Review: Burning Snow

I'm taking a short break from my many To Win a Dark Heart ARCs to draw attention to another multi-author series of dual retellings releasing around the same time. Like To Win a Dark Heart, the Displaced Fairytales series combines characters from two different fairy tales to create a new story. The only difference is that this time, the heroes get together instead of the villains. There are eight books in all, and they sound amazing! The first ARC I received from this series is Burning Snow by Abigail Manning, which combines "The Little Match Girl" with a gender-bent version of "The Snow Queen." I've devoured every book I've read from Abigail Manning so far, so I couldn't wait to dive into this one.

Princess Safara has no idea what she's in for when she enters a marriage alliance with Prince Blamore. One broken mirror later, their kingdoms are cursed with an endless winter and a deadly disease plaguing the land by burning a special type of wood. Trapped in a hopeless situation, Safara is betrayed and only has moments to live. Her one salvation is the box of matches she was gifted, which she soon realizes are far from ordinary. In a desperate attempt to fix her mistakes, she uses one of the matches to be reborn in the past for a chance to try to be a better queen. She immediately breaks off her engagement with the traitorous Blamore. This time, she seeks the hand of Cassian, the Snow King, to break his icy curse.

In many ways, this book feels like a modern anime brought to life. It follows several recent trends in a breathtaking fairy tale setting. The descriptions of the ice palace and Cassian's appearances in reflections are cinematic and whimsical. Abigail's story takes both beloved Hans Christian Andersen tales in a completely new direction with enough twists and turns to make it her own. It borrows elements from both Disney's Frozen and the original "Snow Queen" fairy tale, making it feel like no stone was left unturned. Speaking of stones, an honorary mention is necessary for Douglas, the pet rock that provided plenty of much-needed humor in such a bleak setting.

In addition to the descriptive visual elements, this book does a great job making its characters both sympathetic and believable. Safara's near-death experiences increase her determination to undo Blamore's damage and break through Cassian's icy shell. Cassian is a layered character who comes off as intimidating at first, but his obsession with cleanliness reveals his true motive for avoiding others. Though his curse makes it challenging for Safara to get close to him, it is a challenge she is ready to take on with open arms and an open heart.

Burning Snow masterfully weaves together elements from "The Little Match Girl" and "The Snow Queen" into a unique and inspiring tale. Its balance between darker elements like the blackwood plague and humorous elements like Douglas, the pet rock, make the book an emotional roller coaster that's impossible to put down. Abigail Manning's vivid world-building and complex characters make for a compelling read that's both heartbreaking and hopeful. With its perfect blend of whimsy, romance, and adventure, this book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale retellings and a terrific entry in the Displaced Fairytales series.