Snow

By Author / Illustrator

Meera Trehan

Genre

Fairy Tales & Folk Tales

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books

ISBN

9781529528787

Format

Hardback

Published

06-11-2025

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Frozen, The Snow Queen and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this magical fairy-tale adventure follows an imprisoned princess who needs the help of a girl from the modern world to undo a wish gone wrong and save her snowy kingdom.

Every day, a lonely princess digs through the snow in search of a way to undo the terrible wish she made - one that has left her with an empty kingdom. But one day, a mysterious girl named Ela tumbles through the kingdom's protective mist barrier. The princess is determined to bring Ela to her father, the king, as proof that her wish can be undone. Meanwhile, Ela is shocked to discover she's stumbled upon the very Snow Princess whose picture graces the cover of the locked book that Ela's mom won't let her read.

Can these two brave girls from different worlds come together to set things right? This captivating adventure of courage, belonging and unlikely friendship is the perfect book to curl up with on winter nights.

"An absorbing, intriguing wintry modern fairy tale." Guardian. "Full of magic and mystery, family and friendship." Through the Bookshelf. "A tender, thoughtful and uplifting fairy tale." Armadillo Magazine. "If you are looking for a book that feels like a warm hug in a cold world mixed with magical mayhem and two strong heroines determined to set things right, this is your pick." Netgalley Reviewer.

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Reviews

Sue

Every day, the Princess digs in the endless snow of Mistmir, desperately seeking something that will restore her kingdom to what it once was. The sudden appearance of a mysterious girl gives the Princess hope she might be able to undo the foolish wish she once made and she is determined to take the girl - Ela - to her father, the King. But Ela is alarmed to find herself face to face with the Snow Princess whose picture is on the cover of her favourite book - a book her mother has now locked away and won't let her read. The girls must work together to unravel family secrets and set things right.

With a wonderfully wintery setting, Snow is a magical story, perfect for this time of year. The Princess - Karina - is beautifully captured. Craving attention and affection from her father and confused by her much-loved aunt's behaviour, she makes a rash wish which leads to chaos for her kingdom. The guilt she carries for this is almost palpable as she strives to correct her mistake and maintain the 'standards' of being a princess, which have been hammered into her all her life.

As the story develops, the ache of her loneliness will make even the most hard-hearted reader empathise with her and celebrate the brave choices she makes as the book reaches its climax. Ela is also a lonely child, struggling with school and the loss of her ex-best friend, and eager to learn more about the curious book which her mother now seems so determined to hide from her.

A slow start allows for some excellent world-building, with vivid descriptions and details making the perfect backdrop to the story as it picks up pace, whisking readers into an incredible adventure, full of magic and mystery, family and friendship. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Ages 8+ / 320 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher