The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf (Accidental Enchantments)

3.5 stars
Originally posted at FanLit:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-magic-mirror-and-the-seventh-dwarf/

I rarely read fairytale retellings, but I picked up The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf because its author, Tia Nevitt, is a friend of mine. She�??s a former fellow SFF blogger and she lives just a few minutes away from me, so we chat occasionally and have gotten together a few times. Also, I enjoyed her first published novel, the first in her ACCIDENTAL ENCHANTMENTS series, The Sevenfold Spell, a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty which focuses on the minor characters in the story. I read it without telling her I was reading it, just so I wouldnƒ??t have to admit I didnƒ??t like it if it failed to please. show more (Fortunately, I did like it!)

The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf has a similar set-up. In this case, Tia delightfully mangles the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. In Tiaƒ??s version the evil queen has cursed a former lover, Prince Richard, with the magic mirror ƒ?? he must truthfully answer three questions for her every morning and evening. She uses Richardƒ??s knowledge to rule her land tyrannically and to assure herself that she is still ƒ??the fairest of them all.ƒ? The seventh dwarf of the title is a young woman named Gretchen who is teased for being short and misshapen. When she hears about a farm where dwarves live, she goes there to try to find a husband. Soon she meets Angelika, the beautiful princess who is seeking shelter from her evil stepmother, the queen. When Prince Richard happens along and sees the princess, he must tell the truth: the evil queen is no longer the fairest of them all. This, as you might expect, causes all sorts of problems for everybody.

Tiaƒ??s ACCIDENTAL ENCHANTMENTS stories, published by Harlequinƒ??s ebook imprint, are definitely romances. I donƒ??t usually like romance novels, but what sets Tiaƒ??s stories apart is her in-depth characterization of minor characters and the way she uses their troubles to explore real human emotions. In this story, I truly felt for Gretchen who sees herself as an outsider who can never fit in. She wants to be a good person, but the bullying she experiences and her jealousy of ƒ??normalƒ? girls threatens to negatively affect her personality. When she decides to escape, she goes to the farm hoping simply to find people like her and a decent partner who can help her share the burdens of life. Based on her past experiences in life, she doesnƒ??t dare to hope for anything more, especially not for love.

Richard and Angelika likewise, have been shaped by their experiences. Richard used to be a pampered playboy prince until the queen cursed him, and Angelika would have been a beautiful pampered princess if not for her jealous stepmother. Their own suffering at the evil queenƒ??s hand has made them aware of the misery of others in her realm. When Gretchen, Prince Richard, and Angelika meet, they all learn a lot about beauty, vanity, and love. The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf is definitely a romance novel, but Tiaƒ??s attention to each characterƒ??s psychological growth and the formation of healthy romantic relationships distinguishes her work from the types of romance novels that I hate.

The audio version of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf which I listened to is just over 4?« hours long. I wasnƒ??t crazy about narrator Angela Parkƒ??s voice ƒ?? it tends to get high and squeaky at points and sometimes she over-enunciates as if sheƒ??s reading to a child (but this is definitely not a book for children). Once I got over this, I was able to enjoy the story, but Iƒ??d suggest trying the audio sample before investing in that version ($4.95). If you donƒ??t like it, buy the Kindle version instead. Itƒ??s currently selling for only $1.99. show less

Prince Richard of Schwarzberg is a cursed man. Having initially accepted willing guardianship of the magic mirror that has been in his family for generations, Richard soon finds himself enslaved to both the mirror and to the whims of the cunning enchantress queen of Weissland. Twice a day for almost a decade - whenever the Lady Sybelle calls upon the spirit of the mirror - Richard is compelled to answer her three questions truthfully. Determined to discover a way to free himself from the Lady Sybelle's thrall - and desperate to protect other innocents from her evil sorcery - Richard leaves his father's realm and soon becomes 'The Lost Prince of Schwarzberg'.

All her life Gretchen has been teased for being small. Although she has learned show more to ignore the various cruelties of the townspeople - the taunts and comments, the pointing and outright stares - she secretly wishes that she could find a place to call her own. When she hears a minstrel's tale of a hidden farm populated by little people such as herself, Gretchen is cautiously optimistic. Could there possibly be a place out in the world where she would be seen as a person and not just as an oddity?

Determined to find this wonderful place, Gretchen sets out on her journey - and is eventually welcomed into their home by the mostly male inhabitants. The Klein family: Frau Marta, her husband Herr Dieter, and their sixteen-year-old son; and their four farmhands: Gunther, Klaus, Rudolph and Lars all act most appropriately towards Gretchen and are happy to meet her. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle and kindhearted nature and his quiet strength.

Delighted to have finally found acceptance among people who look like her, Gretchen soon settles into a peaceful routine at the farm. However, danger looms on the horizon when Gretchen meets a troubled young woman one morning, while on her way to market. After hearing the young lady's desperate story, she offers the runaway princess - Angelika of Weissland - shelter at the Little Farm.

Although Ange is safe for a few weeks, she soon feels compelled to return to her stepmother's castle. Determined to protect her late father's subjects from Lady Sybelle's cruelty, she resolves to provide as much assistance as she can in secret - in the guise of 'The Tattered Princess'. Wandering somewhere nearby, Richard initially finds himself admiring Ange's forthright manner and compassionate nature. However, as his feelings grow stronger, Richard soon finds himself falling in love with the beautiful princess.

When he is eventually compelled to tell the queen that she is no longer the fairest one of the realm, she is enraged by Richard's revelation. She vows to find Princess Angelika and destroy her, as well as anyone who might try to help the young woman. It soon becomes apparent that if either Gretchen or Richard are to have their own happily ever afters, they must team up to break the mirror's spell before the queen kills them all...

I have always enjoyed reading fairytale retellings, and this one was just as entertaining. I was intrigued by the plot of this story and avidly wanted to know how it would develop. I would give this novella a definite A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future. show less

Accepting yourself is a powerful thing.

This is truly beautiful story that I absolutely loved. This is the first time I have tried a book by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last. The story has characters that are different and because of this are treated horribly by their peers. Through hardships and unexpected friendships they find that what they needed more than anything was to be able to accept themselves.

There was quite a bit of adventure in this book as well. The characters had to work for their happy ending. Seeing them outsmart the wicked queen was one of the funniest parts of the whole book! The romance between the characters was very real and so sweet. I could definitely see them all having very long and happy show more relationships.

Gretchen is a brave young woman that I would love to be friends with. She is treated pretty badly throughout the book, but even so she always holds her head high and doesn’t stoop to their level. This is a very hard thing to do and I respected her a lot for being able to do it. She isn’t perfect, however and mistrusts the people she refers to as “normals”. I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing her grow and finally accept herself and realize that not everyone is as cruel as her peers were.

Another character we get to know is Richard who also has a lot to learn. He was cursed after falling for a woman with a beautiful face and ice cold heart. He comes to find that true beauty is what’s in someone’s heart not in the fairness of their face. Richard is really interesting and I liked this new take on the magic mirror from “Sleeping Beauty” it was unique.

The only downside is that I wish that it was a bit longer. I look forward to seeing more characters from this series in later books!

A unique new take on and old classic that fairytale fans are sure to love! show less

4 STARS

This is a retelling of Snow White and the seventh Dwarfs. I liked it. Had a lot of same characters but different.

Evil step-mother who was the fairest, she has taken the princess thrown till she comes of age if she lives that long. The Queen has a magic mirror that can not lie to her. She can ask three questions only morning and night.

The tattered Princess wears ill fitted clothes that the Queen makes her wear. She is kind and tries to help her people behind her step-mothers back.

The 5 dwarfs that live together and farm. It is run by a Dwarf couple. a minstral goes around telling tales of the dwarfs and thier farm.

Lars used to be a court jester has come now to work the farm and be with others of his kind.

Gretchen heres about the show more farm and she gets the minstral to take her thier. She wants to find a husband. She travels in disguise of a boy. No one knows her a women till Lars points that out at first meeting.

Magic Mirror is Prince Richard he can't refuse to tell the queen the truth but he tries to give her the least amount of good knowledge as he can. He travels around lost tries not to learn anything useful for the queen to find out.

I enjoyed reading The Magic Mirror and seeing the story in a whole new way. This is a very clean story and fast to read. Any age could enjoy it.

I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.

Description taken off Netgalley

Book two in Accidental Enchantments.

Prince Richard is cursed. Enslaved to a magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and avoids people.

All her life, Gretchen has been teased for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet strength.

Danger looms when Gretchen meets a runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby, Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all. Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.

If either Gretchen or Richard are to have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror's spell before the queen kills them all…

For another fairy tale retelling from Tia Nevitt, check out The Sevenfold Spell, available now!

43,000 words

02/15/2012 PUB Carina Press 250 pages ISBN: 9781426895104 show less