Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
by Liesl Shurtliff
Synopsis:
Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed “Grump”) has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.
At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .
When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He’s bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He’ll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that’s enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.
Review:
Borlen is a dwarf who doesn’t quite fit in. He gets sick anytime he goes too deep underground, and dreams of going to the surface. While he gets the nickname “Grump,” he really isn’t. He’s just misunderstood. Borlen is has a good heart and wants to do the right thing. But the queen is conniving. And while he tries to protect the spoiled Snow White, magic pulls him in different directions.
Grump is another fantastic, standalone installment in Shurtliff’s inspired, fairy tale series. The characters are vibrant and engaging. And the story is full of humor, magic, and heart. I love this series, and this latest installment is no exception. The world of the dwarves is unique and well-developed. And I enjoyed the familiar story told from one of the dwarf’s perspective. This sweet and funny story is great for all ages.