Parents' Guide to

Of Sorcery and Snow: The Ever Afters, Book 3

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Magical, real worlds collide in action-packed sequel.

Book Shelby Bach Fantasy 2014
Of Sorcery and Snow: The Ever Afters, Book 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Rachael W.
Rachael W. Parent
June 6, 2017
age 13+

Scarier than the first 2 of this series

I loved the first 2 books in the series for my 8-12 year olds- mainly because although there was a lot of peril & excitement, the main character found ways to win without good people dying. This one opens with fighting/killing wolves that they soon find out are actually kidnapped children turned magically into wolves for the Snow Queens Army. That's a pretty heavy start when the good guys are killing innocent kidnapped children who've been turned into wolves. No longer appropriate for my 8-12 year olds.
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What's the Story?

Rory Landon, 13, has completed two quests with fellow Characters training at Ever After School, yet she still doesn't know what her own Tale might be. But she has bigger problems to deal with: First, she and her friends are attacked by magical wolves in Golden Gate Park, and then she learns the Pied Piper has kidnapped 1,001 children from Portland and taken them to the Snow Queen, who has escaped her enchanted prison. When the tale is deemed too dangerous to pursue, she and her friends Lena and Chase join Miriam, whose brother was kidnapped, to take on the Snow Queen alone. As danger mounts, Rory realizes she'll need to spill her secrets to her family if she's to keep them safe -- but first she needs to survive this Arctic quest.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Though this isn't one of the strongest books in the genre, it's fun to read and full of admirable, likable characters. OF SORCERY AND SNOW follows the formula of the preceding books in the Ever Afters series -- and in the hidden-magic-world genre. Many of the plot developments will feel familiar: The heroes are now on their own, without the guidance of their mentors, and Rory is increasingly concerned about the strange connection between herself and the Snow Queen (à la Harry Potter and Voldemort). The writing, intended to sound like an authentic teen voice, too often falls flat.

Rory and her friends are an inspiring group, capitalizing on one another's strengths and helping one another summon the courage to carry on. There's plenty of battle action and forward momentum to keep readers engaged.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of stories that imagine magical worlds entwined with the real world -- as in the Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series. What makes this genre so enduring?

  • Which of the Characters at Ever After School would you choose to help you on a dangerous quest?

  • Would the drama of the ambitious Snow Queen be as interesting if it all took place in a magical world -- if Rory weren't trying to live two different lives?

Book Details

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