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lajones1_23's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
nichola's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
This wasn't perfect. But as a companion to Angela Carter's Bloody Chamber this is a lovely text.
I am excited to use this as a companion teaching material for my first years, but I am also a but worried about the fact that these stories sometimes lack a bit of a punch.
I am excited to use this as a companion teaching material for my first years, but I am also a but worried about the fact that these stories sometimes lack a bit of a punch.
nimeneth's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the take on these tales, and especially the variety of directions Goss took some of them in the space of several different works. I think my absolute favorite was The Nightingale and the Rose.
lulustjames's review against another edition
5.0
I had been meaning to read anything by Theodora Goss for the longest time (The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter has been on my bookshelf for far too long.) Now, after reading Snow White Learns Witchcraft, I really need to read more by Goss. It was an amazing anthology that struck such deep emotion, whether through its poems or short stories.
The very first poem in the anthology, and also its namesake, set the tone instantly – Snow White Learns Witchcraft. In bringing back the term witchcraft to its origin — of wise women that were both revered for their ability to heal and help and feared for their refusal to fall in line — and pairing it with fairy tales of damsels in distress, Goss subverts the genre. There is no clearer warning about what to expect in the rest of the anthology than one of the ending stanzas of this first piece:
I’ll walk along the shore collecting shells,
read all the books I’ve never had the time for,
and study witchcraft. What should women do
when they grow old and useless? Become witches.
It’s the only role you get to write yourself.
The short stories that follow, along with additional poetry, all feel fresh and are enjoyable, and yes, I did cry at least once while reading the anthology (Conversations with the Sea Witch destroyed me.) The writing is superb, as is the pacing. That Goss is able to draw so much emotion with each short story (I mean, it’s only 224 pages long total with 31 short stories and poems) speaks to her abilities as an amazing writer. Not once did I feel as though a story was rushed, or that I was missing a piece of it. They felt complete and whole, just as they are, which is hard to do with shorts.
I know buying anthologies is always a bit of a gamble. You never know if it’s going to be full of goodies or duds. But please, let me tell you, Snow White Learns Witchcraft by Theodora Goss is an absolute hit and so worth taking a leap of faith on!
// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. //
The very first poem in the anthology, and also its namesake, set the tone instantly – Snow White Learns Witchcraft. In bringing back the term witchcraft to its origin — of wise women that were both revered for their ability to heal and help and feared for their refusal to fall in line — and pairing it with fairy tales of damsels in distress, Goss subverts the genre. There is no clearer warning about what to expect in the rest of the anthology than one of the ending stanzas of this first piece:
I’ll walk along the shore collecting shells,
read all the books I’ve never had the time for,
and study witchcraft. What should women do
when they grow old and useless? Become witches.
It’s the only role you get to write yourself.
The short stories that follow, along with additional poetry, all feel fresh and are enjoyable, and yes, I did cry at least once while reading the anthology (Conversations with the Sea Witch destroyed me.) The writing is superb, as is the pacing. That Goss is able to draw so much emotion with each short story (I mean, it’s only 224 pages long total with 31 short stories and poems) speaks to her abilities as an amazing writer. Not once did I feel as though a story was rushed, or that I was missing a piece of it. They felt complete and whole, just as they are, which is hard to do with shorts.
I know buying anthologies is always a bit of a gamble. You never know if it’s going to be full of goodies or duds. But please, let me tell you, Snow White Learns Witchcraft by Theodora Goss is an absolute hit and so worth taking a leap of faith on!
// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. //
anjreading's review against another edition
4.0
An inventive and vibrant collection of fairy tale retellings in short stories and poetry. I wasn’t sure about the poetry going in, but Goss is talented and I was drawn in even when I thought I might just skip over a poem or two. Goss centers all the stories around the women in the tales, and is alternately whimsical, dark, and enchanting, depending on what way she is telling a story. A couple of them didn’t grab me, but overall this was an excellent, fresh collection and definitely worth a read.
mzpants1256's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
degroot_maartje's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
auntbreesqreads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this collection! I'm a big fan of fairytale retellings but I usually don't love poems. This one just hit it out of the park for me. I recently realized that I had been approved for a copy on Netgalley but never downloaded it so I decided to buy it since it still seemed like something I might like. I am so glad I did because I LOVED it! Some of my favorites were: "Thorn and Briars," "Blanchefleur," "Goldilocks and the Bear," "The Stepsister's Tale," "Seven Shoes," and "Diamonds and Toads" though it was really hard for me to not just bookmark all of the stories. Some were one page and some were a lot longer but I enjoyed every one. Some were serious with lessons while others were more whimsical. I definitely want to read more by this author.