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Mirrors and Ashes
Mirror Mirror on the Wall—because of you, a kingdom falls.
When Ember’s mother makes a deal with a fae, she betrays
her own people and puts a death mark on her daughter’s head.
Ember has nowhere to hide.
Her life falls on the kindness of dwarves.
But while she finds sanctuary with the underground folk,
her people suffer, and will eventually succumb to the painful
death that the price of magic demands—
where even the soil of the earth turns to ash.
Unless Ember can save them.
Armed with only the life lessons from her Dwarven family,
Ember must overthrow her own mother and discover
where true love and loyalty lies.
When Ember’s mother makes a deal with a fae, she betrays
her own people and puts a death mark on her daughter’s head.
Ember has nowhere to hide.
Her life falls on the kindness of dwarves.
But while she finds sanctuary with the underground folk,
her people suffer, and will eventually succumb to the painful
death that the price of magic demands—
where even the soil of the earth turns to ash.
Unless Ember can save them.
Armed with only the life lessons from her Dwarven family,
Ember must overthrow her own mother and discover
where true love and loyalty lies.
- GenresFantasyRetellings
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2022
About the author
Cat Bowser
6 books44 followersCat Bowser has been writing stories since before she even knew how to write. Starting with simple drawings in comic book format, once the art of writing was bestowed upon her in first grade, there was no stopping her. Fanfiction, poems, short stories, long stories, novels---all she knew was that she had entire worlds stuck in her head and she needed to get them out.
When she isn’t crafting fantasy worlds, she lives in Arizona with her husband Stephen and two pint sized dogs. Outside of writing, she works as a licensed counselor as the spirit and psychology of the person is of immense interest to her. Relationships of all types---romantic, platonic, familial, she loves to explore them. You’ll find more than a sampling of it in her stories. In her off time, you can find her reading, writing fanfiction, researching mythology and languages and returning to Middle Earth again and again.
Fantasy is her life and she’s running with it.
When she isn’t crafting fantasy worlds, she lives in Arizona with her husband Stephen and two pint sized dogs. Outside of writing, she works as a licensed counselor as the spirit and psychology of the person is of immense interest to her. Relationships of all types---romantic, platonic, familial, she loves to explore them. You’ll find more than a sampling of it in her stories. In her off time, you can find her reading, writing fanfiction, researching mythology and languages and returning to Middle Earth again and again.
Fantasy is her life and she’s running with it.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 19, 2022
MIRRORS AND ASHES is a lovely Snow White retelling with gorgeous descriptions and lyrical writing where dwarves are master stone and gem workers💎, and also part of the working underclass in a kingdom where a cold queen cares little for the plight of the everyday people. Princess Ember is due to take the throne within the next year. Ember is a character who took some time to grow on me. I struggled with her character a little in the first half of the book, but I really liked the way that over the course of the novel, she grew into the best version of herself. She has a fascination with the dwarves, much to the annoyance of her mother, Queen Helga. 👑
When visitors from another kingdom bring a fae to a royal gathering, and the kingdom is enchanted by a fae mirror, Ember is one of the few who is able to break free. She goes to live with the dwarves. The second half of the novel, where Ember becomes fully dwarf, was my very favorite. I loved the way her shift from human to dwarf was shown. I thought the world building was outstanding, from little details like the dwarves’ homes in the caverns, to rafts, to dwarven flowers, to their symbolism, to their beds… all of it was very nicely done. I loved little notes like how dwarves treasured hair and I especially loved the fierce mother-daughter bond that forms between Friga and Ember. The simple act of hair braiding and conversation is so lovely and maternal. Friga was a favorite character. I liked the transition of Ember from human to dwarf over the course of the story, the ceremony and the naming… very nice touches! Recommended for fairy tale lovers!
When visitors from another kingdom bring a fae to a royal gathering, and the kingdom is enchanted by a fae mirror, Ember is one of the few who is able to break free. She goes to live with the dwarves. The second half of the novel, where Ember becomes fully dwarf, was my very favorite. I loved the way her shift from human to dwarf was shown. I thought the world building was outstanding, from little details like the dwarves’ homes in the caverns, to rafts, to dwarven flowers, to their symbolism, to their beds… all of it was very nicely done. I loved little notes like how dwarves treasured hair and I especially loved the fierce mother-daughter bond that forms between Friga and Ember. The simple act of hair braiding and conversation is so lovely and maternal. Friga was a favorite character. I liked the transition of Ember from human to dwarf over the course of the story, the ceremony and the naming… very nice touches! Recommended for fairy tale lovers!
May 18, 2022
Mirrors and Ashes is a book I've been eagerly looking forward to. I enjoy retellings and this is a darker take on one of my favorites. I've read quite a few Snow White retellings, but none of them were anything like this.
First of all, the world-building was rich, well thought out, and descriptive. I enjoyed learning about the dwarves and their culture. I've never read a SW retelling where the dwarves had such an active role in the plot and I have to say, I enjoyed that aspect. Tyr and Friga were my favorites and even though Princess Ember took a bit of time to grow on me, I loved how welcoming Tyr and Friga were.
It would be remiss of me not to point out the themes of grief, growth, and hope in this novel. Ember had a lot of abuse and loss to work though and I thought Bowser did an amazing job showcasing that. Ember's internal growth as she overcame her obstacles was realistic and inspiring.
Now, the reason I'm not giving this five stars is due to the fact that I read the version that was mistakenly uploaded, rather than the fully-edited version. There were some sentence structures in the first half of the novel that slowed me down as I read since I had to reread them a few times. However, since then the correct version has been uploaded so those issues might be fixed by now.
Overall, Mirrors and Ashes is a unique retelling that many fantasy lovers will enjoy! I look forward to reading more books by this incredible author!! 4.5 Stars!
First of all, the world-building was rich, well thought out, and descriptive. I enjoyed learning about the dwarves and their culture. I've never read a SW retelling where the dwarves had such an active role in the plot and I have to say, I enjoyed that aspect. Tyr and Friga were my favorites and even though Princess Ember took a bit of time to grow on me, I loved how welcoming Tyr and Friga were.
It would be remiss of me not to point out the themes of grief, growth, and hope in this novel. Ember had a lot of abuse and loss to work though and I thought Bowser did an amazing job showcasing that. Ember's internal growth as she overcame her obstacles was realistic and inspiring.
Now, the reason I'm not giving this five stars is due to the fact that I read the version that was mistakenly uploaded, rather than the fully-edited version. There were some sentence structures in the first half of the novel that slowed me down as I read since I had to reread them a few times. However, since then the correct version has been uploaded so those issues might be fixed by now.
Overall, Mirrors and Ashes is a unique retelling that many fantasy lovers will enjoy! I look forward to reading more books by this incredible author!! 4.5 Stars!
May 20, 2022
What a creative and well-laid story this was! The Dwarves in this Snow White retelling were absolutely fascinating, and the author goes into great detail over the course of the book to really elaborate on their world and culture. It was probably my favorite part of the story. Ember makes a strong MC with Tyr at her side. Their relationship is intriguing, and I would love to have seen how the romance between them grew from one of friendship to lovers, but this story isn't a romance. So if you're looking specifically for fairytale romance, this might not be the book for you. But if you're into dark plots and super cool settings, then come on in. This book has it in spades.
March 2, 2022
I am a sucker for fairytale retellings because I am always curious to see how someone will take a familiar tale and reinterpret it. I think it reveals interesting aspects of the writer. This retelling was very intriguing, from the world and culture building of the dwarves to the rich and colorful descriptions and prose of the setting. The protagonist, Ember, is a swift-to-act girl who goes through incredible trauma and immense growth. The core of the story seems to focus on recovering from said trauma and healing through time and the love from those closest to you. It has the found family aspect which I always enjoy seeing and the romance was also rather cute. The book has a slow build and setup before the plot kicks off and carries a very solemn and somber tone throughout. However, it all leads up to a brighter and more hopeful ending. My minor issues, and indeed they were minor, were that the main antagonist's motives were murky at best. Also, there are character deaths but we get so little time with them and don't get to see much of Ember interacting with them, so their deaths fell a little flat for me, unfortunately. I do believe that fans of fairytale retellings will deeply enjoy this book, and those who enjoy a deep dive into mythical folklore and culture will also get a good kick out of this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2022
Mirrors and Ashes by Cat Bowser is a darker take on the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. There is rich lore and world building, accompanied by twists and turns that truly showcase the depth of the author’s imagination. The dwarven culture, in particular, was done exceptionally well, with little details thrown in that add wonderful layers to the characters.
Speaking of characters, Ember is our Snow White, and in the course of the story, she undergoes a dramatic growth. While it took time to connect with her, by the end, she became a strong, capable heroine, overcoming grief and adversity. A large part of this has to do with her relationships with several dwarves, who become a new family for her after the traumatic loss of her own. Friga is the wise, loving mother figure, and Tyr her partner. I enjoyed Tyr the most, which might be why I was a touch disappointed that the tale actually skims over how he and Ember moved from friends to love interests. It would’ve added another level to their romance to see that transition instead of having it summarized.
The only other small critique would be the structure of sentences was sometimes awkward, and there were noticeable grammar errors. That said, I was made aware the copy of the book I received may not have been the final version as there was an error with Amazon, so please bear that in mind. These issues may have been resolved, but I would be remiss not to mention them in case not.
Overall, I would recommend anyone who loves fairy tale retellings to give Mirror and Ashes a read. It’s a unique, well-thought out story fans of the genre are sure to love.
Speaking of characters, Ember is our Snow White, and in the course of the story, she undergoes a dramatic growth. While it took time to connect with her, by the end, she became a strong, capable heroine, overcoming grief and adversity. A large part of this has to do with her relationships with several dwarves, who become a new family for her after the traumatic loss of her own. Friga is the wise, loving mother figure, and Tyr her partner. I enjoyed Tyr the most, which might be why I was a touch disappointed that the tale actually skims over how he and Ember moved from friends to love interests. It would’ve added another level to their romance to see that transition instead of having it summarized.
The only other small critique would be the structure of sentences was sometimes awkward, and there were noticeable grammar errors. That said, I was made aware the copy of the book I received may not have been the final version as there was an error with Amazon, so please bear that in mind. These issues may have been resolved, but I would be remiss not to mention them in case not.
Overall, I would recommend anyone who loves fairy tale retellings to give Mirror and Ashes a read. It’s a unique, well-thought out story fans of the genre are sure to love.
April 26, 2022
*4.5 Stars.
One-Line Synopsis: A Queen's greed and a fae's trickery have forced the human princess, Ember, to seek refuge and assistance from the Dwarves, a people whom humans have a rocky history with, in order to save herself and the future of her people.
I am a sucker for a good re-telling and this re-telling of Snow White really hit the mark for me. The story was creative and interesting right from the get-go and held my attention for the entirety of the book. I really appreciated that the author managed to achieve the proper balance between telling a new story and having the appropriate details worked in from the original Snow White to still provide that nostalgia and feeling of recognition, which can be very difficult to do.
The story itself was great, but one of the things that I liked most about this book was the author's exploration of how to get through issues relating to grief, blame, and self-worth. Following along Ember's journey dealing with these issues with the unfailing love and support of Tyr and Friga was so beautiful and believable to the point where some of the advice given to her throughout really resonated with me even though we are in very different situations.
I also thought the character development in the book was excellent. Ember was everything I wanted in a heroine --strong, loving, and intelligent, but not perfect and still working through her flaws. I also really loved Tyr, and his love and support of Ember throughout were perfect.
My one real complaint is that I felt Ember's constant apologizing got to be a bit much. I understand that she is dealing with constantly blaming herself for everything that is going wrong around her and so it makes sense, but I think that even keeping that in mind it was too much and got to be pretty annoying closer to the end.
Overall really well done and I would definitely recommend!
A big thank you to BookSirens and Cat Bowser for the ARC I received and I am leaving his honest review voluntarily.
One-Line Synopsis: A Queen's greed and a fae's trickery have forced the human princess, Ember, to seek refuge and assistance from the Dwarves, a people whom humans have a rocky history with, in order to save herself and the future of her people.
I am a sucker for a good re-telling and this re-telling of Snow White really hit the mark for me. The story was creative and interesting right from the get-go and held my attention for the entirety of the book. I really appreciated that the author managed to achieve the proper balance between telling a new story and having the appropriate details worked in from the original Snow White to still provide that nostalgia and feeling of recognition, which can be very difficult to do.
The story itself was great, but one of the things that I liked most about this book was the author's exploration of how to get through issues relating to grief, blame, and self-worth. Following along Ember's journey dealing with these issues with the unfailing love and support of Tyr and Friga was so beautiful and believable to the point where some of the advice given to her throughout really resonated with me even though we are in very different situations.
I also thought the character development in the book was excellent. Ember was everything I wanted in a heroine --strong, loving, and intelligent, but not perfect and still working through her flaws. I also really loved Tyr, and his love and support of Ember throughout were perfect.
My one real complaint is that I felt Ember's constant apologizing got to be a bit much. I understand that she is dealing with constantly blaming herself for everything that is going wrong around her and so it makes sense, but I think that even keeping that in mind it was too much and got to be pretty annoying closer to the end.
Overall really well done and I would definitely recommend!
A big thank you to BookSirens and Cat Bowser for the ARC I received and I am leaving his honest review voluntarily.
March 6, 2022
MIRRORS & ASHES is a fantastic Snow White retelling that encaptures the reader and holds their interest from start to finish.
Ember is the main female and she has a lot to put up with from her mother, which she is made to believe is her fault. When things in the kingdom start going wrong, Ember is the one they blame. She has made friends with the Dwarves though and is welcomed among them when she escapes the death that waits for her. Through them, she learns about who she is and what love truly is, and what forms it can come in. Romance plays a part here but is not the focus.
This was very well-written, with plenty of depth and detail, giving this a polished edged. I loved the Dwarven way of life, their language, their customs, etc. I loved seeing the growth of Ember from a child, to a woman of two cultures.
The pacing was perfect for the story, and it always flowed and never faltered. A great retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Ember is the main female and she has a lot to put up with from her mother, which she is made to believe is her fault. When things in the kingdom start going wrong, Ember is the one they blame. She has made friends with the Dwarves though and is welcomed among them when she escapes the death that waits for her. Through them, she learns about who she is and what love truly is, and what forms it can come in. Romance plays a part here but is not the focus.
This was very well-written, with plenty of depth and detail, giving this a polished edged. I loved the Dwarven way of life, their language, their customs, etc. I loved seeing the growth of Ember from a child, to a woman of two cultures.
The pacing was perfect for the story, and it always flowed and never faltered. A great retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
June 6, 2022
(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)
Mirrors and Ashes is a fairytale retelling that puts a new spin on the classic Snow White tale.
There were a lot of things I loved about this story, namely the dwarves. The creative way Bowser wrote the species and their unique culture was so much fun to read. The details in their coloring, tattoos, and their braids were all so intricate and well thought out.
I also adored the found family trope. Friga, Tyr, and all the other dwarves were so loving and protective of Ember which she needed after her own toxic mother cast her out.
I did have a few issues with this book though, mainly the pacing. At times it felt like nothing was happening, then the large time skip, although necessary to move the story along, did seem a bit jarring to me. There were also numerous instances were things were worded strangely or in a way that didn’t make sense, causing me to have to reread them multiple times before I understood the intention of the statement.
But overall I did enjoy this author’s debut and I am curious to see what they write in the future.
Mirrors and Ashes is a fairytale retelling that puts a new spin on the classic Snow White tale.
There were a lot of things I loved about this story, namely the dwarves. The creative way Bowser wrote the species and their unique culture was so much fun to read. The details in their coloring, tattoos, and their braids were all so intricate and well thought out.
I also adored the found family trope. Friga, Tyr, and all the other dwarves were so loving and protective of Ember which she needed after her own toxic mother cast her out.
I did have a few issues with this book though, mainly the pacing. At times it felt like nothing was happening, then the large time skip, although necessary to move the story along, did seem a bit jarring to me. There were also numerous instances were things were worded strangely or in a way that didn’t make sense, causing me to have to reread them multiple times before I understood the intention of the statement.
But overall I did enjoy this author’s debut and I am curious to see what they write in the future.
April 15, 2022
A retelling of Snow White that has an interesting concept but not a stand-out when compare to other retellings.
The author clearly has a talent for writing, showing her impressive talent to weave a story and her use of language.
The story has the classic 'Snow White' tale but mixed with a more Dwarven culture and includes Fae. There was nothing in particular that grabbed me as I was reading, more so just cruising along.
I do think others would like this alot more so I would encourage readers to give it a go if you like fairytale-retellings or are a Snow White fan, this just wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Book Sirens for this eARC for an honest review
The author clearly has a talent for writing, showing her impressive talent to weave a story and her use of language.
The story has the classic 'Snow White' tale but mixed with a more Dwarven culture and includes Fae. There was nothing in particular that grabbed me as I was reading, more so just cruising along.
I do think others would like this alot more so I would encourage readers to give it a go if you like fairytale-retellings or are a Snow White fan, this just wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Book Sirens for this eARC for an honest review
May 22, 2022
This story was an interesting twist on the classic fairy tale of Snow White. If you are looking for a book that includes some pretty deep worldbuilding and classic tropes such as an Evil Queen, you are likely to enjoy this book.
There were two things that stood out to me—the Dwarven culture and the theme of abuse. The Dwarven was well-fleshed out, creative, and a joy to learn about. Bowser did an excellent job presenting a complex culture with merits and flaws, and it was fun to see it through the eyes of the main character, Ember.
As I understand it, the author is also a counselor, and how she portrays the complexity and poisonous effects of abuse struck me. The theme of setting yourself free from the clutches of your abuser was woven throughout, but really shined in the second half as the main character struggled to come to terms with how she was treated as a child. Her journey proves fruitful and beautiful, but also immensely difficult to come to terms with. I thought the handling of this theme was thoughtful, and it was very well done.
That being said, I can’t give a review in good conscious without mentioning the readability of some parts. It felt like there were two clear halves—the first half was less cohesive, and I struggled to read through some sentences due to clunkiness or structural organization. The second half felt much more mature, cohesive, and readability improved quite a bit. The book could have used more line editing for sentence fluency, etc.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, worldbuilding, and themes, though at times I struggled with readability. I look forward to what else this author has in store!
There were two things that stood out to me—the Dwarven culture and the theme of abuse. The Dwarven was well-fleshed out, creative, and a joy to learn about. Bowser did an excellent job presenting a complex culture with merits and flaws, and it was fun to see it through the eyes of the main character, Ember.
As I understand it, the author is also a counselor, and how she portrays the complexity and poisonous effects of abuse struck me. The theme of setting yourself free from the clutches of your abuser was woven throughout, but really shined in the second half as the main character struggled to come to terms with how she was treated as a child. Her journey proves fruitful and beautiful, but also immensely difficult to come to terms with. I thought the handling of this theme was thoughtful, and it was very well done.
That being said, I can’t give a review in good conscious without mentioning the readability of some parts. It felt like there were two clear halves—the first half was less cohesive, and I struggled to read through some sentences due to clunkiness or structural organization. The second half felt much more mature, cohesive, and readability improved quite a bit. The book could have used more line editing for sentence fluency, etc.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, worldbuilding, and themes, though at times I struggled with readability. I look forward to what else this author has in store!
January 15, 2024
3.75 ⭐ rating
Mirrors and Ashes is the fractured fairy tale Snow White. Ember world is torn apart when her mother Helga turns to a Fae to help her harness her own greed. She will go to any length to gain the riches she thinks is due to her even if it means destroying her family and kingdom. The dwarves help Ember to escape so she can save herself and gain strength so she can defend her kingdom. Along the way they also teach her the true meaning of love and family.
Bowser has a great talent with flipping classic fairy tales and showing the darker side it can take. She shows us how greed can suffocate all that is around us and the repercussions that come from those actions. This story is full of self doubt, soul searching, despair, self growth and acceptance.
I did find this tale slow going which affected my reading pace. The climax scenes where spaced out a bit too far apart but did have good development. This will be where I docked some stars.
I loved the scenery descriptions. They were completely different and the story concept is one I have not read before. This would be high in originality for sure. The characters had a descent backstory and originality but I also had a hard time connecting with them. I do enjoy Bowser's writing and will continue reading her stuff.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mirrors and Ashes is the fractured fairy tale Snow White. Ember world is torn apart when her mother Helga turns to a Fae to help her harness her own greed. She will go to any length to gain the riches she thinks is due to her even if it means destroying her family and kingdom. The dwarves help Ember to escape so she can save herself and gain strength so she can defend her kingdom. Along the way they also teach her the true meaning of love and family.
Bowser has a great talent with flipping classic fairy tales and showing the darker side it can take. She shows us how greed can suffocate all that is around us and the repercussions that come from those actions. This story is full of self doubt, soul searching, despair, self growth and acceptance.
I did find this tale slow going which affected my reading pace. The climax scenes where spaced out a bit too far apart but did have good development. This will be where I docked some stars.
I loved the scenery descriptions. They were completely different and the story concept is one I have not read before. This would be high in originality for sure. The characters had a descent backstory and originality but I also had a hard time connecting with them. I do enjoy Bowser's writing and will continue reading her stuff.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 6, 2022
A fairytale re-telling of Snow White in a way that’s different than we’ve seen before. The book has a lot of build up and description. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This book has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 5, 2022
Fairy tale retelling is one of my favorite thing to read. This book was great in following the story line of Snow White but in a more unique way. I loved the world building, the character development, and the interesting plot of the book. The story was engaging throughout the whole book. I especially love the relationship between Ember and Friga throughout the whole story line.
Thank you booksiren and the author for a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.
Thank you booksiren and the author for a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.
April 26, 2022
4.5 Stars
This is a retelling of Snow White and I really enjoyed it. It starts off a little slow but builds into something really great. I love that this retelling has a great amount of focus on the dwarves and their ways. It’s amazing how books can describe how we feel. So many quotes I could pull from this book that speak to how I felt after losing my husband.
•“It was so hard to make sense of things right now. Wading through a pool of emotions and each wave made her turn to lead and oil, sinking and rising all at once. “I’m lost.” An odd, little declaration, but relief flooded her body at saying it.”
•“She didn’t know what to do. Everything had collapsed around her today and while she had clawed her way to the top, fighting and screaming, exhaustion was the word for her.”
This book was amazing and beautifully written. I enjoyed this one so very much.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a retelling of Snow White and I really enjoyed it. It starts off a little slow but builds into something really great. I love that this retelling has a great amount of focus on the dwarves and their ways. It’s amazing how books can describe how we feel. So many quotes I could pull from this book that speak to how I felt after losing my husband.
•“It was so hard to make sense of things right now. Wading through a pool of emotions and each wave made her turn to lead and oil, sinking and rising all at once. “I’m lost.” An odd, little declaration, but relief flooded her body at saying it.”
•“She didn’t know what to do. Everything had collapsed around her today and while she had clawed her way to the top, fighting and screaming, exhaustion was the word for her.”
This book was amazing and beautifully written. I enjoyed this one so very much.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 9, 2022
Mirrors and Ashes is a retelling of Snow White with a twist. Princess Ember, to her mother's dismay, enjoys mingling with her people and enjoys a close friendship with the dwarves. Her mother, in the pursuit of glory and wanting to consolidate her power, makes a deal with the fae that puts a death threat on Ember's head. The start of the story is hard to get into and there are a lot of characters that are introduced at the start that makes it a little confusing. Ember herself is impulsive and sometimes thoughtless at the start, but the tale shows her maturation. The plot and writing really improve towards the end. 3.5/5 stars
March 12, 2022
The book is overwhelming in the best of ways! Taking the seed of the Snow White tale and totally fleshing it out into a new story was so creative. There are so many human condition truths in this book, starting with Ember, and in the actions of Tyr and Friga. Love this book and will read whatever tale Cat Bowser wants to tell next!
April 16, 2022
Mirrors and Ashes is a Snow White retelling featuring Ember, a princess who truly loves the people. She’s suffered trauma by the hands of her mother, the Queen. When the Queen makes a deal with a Fae, and declares her daughter be killed, Ember is taken in by the dwarves.
This is a captivating story, with unique worldbuilding. I especially enjoyed reading about the Dwarven kingdom, politics, culture, and ways of life. I loved witnessing Ember’s growth throughout this novel—who will stop at nothing to do right by her people.
I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of retellings!
Thank you to BookSirens for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a captivating story, with unique worldbuilding. I especially enjoyed reading about the Dwarven kingdom, politics, culture, and ways of life. I loved witnessing Ember’s growth throughout this novel—who will stop at nothing to do right by her people.
I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of retellings!
Thank you to BookSirens for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 15, 2022
I always enjoyed reading fairytales. They’re always entertaining. I like this retelling of Snow White. The story was well written, the plot progressed smoothly and the characters were engaging. I enjoyed the author’s interpretation of this fairytale.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2022
This worked for me as a fairy tale retelling, the characters were great and I loved the story itself. The author has a wonderful writing style and I look forward to more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 12, 2023
Here we go!
If this book were a cocktail, it would definitely be Looking Glass & Apples… with a Twist!
Mirrors and Ashes: A Snow White Retelling by Catherine Bowser
–Not your traditional faerie tale!–
This story was certainly a unique retelling of the classic tale of Snow White. Mirrors and Ashes was an easy enough read (unlike my review), which I was able to get through fairly quickly, while still being adequately laden with imaginative worldbuilding insight and information. Light enough for reading at any occasion, but still holding strong the underlying theme of abuse (but I mean… it’s Snow White and an Evil Queen – how else would you expect the queen to be… amiright?). 💁🏻♀
I absolutely enjoyed the worldbuilding and the indepth take of dwarven culture – I mean that in both senses of 1.) deep into the earth as dwarven kind goes, as well as 2.) informative. I feel a lot of time was spent on the dwarven traditions etiquette, and language – which I absolutely loved as it helped me to better imagine this reimagining.
I loved the very different take on the classic faerie tale love interest. And our beloved faerie tale princess has very strong characteristics which seem to build and change as the story progresses. The growth her character makes is amazing. And let me just say... there is so much in a name. Especially hers -- all 4 to be exact! 😉
Oh Mother Stone! So many words can be used to describe this retelling… it’s quite difficult to narrow it down!
A lost kingdom… a kingdom lost. A deadly partnership. Broken mirrors and broken hearts. A surprising suitor. Found family. Unbreakable loyalty. A protagonist… antagonist… and dare I say, a… contagonist?! 😱
*****
“Don’t trust dwarves.” As was firmly believed in the kingdom and spoken by many. Many except the dear, adventurous Princess Ember, sole heir to the throne. Unlike the elven kind, dwarves were tolerated, but never highly respected in the kingdom, despite Princess Ember’s fondness for them. She was completely infatuated with much of dwarven culture and simply adored many of the dwarven kind she had grown fond of, and enjoyed spending her free time among them, listening to their legends and stories… despite Mother’s unwavering disapproval. Ember’s life seemed a fairly happy one, for a time… until a neighboring kingdom arrived with a strange cloaked visitor in their company… and a mysteriously malevolent mirror, seemingly harmless at first…until closer inspection.
Then, everything changed. Ember no longer fall for the façade of the gift presented to her, and as dark intentions are uncovered, she soon begins to see things for what they truly are...
In a single night, everything and everyone Ember holds dear is ripped away from her. Her father gone, the entire kingdom entranced, and her own mother ordering Ember’s demise… for fear of her life Ember only has one choice – to flee the only home she’s ever known and the kingdom of her people she had always put first and cared so much about.
Taking refuge in the only place she felt was safe, among the only people she felt could protect her, Ember begins to rebuild her life… but she never gives up hope that she might one day return to her home and save her beloved people from the evil that has befallen her kingdom.
—
I adored this story and the unique qualities it contains. One thing I would have really enjoyed that I felt I was missing was a bit more story and background to a few of the minor characters in the story. I would have loved to learn more about Jacob, Emery, and even Lance. – They were by far my favorite minor characters in the story. But other than that, well done!
If this book were a cocktail, it would definitely be Looking Glass & Apples… with a Twist!
Mirrors and Ashes: A Snow White Retelling by Catherine Bowser
–Not your traditional faerie tale!–
This story was certainly a unique retelling of the classic tale of Snow White. Mirrors and Ashes was an easy enough read (unlike my review), which I was able to get through fairly quickly, while still being adequately laden with imaginative worldbuilding insight and information. Light enough for reading at any occasion, but still holding strong the underlying theme of abuse (but I mean… it’s Snow White and an Evil Queen – how else would you expect the queen to be… amiright?). 💁🏻♀
I absolutely enjoyed the worldbuilding and the indepth take of dwarven culture – I mean that in both senses of 1.) deep into the earth as dwarven kind goes, as well as 2.) informative. I feel a lot of time was spent on the dwarven traditions etiquette, and language – which I absolutely loved as it helped me to better imagine this reimagining.
I loved the very different take on the classic faerie tale love interest. And our beloved faerie tale princess has very strong characteristics which seem to build and change as the story progresses. The growth her character makes is amazing. And let me just say... there is so much in a name. Especially hers -- all 4 to be exact! 😉
Oh Mother Stone! So many words can be used to describe this retelling… it’s quite difficult to narrow it down!
A lost kingdom… a kingdom lost. A deadly partnership. Broken mirrors and broken hearts. A surprising suitor. Found family. Unbreakable loyalty. A protagonist… antagonist… and dare I say, a… contagonist?! 😱
*****
“Don’t trust dwarves.” As was firmly believed in the kingdom and spoken by many. Many except the dear, adventurous Princess Ember, sole heir to the throne. Unlike the elven kind, dwarves were tolerated, but never highly respected in the kingdom, despite Princess Ember’s fondness for them. She was completely infatuated with much of dwarven culture and simply adored many of the dwarven kind she had grown fond of, and enjoyed spending her free time among them, listening to their legends and stories… despite Mother’s unwavering disapproval. Ember’s life seemed a fairly happy one, for a time… until a neighboring kingdom arrived with a strange cloaked visitor in their company… and a mysteriously malevolent mirror, seemingly harmless at first…until closer inspection.
Then, everything changed. Ember no longer fall for the façade of the gift presented to her, and as dark intentions are uncovered, she soon begins to see things for what they truly are...
In a single night, everything and everyone Ember holds dear is ripped away from her. Her father gone, the entire kingdom entranced, and her own mother ordering Ember’s demise… for fear of her life Ember only has one choice – to flee the only home she’s ever known and the kingdom of her people she had always put first and cared so much about.
Taking refuge in the only place she felt was safe, among the only people she felt could protect her, Ember begins to rebuild her life… but she never gives up hope that she might one day return to her home and save her beloved people from the evil that has befallen her kingdom.
—
I adored this story and the unique qualities it contains. One thing I would have really enjoyed that I felt I was missing was a bit more story and background to a few of the minor characters in the story. I would have loved to learn more about Jacob, Emery, and even Lance. – They were by far my favorite minor characters in the story. But other than that, well done!
May 20, 2022
I loved the themes in this book. They include powerful topics such as found family; healing from trauma; confronting and cutting off toxic influences in your life; and rebuilding yourself as your own person after abuse. There’s so much goodness crammed into this book and juxtaposed with some of humanity’s worst tendencies.
It kills me that I can’t give this book a glowing 5/5 review. I genuinely enjoyed the story and the world the author has built. However, I feel that with the difficulties I had, giving that perfect, glowing review would cause more harm than being honest. While I greatly enjoyed the book, and think it is absolutely worth reading, I do not want to send readers its way that will be extremely bothered by the editing. That’s a recipe for unpleasant and unfair reviews.
I sincerely hope that the author will continue to write and that her next launch will be less fraught. My hopes for her next book remain high despite my frustration with this one.
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I doubled checked the Goodreads review guidelines, so say this should be okay. For full context and additional thoughts, please feel free to check out my in-depth review on my blog
https://www.sara-cleveland.com/self-p...
It kills me that I can’t give this book a glowing 5/5 review. I genuinely enjoyed the story and the world the author has built. However, I feel that with the difficulties I had, giving that perfect, glowing review would cause more harm than being honest. While I greatly enjoyed the book, and think it is absolutely worth reading, I do not want to send readers its way that will be extremely bothered by the editing. That’s a recipe for unpleasant and unfair reviews.
I sincerely hope that the author will continue to write and that her next launch will be less fraught. My hopes for her next book remain high despite my frustration with this one.
---
I doubled checked the Goodreads review guidelines, so say this should be okay. For full context and additional thoughts, please feel free to check out my in-depth review on my blog
https://www.sara-cleveland.com/self-p...
May 30, 2022
Enjoyable Reimagining of the Snow White Story
An imaginative retelling of the Snow White fairy tale, this book explores themes of self, family, loyalty, and betrayal. Very much a character-driven story, the pacing feels somewhat slow much of the time, punctuated with a few stretches of action. The final 50-ish pages in particular really moved and were, in my opinion, the strongest part of the book, with a satisfying ending. I really enjoyed the way the author reimagined Dwarves and Fae, as it brought a refreshing spin to the story. The book had a lot of word choices and turns of phrase that struck me as odd, however, which made it hard for me to really get into the story. That’s my only real complaint about the book — if not for that, I’d have rated if 4 stars.
An imaginative retelling of the Snow White fairy tale, this book explores themes of self, family, loyalty, and betrayal. Very much a character-driven story, the pacing feels somewhat slow much of the time, punctuated with a few stretches of action. The final 50-ish pages in particular really moved and were, in my opinion, the strongest part of the book, with a satisfying ending. I really enjoyed the way the author reimagined Dwarves and Fae, as it brought a refreshing spin to the story. The book had a lot of word choices and turns of phrase that struck me as odd, however, which made it hard for me to really get into the story. That’s my only real complaint about the book — if not for that, I’d have rated if 4 stars.
October 5, 2023
A retelling of Snow White that is rich and beautifully written. Some authors have a way of crafting worlds that draw you in and its easy to get lost in the story - to feel every emotion and to hope that everything works out for the best.
Abuse, grief, hope and growth. Sweet friendships and hard relationships. This book is filled with all the major themes of our human existence. The character development is excellent, the world building is so beautiful.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Abuse, grief, hope and growth. Sweet friendships and hard relationships. This book is filled with all the major themes of our human existence. The character development is excellent, the world building is so beautiful.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Well written characters and good story line and characters interactions were awesome
Well written characters and good story line and characters interactions were awesome
June 28, 2023
I am a big sucker for fairytale retellings. And while this wasn’t my favorite, it was a very entertaining twist on a great classic.
Ember’s mother is a very cruel woman to begin with, but when she makes a deal with a Fae her cruelty reaches new levels of evil. Ember seeks refuge with the dwarves as she tries to plan a way to save the kingdom.
Ember’s mother is a very cruel woman to begin with, but when she makes a deal with a Fae her cruelty reaches new levels of evil. Ember seeks refuge with the dwarves as she tries to plan a way to save the kingdom.
February 14, 2022
I’m biased towards fairytales in general but I’m especially biased towards Snow White. She’s an underrated character, an often misinterpreted character, and her fairytale doesn’t get the respect it deserves by this generation. As much as I can appreciate a good Snow White retelling, I had trouble connecting with this one. I’m not quite sure why but I think it was a mix of the world building and the tone just not suiting my tastes. I almost feel bad giving this a 3 star rating because genuinely, this was a well written book and the author clearly has writing talent. This just personally wasn’t the type of fairytale that I like to read because I like my darker novels separate from my fairytales. However, this genuinely was really well written even though it wasn’t for me!
April 29, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this reimagining and merging of Tolkeinesque fantasy with a non-traditional "Snow White"!
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