Ever since watching the film Beastly, I’ve been hooked on Alex Flinn’s novels. She has a knack for reimagining classic fairy tales in fresh and intriguing ways. Not only does she put a unique twist on each story, but sometimes she even merges multiple tales into one captivating narrative. So far, I’ve read two of her works, with Bewitching being a sort of continuation of Beastly, following the witch Kendra on more of her adventures. Her latest novel also features Kendra and offers a new take on the Snow White story.
In this modern version, Celine is a beautiful teenager living in Florida who believes her stepmother, Violet, is a witch. Violet has been infatuated with Celine’s father, Greg, ever since they were teenagers. After Celine’s mother passes away, Violet seems to have finally secured everything she ever wanted – until Celine starts to grow up. Where Violet was once kind to Celine, things changed as Celine’s beauty blossomed, coinciding with mysterious accidents like sudden breakouts and curling iron burns. Eventually, Celine’s life is truly endangered, and she must depend on a new friend’s kindness and protection to outsmart her seemingly magical stepmother.
Alex Flinn stays true to the essential elements of the traditional Snow White tale but revamps it with modern touches and her own creative angles. The familiar story unfolds with charm and humor, making it enjoyable to peel back each layer. One unique aspect is how the narrative starts from the antagonist’s first-person perspective, with different first-person narratives in each of the three parts of the book. This approach makes it a standout among Snow White retellings. As with the original story, dark moments and threats abound, culminating in a plot to eliminate the good-hearted Celine by her wicked stepmother.
However, not everything hit the mark for me. I found one character’s name particularly annoying, and the romance element felt a bit flat from Celine’s perspective. It didn’t quite blossom as one might hope, though the male love interest’s unrequited love paints a more gripping picture. Compared to some recent retellings, Celine’s character felt a bit dull. That said, I still enjoyed her story and her character overall – I just would have liked a little more depth.
In conclusion, Mirrored is a quirky and quick read that even skeptical readers might enjoy. The clever twists and modern setting in Florida add an inspired touch, including a new take on the “seven dwarfs” and the poisoned apple. If you’re open to some artistic liberties and a fresh approach to the “prince” character, Alex Flinn’s latest book is a lot of fun. The adventurous plot, combined with sassy and inventive writing, makes for an enjoyable read with plenty of humor.
Mirrored will be available in stores this Tuesday, September 15th.
If you’ve enjoyed recent Snow White adaptations, you’ll probably get a similar vibe from this novel. Think along the lines of the vibrant Mirror Mirror, the contemporary Sydney White, or even the TV show Once Upon a Time. These would all make excellent companions to this novel.
