Kind of dark and creepy. Maybe “whispery” is a good word for how this book feels. This is a set of short retellings of well-known fairy tales told in a modern way. There are no princes rescuing damsels in distress here. Things we’ve always accepted to be the fairy tale reality are turned on their heads in surprising little ways. I enjoyed this one.

Can anyone explain the sleeping beauty story ?? That one was wild.

I know these are for small children and I am a full on adult. I just felt that the stories were not fully fledged out and there were often times I had questions about things that were brought up but never explained. I wish these stories were just a tad bit longer.

The messages in these retellings are uniquely impactful. Definitely some curiosity and enjoyment of a bit of depth will help you love these short fairy tale twists.

2.5 stars

I was so excited to read this book off of the cover and a new take on fairytales. With some beautiful illustrations to go with the book. And maybe I'm too old for this type of retelling, though I would not give to this to any middle school kids, this should be for young adults.

But it felt more like I was being talked at, instead of talked to. Like the writer was on a soapbox sprouting warnings to those who pass by. We get it, people are greedy, selfish, and evil. Love can fade over time, too often the prince is really a monster in disguise, and so on. But it felt more like I was being hit over the head with these lessons. Plus the fairytale retellings were nothing new or interesting except for a few retellings. It doesn't help that a few of them end abruptly, so you think you missed a page, but the story is just over with no conclusion.

For the most part, even though it was well written, I just wasn't that interested or enjoying myself. Perhaps it's just my cup of tea.

I expected more of this book after reading The School for Good & Evil books. This was far more simplistic re-tellings. It felt like some stories were trying to push a social angle more than a story. I thought Peter Pan and Blackbeard because I found them more original. I didn't like The Little Mermaid or Sleeping Beauty. Some of the retellings weren't very different.