Customer Reviews

The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold

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4 star:		(5)
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Some books just fall into your hands, and instantly become treasures you want to share with all you know. This is one of those books. It is a modern retelling of the story from the Brothers Grimm, of Snow White and Rose Red. It is the story of two brothers and two sisters, all of whom have lost much in life and are not fully what they at first appear. The sisters have lost their father and had to move back into New York City. The brothers have lost their mother and have both been convicted of drug charges. Then one fateful night their fates become somehow intertwined.

The sisters are Blanch and Rose, two girls who grew up in the countryside, and who now reside in the city. They live with their mother and attend secondary school. The first of the brothers we meet is named Bear; he has dreadlocks, is big and tough, yet upon spending an evening with the Brier sisters and their mother he reveals different parts of his past. He has a passion for life, loves poetry and takes the girls on outings. But there is always a dark side to a Bear and this one is no different. He has secrets and his story and journey are still unfolding. The mystery revolves around a murdered priest, an abandoned church and the school the sisters are attending.

This story is wonderfully told. The author draws you in and keeps you captivated from first page to last. Each chapter begins with a quote from the original fairy tale, and foreshadows what is coming, yet in New York the mysteries and magic of a fairy tale are very different from the German countryside. Regina Doman is a true storyteller, not just an author. His skill with the pen makes you see the action as it is taking place, and you feel so drawn into the story that you feel like a character sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what will happen next.

This is the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait to lay my hands on books two and three. This story was so captivating that it left me wanting more immediately. If you are looking for some great summer reading this term, give this book a try.

Before I read The Shadow of the Bear, I read the Twilight series. It's funny, because with all the fame those books got, this book, and every one of Regina Doman's books, far exceed them. It's one of those rare Catholic books that bring God and good morals (unlike the Twilight books) into the story without making it dull or boring. I actually cried while reading Waking Rose, the third in the series. And even non-Catholics can appreciate the quality of this book. The way Regina writes her books is spectacular, using beautiful language that is almost like poetry. I not only purchased all four of her books for myself, but many of my friends and family, and all of them are hooked! Regina has a wonderful look on life, and teaches you how to be a good person whether you want her too or not. I stayed up until three in the morning once finishing this book, even though I had read it before! I fall in love with the characters every time I read it, and Regina has a way of making you feel their pain, joy, love, and sorrows. This book is one of the greatest books I've ever read. The only books that I enjoy more are the third and fourth books in her series!

I have been trying to find a good Catholic series, especially for teens. This one is great! The way Ms. Doman has turned some of Grimm's fairy tales into novels with Catholic teaching and morals is interesting and fun to read. I couldn't put this one down, and I can't wait to read more!

I first read this book because I was looking for good summer reading for my 12 year old son. It's superbly written - I finished it in 2 1/2 hours. Couldn't put it down. My son finished it in one night as well and he had a great time. Ms. Doman portrays good, noble people in an attractive and exciting way. In her books, there is no ambiguity about right and wrong. Much modern fiction seems to be plagued by a kind of relativistic morality which is so damaging to young people because it infiltrates their minds so insidiously. The clear delineation between right and wrong gives Ms. Doman's books an almost luminous quality. More power to her! Keep writing, Regina!

As a mother of 4 boys who is a little tired of all the junk out there in the mainstream culture, I appreciated this book not only for its bringing forth teen heroes who are virtuous instead of corrupted, but for its suspense and mystery which kept me up late at night reading when the kids were in bed! My 12 year-old son found it fascinating and stayed up late, finishing it in 2 days. You're really kept on the edge of your seat with this one. The great thing is, there is absolutely nothing in it that is inappropriate or damaging to kids' morals here. In fact, the teens depicted come up against the smut of the culture and react in inspiring yet realistic ways. They are not "holier than thou;" they're real kids encountering the real challenges of our day, but they're choosing to "be themselves" in a way that is guided by their faith in God. The air of mystery and adventure and danger is very vivid, too, and draws the reader in. A+! Loved the characters portrayed. I want to get the sequels.

What an amazing book! Regina Doman is such an incredible author and this book proves it. I love that it is Catholic and still exciting, perfect for teens looking for a wholesome book to read. I was a little suprised at how short it seemed considering how long Waking Rose was in actual book form. Maybe I just breezed through it so quickly because I liked it so much! I would reccomend this book to all my friends and will read it a ton!

If you've read my other reviews, you know that Shadow of the Bear is not really my kind of book. First off, it is contemporary fiction which is not my favorite genre. Secondly, it is set in New York City which is one step above Baffin Island in terms of places I'd like to visit. (OK, maybe one step below.) Thirdly, on it's face, it's a story about the trials and tribulations of two teen-aged girls--Rose and Blanche Brier. There are no swords, chain mail, or 12 pounders anywhere to be seen.

But strangely enough, I enjoyed Shadow of the Bear. It is very well written--a real page-turner in the best sense of that phrase. The author, Regina Doman, uniquely crafted the book as a modern retelling of the fairy tale of Snow White and Rose Red. And it works. Though following the framework of the old tale, Doman expertly weaves in modern settings, themes and issues to create a story that's clever and enchanting. Her lead characters are multi-dimensional and completely sympathetic and the story celebrates a number of very positive virtues: steadfastness, courage, trust, and self-sacrifice primary among them.

Of course, I had tremendous appreciation for Doman's unabashed use of Catholic themes. These are central to the story but are used with a light enough touch that they do not come off as preachy. I suspect that most Catholic readers will appreciate her honest insider's view of the Faith as opposed to the lame caricatures of Catholicism that appear in most secular fiction today.

Yes, it's true--Shadow of the Bear is a favorite of young adult readers of the female persuasion and that will probably remain the case in the future. But I don't think it would be a bad thing for young gentlemen to read these books as well. If they can wade through some very female dialog and several passages about clothing, hairstyles and makeup, they might even gain some insight into the sort of behavior that a virtuous young woman expects out of a man. That alone should be worth the price of the book for most young fellows.

As for reading level, due to some rather intense scenes toward the end of the book, I would call Shadow of the Bear suitable for ages 14 and up.

I'm 14 years old and read practically this whole series. At first I thought this book was going to be boring, but what made it even better was that it could really could happen. One thing I liked best is how it was based on the people who are Catholic. They didn't put any bad or unpractical things in it, that people really shouldn't be reading. This is perfect for young Catholic girls who like modern fantasy. It was a beautiful story. Even though I thought the guy with the dreadlocks sounded a little dirty, it turned out perfect in the end. With each book in the series it gets better and better.

This was my second Regina Doman Fairy Tales Retold book, the first I purchased being Black As Night. I had been looking at the website for the movie and found myself wishing I could read the book before the DVD came out. Thus, I bought it here on Amazon. I can assure you, if you buy it directly from Amazon LLC, the free 2-day shipping has been 100% satisfactory for me.
Regina opened the book very well, and did an awesome job on her portrayal of the heroine's peers in school, reminiscent of my own experiences as a homeschooler with teens who attend public school. Her character development is excellent, and she has a rich vocabulary in this book.
However, I would warn parents to read this book themselves before they give it to a child younger than maybe 13-14. There are scenes of intense violence, and some other events that might not be suitable for kids. Although no one dies in the book, sometimes it comes pretty close.
All in all, this is a wonderful addition to any teens literature list. I have to say, all the books I have read from her so far have been incredible, a sure sign that the Holy Spirit is still at work. God bless all your future works, Regina. America could use more authors like you.

Review: The Shadow of the Bear
The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold



This book had a slow start and I almost put it down after the first few chapters. Fortunately I kept up with it and once the action started things really picked up. I wish Ms. Doman could have found a way to introduce the action a little earlier.
Once into the story I enjoyed the plot although at times Ms. Doman was a little to vague. Of course this could be the fault of this inattentive reader, but I felt as if she could have been a little more obvious in some of the premises. I was often left wondering until the very end why were this group of characters and circumstances put together, what their purpose was in the story.
It was a good quick read and somewhat satisfying ending. This reader believes there is room for more development of the story and the characters and this could be an excellent and exciting book.