This is a story about storytelling, which means I was immediately invested. The Archive of Alternate Endings explores the story of Hansel and Gretel, as it plays out in the returns of Halley’s comet throughout time. From the first chapter, I was delighted by the skill at play here. Two stories, which concern different peopleRead More
Susan reviews In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard
In The Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard is a post-apocalyptic post-colonisation fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Yên is a rural scholar, who offers herself up to a dragon in her mother’s place to repay her village’s debts; Vu Côn is the dragon in question, trying to fix the world that the Vanisher’sRead More
Sponsored Review: Danika reviews A Lake of Feathers and Moonbeams by Dax Murray
A Lake of Feathers and Moonbeams is a queer Swan Lake retelling, and honestly, it just had to live up to that premise to win me over. I may not be incredibly familiar with the ballet, but I grew up watching Swan Princess constantly. Besides, queer fairy tale(-esque) retellings are one of my favourite thingsRead More
Ren reviews We Were Witches by Ariel Gore
TW: self harm, violence against women, sexual assault ‘Beautiful’ does not even begin to encompass the captive, rhythmic style Ariel Gore possesses. I found it difficult to read quickly despite it being a relatively short work; every few pages there would be a line simple in structure but devastating in truth. I would be leftRead More
Marthese reviews Gretel and “Dragon Essence” by Niamh Murphy
”She had trusted two strangers in her house, offering them food and shelter. It was nonsense not to trust her.” – Gretel: A Fairytale Retold With GDPR the copious amounts of author newsletters were at best purgatory. The ‘please subscribe to us’ emails were really great to weed out authors that I am not so interestedRead More
Mary Springer reviews Snow White and Her Queen by Anna Ferrara
Trigger Warning: the book contains scenes of suicide, rape, and assault and this review will discuss them. This review contains spoilers. Katherine was married to the King of the Northern Kingdom when she was thirteen. Seventeen years later, she plans to kill herself, but she is saved by a beautiful young woman. Soon she findsRead More
Susan reviews Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O’Neill
Princess Princess Ever After is an all-ages graphic novel by Kay O’Neill about two princesses joining forces to rescue people and save the kingdom from an angry sorceress, and it’s really cute. Sadie and Amira are very different styles of princess; Sadie is a traditionally feminine princess with an adorable pudgy dragon, who’s been lockedRead More
Rebecca reviews Seeing Red: A Sapphic Fairy Tale by Cara Malone
Seeing Red is a cute and quick read with a sweet romance and really well-written characters. It’s loosely based on the fairy tale and I absolutely enjoyed this modern take with relatable characters. Hunter has too much on her plate. She’s living with her sister, Piper and helping with the bills and her two nephews. She’sRead More
Danika reviews Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
This is a fairy tale about misogyny. About the men who pit women against each other, and force them into limited roles. And the relationships that form between these women regardless. The love that they share even when told they should they should hate each other. The revolutionary power of love and forgiveness to breakRead More
Danika reviews The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang
This is a fascinating novella. It’s a dark, reversed retelling of “The Little Mermaid,” from the point of view of a human scientist who acts in an anthropological capacity studying the atargati (definitely not “mermaids”). If “dark queer retelling of ‘The Little Mermaid’” didn’t already hook you, I don’t really know what else to say.Read More