Snow White visits the Eastern lands for help to defeat the Adversary. However the Sultan has other plans. Can Snow White survive with a handful of stories? — 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham is a wonderful ride.
Review
Fables! Where do I start! Those who follow me on my Instagram would remember how excited I was when I started reading these. 1001 Nights of Snowfall is a standalone book which serves as a prequel to the Fables volumes. Read on, those who love fairy tale re-tellings – these stories are perfect for bed time reads, if you don’t mind the original version that you grew up hearing, being trampled on.
The fairy tale creatures are on the run from an enemy force named the “Adversary”. They have found refuge in New York city and live as ordinary humans (or Mundys) concealing their powers. Snow White, who runs Fable town, needs help of the Eastern lands to wage a war against the Adversay which is why she comes to meet the Sultan. Snow finds herself at the mercy of a sultan who has the virgin he beds each night executed the following morning. To escape this fate of losing her head, Snow White offers to tell him stories. And thus begin 1001 Nights of Snowfall.
I ADORED this collection. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed all the stories, but most of them were interesting. There is a story of a girl who has a disturbing history with seven dwarfs, glimpses of the heinous actions of the dwarfs and the fate that befalls them. I loved reading about The Big Wolf, son of North wind and a wolf. And that is why, my dears, he could “Huff and Puff” and blow the three pig’s house down. He is the son of a wind after all. The same wolf crosses path with Red Riding Hood as well. The story of the prince who turned into a frog and saved himself while his family was slaughtered is heart touching. Equally terrifying is the story of a tribal girl who locked Rapunzel and owned a ginger bread house. Well, being named Frau Totenkinder, (which literally means dead children) it doesn’t leave much to be imagined about her journey to become a well known witch.
Final Verdict
1001 Nights of Snowfall makes you want to curl up with a big mug of hot chocolate and be lost in the world of the fable folks. I highly recommend this read. This would make a great gift for anyone who loves fairytale re-tellings. The book ends with Snow White meeting Schechzarade. Well, the rest is history. History that gave us 1001 nights. But that is a story for another day.
Warning : This book is suitable for a mature audience. There are some instances of violence and nudity and some stories might be a bit dark for children
Title : Fables : 1001 Nights of Snowfall
Author : Bill Willingham
Publisher : Vertigo Comics
Published : 2006
Language : English
Pages : 144
Rating : 5/5
Oh, I love fables and this sounds like such an interesting read. Your photos, as always, are truly gorgeous as well.
Thank you so much. It is a great read. And the illustrations make it worth gifting as well
Sounds ver nice. Made a note of it, as I am going to London next week. And do some serious book shopping. In english. Bookshopping in french right now. Thank you my dear.
You are welcome. I really enjoyed these graphic novels. I loved the normal Fables volumes too, where the normal fairytale villains are good people and the heros/heroines have tints of evil in them
The most beautiful book indeed! Inside and out. I love gorgeous book and this would be a wonderful addition to my small, but slow-growing collection of graphic novels. I also love fairy tale re-tellings, especially ones that diverge so drastically from the originals!
Thanks for providing the gorgeous pictures. Makes me want to read it even more.
It is worth adding this one to your library Naz. I really really enjoyed the read. I love how they have portrayed fairy tale characters as completely human with shortcomings in addition to a good nature.
OMG I WANT THIS. Illustrated fairy tales?!??! It looks so so beautiful!! AND YOUR PHOTOS ARE JUST AFDSJALD GORGEOUS AS ALWAYS. *stares at your post for 93 years*
Thanks Cait. If you love fairy tale re tellings this is an excellent read. The imagination as well as the illustrations are stunning
Wow, those illustrations are stunning! This looks like it would be a fascinating read.
They sure are. And different chapters are illustrated by different artists. Which makes everything in it eye candy
I just finished Vol 9: Sons of Empire but haven’t yet made it to this one. I’m hooked on these. The illustrations in this one look particularly amazing.
It is a lovely read and a stand alone. It reads like a prequel to the Fables Volumes. It is a great read. I would recommend picking it up.
Sounds really awesome, the illustrations are to die for!
True that! They are absolutely gorgeous.
This sounds like my type of book. I had to add it to my TBR.
It is a great read. Hope you enjoy it.
Oh wow. I know how much you raved about this. Now I’ve definitely got to grab it ASAP. Sigh. So many books to buy.
Books should be given free of cost to book lovers right?