i think i feel a little disappointed in the text of this. i felt like that preface promised me more interiority from the queen, on unpacking the perspective of the fairy tale, on reimagining this tale, rather than just presenting one of its original tellings - but i didn't quite get that. the illustrations, however, feel immensely intentional and proficient in feeling and style.  the art of snow white eating the poisoned apple, for example, seems to reference both klimts the kiss and also goya's saturn devouring his son. it is all smudged and dripping and stylistic and evokes looming horror. because this story IS horrific, a queen driven mad by her insecurities, a child who was deemed too beautiful to spend her life as anything other than a commodity, as a beautiful casket. 

stunned by life, and the dazzling sun, snow white accepts without hesitation. <- rose brides everywhere among us!