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249 reviews for:
Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales
James Brogden, Jane Yolen, Jen Williams, Catriona Ward, Margo Lanagan, Karen Joy Fowler, Alison Littlewood, Marie O'Regan, Christopher Golden, Adam Stemple, Maura McHugh, Christina Henry, M. R. Carey, Paul Kane, A.G. Slatter, Christopher Fowler, Neil Gaiman, Lilith Saintcrow, Charlie Jane Anders, Tim Lebbon, Michael Marshall Smith
3.48 AVERAGE
249 reviews for:
Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales
James Brogden, Jane Yolen, Jen Williams, Catriona Ward, Margo Lanagan, Karen Joy Fowler, Alison Littlewood, Marie O'Regan, Christopher Golden, Adam Stemple, Maura McHugh, Christina Henry, M. R. Carey, Paul Kane, A.G. Slatter, Christopher Fowler, Neil Gaiman, Lilith Saintcrow, Charlie Jane Anders, Tim Lebbon, Michael Marshall Smith
3.48 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The difficult thing with collections of short stories is that you will never like all. The switch between nice ones and boring or confused ones, makes it hard to enjoy it overall.
Their were some really nice ones and it started well with Henry's short story. But the second one by Gaiman was weird. A book full of different narating styles, genres, curse interpretation.
In the end half of them were nice. 2,5⭐
Their were some really nice ones and it started well with Henry's short story. But the second one by Gaiman was weird. A book full of different narating styles, genres, curse interpretation.
In the end half of them were nice. 2,5⭐
dark
emotional
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
*Castle Cursed: 4/5
*As Red As Blood, As White As Snow: 2/5
*Troll Bridge: 3/5
*At That Age: 3/5
*Listen: 4/5
*Henry and the Snakewood Box: 4/5
*Skin: 3/5
*Faith & Fred: 1/5
*The Black Fairy's Curse: 4/5
*Wendy, Darling: 3/5
* Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie: 1/5
*Look Inside: 1/5
*Little Red: 3/5
*New Wine: 1/5
*Haza and Ghani: 4/5
*Hated: 1/5
*Merrie Dancers: 5/5
*Again: 3/5
*The Girl from the Hell: 1/5
*Castle Waking: 3/5
*As Red As Blood, As White As Snow: 2/5
*Troll Bridge: 3/5
*At That Age: 3/5
*Listen: 4/5
*Henry and the Snakewood Box: 4/5
*Skin: 3/5
*Faith & Fred: 1/5
*The Black Fairy's Curse: 4/5
*Wendy, Darling: 3/5
* Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie: 1/5
*Look Inside: 1/5
*Little Red: 3/5
*New Wine: 1/5
*Haza and Ghani: 4/5
*Hated: 1/5
*Merrie Dancers: 5/5
*Again: 3/5
*The Girl from the Hell: 1/5
*Castle Waking: 3/5
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A fun mix of completely unique tales and reimaginings of classic fairy tales! This book has a story for everyone- this collaboration has introduced me to new authors that I had never heard of and I can't wait to read more of their works!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I thought this anthology stuck the landing for me. I thought the writing style was compelling across them all and none of them overstayed their welcome. There was no overly long short story and I'm grateful for that. I did not take this as a fairy tale but rewritten to be darker, this is simply a book of fairy tales because the originals were dark enough to match the tones here especially since it opens with Bluebeard.
They had solid endings that wrapped up the story nicely. Some other people commented they didn't like the purple prose, but this sort of flowery, metaphorical, fantasy writing is exactly up my alley. I think the descriptions were great and immersive for a fairy tale.
My stand out favourites were As red as Blood and as White as Snow by Christina Henry, New Wine by Angela Slatter, and Again by Tim Lebbon.
I thought all of them had interesting nuggets!
They had solid endings that wrapped up the story nicely. Some other people commented they didn't like the purple prose, but this sort of flowery, metaphorical, fantasy writing is exactly up my alley. I think the descriptions were great and immersive for a fairy tale.
My stand out favourites were As red as Blood and as White as Snow by Christina Henry, New Wine by Angela Slatter, and Again by Tim Lebbon.
I thought all of them had interesting nuggets!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
I really liked the idea of building a fantasy/contemporary fantasy/folklore- and fairytale-inspired short story collection around a theme like this! Some of the stories were "meh," but the only one I absolutely hated was the last one, The Girl from the Hell (Margo Lanagan). What was the heck was it even about? The ones I liked best were:
Troll Bridge (Neil Gaiman)
At that Age (Catriona Ward)
Wendy, Darling (Christopher Golden)
Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie (Charlie Jane Anders) - this one was so cute!
The Merrie Dancers (Alison Littlewood)
Troll Bridge (Neil Gaiman)
At that Age (Catriona Ward)
Wendy, Darling (Christopher Golden)
Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie (Charlie Jane Anders) - this one was so cute!
The Merrie Dancers (Alison Littlewood)