#47 In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard

This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling set in an alternate world that uses Vietnamese culture to tell the story and has a science fictional feel to it. A dragon that also use science and gene therapy to cure the virus damage done by the Vanishers plays the part of the beast. Yên is traded to Vu Côn to pay the debt her healer mother incurred by calling on the dragon to heal someone important from the village. Yên is convinced that she will be eaten or killed for entertainment, but it turns out she is tasked with teaching the children of the dragon. Of course the palace she is in could also kill her since it is the former home of the Vanishers. There are secrets in the palace and a growing attraction between the two. Overall this was an interesting retelling and I would certainly read more in this setting.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

#48 Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman, Colleen Doran

I’ve read this short story several times, but I honestly picked up this version because of Colleen Doran’s artwork and it doesn’t disappoint. The story is the same as a retelling of Snow White with the stepmother the hero of the story but the art in this version really sells this version. The art is lush and certainly not for children which matches the story since it isn’t for kids either. A really lovely edition.