One Week to Snow Queen! (And a Book Giveaway)

[jimhines]

With one week until the release of The Snow Queen’s Shadow [Amazon | B&N | Mysterious Galaxy], a new review rolled in from SciFiChick, who says, “As before, the action and adventure are non-stop with plenty of drama, magic, and inspired characters. Don’t miss this brilliant, action-packed fantasy series.”

I’ll take it!

One thing that intrigues me … of the three reviews I’ve seen so far (four if you count Klausner), not one has talked about the fairy tale I’m using this time around. If you’re not familiar with The Snow Queen, you can check it out on the SurLaLune site.

The first time I used a Hans Christian Anderson tale for one of these books, it was The Little Mermaid. I read the fairy tale, and my initial response was “Oh hell no.” Thus was born The Mermaid’s Madness.

When I read The Snow Queen, I had the opposite reaction. Oh hell, yes! This was exactly the framework I needed for this book. I definitely took some liberties in order to write my story and my characters, but the story Anderson wrote fit very well with what I wanted to do in the last book.

Do you have to read the fairy tale to appreciate the book? Not at all. Is the fairy tale a spoiler for the book? Not really … if you know the tale, you’ll recognize elements in the story, but I don’t think you’ll be able to predict what’s going to happen. Though if you prefer to avoid anything with even the slightest hint of spoilers, you could always wait and read the fairy tale afterward.

I don’t know where else to go with this, so I’m going to jump straight to the giveaway. What’s your favorite fairy tale or fairy tale adaptation, and why? Leave your answer in the comments, and I’ll pick a winner at random to receive an autographed copy of one of my books — your choice.

We’re heading up north on Friday, so you’ve got 24 hours to get your entry in. Anyone can enter; there are no regional restrictions on this one.

Mirrored from Jim C. Hines.

Comments

[jenna_thorn]

You've already done my favorite - Red Riding Hood, from Roudette to Hoodwinked to Tex Avery's Wolf and Red.

Okay, I've a special fondness for Red.

[muccamukk]

Leaving out fan fiction, I'd have to say the BBC Radio dramatisation of The Show Queen with Diana Rigg as the title character. The voice acting is excellent, and I love how many women are in it, and how they're controlling their own lives.

[ailelie]

Growing up I loved Rapunzel and King Thrushbeard. In college, I loved Little Red Riding Hood, especially how it is used in the movie Jin-Roh. In Japan I loved Sleeping Beauty, because, while surrounded by snow, I felt like I, too, was sleeping away from my real life. Now? I'm not sure. The stories that have been circulating the most in my head lately are the ones in which a girl solves riddles. Both riding and walking, hungry and full, clothed and undressed, etc etc.

[zeborah]

I have an abiding fondness for Bluebeard, for the psychological elements and all the questions it raises. I especially the variations in which the woman saves herself and/or others. At one point I had the ambition to write "Four-and-twenty Bluebeards" but only actually finished three - two shorts and a poem.

[xap]

Favorite is _hard_

I really do love what you've done, especially with Sleeping Beauty. I also have a weakness for the Cinderella tale because of the variety - I know most fairy tales can be found is some form throughout the world, but I think that Cinderella was the first that I actually noticed and I know it's the one I've encountered the most variations and adaptations of. For its many adaptations I love Beauty & the Beast (adore The Rose Garden by Michelle West especially! But there are so many wonderful ones).

Ugh! Favorite = no fun! Jim is _mean_ ;)
Hmmm….guess (for now anyway) I'll go with Beauty & the Beast.