[2745] As Red as Snow Chapter 1

Last time I posted the first half of the first chapter of my YA fairytale retelling. Here's the entire chapter, after some editing. (If you want to skip to the new part, it begins on page 4 with the ***). I'd appreciate any feedback.

How is the pacing in this version? How is the opening prose?

Opinions on the dialogue between Nor and her stepmother? How do the characters come across?

Story

Critique: 5052