The Mirror's Tale
by P.W. Catanese

The fourth “Further Tales” adventure picks up the classic tale of Snow White over a century later. Among the lovely heroine’s descendants are twin brothers Bertram and William – one of them (no one is sure which) destined to become a baron someday – always in trouble, one leading and the other following – and finally, too much trouble for their parents to deal with any longer. Bert is packed off to an unfriendly uncle’s gloomy castle on the borders of the feared and hated Dwergh. Will is given lessons in warfare and personal combat. And a forgotten evil that turns love into hatred, that poisons minds and destroys lives, awakens.

As he did in his previous “Further Tales” based on Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and the Brave Little Tailor, author Catanese imagines a whole world into existence around the sketchy framework of an old legend – and then re-imagines the legend. Catanese’s unorthodox theory of what really happened in Snow White’s tale drives this story to a surprising pitch of suspense, dread, action, and spookiness. Plus, it explores the nature of evil, the possibility of true courage, the importance of brotherly love, and the possibility of peace in spite of different ways of seeing the world.

I feel very fortunate to be on Paul Catanese’s list to receive “Advance Review Copies” of his latest books. It was a hoot to be able to read all the typos that you won’t be able to see when you buy the published version (including a gaffe on the back cover which referred to one of the twins as “Albert”). It’s a collector’s item! But it’s also a story that I would enjoy reading again – if possible, aloud, to a nephew or a friend’s kids who are as close as I may get to having children of my own. Their bedtime stories could be very different from the ones I heard as a child...yet it is fascinating how much these “Further Tales” share of the spirit of the original tales.

So, for a pure adventure filled with thrills, generous with its characters, and guaranteed to have you rooting for the good guys (even when the goodness is being drained out of them), you need to look...er...no further!

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 12+

If you would like to contact Robbie, you may do so here.