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A review by aphelia88
Black Thorn, White Rose by Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling
4.0
For any reader interested in the origins of fairy tales, this series of retellings is excellent reading! But be warned - the original tales were often very dark; reading these books is setting off into a dark, menacing wood of ominous twisted trees with only your red cape and wits for company.
Overall, this collection was more uneven than the first book [b:Snow White, Blood Red|141024|Snow White, Blood Red|Ellen Datlow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387746798l/141024._SY75_.jpg|135922] but there are some good stories that make up for the weaker entries (please see my review of the first book for a list of all the series titles).
After an informative introduction about the origins of fairy tales by Datlow and Windling, there are 18 stories.
Story Breakdown
5 Star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2
4 Star ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5
3 Star ⭐⭐⭐ 2
2 Star ⭐⭐ 3
1 Star ⭐ 6
Highlights: 5 Star Stories
#2 "Stronger Than Time" Patricia C. Wrede (Based on Sleeping Beauty)
The ghost of the Prince guides an elderly woodcutter to rescue his Princess, at long last.
#18 "The Black Swan" Susan Wade (Based on The Black Swan)
Strongest story in the collection
A young country girl in love with her royal cousin is taught courtly manners by an ambitious footman.
4 Star Stories
#1 "Words Like Pale Stones" Nancy Cress (Based on Rumpelstiltskin)
A Fae helps a peasant woman whose mother has lied and claims she can spin straw into gold - but at a great cost.
#9 "The Brown Bear of Norway" Isobel Cole (Based on Scandinavian folktale of same name)
Hard to understand, but interesting.
#11 "Tattercoats" Midori Synder (Based on tale of same name?)
A woman is desperate to reinvigorate her marriage and seduces her husband in disguise.
#16 "Silver and Gold" (Poem) Ellen Steiber (Based on Red Riding Hood)
"Sometimes, I explain,
it's hard to tell the difference
between the ones who love you
and the ones who will eat you alive." (309)
#17 "Sweet Brusing Skin" Storm Constantine (Based on The Princess and The Pea)
A fallen Queen relates her tale of creating a wife for her son with the aid of an alchemist.
Overall, like the first volume, this book has one story I would advise skipping when reading and that is "Ashputtle" by Peter Straub, which is based on a traditional tale of the same name. Since I haven't read the original, I'm not sure how closely this retelling echoes it but it features a very gross concept.
Less impressive than the first book it is still well worth reading and I'm looking forward to reading further in the series! (A kind and generous friend sent me this one, thank you!)
Ends with a list of Recommended Reading, both Fiction and Non-Fiction; there is a short one sentence description of each fiction story.
Overall, this collection was more uneven than the first book [b:Snow White, Blood Red|141024|Snow White, Blood Red|Ellen Datlow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387746798l/141024._SY75_.jpg|135922] but there are some good stories that make up for the weaker entries (please see my review of the first book for a list of all the series titles).
After an informative introduction about the origins of fairy tales by Datlow and Windling, there are 18 stories.
Story Breakdown
5 Star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2
4 Star ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5
3 Star ⭐⭐⭐ 2
2 Star ⭐⭐ 3
1 Star ⭐ 6
Highlights: 5 Star Stories
#2 "Stronger Than Time" Patricia C. Wrede (Based on Sleeping Beauty)
The ghost of the Prince guides an elderly woodcutter to rescue his Princess, at long last.
#18 "The Black Swan" Susan Wade (Based on The Black Swan)
Strongest story in the collection
A young country girl in love with her royal cousin is taught courtly manners by an ambitious footman.
4 Star Stories
#1 "Words Like Pale Stones" Nancy Cress (Based on Rumpelstiltskin)
A Fae helps a peasant woman whose mother has lied and claims she can spin straw into gold - but at a great cost.
#9 "The Brown Bear of Norway" Isobel Cole (Based on Scandinavian folktale of same name)
Hard to understand, but interesting.
#11 "Tattercoats" Midori Synder (Based on tale of same name?)
A woman is desperate to reinvigorate her marriage and seduces her husband in disguise.
#16 "Silver and Gold" (Poem) Ellen Steiber (Based on Red Riding Hood)
"Sometimes, I explain,
it's hard to tell the difference
between the ones who love you
and the ones who will eat you alive." (309)
#17 "Sweet Brusing Skin" Storm Constantine (Based on The Princess and The Pea)
A fallen Queen relates her tale of creating a wife for her son with the aid of an alchemist.
Overall, like the first volume, this book has one story I would advise skipping when reading and that is "Ashputtle" by Peter Straub, which is based on a traditional tale of the same name. Since I haven't read the original, I'm not sure how closely this retelling echoes it but it features a very gross concept
Spoiler
a scatological "artist" who is a child killerLess impressive than the first book it is still well worth reading and I'm looking forward to reading further in the series! (A kind and generous friend sent me this one, thank you!)
Ends with a list of Recommended Reading, both Fiction and Non-Fiction; there is a short one sentence description of each fiction story.