The Reflections of Queen Snow White

By: David Meredith

Narrated by: Robin Waters

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone?

On the eve of her only daughter Princess Raven's wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished, and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven's fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom, and Snow White's own domain is prosperous and at peace.

Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing: The king is dead.

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year, with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old. It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what "happily ever after" really means?

Only time will tell, as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront the reflections of Queen Snow White.

©2017 David Christopher Meredith (P)2019 David Christopher Meredith

An Emotionally Immersive Retelling!

Full review in its optimum format can be found on my blog, Cierra’s Cynosure: https://bit.ly/2HkczlL

Note: I received an Audible code for this book directly from the author in exchange for a review. This does not affect my opinions of the work.

Note: this is an adult fantasy retelling with themes of explicit sex and graphic depiction of child abuse and neglect.

“You made a choice to change your life. You decided that you would no longer be ruled by your fear.”

LIKES
Though it has been quite some time since I’ve listened to an audiobook, my experiences with them have been pleasant this far. So when I received an email requesting an audiobook review, my interest was piqued. That combined with the fact that the book is a Disney princess retelling? I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The Reflections of Queen Snow White is all about Snow White’s seemingly indestructible grief over the death of her husband Prince Charming. The book opens with her sitting on her throne being briefed by one of her nobles while wistfully gazing at the empty throne beside her.

In a fit of restlessness driven by grief, Snow White wanders her vast castle in search for something to rid her internal pain. That is when she finds herself in her stepmother’s old bedroom where the mirror lies. That is how this story begins.

This book is narrated by Robin Waters and I truly think she was the perfect compliment to David Meredith’s immersive writing. Robin seamlessly voices separate characters in a way that makes them feel alive, distinct, and present in the room with you. Additionally, David’s vivid descriptions of the setting were beautifully complemented by Robin’s narration. I could picture Snow White’s castle grounds and the atmosphere outside. I could feel the coarseness of her winter clothes and the lightness of spring air.

Robin’s evocative narration eliminated all worries I had going into listening to this book. Particularly, I was concerned that I’d feel as though I wouldn’t know what I had just read by the time the book was done. Worry not if you choose to listen to this book: you will remember it.

With narration praise aside, you may wonder what this book feels like if you choose to read it physically instead of listening. As I mentioned, David’s writing is moving and emotional. One thing to absolutely note about The Reflections of Queen Snow White is that the name is quite telling of the story’s plot: the entire book is Snow White reflecting on her life through her stepmother’s old mirror.

In that sense, this book is very much driven by character introspection and not necessarily a moving storyline. However, the retrospection of it all is a plotline of the past, and an emotional one at that. You witness Snow White’s past including the graphic abuse and neglect she endured from her stepmother. You witness multiple lowest of lows and highest of highs, and by the end of it all, you are brought right back to the present moment.

A retrospective storyline may not be everyone’s ideal narration style. I, however, loved every moment of it. Witnessing Snow White come to multiple revelations and healing was my idea of a perfect retelling to this story.

“If you don’t mind my asking, my queen, and I’m certainly not complaining, what happened?

“I took a long look in the mirror, my friend.”

Overall rating: 5 stars.
Again, thank you so much to David Meredith for sending me an Audible code to listen and review this book! Until next time.

A Passionate Love Story!

David Meredith told an imaginative story. It came to life with the masterful voice of Robin Waters. She held the listeners attention and gave such emotion to the host of characters. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath clinging to every word. I loved it!

Not What I Expected and So Much More - It's a Gem

First, my apologies to the author, David Meredith. It took me a lot longer to get around to listening to this book. Now, I wish I had listened long ago. His book is a gem.

The Reflections of Queen Snow White is not a story I was expecting. By the first couple of chapters, I became hooked on this story. Queen Snow White is in a massive depression from the death of Charming. The story takes readers into the world of Queen Snow White from how she was treated as a child to her marriage to Prince Charming. It is an imaginative story that takes Snow White on an introspective journey of her life. What she discovers is that love has always been around her and that she has so much to live for.

Robin Waters narrated the story with perfection with tones and inflections of old and young voices.

If you love fantasy that is the perfect escapism that can make your travel miles enjoyable then check out The Reflections of Queen Snow White. Thank you, David.

fantastic

I totally enjoyed reading this book. It’s well written and the characters were fantastic. I would suggest this book to my friends that like this sort of genera. this was an excellent book

A thoughtful sequel/re-telling of a classic tale

"...and they lived happily ever after." So many of our childhood fairy tale books ended with those words; but does anyone ever really get to have a "happily ever after"? What really happened to our beloved childhood characters after we closed their books?

In The Reflections of Queen Snow White, David Meredith writes a sequel of sorts, for the classic story of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

In Meredith's story we see Snow White, now a middle-aged queen and deeply depressed widow on the eve of her daughter Raven's marriage, too broken by grief to help plan the wedding. As she roams aimlessly through the castle, she stumbles upon her step-mother's mirror. Gazing into its depths, she is compelled to examine the truths of her past and how it has molded who she has become. Can she ever find happiness again now that her husband is gone?

I do enjoy a good fairy tale - all grown up and re-told, and this book was no exception. Couples do not often die peacefully and simultaneously in each-other's arms, and even the luckiest of us must deal with a certain amount of grief in this life. That is something that our childhood stories didn't always address or prepare us for,

Meredith has re-created Snow White as well as her relationship with Charming with depth and dimension; even the mirror is not what we would believe on the basis of our childhood readings. This book was an imaginative and well thought return to the kingdom of long ago and far away.

Narration for the story was provided by Robin Waters with a pleasant and clear tone, and she provided for an array of characters,

The Reflections of Queen Snow White, by David Meredith was a bitter-sweet re-visit to childhood favorite.

Poignant look at love and loss

The Reflections of Queen Snow White is more inspired by the original than a retelling. We get the same beloved characters, but it's years down the road, and Snow White has some hard truths to face in order to start living again. The story is a poignant look at love and loss, and with the help of the magic mirror, an aging Snow White looks back on the good and the bad from her life to realize that things aren't always exactly as we remember them. This one is completely different than any other variation of the fairytale that I've had the pleasure to read, and while it isn't always light and sunny, it is very well done, and it held my interest throughout. The story is told from the perspective of Snow White, and Robin Waters does an excellent job with the narration. From Snow White as she is at the time of the story to the Snow White she was through various stages of her life, Robin Waters brought the character to life. As the mirror takes Snow White through her life from a small child to the present, the memories are a combination of heartache and joy, hardship and triumph, and the Queen learns some valuable lessons from her past self. All in all, David Meredith has taken a beloved fairytale and put an original spin on it. With this version, we get what may have happened after the happily ever after conclusion, and the solid storytelling combined with the equally solid narration made for an engaging listen from start to finish.

A dark, enlightening retelling of a classic tale

Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith
Audiobook review, narrator Robin Waters

4 out of 5 stars, a thoughtful book with great narration!
This twist on a classic tale begins with Queen Snow White, old and greying, decades after marrying her Prince Charming. Struggling with the passing of her husband, she finds her stepmother’s old magic mirror and journeys through her own reflection.

I enjoyed this twist on an old fairy tale; the subtle German roots came through to remind the reader of the original tale, while the exploration beyond “happily ever after” gave new life and new personality to the story. This version explores the grittier, darker side, highlighting Snow White’s struggle with a stepmother willing to kill her. I never found the story to be too dark, nor unnecessarily cruel, but it was sad and uncomfortable to listen to at times.

The only part of the story I didn’t care for was the protagonists herself, Snow White. At times she shows great strength and courage for the terrible situations she must deal with, but in other chapters, I find her placated and timid. In truth, I think this is just a matter of taste, and other readers may find her gentle naivety endearing.

Robin Waters was a perfect narrator for this book, with excellent character voices and a steady, wistful describing tone. I would love to hear more narrations by her!

Overall, I found this story a delightful read. Though a classic fairy tale, it is new in its exploration of spirit and character growth. I believe anyone interested in the original tale, or interested in the spirit of an enduring woman, would appreciate this tale!

Trigger Warning: This book contains graphic depictions of violence, graphic depictions of abuse from a parental figure, explicit scenes of sexual intimacy, and attempted suicide.

A lovely, emotional story!

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith is a retelling of Snow White fairy tale set several years after Snow White marries Prince Charming. This retelling is set in a darker viewpoint, as Snow White is mourning the loss of her husband while overseeing her daughter’s wedding arrangements. The novel is set in a series of flashbacks, as Snow White reflects on her past, her journey leading up towards the present day threaded with sorrows and joys.

This story is a very emotional one. Along with grieving the loss of her husband, Queen Snow White is also managing many responsibilities related to her daughter, and she feels very overwhelmed. This also leads Snow White to confront her past through the infamous magic mirror. In the midst of her grieving process, she is left to wonder about the continuation of a ‘happily ever after’. Through looking back on past memories, Snow White is steered to reflect on her future. I felt that this action was crucial for her self care and overall well being.

I recommend this story for those who love fairy tale retellings! This story also has a fresh take on Snow White’s life journey.