Big thanks to Titan Books for inviting me to participate in the Cursed blog tour! I’m happy to share a mini review of several of the stories in this anthology, and I have a giveaway for TWO copies of the book, courtesy of the publisher! Keep reading until the end for more details about the giveaway, and enjoy my review below.
Fairy tales take a weird twist in this anthology compiling stories from an all-star cast of fantasy writers, including stories from Neil Gaiman, Charlie Jane Anders and Alison Littlewood.
Here in this book you’ll find unique twists on the fairy tale conceit of the curse, from the more traditional to the modern – giving us brand new mythologies as well as new approaches to well-loved fables. Some might shock you, some might make you laugh, but they will all impress you with their originality.
Contributors: NEIL GAIMAN | JANE YOLEN | KAREN JOY FOWLER | M.R. CAREY | CHRISTINA HENRY | CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN | TIM LEBBON | MICHAEL MARSHALL SMITH | CHARLIE JANE ANDERS | JEN WILLIAMS | CATRIONA WARD | JAMES BROGDEN | MAURA McHUGH | ANGELA SLATTER | LILLITH SAINTCROW | CHRISTOPHER FOWLER | ALISON LITTLEWOOD | MARGO LANAGAN
For my stop in the tour, I’ve chose four stories in this collection to read and review, so here are my mini reviews:
Henry and the Snakewood Box by M.R. Carey
M.R. Carey is one of my favorite writers, so of course I picked his story as one I wanted to read. A sneaky demon meets his match in this humorous tale of wishes and curses. A simpleton named Henry chances upon a snakewood box in a store window and is compelled to buy it. Turns out there’s a demon in the box who tells Henry—in his mind—that he has been granted infinite wishes. As Henry proceeds to wish for small, trivial things at first, and later more elaborate and impossible ones, he soon finds out that his wishes have terrible repercussions for the wider world. This was an uncharacteristically funny story from Carey, but I really enjoyed the simplicity of the idea and the interaction between the demon—who is convinced he’s stumbled upon an idiot with Henry—and Henry, who turns out to be smarter than he looks.
As Red As Blood, As White As Snow by Christina Henry
Henry is another favorite writer of mine, and I loved her unique take on the Snow White tale, complete with a mash-up of several other fairy tales. Snow White is to be married to an evil Prince Charming in order to save her kingdom from war, and with her father under a spell and her brothers away on business, there is no one to protect her but herself. When a magical spy ring is placed on her finger, Snow’s mother provides her with a way to defeat its magic, but she must be patient. I loved the traditional fairy tale vibe of this story and its feminist message about breaking the cycle of abuse.
Wendy, Darling by Christopher Golden
I chose this story to read because I suspected it might be a Peter Pan retelling, and I was right! A grown Wendy is about to married and leave her childhood behind. But the Lost Boys still haunt her, and her past won’t stay away, threatening her future happiness. This is a very dark reimagining of the classic tale and did not end at all the way I expected it to.
Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie by Charlie Jane Anders
I absolutely loved this quirky tale about a bar owner and her … odd clientele. Rachel owns Rachel’s Bar and Grill in a small North Carolina town, where fairies, vampires and other fantastical creatures come to hang. When a fae named Antonia is hired to sing and clean tables, she attracts a couple of brawny men who have quirks of their own. I loved the contemporary setting and Anders’ punchy dialog. This was a lot of fun, and it reminded me of why I love this author so much!
All four of these stories were wildly different from each other, but all of them had an interesting fairy tale sensibility. I’m sad that I didn’t have enough time to read more of this collection in time for my blog tour stop, but I’ll definitely be dipping back into it in the future. This small sampling was excellent, and I can’t wait to read the other stories!
This book sounds like so much fun. I love fairytale retellings and the ones you’ve reviewed sound so great. My favorite fairytale is The Little Mermaid but I also love Rumpelstiltskin and The Pied Piper of Hamelin. 🙂
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This book sounds great! I love retellings and mashups and it seems like the stories you choose are amazing!
“Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie” sounds like fun, and I can picture the setting because it’s near my neck of the woods.
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“What is your favorite fairy tale?” “Beauty and the Beast,” because of the great film by Jean Cocteau and the great illustrated book by Walter Crane!
The compilation sounds great. I have, unfortunately, never read any fairy-tale retelling. This sounds like a promising book to start with. Thanks for the recommendation, Tammy. 🙂
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I have always loved The Snow Queen 🙂
My favorite is Sleeping Beauty.
This seems like a really fun book to have on your bedside table!!
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Oh, and for the giveaway – I think my favorite fairy tale might be Beauty and the Beast.
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My favorite fairy tale as a child was Twelve Dancing Princesses and our library had so many different versions that my mother finally told me that I couldn’t just check out a different one every time we went to the library. I still love that one but I also really love The Snow Queen and East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
This book sounds really good. My favorite fairy tale is probably Little Mermaid-ish.
When I saw the names of the authors contributing stories to this anthology my Wanted Book Alarm went off very loudly, and now that I’ve read your comments of those four stories I know it was right on spot!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Not huge on anthologies but this sounds like one I might enjoy! My favorite fairy tale has always been Cinderella, such a dull answer I know…lol. I think it’s because I seen the musical (people version from 1965) as a kid and it stuck with me. 🙂 I loved it and the music!
Ooooh, this looks like a super interesting anthology!!!
My favorite fairy tale is Snow White and the 7 Dwarves.
Alice in Wonderland! Thank you
For some reason I’ve always liked Rumpelstiltskin. Something about his funny name and the malevolent elf character appeals to me I guess. Thanks for the chance to win this cool book.
What a fun book… I’m a sucker for anything by Neil Gaiman. But I’m sure I’ll love all of them. I love re-tellings of fairytales. Although, I’m not sure I can pick a favorite fairytale. But if I need to I’d have to say the Ugly Duckling.
Oh my, how fun is this, Tammy? I see so many of the stories I want to read, too. Peter Pan is one of my favorites!
I love Cinderella. I really enjoy fairy tale retellings and fractured fairy tales. Thanks.
I don’t read as many short stories as I once did, but I’d love to start getting back into them. Not entirely sure what my favorite fairly tale would be, but I’m leaning towards Hansel and Gretel.
Ooh, I’m not one for anthologies, but the author line up for this is killer!
Wow that is an all star ensemble! It’s not often I recognize most of the names in an anthology and the stories sound delightful. Great preview!
I only just started this book, and I’m curious to come across the stories you’ve chosen! Well, I’ve read As Red As Blood, As White As Snow already. I have to say that I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I’ve been nicely surprised so far. I love all the dark twistiness. :3 I’m so excited to read Henry and the Snakewood Box! It sounds like it’s gonna be a good one.
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Some of my favorites are in this! 🙂
I don’t normally read anthologies, but I’m so tempted by this one because of that Christina Henry story. Great review!
I really like stories like Mulan :):)
I saw this, said I didn’t neeeeed it, read yer review, and changed me mind. One of me all-time favourites is Beauty and the Beast but want I really want is a Princess and the Pea retelling cause I have never seen one. I want someone to make that story make more sense even though I do love it!
This sounds like such an amazing anthology!!!
Beauty and the Beast!!
My favorite fairy tale is Mulan.
These tales new and old sound deliciously fantastic!
My favorite is probably Hansel and Gretel or Sleeping Beauty.