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teensyslews's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cb613's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
asche's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
3.75
Weird! "Much to think about!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
jacobpdxreads's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
s_everson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Excrement, and Animal death
becca5741's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
amenon07's review against another edition
3.0
Torn between a 3 and a 4 - ultimately settling on a 3 because while certain stories will stay with me for a long while (unsurprisingly, the first two are the strongest), others ones were not memorable enough.
whatyoutolkienabout's review against another edition
5.0
I was given a copy to review via Netgalley and Head of Zeus. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #WhiteCatBlackDog #KellyLink #Netgalley #HeadOfZeus #ARCReview #BookReview
White Cat, Black Dog is wonderful collection of seven short stories that focus on reinvented fairy tales taking inspiration from the Brothers Grimm, Seventeenth-century French Lore and Scottish Ballads. Link manages to twist and wind the tales in new ways blending realism and speculative, witty, empathetic but never predictable.
Each short story is memorable and unique. While Link’s style is clear I adored how it morphed depending on which character was narrating the tale. As a massive fan of fairy tales, myths and legends and a avid fan of the Brother’s Grimm it is wonderful to see the darker more surreal nature of fairy tales explored and brought to life in Link’s prose. Gritty and dark but with over arching themes of love, connection and finding a sense of purpose these capture the true essence of fairy tales as they are meant to be.
The best and equally worse part is that with these being short stories you can easily devour one (or two) in a sitting and then come back for another. I fully adored this collection but have to say my favourites were ‘The White Cat’s Divorce’, ‘Prince Hat Underground’ and ‘The Lady and the Fox’. That said each story stood out to me and I adored how Link’s work, like fairy tales of old, reflects the world we are part of including LGBTQ+ themes and protagonists.
All in all this is brilliant collection and as someone who had not read any of Kelly Link’s work before I will certainly be reading more of her work.
White Cat, Black Dog is wonderful collection of seven short stories that focus on reinvented fairy tales taking inspiration from the Brothers Grimm, Seventeenth-century French Lore and Scottish Ballads. Link manages to twist and wind the tales in new ways blending realism and speculative, witty, empathetic but never predictable.
Each short story is memorable and unique. While Link’s style is clear I adored how it morphed depending on which character was narrating the tale. As a massive fan of fairy tales, myths and legends and a avid fan of the Brother’s Grimm it is wonderful to see the darker more surreal nature of fairy tales explored and brought to life in Link’s prose. Gritty and dark but with over arching themes of love, connection and finding a sense of purpose these capture the true essence of fairy tales as they are meant to be.
The best and equally worse part is that with these being short stories you can easily devour one (or two) in a sitting and then come back for another. I fully adored this collection but have to say my favourites were ‘The White Cat’s Divorce’, ‘Prince Hat Underground’ and ‘The Lady and the Fox’. That said each story stood out to me and I adored how Link’s work, like fairy tales of old, reflects the world we are part of including LGBTQ+ themes and protagonists.
All in all this is brilliant collection and as someone who had not read any of Kelly Link’s work before I will certainly be reading more of her work.
alithomas's review against another edition
2.75
I would call these stories speculative fiction much more than fairy tale retellings. If I had gone in with that I think I might have enjoyed this more.
It's so well-written though.
It's so well-written though.