Title: Fairest
Author: Chanda Hahn
First published May 31, 2012
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.12
Overview
Mina Grime is back in the sequel to UnEnchanted, and things are about to get even more complicated. As she continues her quest to end the curse on her family, Mina discovers that the Fae are not to be trusted.
With new rules and a new challenger, Mina must use all her wits and cunning to survive. But when people start disappearing, including her friend Jared, Mina must determine who is friend and who is foe.
And to make matters worse, Mina has lost her greatest weapon. Can she outsmart a deadly hunter and protect her loved ones from the Fae’s lethal tales?
Or will she become a pawn in the Queen of Fae’s game? Mirror, mirror on the wall, who will be the fairest of them all?
About the Author
Chanda Hahn is an accomplished author, with her books Reign An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, UnEnchanted (also known as the Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series), and The Iron Butterfly series all making the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Chanda spent her formative years in Nebraska before settling in Portland, Oregon with her husband and twin children.
She attended North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she studied Children’s Ministry and went on to work as a children’s pastor, bookseller, and children’s librarian.
Chanda is represented by Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group, who handles inquiries about the foreign, film, audio, and translation rights for her work.
Editoral Review
Chanda Hahn’s ‘Fairest’ is a delicately woven tale that blends the classic fairy tale elements with a contemporary twist. The author is known for her young adult fantasy fiction, and this book is no exception.
First published on May 31, 2012, the book has garnered a significant following among young adults ever since. The story is a retelling of the classic fairy tale, Snow White, but the author takes it in a whole new direction.
The main protagonist, Sophie, is not the traditional Snow White that we know from our childhood stories. Rather, she is a young woman struggling with an incurable disease that has left her confined to a life of solitude.
However, her chance encounter with the handsome but mysterious Grey, who reveals himself to be the huntsman in the story, leads to a chain of events that changes her life forever. Chanda Hahn paints a vivid picture of the world in which Sophie and Grey inhabit, from the lush forests to the grand castle halls.
The characters are well developed, and the story flows at a steady pace, keeping the reader engaged till the very end. The book is not simply a fairy tale retelling but also deals with themes of self-acceptance, social inequality, and finding one’s place in society.
Through Sophie’s journey, the author successfully weaves these issues into the story without becoming preachy. However, the book is not without flaws.
The romance between Sophie and Grey feels a bit rushed, and some subplots feel underdeveloped. Additionally, the story’s ending may leave some readers with unsatisfying loose ends.
Overall, ‘Fairest’ by Chanda Hahn is a beautifully written book with a unique take on the classic fairy tale. It is a book that would appeal both to young adults and older audiences who love retold tales.
While it has its flaws, the book has enough redeeming qualities to make it a worthwhile read. Rating: 3.5/5
