East & Once Upon a Winter's Night

Both of these books retell and expand the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. If you want to read a traditional version, there is one here, although the annotations are a little odd.

In East, by Edith Pattou, Rose is the youngest child of a superstitious mother and a map-maker turned farmer. Although Rose's mother wants her to settle down, Rose has a wandering spirit and longs for adventure. Told from the point of view of five different characters: Father, Neddy, Rose, White Bear, Troll Queen, it explores what happens when a young girl follows her own destiny and discovers a world of magic.

Once Upon a Winter's Night by Dennis L. McKiernan sets the same story in France where Camille and her large family are huddled in their cottage to wait out the winter when a large white bear brings them a message from the Prince of Summerland in Faery. He has heard her singing in a field and asks for her hand in marriage (offering a substantial sum of money to her parents). Although Camille is unsure, she hopes that her ill younger brother will benefit from her sacrifice. Soon however, she falls in love with the prince and then must find a way to save him.

These books tell the same general story although they take it in different directions and imbue it with different flavors. Pattou's story is intriguing because the multiple points of view give it more facets and depth, even though McKiernan's version tells the story in much more detail, drawing out each segment of the tale. The second version is more romantic in some respects and also more adult (recommended for older teens) but I really enjoyed both books: the way that East stuck to the 'real world' (except for the magic, of course) and the way that Once Upon a Winter Night explored Faery. Fantasy fans, in particular those who enjoy fairy tales, should definitely check these out.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Spirit Fox, Firebird, or Black Pearls