Darker YA retelling of the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White and a lesson in kindness.
Poisoned is Jennifer Donnelly’s second retelling of a classic fairy tale and comes after the success of Stepsister which was a smart and subversive take on Cinderella. On this occasion the fairy tale is Snow White and Donnelly hijacks the Brothers Grimm version of the story and adds a layer of darkness to deliver a powerful and persuasive message on the power of kindness and ignoring the insidious voices that undermine our confidence and make us believe we aren’t good enough. This is a story for everyone who has ever been told that kindness is weakness, fear equates to power and has allowed the poisonous words of others (in person, behind one’s back or on social media) to undermine their self-belief. The first central difference between Poisoned and the Grimm’s version of Snow White it that the huntsman goes through with the orders of Adelaide, the wicked stepmother and really does cut out the heart of princess Sophie, leading him to kill himself and giving the story its all-seeing narrator. Secondly when Queen Adelaide speaks to her mirror on the wall she doesn’t care less if she is the fairest of them all but has a far more pressing question, specifically “who will bring about my fall?”. And the answer she gets, provided by Corvinus, the King of the Crows and himself the embodiment of Fear tells her what she must do and the experiences of her own past have led her to trust his counsel.
The story opens the day before the seventeenth birthday and coronation of Princess Sophie of Greenland with a glittering array of events in the palace of Konigsburg to celebrate. Following the past six years of her stepmother (Adelaide) telling her she isn’t smart, tough or good enough to rule and that her softheartedness makes an advantageous marriage imperative, Sophie believes the poisonous comments that she is weak and incapable of taking the crown. After accepting the proposal of handsome but arrogant Prince Haakon with plans to inform Adelaide, an early morning hunt sees the huntsman cut out Sophie’s heart at the queen’s bidding, but thanks to seven small brothers (all bearing pickaxes and individual personalities) she is taken back to their home in the Hollow and the clockmaker brother fashions her a new heart. Unfortunately this new heart feels too much and is winding down meaning Sophie must find the courage to cross the treacherous Darkwood and ignore the naysayers and their poisonous drip feed of spite and reclaim her own heart from the fortress of the King of Crows.
As a central character I thought Sophie was a little sugary sweet, incredibly naive and most disappointingly not a very quick learner from past mistakes, making it hard to believe that she was spunky enough to take charge of her destiny. I didn’t feel there was credible character development over the course of her endeavours and whilst I didn’t find the narrative preachy I did feel it was heavy-handed. The message of the power of kindness is done to death and the benefits that come with it, including amassing a merry band of supporters, all recipients of Sophie’s generosity a little too repetitive. Some memorable secondary characters including Arno the grave robber and the seven small brothers with a spider for a cook keep the story engaging but unlike Stepsister I was not riveted and I think this was due to the pacing being off and the bulk of the story feeling repetitive. The most exciting and meaningful parts (the start and the rousing denouement) occupy so little of the novels time yet these are by far the most compelling.
As I never read fantasy or magical realism novels I was concerned that the story would go over my head, however in truth the extent of the fantasy element was more along the lines of creepy creatures with an array of weird and wacky powers and whilst imaginative was straightforward to follow. Having the huntsman narrating the story allows the Sophie’s journey and travails to regain her heart to be intercut with snapshots of the King of Crows plotting and Adelaide fretting about losing the power she currently enjoys. I would recommend Poisoned for ages 14 years and above as despite short chapters the plot is really quite involved with fundamental messages and a strong line in sarcastic humour! An impressively reworked take on an original fairy tale that kept me largely engaged despite feeling a little too long.
The story opens the day before the seventeenth birthday and coronation of Princess Sophie of Greenland with a glittering array of events in the palace of Konigsburg to celebrate. Following the past six years of her stepmother (Adelaide) telling her she isn’t smart, tough or good enough to rule and that her softheartedness makes an advantageous marriage imperative, Sophie believes the poisonous comments that she is weak and incapable of taking the crown. After accepting the proposal of handsome but arrogant Prince Haakon with plans to inform Adelaide, an early morning hunt sees the huntsman cut out Sophie’s heart at the queen’s bidding, but thanks to seven small brothers (all bearing pickaxes and individual personalities) she is taken back to their home in the Hollow and the clockmaker brother fashions her a new heart. Unfortunately this new heart feels too much and is winding down meaning Sophie must find the courage to cross the treacherous Darkwood and ignore the naysayers and their poisonous drip feed of spite and reclaim her own heart from the fortress of the King of Crows.
As a central character I thought Sophie was a little sugary sweet, incredibly naive and most disappointingly not a very quick learner from past mistakes, making it hard to believe that she was spunky enough to take charge of her destiny. I didn’t feel there was credible character development over the course of her endeavours and whilst I didn’t find the narrative preachy I did feel it was heavy-handed. The message of the power of kindness is done to death and the benefits that come with it, including amassing a merry band of supporters, all recipients of Sophie’s generosity a little too repetitive. Some memorable secondary characters including Arno the grave robber and the seven small brothers with a spider for a cook keep the story engaging but unlike Stepsister I was not riveted and I think this was due to the pacing being off and the bulk of the story feeling repetitive. The most exciting and meaningful parts (the start and the rousing denouement) occupy so little of the novels time yet these are by far the most compelling.
As I never read fantasy or magical realism novels I was concerned that the story would go over my head, however in truth the extent of the fantasy element was more along the lines of creepy creatures with an array of weird and wacky powers and whilst imaginative was straightforward to follow. Having the huntsman narrating the story allows the Sophie’s journey and travails to regain her heart to be intercut with snapshots of the King of Crows plotting and Adelaide fretting about losing the power she currently enjoys. I would recommend Poisoned for ages 14 years and above as despite short chapters the plot is really quite involved with fundamental messages and a strong line in sarcastic humour! An impressively reworked take on an original fairy tale that kept me largely engaged despite feeling a little too long.