fairy tales reimagined – Cannonball Read 17

I feel like this should be a YA novel, but it’s not

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

October 25, 2020 by crystalclear Leave a Comment

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a book where fairy tales and myths collide. The book begins in a 1920’s version of “Cinderella,” but in Mexico. Casiopea is a poor cousin of the richest family in their town, and she is given the role of maidservant while her mother is the cook. Casiopea does as she’s told, but not necessarily as subserviently as her cousin Martín would wish. One day while the family is away, she gets a chance to open up the forbidden chest […]

If You go into The Hazel Woods Today… (Bingo: Travel square)

The Hazel Wood: A Novel by Melissa Albert

September 5, 2019 by sistercoyote Leave a Comment

When Alice was born, her eyes were black from end to end, and the midwife didn’t stay long enough to wash her. (Kindle loc. 221) My mother was raised on fairy tales, but I was raised on highways. (loc. 37) Holy cats, you guys. This book and my reaction to it are probably going to fall down around my ears like a pack of playing cards or a straw house, but for the moment I am in love.

Not that bad until the end

December 10, 2017 by crystalclear Leave a Comment

Cinderella meets zombies. There’s your synopsis in three words. But for the most part, it’s a lot more than that. Exley doesn’t just stick zombies in your stereotypical Cinderella story. She explains what the characters know about how the zombies (or vermin, or turned) came to be. The story takes place in England during the aftermath of World War I. While the shell shocked men are coming home from war, a devastating bout of ‘influenza’ sweeps the country, killing millions. Only they don’t stay dead. […]

Adorkable!

August 2, 2017 by Jenny S 4 Comments

My second Cinderella retelling in a month and another very different take on the classic fairy tale. As the subtitle suggests, this fairytale reboot takes place in the world of science fiction fandom. Danielle (Elle) Wittimer has been a longtime fan of Starfield, a TV series that seems a mix of Star Trek, Firefly, with a bit of Star Wars thrown in. Though the show only runs in syndication, it means even more to Elle now because her deceased father was also a huge fan. […]

Glass Slippers or Grass Slippers?

July 26, 2017 by Jenny S Leave a Comment

This was an interesting take on the world of Grimm’s fairytales with emphasis on the idea of grim. A young woman wakes up in a castle with no knowledge of her past or even her own name. The only thing that seems familiar is a silver thimble in the pocket of her dress. She is given the name “seamstress” and made to work with a group of other women, most of them old and frail, stitching intricate beading and lace onto beautiful dresses. From the […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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