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A Track of Forgiveness
Snow: Cursed begins in a traditional way, but then takes a turn that defies traditional fantasy storytelling. What was your approach to writing the story?
My approach was definitely to “defy tradition,” and that trope of “good guy versus bad guy” with the good guy always winning. I wanted to express the fact that we—as humans—are all different, and that good and evil are not two absolutes, but that there’s a blurred line in between. I really just wanted to turn the whole idea of a fairytale on its head so I could expose that truth while unraveling that trope in the process. I tried to really show that in the prologue of Snow: Cursed, which is written in Snow’s first person as a sort of “looking back” type thing. In a way, I set out to make something entirely untraditional, to escape the black and white, and I believe I succeeded.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The human condition is so unique and can take lots of different turns which makes it stellar for fiction books. As humans, we have countless emotions that can be displayed in so many ways, and we get into lots of situations that are awesome to write about. Our reactions to things are very interesting and are fun to play with in fantasy because sometimes they can become warped by fictitious realities. Writing from perspectives other than my own sort of allowed me to place myself in their bodies and feel for what I, as the character, would do in that situation. I’ve done this with Snow more times than I can count. It’s so fascinating to me to put all those components into a character and to stir them up and spew them out sometimes.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There were a lot of themes that I wanted to explore throughout Snow: Cursed, primarily the fact that good and evil aren’t as black and white as the stories say. I really wanted to show off that morally gray area in my debut novel. Self-discovery, self-acceptance, forgiveness, and friendship are also really important parts of my book. Snow has to go on a journey to find herself, and to accept who she has become because of her knowledge of the curse. She sets herself on a track of forgiveness when Merlin refuses to go with her out into the world behind the wall. Forgiveness is something I think a lot of teens reading YA probably struggle with, so I wanted to delve into that quest. Snow’s friendships were also paramount in my mind when I was writing their interactions with each other, but especially with Merlin. The strong bond between the two characters is expressed during Merlin’s flashback in chapter twenty-four. Themes of loyalty and trust are explored through their relationship, sometimes both getting shattered in different situations. All of these are really important to me.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’ve finished writing book two of the Snow Saga, and I am currently revising it. It’s a continuation of Snow: Cursed that follows up on the cliffhanger ending, so readers will learn what happens to Snow, along with Marian and Merlin. New characters are introduced into the story, such as Gretel Charming, Jack Horner, and Mulan. The title of the second installment is Snow: Wanted. I’m also playing around with a few different series ideas to expand my writing interests a bit further.
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On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, her father divulges a secret that her parents had kept from her since the very beginning. One that could ruin her life forever. The fact that she was cursed at birth by an evil sorceress who cast a spell that is nearly impossible to break.
Snow will find that the line between good and evil is not all that it is cut out to be. It is blurred, and it has faded from the black and white that it once was. Good is not always pure, and evil is not always wicked. Throughout her adventures, battles, and difficulties she quickly discovers that she might not be on the side that she thought she was on.
Will she succumb to the fate that was forced upon her or live to see another day? Will she find the truth or just encounter lies? Will she remain pure as snow, or will her conscience falter as the trials of her life wear on? Will she live happily ever after or have her future unjustly stolen from her grasp? The future is up to Snow.
Snow: Cursed
Snow: Cursed takes a classic fairytale and shatters it like glass underfoot. We start with a familiar image: Snow White, pale as snow, hair black as night. But instead of dwarves singing in the mines, we get blood, betrayal, and wolves with names like Big Bad and Dummy. This story spins out into something entirely new, grittier, darker, and painfully human. At its heart, it’s about identity and control. Who are you when the world decides you’re evil before you even take your first breath?
What stood out most to me was the prologue. Finnegan immediately immerses the reader in a morally ambiguous space, blurring the lines between good and evil. The opening passage reads like a blend of philosophical reflection and personal testimony. Statements such as “no one is truly good, and no one is truly evil” are particularly striking, establishing the thematic foundation for the rest of the novel. Rather than presenting a simple fantasy, the prologue invites deeper reflection on the assumptions we make about people and the lasting impact of the roles society assigns them.
Snow herself is fascinating. She starts out fragile and frightened, learning that her own father plans to burn her alive because of a curse. That scene involving Merlin and the journal was particularly impactful and emotionally resonant. When she finds out about her supposed destiny and how her father lied to her for fifteen years, it’s devastating. And then she breaks out of the castle, climbs the wall, and everything flips. There’s this moment where she takes down Big Bad, the alpha wolf, and suddenly she’s “Red Riding Hood,” drenched in blood, leading a pack. That moment was striking, intense, and deeply affecting. It vividly conveyed her transformation, which felt palpable through the page.
While Finnegan’s writing occasionally leans toward directness in the dialogue, it’s balanced by a refreshingly original voice that brings a distinctive energy to the narrative. It’s dramatic and fast-paced, but it never takes itself too seriously, and I appreciated that. There’s a kind of campy magic in how she blends fairytale with modern sarcasm. When Snow throws a dagger near Dummy’s neck to shut everyone up, it’s brutal and hilarious. That blend of horror and humor works surprisingly well. The side characters are uniquely compelling, with Midnight the wolf standing out in particular. Her character arc is both surprising and dramatic, culminating in a plot twist that is as unexpected as it is effective.
The ideas in this book stick with you. Finnegan messes with traditional fantasy in a way that made me uncomfortable, but in a good way. There’s a recurring theme of rewriting your story instead of letting it be written for you. Snow literally goes from princess to fugitive to alpha to maybe something even darker. And that evolving identity is central to the whole thing. It’s not always clean or elegant, but it’s full of grit and soul.
Snow: Cursed is a fairytale for anyone who’s tired of black-and-white stories. It’s for readers who like a little bite with their magic. Readers are likely to find this story thoroughly engaging. It is intense, emotionally charged, and at times brutal, yet undeniably compelling. I found it difficult to put down.
Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0DS2SVPZS
LITERARY TITAN 