Hearth and Pages: Snow and Rose by Emily Winfield Martin

“Snow and Rose didn’t know that they were living in a fairy tale–people never do.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Snow and Rose are two sisters. Once, Snow and Rose live with their loving parents in a big house with a spectacular garden. But one day their father disappeared into the woods. Losing her other half, their mother then lost into sorrow. Snow and Rose then have to say goodbye to their house and their old beautiful lives and must live in the old cottage in the woods that has stolen their father. Snow and Rose is a story of two sisters and their adventure in the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of horrible spells.

The moment I saw this book on NetGalley, I know I have to requested it and read it, because it’s based on my all-time favorite Grimm’s fairytale — Snow-White and Rose-Red. Just so you’re not confuse, the Snow White in this story is not the popular Snow White who befriended the seven dwarves. It’s a whole another story, though both of them are written by The Grimm Brothers.

This book is such a joy. Both the illustrations and the story are charming and simply beautiful. Since what I read is the Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book, not all of the arts included or finished, but I truly love the finished arts and some sketches in this book. Emily Winfield Martin did a great job in taking the original story, then crafted something new and different but wonderful in its own way. The world she built in this book is delightful and very amusing. I could see young readers being enchanted with the magical things that happens in the woods inside this book.

Just like the original story, Snow and Rose have different personalities, but Martin put something different and a bit twist in the two sisters character which I actually like. Other than Snow and Rose, this book is also full with interesting characters. The changing personality in the two sisters’ mother I clearly intriguing. The creatures in the woods, both humans and non-humans are also stood out and has vibrant personalities. Each of their stories are also add more colors to Snow and Rose’s story.

Snow and Rose gives me something that I feel like missing from many re-imagining books of fairy tales–a classic, airy and delicate charm of classic story and I really love it. It takes me to a magical place that makes me feel warm and happy. All in all, this is a book that I would recommend to any parents and young readers. It’s a wonderful book with meaningful and beautiful story with addition of charming illustrations. Now, I really wanted to read the finished book and probably reread it again and again.