Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Kind van sneeuw

This coming-of-age and retelling of the Russian fairytale "Daughter of the Snow" set in Alaska in the 1920s blurs the line between reality and fantasy with some magical realism. It is enchanting, heart warming & gut wrenching. It encompasses themes such as starting over to heal, the struggle to survive, loss, grief, and hope.

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keri_f's review against another edition

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mysterious relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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infinitejess's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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germaine's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

atmospheric and beautiful, the wilderness becomes a character of its own. the writing is amazing!

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hello_linzie's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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glitterkitty459's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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aerietta's review against another edition

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I got just over half-way through the book.

It's an interesting story with a surprise at every turn, but it's just so grim. The little details are beautiful, but it feels like the characters chose to be miserable and are willing to fight to remain miserable, even when good things come up. It just became too hard to continue reading.

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chalkletters's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

As far as I remember, The Snow Child was a book I picked up from one of work's book sales, and first read over Christmas (very seasonally appropriate). I thought I remembered the basic story, and liked it well enough, so I thought I'd read it again during the even colder months of January and February. Maybe it would help me recapture my love of snow after it betrayed me. (Yes, yes, I am Lorelai Gilmore.)

Eowyn Ivey's descriptions of snow are very lovely and cosy, like sitting inside in the warm and watching snow fall against the window. Even when the characters face the genuine dangers of an Alaskan winter, the prose is always light and enchanting. While I wouldn't say the story was predictable or obviously moving towards any particular happy ending, the danger to these characters is very rarely physical and immediate.

At first, it seems as though The Snow Child might be a version of Pollyanna: an unusual, pure-hearted child appears to bring new meaning into older characters' lives. (Which is absolutely fine, but a little overdone. Why must it always be a child?) Fortunately, there was more going on between Mabel and Jack, and the child's touch is not the only thing required to fix their relationship, which was very much appreciated.

Faina (the titular snow child), too, has more going on than just being a child made of snow that came to life. Throughout the story, Eowyn Ivey presents evidence for both sides, that Faina is flesh-and-blood or that she's something more folkloric, and without spoiling the ending, even that is left fairly open for the reader to decide.

Overall, a lovely wintery read that had more nuance in it than I had remembered! Also, bonus cameo of an otter, which is always welcome.

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