The book started off being quite enjoyable and entertaining. I've not seen this type of fairy tale retelling before and it was quite fun. But as the book went on it became more annoying than fun. Snow started off as quite an interesting heroine, but towards the middle and end of the book she became a complete Mary Sue and I found myself rolling my eyes a hell of a lot, and skimming through a lot of it. Like having a specially designed dress by Vera Wang for her sweet sixteen. Seriously?

Cindy the best friend was an enjoyable character. I liked the seven brothers, but all of them fawning over how wonderful ordinary Snow was got rather annoying. The twist with vampire Snow and the Hunter was an interesting idea. And I did like the interaction with Sharra the Vampire Queen and how the curse to use Snow and the Hunter to turn her into a vampire.

Then all the destiny stuff came in and it got annoying again. Also with the hints dropped left right and centre that of course wonderful Snow was more magical and powerful than anyone could have ever imagined. Urg. And then introducing some sort of vampire hunting angels. More eye rolling.

I did enjoy some of the magical elements in the story, the different world and all the magical species and I particularly liked some of the middle novellas in the magical realm. The story tells that a magical Seal gem given to Snow is crucial to her victory. At some point she ends up in a coma two of the novellas tell the story of the Vampire Queens origin and how the curse came to be in place from twin sister of the Vampire Queen Siliandra. That bit of going into the background history and all the magical worlds I did enjoy a lot.

But just when the book was starting to get good again, something stupid would happen and I would be rolling my eyes all over again. Like the big magical dragon having a human form. Not necessary. He was a wonderful creation as powerful magic creature, should have been left at that. Why turn give him a human form?

The book almost had a satisfactory ending, a true fairy tale ending wrapping everything up nicely. Then something else happened that was completely stupid and unnecessary.

Over all a 2.5 star rating. It had its moments. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. ( )

I think most of us growing up have watched the fairy tale movies, and one of my favorites was Snow White, so when I read the premise for this and discovered that it a re-telling of Snow White, but not only that, she was to be a vampire, I was all in. Lately I haven’t read a lot of vampires books, so I was wondering how all of this would come together. With that being said, I was glad I gave this a try.

Snow is a ordinary young girl, she has grown up with 7 boys, and a Professor, so she is far from being a girly girl. I will say it did play to her advantage, to go through all she needed that tom boyish charms. The strength that Snow gained along the way was reason I just adored her character. I think I enjoyed the 7 boys almost as much as much I enjoyed Snow. Each one has a different personality, and they cared deeply for Snow and each other. I have to touch on the Hunter, A.K.A. Prince Charming, but was he really A Prince Charming? That was the real question, he always seemed like he hiding something and I didn’t figure him out till much later in the story.

Even with everything going on there is of course a romance, a love triangle to be exact, but it doesn’t stay that was for long and I was pleased that it didn’t. I thought I had it all figured out who Snow would up with, and who of course her “Prince Charming” truly was, but I was sooo wrong, and that was one of the twists that I didn’t see coming but most certainly welcomed. And there are so many other characters that Snow encountered through out her journey, that were equally interesting to this already intriguing cast.

Since there are 12 novella’s, I would definitely recommend reading them like this, in the complete set. The first few were on the slow side, but it was setting up the groundwork for the full story. Since it is re-telling of Snow White, you have the all the characters, but with so many twists on the story and the characters, it just keeps your attention and wanting to know if Snow succeeds with trying to restore balance. And let me tell you this evil queen is probably even more evil the the original. The realm was an enchanting world, with the different fairies, vampires, dragons and a few other mystical creatures, I just couldn’t get enough. Secrets were revealed, not just about Snow, but her adoptive brothers, and there was so many different things going on, that I was not expecting the ending at all. WOW, was it a doozy, but I am happy with it all the same.

Blood and Snow was definitely a unique take on Snow White, with a engaging plot that just gets better with each novella. Fans of fairy tale re-telling will devour this. ( )

RaShelle Workman has taken the Snow White fairy tale and made it her own. Set in modern day with vampires and other creatures of myth, Snow must navigate the waters of adolescents all while trying to survive a plot my the vampire queen and high school. Snow has normal teenage problems like boys, first loves, friends, and parents. She also has to juggle weapons training and her thirst for blood, which are not so normal problems. There is symbolism and hidden meaning everywhere. Snow White has always been a coming of age story, the girl blossoms into a beautiful woman. Blood and Snow is also a transformation tale with a bit more transformation than the original Snow White had to put up with.

If you are familiar with the fairy tale you will recognize the bread crumbs Workman has left for you in the plot. It is easy to identify who is who from the original Snow White among their modern day counter parts. The hunter was probably my favorite. He was brilliantly done. Another theme prominent in Blood and Snow is the freedom of choice. Is there a such thing as good and evil? Are we all just the sum of our parts or the choices that we have made? I had a hard time classifying any one person as wholly evil or good. They were flawed and that makes them easy to relate to.

Workman is a creative mastermind. I think you would be hard pressed to find a reader who could not at least agree that she has a fantastic imagination and a gift for story telling.

Read more reviews at despoinapersephone.blogspot.com ( )

Overall, I have really enjoyed this series. At first it was strange when I finished the first volume at page 55, and I know some people aren't huge fans of how short they are, but I find it unique and refreshing. Instead of ending at a certain chapter, I can just end at the beginning of the next novelette.

Also, the style of writing. I like it. Instead of feeling like an adult trapped in a young girl's body, RaShelle Workman does well engaging me in the mind of an immature and hormonal 15 year old. For some reason a lot of people didn't like this, but I think becoming and identifying with your characters makes a good writer.

Now for the overall storyline! I know I know, unfortunately with these YA vampire stories there are bound to be repeats of other vampire stories. But can you blame them for taking rules and knowledge of certain creatures that we all grew up with and applying them to their stories? We all know *something* happens to vampires in the sunlight, and generally they live for thousands of years because they aren't quite human. These authors do well to add their own little twists. I'm just glad we've steered away from them sleeping in coffins and not being able to get their pictures taken.

There were some things I could easily compare to Twilight but...do I dare say this? I think this has a much deeper storyline than Twilight ever did. Aside from the repeats, I have fallen in love with this twist of Snow White. The more I read, the more there was to learn. There were cliffhangers that kept me wanting to read more, and also made me have to stop and process what the heck was going on because I was straight up shocked. However, I think it would make a little more sense of Snow was a little older. There are times it just seems slightly out of place that she is 15 and her parents are leaving her unattended for long periods of time when she can't even drive. I give it 4/5 stars and would recommend it! ( )