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thebespectacledbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of poetry and prose is pure magic.
I’ve been a fan of Theodora Goss’ work for years, and I was extremely grateful to be able to read this collection. Other fans of Goss’ work might recognize a couple of the works in this collection, and they’re just as lovely the second time around.
I adored how the various stories and poems were interconnected in this collection, with several of the stories referencing others in the book.
If you’re looking for fairytales (both old and new) told with old-world charm in a modern, feminist voice, this is the collection for you.
I’ve been a fan of Theodora Goss’ work for years, and I was extremely grateful to be able to read this collection. Other fans of Goss’ work might recognize a couple of the works in this collection, and they’re just as lovely the second time around.
I adored how the various stories and poems were interconnected in this collection, with several of the stories referencing others in the book.
If you’re looking for fairytales (both old and new) told with old-world charm in a modern, feminist voice, this is the collection for you.
karingforbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Really cool way to retell fairytales. Like the poems at the start of each section and the stories. They all weave in subtly and I loved that
maleficentknits's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed most stories but not really a fan of the poetry, but that’s just me.
nnecatrix's review against another edition
3.0
Book #76 for 2018
Book Bingo Square: A Fairytale Retelling
GenreLand: October - Weird
When I went looking to see what other source material I should read before finishing Goss's book, I found this story on her website. It's a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood." Sort of.
I'm not sure what to take away from this story. Well, obviously, men are pigs. Wolves. Whatever. But this story kinda flipped the "stay on the path, little girl" message. But in other ways kinda didn't. And then there were other messages that I couldn't quite suss out. Goss herself admits that she's not sure what this story means, so....
It's an interesting little tale, though, with some fun use of language. And it's very dark and disturbing.
Book Bingo Square: A Fairytale Retelling
GenreLand: October - Weird
When I went looking to see what other source material I should read before finishing Goss's book, I found this story on her website. It's a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood." Sort of.
I'm not sure what to take away from this story. Well, obviously, men are pigs. Wolves. Whatever. But this story kinda flipped the "stay on the path, little girl" message. But in other ways kinda didn't. And then there were other messages that I couldn't quite suss out. Goss herself admits that she's not sure what this story means, so....
It's an interesting little tale, though, with some fun use of language. And it's very dark and disturbing.
camila_caminioca's review against another edition
3.0
This compilation of poems and short stories inspired by fairy tales really grew on me. I especially loved some of the short stories. I didn't always know what tale they were based on, but in all of them there was an essence of mystery and fantasy.
*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
jameseckman's review against another edition
2.0
While the mostly fantasy Victorian fairy tale mashups are decent and the anachronisms amusing, I'm not a fan of unrhymed poetry which is a goodly portion of this book. If you enjoy such poems then this collection might be for you.
paladinjane's review against another edition
4.0
Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was a lovely collection of stories and poems that strongly reminded me of Jane Yolen’s work. Appropriately, Yolen wrote the introduction to this volume.
Goss puts delightful twists on classic fairy tales such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and the Frog Prince, reimagining them in different settings and eras, tweaking the plots to give characters new choices and opportunities, or extending them to explore what happens to the characters after their stories traditionally end.
I’ll admit I’m not usually a huge fan of poetry, but I did enjoy the ones in this collection.
This was a lovely collection of stories and poems that strongly reminded me of Jane Yolen’s work. Appropriately, Yolen wrote the introduction to this volume.
Goss puts delightful twists on classic fairy tales such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and the Frog Prince, reimagining them in different settings and eras, tweaking the plots to give characters new choices and opportunities, or extending them to explore what happens to the characters after their stories traditionally end.
I’ll admit I’m not usually a huge fan of poetry, but I did enjoy the ones in this collection.
joelleps's review against another edition
2.0
favorite story: "Red as Blood and White as Bone" 4 stars (read in a previous publication)
lordofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this collection up after reading the Athena Club books by the same author, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This collection has a very different feel to it. While the Athena Club is set in Victorian London, these are retellings and reinterpretations of fairy tales, bringing the women in them to the fore.
Some worked better than others for me, and there were some that I enjoyed, but don't know the underlying story. Goss is originally from Hungary, and I think several Eastern European tales or variants made their way in to the collection (for example, there were several stories referring to the bear's wife, but my google-fu failed me on that one).
I often have trouble with poetry, but I'm pleased that the poetry presented here isn't as dense as some and was often quite prose-like, so I was able to read it almost like a prose story. Of the stories, I think I enjoyed Blanchefleur the best. Again, I'm not sure I recognise the specific story that it came from, but it had the structure and feel of a fairy tale. And it was a love story, which I'm always a sucker for. The Other Thea is a lovely story about wholeness and belonging; while A Country Called Winter about a refugee who makes startling discoveries about her family and her home.
I enjoyed this collection a lot and will certainly look out for more of Goss's short fiction (as well, of course, as the next 'Athena Club' book!)
Some worked better than others for me, and there were some that I enjoyed, but don't know the underlying story. Goss is originally from Hungary, and I think several Eastern European tales or variants made their way in to the collection (for example, there were several stories referring to the bear's wife, but my google-fu failed me on that one).
I often have trouble with poetry, but I'm pleased that the poetry presented here isn't as dense as some and was often quite prose-like, so I was able to read it almost like a prose story. Of the stories, I think I enjoyed Blanchefleur the best. Again, I'm not sure I recognise the specific story that it came from, but it had the structure and feel of a fairy tale. And it was a love story, which I'm always a sucker for. The Other Thea is a lovely story about wholeness and belonging; while A Country Called Winter about a refugee who makes startling discoveries about her family and her home.
I enjoyed this collection a lot and will certainly look out for more of Goss's short fiction (as well, of course, as the next 'Athena Club' book!)