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Snow White (ATU Index 709)

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"The Queen asks the magic mirror," Schneewittchen (1910), Franz Jüttner (German, 1865-1925), Scholz' Künstler-Bilderbücher, Mainz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Today's focus is Snow White  collected by the Brother's Grimm. Aarne-Thompson-Uther classifies this as  Type 709 (Snow White) . According to the  Thompson Motif , this has sub-types Z65.1. Red as blood, white as snow; D1323.1. Magic clairvoyant mirror; D1311.2. Mirror answers questions; L55. Stepdaughter heroine; M312.4. Prophecy: superb beauty for girl; S322.2. Jealous mother casts daughter forth; K512.2. Compassionate executioner: substituted heart; N831.1. Mysterious housekeeper; F451.5.1.2. Dwarfs adopt girl as sister; D1364.9. Comb causes magic sleep; D1364.16. Hairpin causes magic sleep; D1364.4.1. Apple causes magic sleep; S111.4. Murder with poisoned apple; S111.2. Murder with poisoned lace; F852.1. Glass coffin; E21.1. Resuscitation by removal of poisoned apple; Q414.4. Punishment: danc...
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Review - The Girl and the Seven Thieves

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Title The Girl and the Seven Thieves Author Olivia Snowe Illustrator Michelle Lamoreaux Content Warning Attempted murder, non-consensual kiss Goodreads Synopsis Eira and her stepmother don't get along, but she never expected to be left in a New York City alley. When seven thieves find her, she'll have to try to trust them. ( Goodreads ) Story Review *** (3 stars out of 5) This book is a Middle Grade retelling of Snow White. For my taste it's a little formulaic and far too short to really develop any real sense of the characters. I also think it wraps up the evil stepmother much too neatly. I did like the idea of the thieves, since they also have a reason to want to hide away from society. The addition of actual magic kind of took me out of the setting, so I wish that part had been handled differently. *Spoiler Warning* Do not read beyond this point if you have not read the book and you care about spoilers.
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Review - Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran

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Title Snow, Glass, Apples Author Neil Gaiman Illustrator Colleen Doran Content Warning Not safe for children: graphic depictions of sex, nudity, gore, implied incest, sex with a minor, necrophilia Goodreads Synopsis A chilling fantasy retelling of the Snow White fairy tale by bestselling creators Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran. A not-so-evil queen is terrified of her monstrous stepdaughter and determined to repel this creature and save her kingdom from a world where happy endings aren't so happily ever after. From the Hugo, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy, Nebula Award-winning and Sunday Times-bestselling writer Neil Gaiman (American Gods) comes this graphic novel adaptation by Colleen Doran (Troll Bridge). ( Goodreads ) Story Review ***** (5 stars out of 5) This is an extremely dark (not safe for children) retelling of Snow White, where the stepmother is cast as the storyteller and Snow White as a vampire who uses seduction as a means to drink blood. I really enjoyed how plausibl...
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