Is it possible to love the retelling so much more than the story it was inspired by?

My answer? Yes. This book.
First of all: the characters were amazing, they felt so human . I loved every single one of the characters, and even found myself blinking back a tear or two at some really touching scenes.
I felt like the backstories of each of the characters was so well fleshed out and handled with subtlety and care. I found myself feeling what Caitrin felt when she thought about her past of abuse, and how the trauma of that still lingered on inside of her. Both her trauma and Anluan's was not just a character trait, but felt like a big part of who they were. This also goes for how Anluan's disability was handled. Their stories were a big part of the overall story.
What a couple of beautiful, flawed characters. I loved seeing them all grow into a loving, caring family. Ugh, the ending gave me so much joy and satisfaction!

The setting was magnificent; misty dark forest, Irish countryside, dark moody towers... It had such a gothic feel to it, while still feeling modern at the same time. The darkness seeped through this tale, just what I want from a fairytale retelling.

If you love fairy tales, mythology and/or retellings: Please read this book!