SNOW & POISON

In a single day, the beautiful daughter of the widowed Duke of Bavaria acquires a mysterious stepmother and falls in love with the heir to the Spanish throne.

Nicknamed Snow White for her light complexion, Sophie, 16, has led a lonely life in the castle since her mother died. Her father is seldom home, and even when he is present, he has little time for his only child. Now, he’s arranged for Sophie to make her debut into society on the same day he marries Lady Claudia, who comes from a noble family in Moldavia. Thrilled to learn her stepmother is young, Sophie can’t wait to meet her, though after they have a weird encounter in the castle larder, Sophie wonders if Claudia’s to be trusted. She has no such doubts about Prince Philip, the young man she meets at her debut, however. While he’s equally smitten, his father, King Ferdinand of Spain, has other ideas. Sophie discovers hidden depths in Claudia but remains far from certain of a future with Philip, whose father will stop at nothing to prevent their marriage. The characters are Europeans living in 1621 Bavaria, but little is done to bring the era or setting to life. Inconsistent characterization and plotting toy with readers’ expectations. Fairy-tale retellings are popular, and this is well-trodden territory that demands something that feels fresh. Unfortunately, slapdash execution yields generic results.

A miss from a prolific author; cotton candy for her fans.