Beautiful written, imaginative fairy tale. Delivers powerful message about the strength of women driven by guilt, love and defiance.

Edith’s heart is cracked and her voice silenced under the strain of a catastrophe. Her fate is linked to the bitter alpha male who has the whole village under his thumb and is determined that he will control Edith, no matter what. But if Edith can stand her ground, maybe others can too.

An eloquent fairytale for adults that weaves female empowerment through the rich mystical and magical heritage of fables. Edith was an interesting character who showed that you can make a change in the world by inspiring others through your actions and reactions.

The cover design is stunning and lured me into Edith’s world.

Having previously read and enjoyed Sally Gardner's 'The Red Necklace' and 'Tinder' with my students, I was excited to read her latest novel 'The Snow Song'. It certainly did not disappoint. As I had come to expect with Gardner's works, the story she weaves here is both lyrical and magical but laced with a hard edge of darkness.

The novel follows the protagonist Edith and the citizens of the town in which she lives, their home perched in the mountains away from civilisation. At the opening, she meets Demetrius, a shepherd, and they fall in love. However, their love, between a towns-person and an outsider, is frowned upon by the traditions of this isolated town, particularly the domineering butcher who wants to marry Edith himself.

As the twisted plot unfolds, the reader witnesses a battle between the archaic traditions of the town and moving towards progressive freedom.The storytelling style is rather like a fairy tale but less Disney and more Brother's Grimm; Gardner does not shy away from darkness to highlight the extent of the town's corruption, particularly highlighted the disturbing repression and abuse of the women of the town. The setting may be picturesque but it is harbouring a myriad of sins and villains who give the story a biting edge.

Overall, the plot is pacey and magical, the words expressive and the characters fully realised. Gardner's new work absolutely lives up to the standard of her previous books. I look forward to reading her book with my students once again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic fairy tale style book full of happiness and sadness in equal measures. Very well thought out characters. A must read. Oh and what a beautiful cover!

This book is so magical, the language choices and the attention to detail moved me to tears. The storyline and Main characters were gripping and easy to love. I enjoyed every page and devoured this book in two sittings.
I can not recommend this hook enough- traditional yet with a modern edge. Suitable for young people as well as The more mature Reader. I can’t imagine anyone who loves to read not loving this book.

The Snow Song is a fierce, feminist read, and a true modern fairytale. Darkness entwined with light, the promise of spring during a cold winter. With her newfound silence, Edith proves the power of words, and just how important it is to choose the right ones. But the right words can only be found when the speaker is given a voice. Gardner tells this truth beautifully, with a host of entrancing characters and a sprinkle of magic.

* spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

I think the cover on this alone is going to get people picking it up and taking it home.
It has the magical quality of a Russian fairy tale... Snow,a little bit of magic,a dark storyline,and a village full of secrets ruled by a tyrant.
It's also got a strong cast of women characters who learn to stand up for themselves and work together.
A very satisfying read.

I don't think I've ever read a modern fairytale I've loved as much as I loved The Snow Song. It pulled me back into the childhood way of reading, believing completely in the story. Edith is the kind of woman there should be in every story and I have a special place in my heart for Vanda.

I really enjoyed this enchanting book. It had a little magic, love and sadness which I think are great ingredients to tell a lovely fairy-tale. I also liked how the characters grew into themselves and developed throughout the story. #TheSnowSong #NetGalley