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The Fairest of Them All

Carolyn Turgeon

Why we're reading this: My new book, out in August 2013, about Rapunzel growing up to be Snow White's stepmother, is full of witc…more
[close] My new book, out in August 2013, about Rapunzel growing up to be Snow White's stepmother, is full of witchery... =)

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Sep 02, 2013 Stephanie rated it really liked it

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THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL Surprises and Shocks

E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own unless otherwise noted.

Magical hair is part and parcel of any Rapunzelian tale, but herein, it has a great deal of symbolism. It may be that it represents the lies Mathena tells Rapunzel, the secrets she keeps her imprisoned with and the way evil's long tendrils can reach into many h
http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspo...

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL Surprises and Shocks

E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own unless otherwise noted.

Magical hair is part and parcel of any Rapunzelian tale, but herein, it has a great deal of symbolism. It may be that it represents the lies Mathena tells Rapunzel, the secrets she keeps her imprisoned with and the way evil's long tendrils can reach into many hearts and many lives. The book is full of rich symbolism based in nature.

It is hard to believe anyone could be kept so gullible for so long and be led into thinking wrong was right. But, in a morality tale such as this and in most fairy tales the innocent are either corrupted or attacked by the presence of evil.

Rapunzel I found indolent and persuasible to the most heinous of acts. But is she redeemable? Without redemption there is no point to this story.

And, the person who is the cause of so much loss, so much lost time and lost love, is she redeemable too? Not really. When her evil manipulation is discovered so much has already been wasted.

I liked the mixing of the story of Rapunzel and Snow White, whose ability to act nasty gives that character's resume a new twist.

I didn't like the hair. I understand it served a purpose. But almost everything else in the story behaves naturally, even if magical, except for Rapunzel's hair. It reminded me of the snake in Harry Potter movies and just got in my way.

This is not a quick read; it felt longer than its 288 pages. It is not really a romance, and while the love interests do have sex it isn't terribly erotic. THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL is a tale of greed, revenge and betrayal. It can be rather shocking and has a lot of twisty surprises. It reminded me a little of the recent film SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN. While I can't say I enjoyed it very much, it is well written and an intelligent story. It's a little darker than I tend to enjoy. So if you like dark fairy tales for adults this could be just the read for you.
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Jan 03, 2013 Edel Waugh Salisbury marked it as to-read

Apr 05, 2014 Michelle Anderson marked it as to-read

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