Book Review: Black as NightWaking RoseAuthor: Regina DomanThese two books are the second and the third in a series of Fairy Tales retold. When I read the first book Shadow of the Bear, although I enjoyed the book, I felt the author Ms. Doman was a little weak on characterization and plot. In the second and third book Ms. Doman makes up for these shortcomings. In each book she choses two of the four main characters and has the story revolve around them. In the second book Black as Night she has chosen Bear and Blanche and in the third book Waking Rose she choses Fish and Rose.Each story is a fairy tale retold in today’s modern world the first in New York City and the second in college towns in Pennsylvania. Ms. Doman besides successfully modernizing these two tales also brings a Christian perspective to them. Each of the characters will struggle on their journey to each other and to God. Although at times the fairy tale connection is a little hard to discern, the stories are well told. She has taken the opportunity to develop the two central characters in each are well developed and we can feel their struggles as they journey through the treacheries of the story.Overall I think both of these books are a good read and would recommend them to teens as they walk their path to Jesus. Well, where to start! This is the second of Regina Doman's Fairytale novels. I read this one several months after finishing the first book - The Shadow of the Bear. In hindsight, this was probably a good thing. The two books are considerably different, and having the gap between reading them allowed me to enjoy each book for what it was, without making comparisons or being jarred by the change in pace and style.Black as Night is faster, darker, more tightly-written, and more suspenseful. Whereas SOTB felt like more of a gentle read, building to a climax near the end, with BAN the suspense grabs you from the start and doesn't let up until the final page.What I love (ahem, one of the things I love) about Regina's books is the way they're steeped in literature, with so many layers to unravel and enjoy! BAN is a modern retelling of Snow White (the Grimm version, not the Disney version), but there are also echoes of Lewis Carroll and references to many other authors and poets - all of the four main characters are booklovers, so books are a constant theme within this book. :-)I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, so I won't say much about the plot. Just start reading and enjoy the ride! I'll just mention a couple of things - the parallels with the original Snow White story that Regina conceives here are truly ingenious - particularly the seven Franciscan friars in place of the Seven Dwarfs! And the love story is beautifully told - the author did a great job in sustaining and building the romantic suspense throughout the entire book - especially considering that the hero and heroine are kept apart until the last couple of pages!Regina Doman is a Catholic, and there are many references to Catholic beliefs throughout the book; but speaking as a Protestant, I found it so refreshing to find a book this well-written that is also written from a Christian perspective, with Biblical morals upheld! Highly recommended reading for Christian teens of all denominations. :-)
What do You think about Black As Night (2008)?
Slow at first, not as good as Shadow of the Bear, but still really good in the end.
—PunkCosta
Sequel to "Shadow of the Bear". Retelling of Snow White and Rose Red.
—mego
