Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Jessica Day George's Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow is based on the fairytale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon."

The story is set in Norway, and the protagonist has no name. Seriously, her mother took one look at her and refused to name her because she hadn't wanted another child, especially another girl. So this girl grew up without a name, until a certain magical creature granted her a name. Yet, we the readers and basically everyone else in the book don't know her name until the very end.

When our hero saved that magical creature, she was granted two gifts: a name and the ability to talk with animals. Word about her ability spreads quickly, through people and animals.

Our hero eventually came to possess a wolf for a pet, but it wasn't the only predator she attracted. One day during a blizzard, a great white bear burst into their home and demanded she go with him.

Eventually, she goes. They arrive at an ice palace, where several things are incredibly odd. The only servant she's allowed to see is a faun, several commonplace household objects are on display as if they're great trophies or remarkable antiques, and there are several symbols etched into the walls that tell a strange story.

Our hero tries to unravel the mystery of why she's needed at the palace, but she quickly discovers that her attempts to help only prove fatal for many of the castle's inhabitants. (She could not let the secret of who the other servants were remain secret for long.)

This was a really good book; well-written and engaging through our heroine's entire story. The bones of the story are basically just like the original, but George has added in so many new details that make the story work better than before.