<b>Actual rating: 3.5 stars</b> The Shadow Queen is a nice, refreshing, action-packed Snow White retelling. I enjoyed it a lot, though I felt the writing was a little bit rushed and the constant action took the much needed space for some character development. I also adored the nods to classic tales like Robin Hood and to the original fairytale it's based on (the rotting apples, Kol's seven friends and protectors acting in the final battle as Lorelai's seven dwarfs, the way Lorelai is able to communicate easily with animals and the flurry of birds rushing into the final battle to help her, like in the Disney movie) and also the DRAGONS! The Draconi made everything twice as interesting for me. I liked Lorelai and her strenght, how she grow from being fearful and careful to bold and brave and how she didn't let her losses paralyze her but strenghten her and fuel her instead. I do think she was a little too powerful and skilled to a 16-year-old girl with barely any training in magic. I know it's explained in the book why she has way more power than Irina, but the control she has over her magic was unrealistic to me. I adored Kol, the way he struggled to not be the disappointment he thought he was in the face of his parents and his kingdom and be the king Eldr deserved, while maintaining his integrity and doing what's right always. The way he fought through the pain and rage of Irina's spell, the description of his consumption from his dragon heart really got to me. He was my favorite character in the book. Ok, not favorite, but one of my favorites, because this spot is Sasha's (the most amazing gyrfalcon ever) and Leo's. But let's not talk about Leo, I'm not ready. <spoiler>Actually, I think that was one of the worst deaths in the book. I know Lorelai needed something to force her to stop hiding and fuel her enough for her to face Irina, but I think Gabril's would have served just as well and he is a much more disposable character than Leo, whose humor and constant fight and teasing of Lorelai would be a welcome break from all the action. I think he would have an awesome friendship with Kol, and it would give us interesting and fun scenes. Also, I WAS WAITING SO MUCH FOR THE CORONATION SCENE, for him to criticize the fashion and tease Lorelai about her dress and her and Kol! UGH, WHY?</spoiler> Irina is a terrifying villain. She reminded me a lot Levana from The Lunar Chronicles, because they both believed that they were taking what was rightfully theirs from the beginning, rectifying the wrongs that were done to them, but while Levana actually believed she was doing what was right for her kingdom and that she was helping Luna, and her belief made her blind and drove her to madness and that's where her cruelty comes from, Irina is cruel for the sake of being cruel. She enjoys the evil things she does. She knows the people and the land is suffering, and she.doesn't.give.a.damn. All she cares about is securing her position that she thinks was rightfully hers from the start and that is the only way she can be truly happy. I like the idea of a series of fairytale retellings featuring diferent kingdoms and the fact that they are standalone novels. I'll be continuing with the series and I hope the characters from this book can make an appearance in the next ones so we can see how they're doing.