Yay backstory! Yay Rose Red! Although I really want to know what her guiding entity turned out to be, and it'll probably be ages before we find out. ( )

Another 4. I was wondering where they were going with this story, and I spent the whole book going "Oh," "Oh," and "...wow." Red Duckling. I don't even want to spoil this one with talking about it. I just want to tell you I loved it. And it was so well done. And the beginning, the flash backs, and the culmination are all so good they gave me goosebumps and endless heart love for this character, this story, and this entire, endlessly expanding, world. ( )

Much anticipated return of Rose Red. Not disappointed! ( )

Totenkinder (now Bellflower) has a plan, but she's not going to let anyone else in. So instead, we're going to deal with the fall of Rose Red after the death of Boy Blue and a shock from her past strong enough to shake her out of it.

It's worth reading just for that, a bit of exploration into depression and loss from the framework of the Fables universe. And man has Red been through a lot--even before Boy Blue died.

Plus, a new baby* for Beast and Beauty! Because more plotlines are always worth while.

Spoilers:



Hhe. Meta.



Oh man the dwarves are dark in this. No wonder Snow is a bit screwed up. And Red in turn.



Powers in this universe are yet another thing to deal with. Interesting enough--and quite a problem with how exactly do you deal with Mr. Dark--plus hints at just what will come to be in Fables 16!



That was sneaky. And easy. Too easy?



*Perfectly normal*. Uh huh.



Hmm. Cinderella is kind of a lot. A funny little story here though. A comic within a comic. ( )

I've been less than impressed with the last couple of volumes of the Fables series, and almost didn't order this one -- but I've always liked Rose Red, and decided to give the series one last chance. I'm glad I did.

I feel like the story grounded itself again in this arc, and I loved the graceful way that Willingham told the original fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red" and then grafted his own, twisted, version of Snow White's story onto it. (One he told in the very first issues of the series, but which I had forgotten over the past few years.) When Rose Red emerges from her home after her extended depression, it's a lovely moment.

Equally satisfying was the story arc of Frau Totenkinder and her personal confrontation with Mr. Dark. In the interim since the previous volume, I had forgotten her backstory and transformation, and it was a pleasant surprise to be reminded of it.

I'm once again looking forward to the next volume of Fables. In fact, I might even spend the time between now and then going back and re-reading the entire series. There truly is some wonderful writing and images in these books. ( )