Review: To Rival a Reflection

To Rival a Reflection by Selina De Luca was one of this month's gifts from the fabulous Fairy Tale Advent Calendar. It is the fourth book I've read from the Shattered Tales series that reimagines the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Opinions may vary on this one. I am not generally fond of fractured fairy tales, but some people love them. I prefer books that are closer to the original stories. Still, this book was a beautifully written new and creative take on "Snow White" with some elements of "The Snow Queen" thrown in for good measure. At the end of the day, it just didn't have the same magic and impact that the original fairy tale did for me.

This version of Snow White is obsessed with her reflection and takes on many of the traits of the wicked stepmother from the original story. Armed with a magic mirror and an enchantress's prophecy that she would one day become queen as long as she remains the fairest one of all, Snow White spends her days in a lonely castle admiring her appearance. One day, the isolation becomes too much, and she wishes for a female companion to keep her company while she waits for her prince to find her. The mirror responds by sending her Ice Blue, her wicked reflection who tries to take over her life in the same vein as the "house of horrors" episode of the Tangled series. Ice Blue scares away the gullible Prince Dorian with her vanity, but Snow White wins him over after explaining her situation to him.

The dwarfs in this story are just there without serving much purpose. Their impact is greatly lessened when they aren't protecting Snow White from a would-be murderer. They have some interactions with the prince and Ice Blue, but for the most part, the book would not have been very different without them. They simply provide additional stooges for Ice Blue to manipulate into believing she is Snow White due to their virtually identical appearance. The main difference between the two doppelgangers is supposed to be Snow's softer personality, but Ice Blue is a reflection of many of Snow White's internal traits as well, making it difficult to root for her as a reader. It got a little tedious how everyone kept falling for Ice Blue's tricks, proving that there was very little difference between the two of them.

While I prefer more faithful adaptations, there were some things I enjoyed about this book. Making Snow White the vain one instead of her stepmother was an interesting twist that I've never seen done before. It was also unique to make her own vanity form another person who was, in some ways, better at achieving her goals than she was, though that is also a trope that has been done before. The fantasy world that the enchantress came from was fascinating, and I would have loved to learn more about it. The girl who befriended Snow White in the village could have been a great rival character for Snow White's friendship if she wasn't overshadowed by the dwarfs.

To Rival a Reflection is a thought-provoking retelling that challenges the traditional notions of Snow White's character. By making her the vain one, Selina De Luca raises questions about the nature of beauty, identity, and the consequences of one's actions. While the story may not have resonated with me on an emotional level, its unique twists and turns made for a compelling read. Fans of fractured fairy tales will likely appreciate the author's creative spin on this beloved classic. If you are interested in other interpretations of "Snow White," Disney just released an extended preview of the new song, "Waiting on a Wish," from their upcoming live-action adaptation. Check it out below and share your thoughts in the comments!