I remember part of this tale from my childhood, but there is much more to it included here. I enjoyed the trip back into that magical world!

Very different from what I expected. It's actually quite terrifying! I probably would have liked it a lot more if I had read it as a child.

This is a great read that would make a beautiful gift. Such beautiful artwork too.

Fairy tales were an immense part of my childhood. Growing up German, and especially growing up near the Black Forest, my first memories of being read to are also my first memories of the Grimms' fairy tales. However, despite my love for and appreciation of the hard work of the Grimms in collection all these fairy tales, I have always had a special connection to Hans Christian Andersen and his stunning creations. Unlike the Grimms, he wrote new fairy tales and they are all stunning marvels. The Little Mermaid? He wrote that. The Little Match Girl? Andersen's as well. The Princess and the Pea? I think you know where I'm heading with this! He had a knack for creating fascinating new stories which were often intensely sad but also beautiful. So when I saw that a new edition of The Snow Queen was available, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Thanks to Ten Speed Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Snow Queen starts with the following:
"Now then! We will begin. When the story is done you shall know a great deal more than you do now."
Nothing, perhaps, conveys the mood of Andersen and of The Snow Queen better. It feels as if Andersen himself is telling you the tale, sitting you down in front of a warm fire like a kindly grandfather. There is humour in the writing, and there is also a sense that Andersen himself enjoys his creations. The plot of The Snow Queen is relatively straightforward for a fairytale: a boy finds himself taken in by a beautiful enchantress and now his childhood friend, a brave and sweet girl, must come save him. However, Andersen doesn't necessarily stick to this straightforward story. As the subtitle suggests, The Snow Queen is split up into seven smaller stories, each working towards completing the plot, yet with their own new characters. and even with their own morals. There is a witch who isn't evil, really, but desperately wants a child. There is a little robber girl, who is both cruel and kind at the same time. There are singing flowers telling the strangest tales from all across the world. This split into seven tales allows Andersen to spread his story out a little bit, expand it beyond the relatively straightforward plot and let his talents as a writer shine.

In his fairy tales, Andersen always manages to intertwine Christianity and folk elements. On the one hand there is a strong Christian tone to The Snow Queen, the first tale is dedicated to a goblin who is also the devil. Yet Andersen never becomes pedantic or too moralistic, bringing in influences from his own, Scandinavian culture, to intermingle and give some colour to what otherwise could have been a rather boring tale. Yes, the eventual moral of the tale is linked to being good and kind and pious, but the characters get there through talking animals, witches and Snow Queens. Also, this tale is doubtlessly and obviously an inspiration source for C.S. Lewis in his creation of Narnia's very own Snow Queen. A small hurrah for intertextuality.

Andersen's writing is both lyrical and simple. He knows his audience is perhaps largely children, so he keeps his writing relatively calm. However, at times he takes a dive into language and composes some beautiful passages which are bound to inspire a love for language in children. Jean Hersholt does a brilliant job at translating this work. I enjoyed the slightly archaic tone of the translation, perhaps because it echoes back to the old age of the stories themselves, but this may not be a bonus for all readers. This edition of the tale is illustrated by Sanna Annuka, a Finnish illustrator, and her illustrations could not be more stunning or apt. Her illustrations truly give this tale something old and legendary, as if you were leaving through an old book rather than a new release. Also, the way Ten Speed Press is publishing this novel, as 'cloth-bound in deep blue, with silver foil embellishments', they clearly intend for this to be both readable and displayable. It is meant to be the kind of fairy tale book a small child is fascinated by and demands to have read. Even I myself would adore to have this on my bookshelf.

I had read The Snow Queen years ago, but loved rediscovering it through this edition. A stunning translation with brilliant illustrations, this will make a perfect present to any child interested in stories. It might also just distract them from Frozen for a while!

Danish-American actor Jean Hersholt, (famous for playing the grandfather in the movie Heidi starring Shirley Temple), born in Copenhagen, was a huge Hans Christian Andersen fan who translated over 160 of Andersen's fairy tales which were published in 1949. These are the stories I read as a child and this is the version of The Snow Queen which is considered THE standard translation or the best English version.

So it's the illustrations which really make the difference in this book. 1/2 Finnish, 1/2 English illustrator, Sanna Annukka, known for her printmaking and product design, shows her fascination of folklore through her unique style utilizing simple, but bold patterning influenced by Scandinavian designs and her talent for silkscreening. Annukka's designs are found decorating album covers, carpets, wood carvings, fabrics, pottery, and numerous other objects. This is the second of Andersen's stories she has illustrated, the first being The Fir Tree.

Annukka's illustrations are geometrically based, with an intricate and creative use of patterns utilizing combinations of blue, tan, black, white, red, and gold. Several of the drawings are stunning, such as the snow queen on a "goose" sled in black and tan with a vivid blue sun and icy ground or the white and black crow overlaid on red, like a cutout with the background color a part of the drawing. While amazing, at times the illustrations are jarring, with the imposing images possibly reflecting the world from a child's eyes. Some of the drawings are actually too detailed, almost cluttered, making it difficult to find the focal point. In any case, the designs seem to be more for adult admiration, and might not be appreciated by a younger audience. Still, the uniqueness is definitely worth a look see.

Four stars and a thank you to Netgalley and Ten Speed Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears in on my blog, Gotta Read.

This retelling felt dull and winding, I couldn't bring myself to get fully into the story. I did not finish.