Girls Made of Snow and Glass

Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Melissa Bashardoust
Flatriron/Macmillan, 2017  375 pages
Grades 9-Up
Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Alternating chapters tell the stories of two connected royals. Lynet is the daughter of the widowed ruler of the kingdom. A natural tomboy and tree-climber, the reluctant princess is happiest running around her snow-covered home where she never feels cold. Mina is Lynet's stepmother, confidant, and the current queen of the kingdom. Her chapters begin in the past and trace her journey from a southern magician's daughter to a northern queen. Lynet becomes fascinated with the new doctor from the south, a young lady named Nadia. Through Nadia she discovers the secret of her past: that Mina's father created her from snow in her dead mother's image at her father's request. Also through Nadia, she experiences first love and the confusing accompanying feelings. Mina has her own secret: her father saved her life by replacing her failing heart with a glass one. She believes that she is incapable of human emotions and love. Mina creates from glass a woodsman who loves her unconditionally, does her bidding, and teaches her the ways of the human heart. Nadia has secrets of her own, which are revealed as the book progresses. When the king dies one of the ladies becomes the monarch of the kingdom, while the other must escape to the south to begin a new life. The truth behind the lies emerges as the two royals learn that they care about each other more than they knew and discover that families are what we choose them to be. Eventually, the two women meet again in an exciting climax and a turn of events leads to a death, a near-death, and the crowning of the rightful monarch.

First time author, Bashardoust pens a lyrical fairy tale that is part Snow White, part Frozen, and fully original. These are not weak ladies in need of a rescue from a prince, but very strong, yet flawed characters. Lynet is indeed saved, yet banished by the huntsman and manages to survive by her own wits with no help from any dwarfs and no kiss from a prince, although she does have aid from her flawed female love interest. Mina overcomes her mentally abusive childhood to finally learn to love both herself and others. The two main characters are fully developed, original, interesting, and experience much character growth. Minor characters, though not as developed, are intriguingly drawn. The setting of the story is also interesting and unique and is fully realized. Bashardoust maintains a consistent mood to the book that helps the reader fall into this world and want to stay. Original fairy tales are currently very popular and this book will find an audience. Female readers will gravitate to the story more than male. I felt that the book seemed a bit longer than it needed to be, but I never tired of reading it. I'm not sure about the cover. It feels a bit unfinished, but I was reading an arc, so maybe the final product will be more eye-catching. I loved the idea of one woman being able to manipulate glass magically, while the other could manipulate snow. These ladies are strong, yet vulnerable, and are pretty cool. Readers will enjoy spending 372 pages with them in this magical land.