The Evil Queen

June 1, 2019
A new take on "Snow White" in which fairy tales are prophecies. Life in Oklahoma did not prepare 17-year-old Everly Morrow for the truths she comes to discover: that she is a princess from the realm of Enchantia; her stepfather, Nicolas, is an evil sorcerer; and her beloved twin, Hartly, is not actually her sister. Plus, they are all players in a developing prophecy connected to the "Snow White" tale--but none of them knows which part they will play. Everly crosses over to Enchantia to find the truth behind who she is, and there, she meets other potential players, including Prince Roth Charmaine (Prince Charming, perhaps?), with whom she has an insta-connection. This is only the beginning of Everly's journey: With her newfound ability to communicate with mirrors, it seems fairly clear which character Everly is fated to be. The novel's conceit has a lot of potential with its deconstruction of a cherished fairy tale, an interesting take on good and evil as actions rather than fate, and a long cast of characters in ever evolving roles that will leave readers wondering who they are supposed to be. But cringeworthy dialogue and a convoluted, overlong execution let the premise down along with Everly's repetitive am-I-good/am-I-evil internal monologue. Everly is white; some secondary characters are described as having brown skin, and two major secondary characters are lesbians. An intriguing but ultimately disappointing series opener. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

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June 7, 2019

Gr 8 Up-For as long as Everly can remember, she's been the unlikable and feared twin to the beautiful and endearing Hartly. Everly wears her intimidating personality as a badge of honor and uses it to protect her sister, as instructed by their mother. When not protecting Hartly, Everly escapes into a fantastic land where she's the sweet and giving girl that she sees in mirrors, until one day the mirror reveals horrible things that affect her family. Pressuring her mother for answers, Everly learns that she and her sister are princesses from a realm called Enchantia from which their mother escaped. Everly's mother also reveals that Everly is the fabled Evil Queen from the Snow White fairy tale who possess a unique and powerful form of magic. After a family tragedy, Everly returns to Enchantia, where she is hunted by centaurs and royals who wish her dead. At times, the pacing is too quick to fully develop the backstory. Familiar themes including fate, destiny, and fitting in will resonate with readers. VERDICT Recommended for large collections where fractured fairy tales are popular.-Dawn Abron, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 24, 2019
After Everly Morrow, 17, discovers that she can spy on people using mirrors, and her fraternal twin, Hartly, develops the ability to commune with animals, their mother, Aubrey, divulges the truth: they are from Enchantia, where magic is real and fairy tales are prophetic. Aubrey decamped to Oklahoma after King Stephan tried to murder the family and succeeded in killing the girls’ father, Prince Edwin. Now, Stephan has died, and it’s safe to return. However, an Oracle claims that the sisters’ fates are tied to the tale of “Snow White,” and if their newfound talents reflect their respective roles in the fairy tale, tragedy awaits. Upon arriving in Enchantia, Everly falls for Roth Charmaine (aka Prince Charming?) raising questions about good vs. evil and fate vs. free will. Despite a ponderous start, purple prose, and a convoluted premise, Showalter (the Everlife books) delivers an entertaining series opener that condemns prejudice while championing self-determination. Romance—sweet and steamy, gay and straight—features prominently, action and humor abound, and the mystery of how each character figures into the legend imparts intrigue. Ages 13–up. Agent: Deidre Knight, the Knight Agency.