From the introduction to The
Grimm Diaries’ Prequels:
It’s better to think of the prequels like snapshots of a magical land
you’re about to visit soon. I like to think of them as poisoned apples. Once
you taste them, you will never see fairy tales in the same light again.
I love anything to do with fairy tales, especially creative
reinterpretations, and that’s exactly what Cameron Jace delivers in his Grimm
Diaries’ Prequels. His latest
installment, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary,
is no different, combining the fairy tale The Snow Queen, the nursery rhyme
referenced in the title, and a very disturbing real-life historical figure.
It’s hard to say too much about this one without spoiling
it, but I can say that it’s probably the darkest of the prequels so far. In fact, the origin of the Mary, Mary Quite
Contrary rhyme as explained in this story is so disturbing, I was sure the
author had made it up—it couldn’t be real.
But no…I did a quick google search, and sure enough, the author had done
his research again! Of course his
explanation of the nursery rhyme is only one of several theories as to the
rhyme’s origins, but still…wow. I know I’m
being very vague, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone!
I also loved the way the author used mirrors, a common
fairy-tale motif, throughout this story.
We have the Snow Queen mirror, the Snow White mirror, and the mirror
from the “Bloody Mary” folktale—which by the way, may be the creepiest part of
this story.
By the end of the story, some characters from the very first
Grimm Diaries’ Prequel make a reappearance, perhaps setting up some connections
that will pay off later in the series. I
can’t wait to see!
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