Ekta R. Garg

This was such a fun short story collection. Before each short story is a question, that sort of introduces the story, and tells you what to expect. The shortest story, and probably the most emotional one, was related to The Pied Piper. The one related to the title of the collection, The Witch's Apprentice, went in a direction I didn't expect from the way it started, and I loved that twist (but no spoilers, you'll have to read if you want to find out). I would love to see a follow-up to Jack show more and Jill's story. Once you read it, you'll understand why, but again, I really want to avoid giving any spoilers! My favorite story, by far, was the final one, which was a Sleeping Beauty and Goldilocks crossover. It was really well handled, and I love how it ended! If you enjoy fairy tales, but aren’t necessarily looking for full retellings, then you need to grab this short story collection. show less

Clever and entertaining stories that lean slightly to the left and right of classic fairy tales.

Fairytales. We all grew up listening to them told over and over, in all forms of artistic media: storytelling, plays, dance, and film. In Ekta R. Garg's reimaginings, she takes these well-known, familiar gems and gives us, in the words of Paul Harvey, "the rest of the story."

The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories is a small compilation of tales created in response to the author's question of show more "why" a character acted the way they did in the famous story or "why" a situation arose in the first place. For instance, remember when, in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's house falls on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East? Garg answers the question of why the witch was in the roadway where the house landed. What follows is a fun and completely reasonable explanation with an unexpected twist that ties the popular L. Frank Baum novel to another familiar but unrelated tale. Garg works similar magic on the fairy tales of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Emperor's New Clothes, Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, and the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill." The results are imaginative, surprising, and spun gold.

I recommend THE WITCH'S APPRENTICE AND OTHER STORIES to readers who enjoy fairytale reimaginings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours. show less

Two short stories with measureless impact. Both stories flanked by love. The premise of ‘pairs’ of short stories is original and unique, you understand the pairing as you read of the connection between the duo. Garg’s vision elevates both characters and narrative.

The Proposal – a couple pulling at your heartstrings, you have no idea the final outcome, quite a tender story. Love fully demonstrated.

Remembrance – a slow build up, smattering of clues before the reader is blindsided show more left with their mouth forming an O.

Garg’s talent is in dialog and characterization – clearly her characters are three dimensional, incandescent. Prosaic circumstances yet emotionally grueling. Her prose is absorbing, placidity with weightiness. Memorable and potent.

Two affecting marvelous short stories, anxious to read more from Garg, an authoress commanding a favor in style and characterization, powerful meaning hooking the reader with originality and uniqueness on all degrees. show less

In a Nutshell: This had a very creative concept but unfortunately, the writing style and my expectations didn’t match the author’s imagination.

Story:

Curtis works as a bartender in Las Vegas for 9 months and in the Arctic Circle as Santa's helper for the remaining quarter of the year. This has been his life for the past ten years. Prior to that, he was an airline pilot, but a bad plane accident changed the course of his life. During his latest assignment in the North Pole, where Curtis

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is disgruntled at having been called during a different quarter than his regular schedule, Mr. C (the Claus himself) agrees to give him a different assignment. Unbeknown to Curtis, this assignment involves him having to confront his past. Will he finally be able to put all the grief inside him to rest?
Most of the story comes to us from Curtis’s first person point of view.

Where the book appealed to me: show less