At first, this novel doesn’t appear to be a retelling of Snow White. Its main character, Arabella, is already a princess, and readers might believe this is a fairy tale continuation. Arabella is savvy and mischievous at the start of the story, a characteristic Snow White might have acquired during her happily ever after. But don’t worry, events occur quickly, and Arabella ends up running for her life the same as her fairytale princess counterpart.
Princess Arabella is known for her pranks around the castle, but her mother is not amused. Having lost her father years ago, Arabella is distant from her mother and bored with her many suitors. When an ambassador appears from another country, Arabella can’t resist injecting some mischief in the proceedings. Unfortunately, she ends up creating an international faux-pas. Having to escape from the castle with a guard, and then running through the forest for her life, Arabella finds herself in far over her head.
Snow White, with a dash of the Prince and Pauper thrown in for good measure, is the general narrative of Poisoned Heart. Most of the familiar elements from the fairytale have survived although not in a way the reader expects. A mystery, a romance, and a bit of magic all come together to build a gripping story of maturity and sacrifice. This retelling ought to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
With Snow White retellings, questions arise. Will there be seven dwarves? Wicked stepmothers? Handsome princes? The answer for this novel is yes and no. Author Abigail Manning subverts readers’ expectations and builds a narrative all her own. This keeps the tale interesting. One could lose themselves in the story of Poisoned Heart without realizing it is a Snow White retelling, which works in its favor.
The writing of Poisoned Heart is mostly from Arabella’s point-of-view and is strong and clear. I enjoyed making the journey with the characters, the twists on the old fairytale elements, and the pacing of the novel. The only jarring note is the point of view switch near the end of the novel. Perhaps more chapters from this other point of view earlier would’ve made this stand out less. Nonetheless, this book is worthy to sit on the shelves beside solid Snow White retellings like Marissa Meyer’s Winter.
More stories of the Emerald Realm are forthcoming—a sequel is published as of this review—and the author has laid down enough details to make this reviewer want to visit this world again and again. If this delightful first novel is any indication of what’s to come, readers are in for many wonderful stories.