2021 EDIT: Still a sweet, cartoony, princess-y book with touches of subversion here and there - plus great and clever humour - on the reread. A candy, cakey treat for fairy tale fans of all ages who wish for wispy and whimsy escapism, which nonetheless respects their intelligence.
Read my original review, as it is much the same as my present opinions; except that I now hate the first 'The School for Good and Evil' book, not just the sequels (read my rereview here). I'd pick 'Ever After High: Storybook of Legends' over that anytime; at least 'Ever After High' is honest about itself, toy brand and all. No BS.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
I've avoided this title like the plague for a long while, even though I like twists on fairy tales and their characters. I didn't care which critically-acclaimed writer they got, 'Ever After High' is a Mattel product, existing, along with an animated web series, solely to sell dolls in a toy line.
Now, I know, there are a lot of cartoons, TV shows and movies that exist mainly as toy commercials - becoming less a focus (or not as obvious) after the eighties - but in books, actual literature where storytelling and the passion to tell said story are a must, I can't get into it. It may sound petty to include one example of why I think this, but it was a bad enough reason all on its own. That reason is 'Monster High', written by Lisi Harrison: Without a doubt the most dated, pandering, cliché-ridden, pop culture-heavy, safe and passionless waste of trees I've ever had a misfortune to read. It was published just to sell things and it showed. And it is another reason why I stay the hell away from clique chick lit.
And seriously, why does everything for kids have to take place in a high school? Sounds like false advertising, since there is hardly anything good to say about high school in real life. Even 'DC Super Hero Girls' does this. High school is where dreams go to die, kids, not thrive. Don't get your hopes up too high for high school.
But anyway, I was in the mood for a light read one day, and for girly fairy tales, so I thought, "Hey, it is by Shannon Hale, maybe it won't be so bad." Indeed, Hale's signature heartwarming take on fairy tale retellings is not lost on this Mattel product. Yes, the modern references and slang made me cringe at first - there's a singer named Tailor Quick, plus "MirrorPods", "MirrorPhones" and a "Mirror Network" - but it's not too distracting. There are clever, thought-provoking things to be had in 'Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends'. It reminded me of a lighter version of Soman Chainani's 'The School for Good and Evil'.
Raven Queen is the daughter of the Evil Queen in 'Snow White', destined to be just like her, only she is not to go too far in her evil and take over other fairy tales, like her mother once did. But Raven isn't like her mother: Despite what everyone expects of her, she doesn't want to be evil, for she is kind and caring, for a "goth girl". This outcast wants to have a choice in who she wants to be in her own story, not a villain who exists just to be an antagonist who will never get her own happily ever after. I like that Raven and her mother are described as beautiful and not typically ugly, for anyone can look like anything, but it is their actions that should be judged upon. I sympathized with Raven, and she has layers and relapses; she isn't perfect or a role model, she's just herself. I do wonder though about her nice, supportive father, "the Good King", and how his relationship with the Evil Queen came about. I don't think this kids' book can - or is even allowed to - explore the deep, disturbing issues of that.
Apple White is the daughter of Snow White (why would anyone name their child after something that nearly killed them? I guess it's meant to be ironic), and of course she's the most beautiful and popular girl at Ever After High. But deep down she wishes to be judged for her abilities as a future queen, such as ruling and managing an entire kingdom. She is more than a pretty face (she secretly needs to wear glasses), though is still rather narrowminded and silly. At least her reason for wanting the simple life of a fairy tale, set out for her with no surprises or fear of the unknown, is understandable, in that it's based on childhood trauma. Apple is definitely less over-the-top than Sophie from 'The School for Good and Evil'. When she calls her dwarf servants their personality-type names and they grumble their reals names in return, it's only one of the fairly funny little touches in the book. Like how Apple's father is a king who has no claim to fame other than kissing a comatose princess back to life.
Other characters who are children of classic fairy tale players (plus 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Robin Hood', and 'Pinocchio') show up by the dozens here too. There is a sweet potential romance between Raven and the second, more plain son of Prince Charming, Dexter (only nine months younger than his princely, foppish brother Daring Charming; their parents must have fantastical energy. They also have a sister named Darling Charming). The daughter of Sleeping Beauty, Briar Beauty, is described as dark-skinned. It is smart how the large cast is used in the story about making your own choices regardless of parentage, and they are each funny and quirky (the Hunter from 'Red Riding Hood''s son has random trumpets play around him whenever he rips off his shirt to rescue damsels in distress, and Red Riding Hood's daughter, Cerise, might be a werewolf).
But my favourite character in the whole book is Madeline "Maddie" Hatter, the daughter of, you guessed it, the Cheshire Cat. Her humour is better than mine. A mad mixture of Harley Quinn and Pinkie Pie from 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', she is great. Maddie can even break the fourth wall and hear the book's author/"Narrator" as she writes the story, and speak to the Narrator in a few short chapters, resulting in hilarious banter.
'Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends' is wicked fun, fluffy, can be read in one day, and is clearly targeted towards a girl market, but not too much. For a Disney Princess-type product, nothing so saccharine is present. It has a sense of humour about itself. Overall it really surprises you.
'Ever After High' sends an important message to children about not listening to or blindly following everything that higher-ups and traditionalists tell you. Girls can save themselves, and think for themselves, and have their own exciting adventures, not be damsels in need of rescuing by men. They can start revolutions!
However, in spite of the awesome ending that can go either direction, I don't think I'll be reading any other 'Ever After High' books. They might turn out to be disappointing, like the sequels to 'The School for Good and Evil', which are terrible and go against everything the first book is about.
Fun, creative, witty, sparkly and cute, Shannon Hale has done it again.
More fun: All the King's Horses and All the King's Men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again, but All the King's Women could! Baba Yaga is Raven's school adviser, and the Gingerbread Man is a PE coach. 'Nuff said.
Final Score: 4/5
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