Snow White Learns Witchcraft

Stories and Poems

By: Theodora Goss

Narrated by: Esther Wane

Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

A young woman hunts for her wayward shadow at the school where she first learned magic - while another faces a test she never studied for as ice envelopes the world. The tasks assigned a bookish boy lead him to fateful encounters with lizards, owls, trolls, and a feisty, sarcastic cat. 

A bear wedding is cause for celebration, the spinning wheel and the tower in the briar hedge get to tell their own stories, and a kitchen maid finds out that a lost princess is more than she seems. The sea witch reveals what she hoped to gain when she took the mermaid's voice. A wiser Snow White sets out to craft herself a new tale.

In these eight stories and 23 poems, World Fantasy Award winner Theodora Goss retells and recasts fairy tales by Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and Oscar Wilde. Sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious, always lyrical, the works gathered in Snow White Learns Witchcraft re-center and empower the women at the heart of these timeless narratives. 

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Grand Master Jane Yolen, in her introduction, proclaims that Goss "transposes, transforms, and transcends times, eras, and old tales with ease. But also there is a core of tough magic that runs through all her pieces like a river through Faerie...I am ready to reread some of my new favorites."

©2019 Theodora Goss (P)2020 Tantor

LOTS of Stories!!

Each chapter is an entire story, some from just a few minutes to some over one hour.

Some are scary, some disturbing, some heartwarming (Bellefleur) was SO good!
It was a story of the "hero's quest" but with the unassuming female lead too.

The narrator does female and girl voices perfectly, but definitely needs a vocal coach with doing men's. It can be pretty cringe worthy with the stereotypical scratchy-cackle "man voice." I felt like I was 5 years old at the library getting a book read out loud or in kindergarten class.

The stories were varied and interesting. I admire women who actually put in the blood, sweat, and tears in academia to learn how to write, know the subject matter, and execute the plan. Great job 👏👍

Fractured fairy tales

Theodora Goss’ Snow White Learns Witchcraft is a collection of poems, short stories, and novelettes that either riff off traditional fairy tales or have the flavor of classical tales. All have an interesting twist or take from the classical ones. Some are extremely short (just minutes).

The narration is well done with pacing a bit brisk. Due to the brief nature of many, close listening is re-quired to catch the subtleties and nuance.