3.5
A fun collection of stories. There were a few that seemed to be the influence for Hans Christian Andersen tales (specifically "The Twelve Wild Ducks").

This book contained 35 stories and had many of princesses needing rescue, trolls that had enchanted people or stolen away a king's daughters.

My favorites were: "The Three Princesses in the Mountain-In-the-Blue," "The Companion," "Butterball," and "Squire Per."

As I often do, I found a story that I'm familiar with but has a bit of a twist. I don't really know of anyone who hasn't read some version of 'City Mouse and Country Mouse,' well - lo and behold, it exists as a Norwegian folk tale! In this version, titled 'The House Mouse and The Country Mouse,' two mice that live in different locales meet up at the edge of a forest one fall day. They promise to visit one another over Christmas. House visits Country, (nearly dying on the trip there), enjoys the kernels and husks and freshwater but is convinced his place has better food. So they go to House's place where they feast on crumbs and tallow and whatever else is dropped or forgotten about. Instead of freshwater, they drink beer and House knows that the Christmas ale is stronger than the usual stuff, so House just drinks enough to 'quench his thirst.' Country though, who has never had beer, finds it more than delicious; he gets ROARING DRUNK and the cat, or "the bailiff" as House calls him, catches him. Country is able to scurry away - back to his home never to visit again.

A shorter book of fairy/folk tales than most in my collection, but still, a fun read.

Just then, they saw the Trolls come rushing, and the were so big and tall that their heads were level with the tops of the fir trees. But they had only one eye among the three of them, and they took turns using it.

"There is happiness in good company."

"Sleep is a great thief; he will always steal half the time."