#BlogTour The Snow Song by Sally Gardner

 

It's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Snow Song by Sally Gardner.

About the Author

Wray Delaney is the pseudonym of the award winning novelist Sally Gardner. She has sold over 2 million books in the UK and her work has been translated in to more than 22 languages. She has won both the Costa Children’s Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal 2013 for Maggot Moon. She also won the 2005 Nestle Children’s Book Prize for her debut novel I, Coriander. She writes books for children aged seven and upwards.

The Beauty of the Wolf was her second adult novel. Her debut adult novel, An Almond for a Parrot is a fascinating combination of historical fiction with a cheeky touch of soft erotica. The Beauty of the Wolf is a timely, feminist retelling of Beauty and the Beast, reversing the gender roles of the original fairytale with subtle undercurrents of topical themes such as gender and sexuality and body positivity.

The Snow Song is her third enchanting venture into a world of magical realism and fairytale.

Follow @TheSallyGardner on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit sallygardner.net, Buy The Snow Song

About the book

Women imprisoned by superstition, chained by guilt.

Perched on a mountain in a land of ancient forests is a village, rife with secrets. Cut off from the outside world it is run by the elders, men to whom tradition is all.

Edith lives alone with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher. But she is in love with a shepherd who promised to return to her.

As the village becomes isolated in a sea of snow, Edith loses her power of speech. And it is this enchantment that will have far-reaching consequences, not only for Edith but for the whole village.

Review

'She was surprised at how easy it was to let go of another person's words.' So poignant in every sense, regardless of situation, context or indeed in a fictional and factual setting. It's also a sign of what is written and is yet to come.

Although at the beginning the story may appear to be just a tale told in the style and setting of an age long forgotten, perhaps it may even remind some of other tales steeped in lore. Stick with it - it unfolds itself as a flower raises it's head towards the sun as spring peeks slowly around the corner.

It's the story of an unexpected love between Edith and Demetrius - the shepherd and the village girl. Love that is prevented from every direction and yet endeavours to survive, despite all the obstacles, whether they be living ones or not.

I just adore when Gardener aka Wray Delaney drops the mantle of what is expected in a commercial and contemporary sense and wanders between the veil of two worlds. Never quite here nor there it is always a story full of magical realism combined with something that halts or grounds the reader - in this case it is the element of fairytale and folklore.

Kudos to Gardner for turning a tale that could have been merely a blip of mysticism and magic into a statement of empowerment. A call to support instead of reject and using our silence as a weapon as it has been used against us since time began.

Buy The Snow Song at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ; pub date 12 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Hive. Buy at Bookshop.org.