Book Review – “Pure of Heart”

Three Stars out of Five

This novel randomly popped up on my Amazon recommendation feed, and I confess it was the cover that first caught my eye. Snow White is one of my favorite Disney princesses, so to see her decked out in fantasy warrior garb made me wonder what sort of tale this might be. As it turns out, Mirrorverse is a Disney video game, so this novel and its characters are set within that realm. However, as past experience has taught me, media tie-ins tend to be lackluster cash grabs. So was this novel any different, or did it have a heart and break the mold?

Pure of Heart, by Delilah S. Dawson, is an entry into (what will likely be) an expanded series of books based on the Disney: Mirrorverse video game. In this particular novel, Snow White finds herself in her familiar forest with her familiar friends, the Seven Dwarves. However, everything familiar is quickly becoming frightening as dark magic infects all she holds dear. When friends become foes and Snow White must fight for her life, she gets recruited by Mickey Mouse, who tells her that her realm is one of many and a poisonous magical force, known as Fractured magic, is threatening all the worlds within the Mirrorverse. On a quest to stop it are a ragtag group of Guardians: Tiana, a chef/potions master; Sulley, a furry monster; Rapunzel, a young lady armed with a formidable frying pan; Stitch, a shape-shifting alien; and Hades, the infamous fast-talking god of the Underworld. Together, they must track down the source of the infected magic in Snow White’s world. But will they be able to fend off the Fractured in time before it invades the Mirrorverse?

I went into this novel with both high hopes and low expectations: the latter because I’ve yet to be blown away by media tie-in fiction and the former because I trust someday I’ll find a decent story within that genre. While Pure of Heart didn’t shatter expectations, it did manage to become a breezy, action-filled, entertaining romp that’s solidly average.

It is worth pointing out, in case anyone is curious, that this novel feels like a close cousin to the types of stories comprising the Twisted Tales series, which puts different spins on classic Disney movies. Pure of Heart does the same, only rather than attempting to retell or reinvent the original film’s version of Snow White, it plants her and other Disney characters within a multiverse. Said world is based on the Mirrorverse video game, in which Disney and Pixar characters assume the role of Guardians who protect and defend a multiverse stained by Fractured magic. I’m always on the fence when it comes to multiverse tales, as I think it’s too easy for writers to proverbially bite off more than they can chew. Luckily, Pure of Heart keeps its focus, so it never feels too daunting in its setting or scope.

Aside from the brisk pace and action-focused story, another plus was the unique twist on some recognizable faces. I’m not overly familiar with Tiana (from The Princess and the Frog), Rapunzel (from Tangled), or Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch), but I do know of Sulley (from Monster’s Inc.), Hades (from Hercules), Mickey Mouse, and Snow White. Whether I had seen these characters’ movies or not, I thought the addendums to their respective personalities were fun. These changes, rather than belittling or betraying a character’s core personality, stayed true to what viewers enjoy about these fictional folks. So while, for instance, Snow White transforms into a battle-ready warrior princess, she never loses her gentle soul and kind heart. The only character who doesn’t change much from his established personality is Hades – but then he just wouldn’t be Hades, now, would he? 😀

Numerous positive messages are sprinkled in among all the action and adventure, such as never give up hope; everyone has value as a person; don’t give into your fears; and be willing to grant people a second chance, whether they’re a hero or a villain. Granted, none of these are anything to write home about and nothing ever dives into deep philosophical waters, but they’re a nice touch to the story, christening it with an uplifting edge. Similarly, it was good to see male and female characters working together rather than against each other. One of my initial concerns was that this novel would de-evolve into a “girl power” story where all the female characters would be besting the boys, who would then be made to look like clueless lunks. Thankfully, that never becomes the case here as the novel avoids touting an annoying “future is female” message. Instead, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Tiana work equally side-by-side with Sulley, Stitch, and even Hades as they tackle the Fractured magic and its dark goons.

The theme receiving the most page time here is facing and neutralizing your fears. More than one character in the story is forced to encounter either a corrupted version of themselves or a Fractured version of someone or something that tries to implant negative messages into a character’s mind, playing off of that person’s deepest fears, such as the fear of failure, abandonment, or rejection. In turn, the character defeats these notions by reminding themselves of their true worth as a person, a Guardian, and a friend. In the end, these scenes serve as nice reminders to readers that it’s better to defeat negative self-talk rather than wallow in it. Become a victor, not a victim, is this novel’s underlying mantra, and it’s a thread that gets woven throughout.

That being said, Pure of Heart isn’t memorable literature because it’s not intended to be. Being a video game tie-in, it features writing that’s bare bones in delivery, never lingering on descriptions nor fully developing characters beyond a basic scope while jumping from one action/fight sequence to the next. It reads very much like a video game script in places, and while that makes sense in terms of this being based on a game, it does make for dry reading at times as, while the book is packed with action, it is sadly devoid of much color or a distinctive flavor. Lastly, the novel assumes readers are already aware of the Disney and Pixar characters it showcases; therefore, if you’re unfamiliar of everyone else but Snow White and Mickey Mouse (who isn’t a strong presence in the story), you might feel this book has little to offer. Though I imagine this might not be too much of a turn off, as, given this isn’t a complicated novel, it’s easy not to become lost. But the potential is there depending on how invested you are in the Disney/Pixar brand.

Overall, Pure of Heart is one of these books that is what it is – not uniquely original but still fun in its own right. Naturally, fans of the Mirrorverse game and/or anything Disney/Pixar will harbor the most appreciation for what this story tries to do and for its expansion upon the related video game world. For everyone else, it’s a fun little reading escape that offers adventure with a generous helping of classic Disney fare and universal morals.

Content:
Language – None.

Violence – Nothing in terms of anything graphic or gory, but there are plenty of peril-filled battle sequences where heroes face off against Fractured goons and monsters. Most such scenes read and play out like video game sequences, so descriptions primarily focus on characters’ movements and placements within a given space. Fractured creatures include monstrous versions of forest animals and poisoned people who act out in ways they normally wouldn’t. Various fantasy weapons, such as enchanted axes and blades, as well as magic and potions are used throughout the novel by heroes and villains alike. Characters face Fractured versions of familiar faces, many of whom torment them by spouting negative rhetoric stemming from their deepest fears and insecurities. Several characters want to lay claim to Snow White’s heart. One character sacrifices their heart to save others, and a character is revealed to be a traitor.

Sexual Content – None. In one scene, Hades urges Snow White and Prince Charming to kiss, but they only blush and part ways.