✿ Disability rep: the main character has facial scaring, but... it is magically healed. Do with that information what you will.

This is a Snow White retelling that is heavily influenced by the original Brothers Grim fairytale. Having read a variety of retellings, I was unsure which direction White as Witching was going to take. I love this interpretation. White as Witching is a retelling that draws more from the original text and leaves the Disney retelling in the dust.

This version follows the royal princess Snow who is in hiding after watching her aunt murder her father, the King, when she was 11. In the aftermath, Snow fled with the royal blacksmith, to a remote village in hopes of surviving her aunt's wrath. In order to hide her identity, the blacksmith brands the left side of her face. The facial scarring is all anyone sees and all anyone judges her on. The prejudice Snow suffers because of her disability is used as a way to not get to close to anyone in her village as they are unable to see her beyond it.

Seven years after her fathers murder, the Selection has come to her small remote village, to take a girl for nefarious purposes. Everyone believes these 5 girls from different villages will live in luxury and marry a man of high standing, but none are ever heard from again. Snow decides this is her chance to leave, and get vengeance against her aunt. Hoping her facial scars and the seven year separation are enough to not be recognised, Snow makes herself become the girl chosen and sets out to the royal castle to confront her aunt and end her reign of terror.

White as Witching is an atmospheric delight, with melancholic notes and lyrical writing. It uses one of my favourite elements in books, especially fairytales - riddles. I am always a fan of riddles or lyrics in books. It's like a fun little activity that I can try and solve or lyrics I can try and sing along with. White as Witching has riddles that are masterfully inserted. Some riddles are even predictions.

Its heartbreaking and its bittersweet. It confronts your relationships with people you knew and loved when you were younger and how you fit in with each other now, older with new experiences, new traumas and new worlds views. The idolised, rose-coloured idea of your past and memories do not hold up against the stark reality of the person in front of you. It's hard to reconcile the two and learn to separate the two versions of one person.
Love is not always gentle, nor easy to recognise.

The themes of power, love, strength and vulnerability are present and continuously questioned by Snow and how she interacts with the people in her life. Snow questions the idea of power; the cost, the weight and where it lies and all its forms. Like many young women, and as someone with a disability, she often feels powerless, helpless, hopeless and outmatched. It chafes her that others control and shape things around her, and all she gets in return is pain and suffering. She recognises and understands the pain her aunt feels and sees how her aunt has turned that pain, to harm others. Snow sees herself in her aunt, and sees the two paths that she could take; to turn her pain into the suffering of others or to use it to grow, and heal and as a foundation for her inner strength. It's tempting to inflict the pain you feel but the hardest road is to not continue the cycle of suffering. It's commendable and inspiring to see.
Gold is nothing. Silver is nothing. Jewels are nothing. There is only one currency in life, and that is pain.

Snow struggles to find her voice. All her feelings are shoved down and ignored, forging her to endeavour in finding the courage to voice and express her emotions. Snow finds that the act itself is not a weakness, but a strength. Her idea of vulnerability is challenged. She is accustomed to letting others reach out to her and express their vulnerability before she expresses her own. She is lonely, and lost and simply wishes for human connection and comfort, like everyone else. She comes to recognise this and chooses to defy her natural learned pattern in order to connect and express her love for the people in her life. She is actively healing and it's wonderful to see in a protagonist, especially in YA.
Love does not require return in order to exist. It simply is, and I spent so many years silenced that I will not silence myself.

What White as Witching does really well is the conversation around beauty. All versions of Snow White are centred around beauty. The beauty of Snow White, the beauty of the evil Queen, even the beauty of Rose Red and Snow White's mother. White as Witching starts with Snow White existing with a facial scar that others don't find beautiful or can get past. Her facial scar was not an accident, but a purposeful mark to mask her beauty in the first place. It is seen as pityful, and disdainful. White as Witching explores using your beauty or perceived lack there of to your advantage or detriment, and demonstrates the ultimate illusion of beauty. Something visually attractive doesn't mean it's beautiful, as underneath it can be rotten and in this story demonic.

Personally, I think it was a mistake to magically 'cure' Snow of her facial scarring. It perpetuates a harmful message. The trope of curing disability is reflected in all forms of media, and is harmful to the real people living with disabilities. I think it helps that it wasn't right at the end, after overcoming all her challenges, and that it wasn't framed like a reward. Removing her scar was in service to the end goal, but it felt unnecessary as Snow already gave up so much and it would have been more impactful if she her face didn't change, and that she was a Queen with a disability.

I highly encourage a read through of the original Brothers Grim version as well as the Snow-White Rose-Red version. The darker elements of the original Grim version like cannibalism and multiple attempted assassinations are incorporated into this book, as well as other twists like demons, bargains, illusions and dark witchcraft and that I personally think the Grim Brothers would love.

It's an engrossing story that engages in discussions about family, prejudice, beauty, love vulnerability and strength. It's a great YA that exceeds all expectations that I'll remember for a long time.

Would I recommend this book?
Yes. I recommend it for people who love retellings, but specifically if you liked Luminous, An Enchantment Of Thorns, Thorn and Stain

A wonderful snow white retelling where love and sacrifice conquers all. Snow white wasn't your typical princess in this retelling. She was a scarred magic wielder in hiding from her evil aunt. There are some predictable plot twists and some very flowery words and phrases but overall this was a good read!

This is a retelling of Snow White but there is no room for passive heroines here.

Snow has been in hiding for 7 years from her witch aunt, who she believes murdered her parents and sister. Each year the witch queen takes a ‘selection’ of young girls from the villages in the Kingdom, their families eager to see them married off to court officials but Snow is suspicious that the girls are never heard from again. She volunteers herself when the ‘selection’ comes to her village.

The set up for this premise is promising. We feel the heartache and longing from Snow but the fierce defiance and will to live to seek answers and revenge.

I love fairytale retellings with a strong female lead. This story has echoes of the classic film version as well as the Grimm brother’s tale but Snow is no wet blanket. The characters are complex, the plot unravels at such a fast pace and grows darker with every page. Revenge of an evil queen, fae vs demons and enemies to lovers. This is a story for those who love fantasy.

So much happened in this book, I think it would have worked well as a series. A series would have given more time for character development and for the reader to keep up with the pace. I'm usually one for atmospheric, slow burner gothic thrillers so this dark fantasy made me roll up my sleeves and dive in. If you like fantasy fairytale retellings and in the mood for a fast pace adventure, this is one to try!

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of this book.

Some books evoke feelings, some others bring back memories, but when one book gives you both you know you have found a gem. I have to admit, this book has been absolutely beautiful and crazy, it is very unique and captivating retelling of Snow White. I will just say that I loved every minute of it.

I’m a sucker for a fairytale retelling and I think this might be one of my favourites. Snow had wonderful character development throughout the book and I liked the way the dwarves were written. I do wish there was more building up of the relationship between Snow and Bregas. But I think it’s true fairytale style for the love story to just kind of happen rather than develop over time.
The cover is gorgeous though I think I like the original title better. Overall I definitely recommend this one.

A new inventive retelling of fairy tales. I really enjoyed this element throughout.
Anything based on witches and fae is right up my street. Another spooky season book for me.
I did think the romance could have been given more depth but overall it read really quickly and I enjoyed the authors writing style.
3.5/5 stars.

I really enjoyed "White as Witching". The story grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down, so ended up finishing the book in two days. The writing was beautiful, it created a magical atmosphere, with, in my view, the right amount of darkness. There were sad and tough moments, but there were no gruesome details or graphic scenes to put one off.

The book is a reimaging of Snow White. However, it was different enough that it didn't feel too connected even though many of the familiar characters of the classic tale appeared. I enjoyed meeting those and seeing them in a new light.

The chapters were not too long, but each one felt conclusive. I found most of them ended up on a cliffhanger and I needed to continue and see how the story would progress. What I usually dislike in modern-day fairytales is that they're either quite basic or a bit too overcomplicated. I thought White as Witching struck the right balance there. All in all, a very enjoyable read, a lovely adult fairytale. Would totally recommend it to everyone who enjoys magic and lighter fantasy.

This book is a beautiful retelling of Snow White with a lot of small references of other fairy tales (keep your eyes open… there are a lot of them even if some are really subtle 😉). All along the book, we follow Snow in her honorable quest but we grow up with her in her understanding of what is important in life and how to still be a hero but with another point of view. I loved the way she redefines herself step by step and takes us in her journey… It may be a fantasy story, it also brings a lot of reflexion to the reader and that’s definitely what I loved so much about it. The writing is fluid and so easy to read that I finished the book in 3 days even while english is not my mothertongue (I usually read a little slowlier in english). I jumped into the story and didn’t want it to stop as it was so well written and full of important details (but not too much... I don’t like a lot of details 😊) that help me to perfectly imagine the characters, the landscapes and all the fantastic things that were described. I can only recommend to read this beautiful story that has the power to reach your imagination as well as your heart... Well done Katherine Buel !!

“Words have power, but they have weight as well, and some of them are so terribly, terribly heavy.”

I love a good fairytale retelling. White as Witching has a mixture of a few different fairytales, the primary one being Snow White.
Snow’s aunt has killed her mother and father and taken over her kingdom. After seven years in hiding, having half of her face burned by the man who helped her escape in order to keep her identity a secret and believing her sister Rose to be dead, she is tired of running and tired of keeping both her identity and her Magic a secret. All she wants is revenge.
I read White as Witching in one sitting. It’s a short read but it’s also surprisingly captivating. You find yourself cheering for Snow and her friends l, not just to win, but also as she takes her own journey in understanding herself.

I am struggling to put into words how much I LOVED this book! It was witchy, wonderful and haunting. The world building is exquisite and the writing is just perfection. If I had to sum this book up in three words it would be WOW WOW WOW (original I know!)

I'm thankful I had the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author: Katherine Buel and the Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op)

This book was a wonderful magical adventure from the beginning to the very end. It's one of those books that has you hooked from the first sentence. This book follows Gaia after tragedy forces her to flee everything she knows. Seven years later is where we find ourselves at the beginning of this book.
I had a lot of thoughts as I read this book and one was, how did this author make ugly/terrible things sound so darkly beautiful? There are some twists that I didn't expect and a few I did. In this story at times a true death would be almost a relief. I love the way the author included memorable scenes and characters in new refreshing ways. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to those who enjoy a FANTASTIC fairy tale.

I received an eARC copy of White as Witching from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I did not read the original published version of this book Heart of Snow, so I don't know what changes, if any, were made.

This story is a lyrical retelling of Snow White, along with a few other fairytales, most notably, Snow White and Rose Red. Snow White is in hiding after watching her stepmother, who was also her aunt, murdered her father. A woman she is sure also murdered her mother. Her face is left scared and "ugly" on one side (though there's never any mention of this affecting her sight or abilities to speak or needing special treatment). She gets herself chosen for a "Selection" to be chosen to meet the Queen, somewhere a certain number of girls go each year, and no one sees them ever again, sure she’ll save them this time and remain hidden from her eyes while doing so.

The first part of this book is captivating, and I really enjoyed it. The writing style is the same as the Queen's name "Lyrical" but not impossible to read. Just lyrical enough to fall into a sort of song in your head, but not so like a poem that it becomes insufferable to read.

The Selection itself is interesting and tense. I love how you get to know all the characters, especially the Queen herself, and even start to wonder if Snow White might be a slightly unreliable narrator. Sometimes, I even wonder that now.

Not that the Queen isn't evil. She is, even without me having to reveal how, but she has a Swan Lake backstory of how she and her sister ended up being engaged to the king, and it's heartbreaking, and I wish the Selection really had been the whole of the book. That it hadn't basically broken after the first girl and that the entire book was with Snow White and her stepmother playing mind games while pretending to be nice together while manipulating the girls like chess pieces while more of their morals and pasts were revealed, because I felt like I wanted more of that from Lyric than just the "she's evil, let's just skip to that part and not go into any more of the gray aspects of her character and how she got there". And the "Snow White is so blinded by hatred she can't where she might be wrong" was also more interesting than "Snow White is so pure she apologizes for everything".

What I'm saying is the first part is a 5-star, and the last is a three, which lands us at a 4-star overall. A good story, and interesting, but I ended up not engaging with it as much as I started with at the beginning and that does make me a little disappointed.

This seems to be a title change on a book that was previously published last year(?) I definitely stick with my 5 star rating this book is absolutely beautiful. I am confused at the change of title as I feel like the original was much more fitting and the new one just doesn’t make much sense to me. Below is a copy of the review that I submitted last summer. I will also submit it to the new Goodreads page.


I’ve read quite a few retellings this year but I think this one is by far my favorite. This dark and brooding remix of Snow White is absolutely brilliant. Katherine Buel has a beautiful writing style that sucked me in right out of the gate. The world building was lovely, just the right amount of detail to transport you without over bearing you. I found the magic system to be unique and fun. I loved the characters, especially our MC. I found myself emotionally invested in this storyline. I cringed, I laughed, I got mad, and I even cried. The underlining message of hope and love was tastefully done and honestly well received for me in the world we are living today. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a darker retelling of the classics. Or to anyone looking for a badass MC and a deep resonating message of love and justice conquering all.

An interesting take on Snow White that mixes it with elements from Snow White & Rose Red and German folklore. I liked the premise and Snow's character, especially her time with the blacksmith and having to deal with her circumstances as a scarred villager, which I wish had been longer, but not so much the Queen Lyric storyline nor the witching arc, and thought things are a bit too easy for the sisters thanks to that magic they can wield.

If I could give this book half-stars, I would go for 4.5 as I enjoyed White as Witching a lot, finishing it in one evening. I tend to enjoy fairytale retellings and this one was quite an original one. We follow the story of Gala, who is a rightful heir to the throne of the human realm but lives as a poor blacksmith's daughter in order to survive. She has a scar across her face that protects her from being discovered by the evil queen who killed her parents and beloved sister. Yet she cannot stay hidden forever, seeking revenge and truth.

Gala is quite an interesting Snow White, being fierce and brave, instead of the more usual passive princess. She possesses magical powers of frost and ice, which she is not afraid to use if needed, I liked her as a main character with very clear character development, so clear at times that it truly reminded me of fairytale tropes. The author builds the world well, I especially liked the introduction of other magical creatures such as fae or gnomes.

I am not sure if this book is standalone or if there are more books planned with the characters or at least within the universe, but I would love to get to know more.

Thank you Netgalley UK for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this retelling of the Snow White legend which engaged me from start to finish. The characters are really well fleshed out; the witch at times gains your sympathy and Snow is by no means perfect. Nothing is quite as obvious as it seems and the story moves at a great pace. Bits of other fairy tales are incorporated into the story giving it even more depth. A fabulous read!

We follow Snow in this perilous journey of seeing her family murdered before her eyes to being chosen for the selection. Of which five girls are chosen to live with the Queen. There are many familial secrets Snow will have to uncover, especially concerning her aunt, to survive the illusion. This is a wonderful Snow White retelling stemming from the many versions of her story. The characters were bewitching but not something that made me want to continue with the story. This was more of a story driven book which I adore. Overall it just seemed a little rushed. But then again this book is less than 270 pages and packs a punch for what story it does tell. Overall my rating for this is a 3.5/5.

Extended Breakdown:
Characters: 3/5
Story: 4/5
Magic System: 3.5/5

TikTok: @wvbookwitch
Blog: http://wvbookwitch.blogspot.com/

This was a beautiful retelling of Snow White. I was hooked right from the get-go and enjoyed every page.

During her journey to reclaim her kingdom Snow must learn what it is to love, to lose and the power of the words we say and the ones left unsaid. There is witchcraft and dark magic, demons, fae, dwarves and comical animal friends.

Katherine brings the story to life with her descriptive language and lyrical writing.

White as Witching is a lyrical Snow White retelling. I devoured this book and read it in one sitting. I loved how this was written and loved the dark witchy vibes. There’s murder, magic, witches, demons, fae, and romance. I really cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you NetGalley for an early eARC.

I already knew from the plot that this book was going to be something spectacular:

Snow saw her family murdered by her aunt in front of her eyes seven years ago. She barely escaped with a blacksmith who burned one side of her face to keep her safe all those years.

Each year, the Selection chooses five girl to live in luxury with the Queen Lyric. But Snow knows that her aunt is hiding something. As the Selection comes to her remote village, Snow puts herself forward to be chosen.

She tries hard to lay low while at her childhood castle being magically trained by her aunt. It doesn't take long before Snow realize it's all an illusion.

I literally devoured this book on a rainy afternoon perfect for reading!
I loved this story so much and I have to admit that I didn't think it was so thrilling and full of emotions, I was literally hooked on the story and I was really so emotionally involved.

I loved the fact that it was a retelling of snow white mixing different versions of the famous fable and it all destroyed me (in a good way lol)!

Definitely recommended if you love fairy tales, even a little dark, and obviously if you love snow white.

Thanks to Netgalley and Katherine Buel for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!