Faerytale

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was chosen to receive a copy of this book through the LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program; however, I did not receive a copy of this book to review. I ended up securing a copy through other means, which had no influence on this review.

This is a dark retelling of some classic fairy tales stitched together in an imaginative way. This tale is not as complex as Adam Gidwitz’s A Tale Dark and Grimm, but it does address some complex subject matter that may not be suited for children younger than 11 years old.

“Lucy climbed up on the ledge, releasing the braid of hair,
And as Rapunzel pulled it back, Lucy stood and stared.
Her regal face was pompous and grim, pretty if she just smiled.
A virtuous maiden she clearly was not, for she was big with child.”

I won’t give any clues as to what happens next, except that someone may want to order a paternity test.

This may be a fun story for older readers already well acquainted with various fairy tales, but it has the potential to be disturbing or confusing for a young or sensitive reader. While not one of my favorite retellings, I was impressed by the author’s writing style. ( )

A slender little tale told in rich poetic form, this story was enchanting. And the illustrations were such perfect inclusions. What an ideal story to read aloud to a young girl. And it makes me want to reread Rossetti's "Goblin Market" all over again.

I suspect that children who love Faerytale would heartily enjoy the more adult and better-written Sharp Teeth once their reading level and maturity advanced a bit.

The ecopy to be sent by way of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program never did reach me. I commented on Goodreads about my (unsuccessful) efforts to track down a library copy of this work, and the publisher contacted me via that site with an offer to email a finished copy of the book to me immediately. I'm so glad they did. I loved this. ( )