Review: The Poisoned Prince

In my quest to complete all the books in the Once Upon a Prince series, I decided to read its version of "Snow White," The Poisoned Prince by Kristin J. Dawson. With a title like that, I was hoping for a gender-bent retelling, which would have been the first I'd read for this fairy tale, but it was more of a traditional retelling. Although the roles of the main characters were not reversed, it was an original and imaginative take on the story. The story alternates between Snow White and her love interest, who is the son of the huntsman, and takes place in a high fantasy setting with fae and dwarves like the ones you would find in DnD. I found the book charming and romantic overall, though, like others in this series, it places a lot of focus on the princess despite being called Once Upon a Prince.

This is one of the most unique interpretations I've read of "Snow White," focusing on tropes that are not typically incorporated into retellings of this story. For instance, it has a "Cinderella" vibe by making Snow White a servant who learns later in life that she is one of many illegitimate children of the king and was hand-picked by him to take the throne. Now, not only does Snow White have to escape a murder attempt from jealous family members, but she is also coming to terms with being royal for the first time. There is also a "Sleeping Beauty" element in which she is granted a magical fae gift as a baby. Thanks to that gift, the gentle Snow is an empath with the ability to magically read the emotions of those around her. This is a unique twist that is unfortunately not used to its full potential because it doesn't come up during any major plot points, including a very important one at the end that her ability could have unveiled earlier in the story.

Max, the huntsman's son, is supposed to be the main character of this book, but I felt like he faded into the background due to how important Snow was to the story. Though he is just as compelling a love interest as any other, the book doesn't take advantage of the series' premise by giving him any extra importance. He has strong feelings for Snow White before learning she is a princess and is wholly devoted to protecting her and upending any political schemes he hears about at court through his father. This book stands apart from the film Snow White and the Huntsman because it is Max's father and not Max himself who is the huntsman sent to kill Snow. When Max learns about this, he becomes even more determined to protect her and find the king's other secret progeny for the safety and security of the kingdom.

This adaptation also has a new twist on the villain from the traditional wicked stepmother. I am not always a fan of twist villains, a trope that can come off as contrived or hoky at times, but it was done well in this book. The explanation for the twist made sense, and although I did not see it coming, I was not particularly surprised by it either. Due to the king's philandering nature, the book contains more espionage and political intrigue than the average "Snow White" retelling, so fans of that genre are likely to enjoy this book a lot. The story takes place in a magical world of fae and monsters, adding some whimsy to the tale. The dwarves who protect Snow White are interesting characters with their own unique culture, and several of them are female, giving Snow some positive female influences in her life while she is being hunted.

The Poisoned Prince by Kristin J. Dawson is an imaginative retelling of Snow White, offering a fresh take on the classic tale. With its high fantasy setting, fae and dwarves, and emphasis on political intrigue and espionage, this book stands out from other retellings. While it may not fully utilize the Once Upon a Prince series premise due to shining the spotlight on Snow, it still delivers a charming and romantic story. Snow White's journey from servant to royal, coupled with her unique empathetic gift, adds a delightful twist to the narrative. The villain's unexpected reveal and the incorporation of fae culture and strong female influences make this adaptation an intriguing read. Overall, The Poisoned Prince is a spellbinding retelling that will enchant fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings alike.