Scan barcode
kaitalytic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kaitlyns_library's review
3.0
This was a unique set of stories based on fairytales. I do like the modern and queer twist to the books, but I wasn’t familiar with some of the original stories and it was hard for me to pick up on what fairytale was being recreated.
comfy_girl_'s review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
himalaya's review
4.0
A really nice anthology of queer fairytales! definitely a mix of all sorts of stories.
Some were a bit forgettale (I mean I'm just not a short story person) but I really enjoyed others!
I picked this up specifically because I heard there was an aromantic story (which I didn't know much else about) and yeah it hit hard actually. it's about being okay with loneliness and also centred around artists...so. did make me cry a bit, also. i'd give that one 5 stars.
I liked that a lot of the stories focused on platonic relationships - most on siblings actually? I appreciate that there were a couple of sapphic aces, too.
I will say that while the illustrations are high quality (the naturey ones are especially beautiful), I found a lot of them depicted the characters as...very disnefied? idk, thin and generic, lacking 'imperfect' features like freckles, even. (when described as having freckles). not all of them, definitely, but quite a few of the character designs were a bit samey within the otherwise really nice illustrations.
Would have loved author's notes talking about the story inspirations as well - obviously recognised some, but not all. There's a list on the endpapers but not which refers to which. (I did find a list on GR afterwards, but still.
Some were a bit forgettale (I mean I'm just not a short story person) but I really enjoyed others!
I picked this up specifically because I heard there was an aromantic story (which I didn't know much else about) and yeah it hit hard actually. it's about being okay with loneliness and also centred around artists...so. did make me cry a bit, also. i'd give that one 5 stars.
I liked that a lot of the stories focused on platonic relationships - most on siblings actually? I appreciate that there were a couple of sapphic aces, too.
I will say that while the illustrations are high quality (the naturey ones are especially beautiful), I found a lot of them depicted the characters as...very disnefied? idk, thin and generic, lacking 'imperfect' features like freckles, even. (when described as having freckles). not all of them, definitely, but quite a few of the character designs were a bit samey within the otherwise really nice illustrations.
Would have loved author's notes talking about the story inspirations as well - obviously recognised some, but not all. There's a list on the endpapers but not which refers to which. (I did find a list on GR afterwards, but still.
tvweird's review
hopeful
lighthearted
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Many stories in this are great, a few are phenomenal, and a few are sadly uninteresting. Maggie Tokuda-Hall's story is easily the best. Overall, it was refreshing to see queer rep in a new form, but the fairytale format was clearly interpreted by certain authors in restrictive ways, leading to stories that provided few new or interesting ideas.
3/5
3/5
kaitlyng's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I like the concept of the book and really enjoyed a few of the stories, such as the Wooden boy, the Keyhole and The Instant I Died.
The stories are very loosely based on classic fairytails and I wish they were a bit closer to the source, as you sometimes could not tell what the original story was. Even well known stories such as Cinderella are hard to recognise.
It is also very modernised, which works well for some stories such as The Keyhole, but in others it is quite jarring and takes away from the fairytail aspect of the book.
I'll list the stories and inspirations below for those who might be interested in reading both.
The stories are very loosely based on classic fairytails and I wish they were a bit closer to the source, as you sometimes could not tell what the original story was. Even well known stories such as Cinderella are hard to recognise.
It is also very modernised, which works well for some stories such as The Keyhole, but in others it is quite jarring and takes away from the fairytail aspect of the book.
I'll list the stories and inspirations below for those who might be interested in reading both.
- If the Shoe Fits - Lili Wilkinson
(Cinderella)
- The Instant I Died - Gary Lonesborough
(The Dog and the Sparrow)
- Luz Azul - Alexandra Villasante
(Bluebeard)
- The Cherry Blossom Queen - Maggie Tokuda-Hall
(The Old Man Who Made Trees Blossom)
- Let Down Your H.A.I.R. - Meagan Spooner & Amie Kaufman
(Rapunzel)
- Fairest of All - Will Kostakis
(Snow White)
- Alda, Aysel & The Edisto River - Amber McBride
(Mary Bell and the Mermaid)
- Seeing Colour - Jes Layton
(The Old House)
- The Wooden Boy - Abdi Nazemian
(The Adventures of Pinochio)
- Morsel - Helena Fox
(Hansel and Gretel)
- The Keyhole - Michael Earp
(Donkeyskin)
- Moonfall - Alison Evans
(What the Moon Saw & The Wild Swans)
sophiesmallhands's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Abandonment, Animal death, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Child death, Homophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Transphobia
crystal_moon_arts5's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0