Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher

 

Hemlock & Silver is both a wonderful romantasy and dark adaptation of Snow White. 

Rationally minded Anja does not believe in magic. Having witnessed her cousin die of poisoning, she has devoted her life to scientifically studying its curative and deleterious effects. 

When the King's daughter becomes ill, he turns to Anja, because he believes she may know how to cure his ailing child. Reluctantly, Anja goes to Witherleaf to determine if she is being poisoned.  

Since there may be a poisoner among them so she is assigned two bodyguards. Anja quickly becomes enamored with one of them. She is convinced, however, that Javier, finds her repulsive. 

Anja is not the stereotypical heroine. Many call her "plain," and she is only interested in wearing brown and black clothing.

The "mirror-geld" is an extraordinary literary device. Though Anja initially fears them, they prove enormously helpful. The mirror geld are distortions and disembodied reflections that band together.

The heroine of this romance, fantasy, detective story uses her intelligence to solve the case, to win her suitor, and to defeat the dark queen. 

Book Review: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

Tender Morsels is a strange tale shaped by the interplay of real and magical worlds. As a response to trauma, Liga inhabits a magic world that protects her and her two young daughters. 

Urdda, who is the wilder of the two children, longs to leave the safe haven the moon "bab" has created for her mother. She attempts to rejoin the Bear who has disappeared by jumping up in the air near a cliff's edge. Naturally, this alarms Mam.

"Girls were not meant to fly. Where are your feathers? Where are your wings?" Liga tells her daughter Urdda.

Though she cannot follow this bear, Urdda encounters a second bear.

Eventually, by pushing the walls of the second bear's cave, Urdda leaves her mother's "heaven" or place of her hearts desire.

As soon as Urdda enters this real world, she faces danger. She is chased by a bear--not a real one this time, but a danger nonetheless. She finds her mother's cottage has become a ruin. 

Urdda quickly uncovers Lady Anne's secrets. Lady Anne practiced "hedge" witchcraft against the advice of a more experienced witch. 

Urdda also uncovers Mam's secrets which she immediately regrets. Understanding Mam's situation, Urdda is dismayed that, "she could not go back to that blissful, blessed state of not knowing."

Urdda can only go forward toward her future mission as a witch herself.

If you need another novel marked with strangeness, try Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino.