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hijinx_abound's review
2.0
Received a copy for review.*
I love a retelling. Especially if it’s a mash up with new or different elements. This book definitely fits that bill.
There are some things I really .enjoyed in this story.
The various fairytale folk that are represented. The mixing up and restructuring of the characters. The different representations of familiar characters.
However, about 1/2 way through, the desire to be different starts to muck up the story. The competition for her father is the initial storyline but it gets pushed aside and then pulled back out. It messed with the continuity of the story.
I really liked the intent but the execution got in its own way.
I love a retelling. Especially if it’s a mash up with new or different elements. This book definitely fits that bill.
There are some things I really .enjoyed in this story.
The various fairytale folk that are represented. The mixing up and restructuring of the characters. The different representations of familiar characters.
However, about 1/2 way through, the desire to be different starts to muck up the story. The competition for her father is the initial storyline but it gets pushed aside and then pulled back out. It messed with the continuity of the story.
I really liked the intent but the execution got in its own way.
_its_me_hermione's review
4.0
Azura is obsessed with power and tries to become more powerful by getting married to a Royal Bloodline. On her way to gain power, she meets Snow White who is ignored by the princesses who have come to gain the support of her father. Both of them are drawn to each other. What does the future hold for them?
I really liked the story. Azura
I really liked the story. Azura
mickaelareads's review
3.0
In this (more) magical retelling of Snow White, the evil is an aspiring stepmother, competing with other women to win the King's hand. His daughter Snow is very insecure with no friends, and is hoping to make one in her new stepmother, whoever she may be. Azura is looking to ascend the throne for her own selfish dark magical purposes. She is the only woman who seems to realize that Snow is the way to her father's heart, but she ends up falling for the exceedingly infantile girl instead, evil plans be damned.
There are some excellent sapphic sex scenes, including a sexy appearance from a bisexual Belle, but that is literally all I cared about or remember. The plot lost me. I wasn't invested, and I only got through the last part in anticipation of one last spicy scene, which never came. This didn't feel ready for publication, but I would buy it for the smut.
Thank you to Rose & Star Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are some excellent sapphic sex scenes, including a sexy appearance from a bisexual Belle, but that is literally all I cared about or remember. The plot lost me. I wasn't invested, and I only got through the last part in anticipation of one last spicy scene, which never came. This didn't feel ready for publication, but I would buy it for the smut.
Thank you to Rose & Star Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
paperbackwh0re's review against another edition
there has been just the tiniest bit of plot advancement and the rest is smut. not what I signed up for.
artbyabookgeek's review
3.0
I received this book as an ARC, thanks Rose and Star!!
When I read the blurb of this book I was hooked! A Sapphic retelling of Snow White and with actual magic?! yes please!
I wanted to love this book so much, but I think this book is a great read if you are starting out in the adult fantasy genre. I honestly read A LOT of books and I think this fact is what make me give only 3 stars to the book. However if you are starting in this genre, then this book is definitely the book for you and I'm sure you'll love it. I didn't use to really notice some of the things Im going to mention, so again, if you are starting out, then please go ahead.
There are several women called to the castle to compete in sort of "the bachelorette" for Snow White's dad, the King. Among them is Belle, which I assume will be the main character of book 2. One of these ladies is the other main character and she is distracted of her scheme to win the king because of Snow White. The spicy scenes are good though. Then they of course fall in love and everything works out like all the fairy tales we love.
The premise of the story is really great and I was so curious about this retelling. It started off with lots of great starting points. My big but is the lack of world building, you'll dive in and I think you are assumed to know based on what you usually know about fairy tales. Very character based. The book is dual POV. Very little explanation of the magic system. No real forboding. The last 15% of the book is when a little of the magic system is explained but nothing really deep and it ends in a weak cliff hanger.
I gave it 3 stars because, some of my now favorite series started with a not so great first book and as they continued the universe they became amazing. Lets see what book 2 has to offer.
*** Please check trigger warnings for this book***
When I read the blurb of this book I was hooked! A Sapphic retelling of Snow White and with actual magic?! yes please!
I wanted to love this book so much, but I think this book is a great read if you are starting out in the adult fantasy genre. I honestly read A LOT of books and I think this fact is what make me give only 3 stars to the book. However if you are starting in this genre, then this book is definitely the book for you and I'm sure you'll love it. I didn't use to really notice some of the things Im going to mention, so again, if you are starting out, then please go ahead.
There are several women called to the castle to compete in sort of "the bachelorette" for Snow White's dad, the King. Among them is Belle, which I assume will be the main character of book 2. One of these ladies is the other main character and she is distracted of her scheme to win the king because of Snow White. The spicy scenes are good though. Then they of course fall in love and everything works out like all the fairy tales we love.
The premise of the story is really great and I was so curious about this retelling. It started off with lots of great starting points. My big but is the lack of world building, you'll dive in and I think you are assumed to know based on what you usually know about fairy tales. Very character based. The book is dual POV. Very little explanation of the magic system. No real forboding. The last 15% of the book is when a little of the magic system is explained but nothing really deep and it ends in a weak cliff hanger.
I gave it 3 stars because, some of my now favorite series started with a not so great first book and as they continued the universe they became amazing. Lets see what book 2 has to offer.
*** Please check trigger warnings for this book***
ashpattreads's review
3.0
I love retellings and especially loved the little glimpses and Disney Easter eggs we got throughout the book. I really enjoyed the first half of the book and thought it was super intriguing.
I love dual POV and the stark differences between Azura and Snow were interesting. I did find Snow to be a little too naive for my taste.
What really hindered me from giving this one a higher score was that the last half of the book was way too rushed. We got all this build up to things and then everything was resolved within a few pages.
I love dual POV and the stark differences between Azura and Snow were interesting. I did find Snow to be a little too naive for my taste.
What really hindered me from giving this one a higher score was that the last half of the book was way too rushed. We got all this build up to things and then everything was resolved within a few pages.
books_by_dae's review
4.0
This is the first book in the Ever After series.
I love our morally grey female main character Azura, she's an absolute badass whilst we have Snow who is shy and timid, it was interesting to read how their relationship progressed.
The book is a bit fast paced for my liking but it kept me 100% reeled in with a good plot and spice.
I can't wait to read Belles story!
I love our morally grey female main character Azura, she's an absolute badass whilst we have Snow who is shy and timid, it was interesting to read how their relationship progressed.
The book is a bit fast paced for my liking but it kept me 100% reeled in with a good plot and spice.
I can't wait to read Belles story!
crazy_book_lover_'s review
5.0
Thank you so much Rose & Star Publishing for this ARC!
A really good start to, what shapes up to be, a great series!
Azura is a dark sorceress. She practices black magic and her new goal is to be selected in a competition to become the king’s bride, marry him and gain access to his elemental magic. But all her plans become really complicated when on her first day in the castle she meets the king’s daughter, Snow White, and since this first meeting a bond forms between these two women.
I really like stories with morally grey main characters and Azura is perfectly written as one. Snow White is naive and innocent, but she and Azura balance each other out very well and their moments together are so cute (and later become quite spicy!).
This is a Snow White retelling with quite a few twists and I loved how the authors wove the original tale’s elements into this story (it is quite dark at moments, more like the original Snow White and not the Disney’s one). I also loved the ending, the last few chapters were full of twists that I didn’t see coming and I think the end of Azura and Snow’s story was really satisfying.
I really recommend this book and can’t wait for next books in Ever After series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A really good start to, what shapes up to be, a great series!
Azura is a dark sorceress. She practices black magic and her new goal is to be selected in a competition to become the king’s bride, marry him and gain access to his elemental magic. But all her plans become really complicated when on her first day in the castle she meets the king’s daughter, Snow White, and since this first meeting a bond forms between these two women.
I really like stories with morally grey main characters and Azura is perfectly written as one. Snow White is naive and innocent, but she and Azura balance each other out very well and their moments together are so cute (and later become quite spicy!).
This is a Snow White retelling with quite a few twists and I loved how the authors wove the original tale’s elements into this story (it is quite dark at moments, more like the original Snow White and not the Disney’s one). I also loved the ending, the last few chapters were full of twists that I didn’t see coming and I think the end of Azura and Snow’s story was really satisfying.
I really recommend this book and can’t wait for next books in Ever After series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
piasbookshelf's review
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this book and I get some stories will have instalove, however, this wasn’t executed correctly. It felt too rushed. The story was fast paced and again, there’s times where the fast pace is warranted and understandable, but there was so much going on at once and it just leaves you wondering why it was all thrown together like that. It felt messy. There were parts I enjoyed, which is why I gave it two stars, but it just wasn’t a book I loved you know?
heathergreads's review against another edition
4.0
A fairytale retelling of Snow White? 100% yes, please.
Sapphic and spicy? 1000% yes, please!
This book was so much fun - we have a dual POV of Snow and Azura who are both instantly drawn to each other. Snow has been gifted an elemental magic of ice while Azura has been gifted the "worst" magic of all - dark magic. Azura's main focus is to marry Snow White's father to take over his power and magic, but suddenly she seems very distracted by, well, his daughter Snow.
Snow is focused on trying to be an amazing daughter, but also on trying to make new friends. She's hoping her father's search for a wife will allow her to grow closer to the swarm of girls from all over the kingdom who have come to stay at the castle, but she finds that many are exceptionally mean and only interested in her father's crown.
While Snow and Azura's relationship grows, we also receive a spicy appearance from Belle in addition to guest appearances from the Beast, Prince Eric and of course our Magic Mirror.
I was truly delighted to read this book (in one sitting) and I can't wait for the rest in the series. I would have liked a little bit more spice and a fuller plot development, but I would still recommend this book as a quick, spicy read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sapphic and spicy? 1000% yes, please!
This book was so much fun - we have a dual POV of Snow and Azura who are both instantly drawn to each other. Snow has been gifted an elemental magic of ice while Azura has been gifted the "worst" magic of all - dark magic. Azura's main focus is to marry Snow White's father to take over his power and magic, but suddenly she seems very distracted by, well, his daughter Snow.
Snow is focused on trying to be an amazing daughter, but also on trying to make new friends. She's hoping her father's search for a wife will allow her to grow closer to the swarm of girls from all over the kingdom who have come to stay at the castle, but she finds that many are exceptionally mean and only interested in her father's crown.
While Snow and Azura's relationship grows, we also receive a spicy appearance from Belle in addition to guest appearances from the Beast, Prince Eric and of course our Magic Mirror.
I was truly delighted to read this book (in one sitting) and I can't wait for the rest in the series. I would have liked a little bit more spice and a fuller plot development, but I would still recommend this book as a quick, spicy read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.