*Tender Morsels* by Margo Lanagan is a dark, lyrical retelling of the *Snow White and Rose Red* fairy tale. The novel follows Liga, a young woman who suffers horrific abuse but is given a magical escape into a parallel, idyllic world where she raises her two daughters, Branza and Urdda. However, this sanctuary is not entirely secure, and the real world begins to intrude, bringing both beauty and brutality. As the daughters grow, they long for experiences beyond their mother's protected haven, and their interactions with outsiders—including a shape-shifting bear—force them to confront the complexities of human nature. The novel explores themes of trauma, healing, love, and the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy. With its haunting prose and raw emotional depth, *Tender Morsels* is a powerful yet unsettling tale that examines the resilience of the human spirit in the face of suffering.
