world that sits on the border of enchantment, with characters who are grounded in real emotions that readers will recognize in themselves.

This is probably one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever looked at. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but so are the illustrations. And the book isn’t just for looks. The characters are very complex, which is surprising for a young middle grade book. The plot was also very well developed and the writing was amazing. It didn’t feel like a regular retelling, but something extra special and that’s what made the book very enjoyable.

However, the only things I didn’t like about this book was that the book pacing was very slow and I fear that a slow pace could be offsetting to some kids. And the ending was rushed really bad. Those elements really pulled me out of an otherwise fantastic book.

Verdict: Amazing book that any young child (or old child) would love. Plus it’s pretty enough to be a coffee table book.