| Title | : | The Fairest (Fairy Tale Retellings, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 156 |
| Publication | : | First published January 14, 2021 |
Gareth is the huntsman of Castle Gwynedd. It’s not a fancy life, but he gets to live in his cozy cabin with his wolfhound, Leni, and do work he’s good at. If he spends more time than appropriate reminiscing about his youth with Prince Carwyn, no one needs to know about it. A little pining isn’t going to hurt anyone but Gareth, after all.
Carwyn is about to be crowned king of Gwynedd. He’s anxious about how he’ll be remembered by history. Will he be like his mother, remembered as a wise and clever ruler, or will he forge a less noble legacy and become Carwyn the Last, ending the country his ancestors cobbled together from warring families?
When an overheard conversation sends Carwyn running in fear for his life, Gareth is the only man who can hunt his future king down in time to save him from the coming snowstorm . . . and from a bigger threat inside the castle itself.
The Fairest (Fairy Tale Retellings, #1) Reviews
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This is yet another win from a new-to-me author. I really enjoyed this short, sweet story about an uncertain prince and his gruff huntsman.
The book is very loosely based on Snow White. The motives of the secondary characters are skillfully obscured to the point I wasn't certain until the very end who the true villain was.
I wanted an epilogue but still consider the ending a HEA, albeit a tentative one. Would Gareth really be happy living amidst so many people? Would he remain a huntsman? I need to know!
Oh well.
I liked Carwyn and Gareth a great deal. The bit of steam at the snowed-in cabin was sensual and just right.
And I just love these medieval type settings with lords and castles, set in fictional faraway countries where kings and queens still rule. -
Hello, Sam Burns!
It's such a pleasure...we haven't met before.
I'm happy that's been resolved because I had such a delightful time with this fairy tale adaptation.
The fairest prince and his beloved huntsman fight for their chance to live and love.
I was 100% smitten.
Drawn in by the cover but captivated with the story.
Thank you Winter Wonderland Giveaway and please, please GR librarians, don't take these away. -
3.5*
This is a delightful reimagining of the Snow White fairy tale minus the dwarves and without a wicked stepmother in sight.
Instead, it looks at how two children, one the Crown Prince, one the son of the Queen's Chamberlain, drifted apart once their mothers died and they grew older.
Gareth, now the Royal Huntsman, is a giant of a man, quiet and gentle, he avoids the castle so he doesn't have to see Carwyn and avoid hurting his bruised heart. For his part, Carwyn spends most of the time wishing he wasn't Prince and trying to avoid running away from his responsibilities.
Unfortunately, events conspire for Carwyn to do just that and it's left to Gareth to find him and keep him safe.
With a virgin prince, two young men who get too word shy to admit their feelings, a snow storm and a cabin with only one bed, this proved to be the perfect New Year's treat! -
3.5
It's not exactly a retelling of Snow White but Sam Burns take on it. So don't look for dwarfs, mirrors, evil stepmothers or magic. There is also no glass coffin but there are kisses, important kisses and because The Fairest starts as a cute story about a virgin prince and his shy huntsman it doesn't stop at kissing but it needs a snow storm that the former childhood friends are able to overcome their insecurities and their assumptions what's the best for the other.
Don't worry that the cuteness is tumbling into sweetness, doesn't happen because Sam Burns takes the story seriously. So even after loosing his self-doubt together with his virginity it's not all sunshine and roses. There are some more steps to take for their HEA because although there's no witch there is still an apple. -
Ok, this was a huge reminder I need to revisit this author.
I'm a huge fan of Fairy Tale retellings and this one really worked for me.
Very, very good.
Thank you to all the authors who participated in this Winter Wonderland event and contributed a free read. It was truly the best way to start 2021. -
3.5 stars
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This is one of the nicest snow white retellings I've read. It strays a lot from the source (we're pretty much just keeping the pretty royal, the huntsman and the apple) but the way it's designed makes it just work.
Every retelling has an issue they fight against. Cinderella retellings fight cheesiness, little mermaid fight bad worldbuilding decisions, and snow white retellings fight soullessness. Plenty of them have hollow characters, or lack of motivation, or even lamp characters that are there just to fit the role. Even Disney has those issues. If straying from the material makes this work, then it is the best decision Sam could've made. -
Utterly sweet both are so convinced the other is done with them until they crash together. Lovely steam and the fresh take on Snowwhite is so appreciated.
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4.5
Sweet story that echoed Snow White without being a rehash of that tale. I really like Gareth and Carwyn. Both characters showed growth. I loved the tone and it made me happy! -
I enjoyed this book so much! Its rather short and lighthearted, with hints towards snow while telling its own tale. The way split into parts was great too, as allowed glimpse to the prince and the huntsmans pov of events.
Adore the pining between the two and their reunion, fastpaced and sweet as finally learn each others feelings. There is some steam too, the main plot is wonderful and their romance os so sweet.
The way the apple is used was great and I loved how allowed reveal of their love to the kingdom, Carwyn isn't going to hide Gareth and they find a way for it to work.
Overall a fun, quick and soft story with an interesting plot and world. The happy ending is wonderful and loved how all is resolved for everyone 💕 -
2.5 rounded up
Cute, short, Snow-white retelling. A little sparse and light on substance, but I enjoyed it for what it was and it worked for what I was in the mood for. -
My first encounter with Snow White was the Disney version, which I found terribly boring, even as a kid. Then when I was slightly older, I watched a retelling in which Snow White got a 'Huntsman' (with scar!) instead. Since then, I always want Snow White to end up with a Huntsman (or hunter), anything but a prince, come on! This one has two gay leads... even better! 😉
The start was good! Pining, oh so much pining! I miss a good pining in romance, I really do. Unfortunately, once Carwyn got lost in the wood and Gareth found him, it all went the sexual path. Sigh. I wanted they to pine much longer.
At least there was no wicked stepmother or stepfather in this one. That's an improvement. -
A sweet, low angst reimagining of Snow White. I appreciated that the political intrigue wasn’t too evil or dramatic and that much of it was worked out with words, good sense and logic.
Friends to lovers is my favorite so I had high hopes for this one but though I enjoyed and was entertained by The Fairest, it was somewhat predictable and a bit beige, the kind of story that will fall out of my head by tomorrow. Glad it was KU.
3.25 stars. -
I was hoping for fluffy, instead I got pages and pages (and pages!) of inner dialog. Bummer.
DNF at 23% -
4.5 stars
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Re-read July 19, 2022. I truly loved revisiting the retelling of this sweet and sensual fairy tale.
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Now this was a really sweet story. An overwhelmed prince-soon-to-be-king, a young step-father doing his best in his role as regent and the shy huntsman thinking his childhood best friend to be out of reach. It's a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it.
It took inspiration from Snow White, but it's no retelling. There is no evil step-parent, no magic, no dwarfes. And homosexuality is not frowned upon, I do like settings where different sexualities are normal! -
Almost dnf because just boring… nothing exciting or new, and the inner dialogue that goes on and never ends…
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3.5 stars
Review - An interesting retelling of the Snow White story. The fair prince and grim huntsman. Thoroughly enjoyed this sweet fairy tale. Wish it were bit more longer and I wanted to see more of Madoc (the efficient stepfather) and maybe get his own happy ending! -
4.5 Stars
I am really loving the Winter Wonderland giveaway shenanigans, discovering authors is the best treat.
I loved this and all the tropes the author managed to pack into the story seamlessly. -
This book is loosely (very very loosely) and very cleverly based on the Snow White fairy tale, in which a huntsman in love with the crown prince who returns his feelings unbeknownst finally figure it out, poisoned apple included.
Utterly adorable. Give this a try. -
B rating.
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Winter wonderland prolific free
⭐️3.5⭐️ -
Mhmm, delicious mutual pining.
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3.5 stars
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A fairest read!
A snow white prince lost in a storm, and the huntsman who will have his heart...
A lovable and excellent retelling of a classic fairy tale. Gosh, I hoped it would be longer but nevertheless it ended perfectly and, of course, with a happy ever after ending.
Full of danger, misunderstanding, huntsmen, storms and love.
Perfect for readers of fairy tale retellings. -
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
