The Night Country by Melissa Albert

Title: The Night Country (Hazel Wood #2)

Author: Melissa Albert

Publisher: Flatiron Books 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

In The Night Country, Alice Proserpine dives back into a menacing, mesmerizing world of dark fairy tales and hidden doors of The Hazel Wood. Follow her and Ellery Finch as they learn The Hazel Wood was just the beginning, and that worlds die not with a whimper, but a bang.

With Finch’s help, Alice escaped the Hinterland and her reclusive grandmother’s dark legacy. Now she and the rest of the dregs of the fairy tale world have washed up in New York City, where Alice is trying to make a new, unmagical life. But something is stalking the Hinterland’s survivors—and she suspects their deaths may have a darker purpose. Meanwhile, in the winking out world of the Hinterland, Finch seeks his own adventure, and—if he can find it—a way back home...

Oh Yes! We finally get a followup to The Hazel Wood! I loved diving back into the world of the weird and the wonderful even if most of the story was set in New York City. I always gravitate to the slightly dark fantasy stories and this is no exception. Alice is good character, but I was really here for Ellery’s story. Oh so good! I’m glad we got answers to a lot of the questions posed in the first book. I look forward to next year’s release of Hinterland tales. It’s going to be oh so good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

Title: Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children #4)

Author: Seanan McGuire

Publisher: Tor 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 203

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

When Jack left Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister—whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice—back to their home on the Moors.

But death in their adopted world isn't always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.

Eleanor West's "No Quests" rule is about to be broken.

Again.

What a delightfully dark ending to the series! I loved every single page. McGuire creates such twisted worlds for us to explore. I loved going back to the Moors and revisiting Jack and Jill. Unfortunately this story was over just too soon for my tastes. I want more and more and more from the worlds in the Wayward Children series. For fans of dark fairy tales, this is just perfection. I feel like I need go back and read McGuire’s back catalog.

Wayward Children

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Merry Spinster by Mallory Ortberg

Title: The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror

Author: Mallory Ortberg

Publisher: Holt 2018

Genre: Short Stories - Fantay

Pages: 208

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Random TBR Pick; Women Authors; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Library

From Mallory Ortberg comes a collection of darkly mischievous stories based on classic fairy tales. Adapted from the beloved "Children's Stories Made Horrific" series, "The Merry Spinster" takes up the trademark wit that endeared Ortberg to readers of both The Toast and the best-selling debut Texts From Jane Eyre. The feature has become among the most popular on the site, with each entry bringing in tens of thousands of views, as the stories proved a perfect vehicle for Ortberg’s eye for deconstruction and destabilization. Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief.

Readers of The Toast will instantly recognize Ortberg's boisterous good humor and uber-nerd swagger: those new to Ortberg's oeuvre will delight in this collection's unique spin on fiction, where something a bit mischievous and unsettling is always at work just beneath the surface.

Unfalteringly faithful to its beloved source material, The Merry Spinster also illuminates the unsuspected, and frequently, alarming emotional complexities at play in the stories we tell ourselves, and each other, as we tuck ourselves in for the night.

Bed time will never be the same.

This slim volume of fairy tale inspired stories was a recommendation from the podcast Reading Glasses. I finally picked it up at the library and sped through it in an afternoon. I loved the twists and modernization of classic stories. My favorite story was definitely “The Daughter Cell” based on The Little Mermaid. There’s a cheat sheet of influences in the back of the volume, but I loved piecing out each story as I read them. Ortberg has a wonderful talent for nods to the readers and our modern knowledge while keeping us squarely in the fairy tale realm. Really enjoyed this collection!

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

Title: Gingerbread

Author: Helen Oyeyemi

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 272

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy - New to Me Author; Alphabet Soup - O; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Fairytale

Perdita Lee may appear to be your average British schoolgirl; Harriet Lee may seem just a working mother trying to penetrate the school social hierarchy; but there are signs that they might not be as normal as they think they are. For one thing, they share a gold-painted, seventh-floor walk-up apartment with some surprisingly verbal vegetation. And then there's the gingerbread they make. Londoners may find themselves able to take or leave it, but it's very popular in Druhástrana, the far-away (or, according to many sources, non-existent) land of Harriet Lee's early youth. The world's truest lover of the Lee family gingerbread, however, is Harriet's charismatic childhood friend Gretel Kercheval —a figure who seems to have had a hand in everything (good or bad) that has happened to Harriet since they met.

Decades later, when teenaged Perdita sets out to find her mother's long-lost friend, it prompts a new telling of Harriet's story. As the book follows the Lees through encounters with jealousy, ambition, family grudges, work, wealth, and real estate, gingerbread seems to be the one thing that reliably holds a constant value. Endlessly surprising and satisfying, written with Helen Oyeyemi's inimitable style and imagination, it is a true feast for the reader.

I had such high hopes for this book. I’ve heard amazing things about the author and her writing style. And her writing style is gorgeous. Oyeyemi can surely turn a sentence. I found myself caught up in the lyrical nature of her writing. However, this book went nowhere for me. The beginning of the novel was interesting and I was fascinated by the retelling of Hansel and Gretel. But then, Harriet began telling her story to Perdita and the story started meandering. I just couldn’t keep following the story with any real focus. I’m hoping one of her other books will be a better choice for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Damsels Vol. 2

Title: Damsels Vol. 2

Author: Leah Moore, John Reppion, Aneke

Publisher: Dynamite 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Weeks have passed since the defeat of the witch Belladonna, yet "Happily Ever After" is still out of reach for Rapa, the once-and-future Queen Rapunzel. The wandering adventurer chafes in the trappings of her royal station, her heart yearning to once again roam the roads and wilderness of her magical world. However, her path is not at all safe... for the witches Gothel and Carabosse have formed a new black coven, and are amassing a new army of the wicked!

A great continuation of the story started in volume one. I loved the introduction of a few new heroines with fun and complicated backstories. I loved the mention of other classic fairy tales and stories. The timeline of the pages was a bit harder to follow considering the back and forth. But I still really enjoyed this volume. I will have to seek out the next one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Damsels Vol. 1

Title: Damsels Vol. 1

Author: Leah Moore, John Reppion, Aneke

Publisher: Dynamite 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 200

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Once upon a time, the princesses of classic fairy tales banded together to save their kingdoms from war! Rapa, a redheaded girl with a fiery spirit and lost memories, discovers a conspiracy that threatens the peace among all the mythical creatures of the land. Joined by the Little Mermaid, the Frog Prince, and Red Riding Hood, Rapa journeys through fabled forests and legendary realms on a quest to foil the scheme! Who has stolen the identities of beloved heroines Rapunzel, Belle, and Talia, and plots to destroy all the Faerie races?

A random library find from this week. I love fairy tale retellings and this one did not disappoint. Such a great tale of misplaced queens and adventures in dreams. The imagery and coloring are great. The characters are great. I wasn’t even annoyed by the exposition interludes. I will definitely be continuing this series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Title: Spinning Silver

Author: Naomi Novik

Publisher: Del Rey 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 480

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty—until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.

When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk—grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh—Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.

But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

Finally dove into July's BOTM selection and why oh why did I wait so long? I love fairy tale retellings so much and this was was beautifully layered and new. The first 40 pages were a bit slow, but looking back I realize that Novik was allowing the reader to spend time getting to know the three main female characters. We spend a lot of time in each of their worlds before they really interact with each other. I loved how Novik wove their individual stories into a larger story involving the Staryk and a fire demon. Once I the characters connected with each other I couldn't put the book down. It was just too lovely! I sped through to the end desparately wanting to see how Irina, Wanda, and Miryem dealt with the trials they faced. Definite recommend!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

Title: The Emerald Circus

Author: Jane Yolen

Publisher: Tachyon 2017

Genre: Fantasy - Short Stories

Pages: 281

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy - Favorite Author;A to Z - E; I Love Libraries

A Scottish academic unearths ancient evil in a fishing village. Edgar Allan Poe's young bride is beguiled by a most unusual bird. Dorothy, lifted from Kansas, returns as a gymnastic sophisticate. Emily Dickinson dwells in possibility and sails away in a starship made of light. Alice’s wicked nemesis has jaws and claws but really needs a sense of humor.

In Jane Yolen’s first full collection in more than ten years discover new and uncollected tales of beloved characters, literary legends, and much more. Enter the Emerald Circus and be astonished by the transformations within.

I have loved many of Jane Yolen's books and couldn't wait to pick up this collection of Short Stories. They are perfect for this fan of fairy tale retellings. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this collection down. Every story was on point! Of course, a few of the stories really stood out to me.

"Lost Girls" -- Loved this story of a new visitor to Neverland who shakes up the status quo.
"Tough Alice" -- Alice in Wonderland is one of my all-time favorites and this new visit involving the Jabberwock was lots of fun.
"Blown Away" -- I also have a weakness for Wizard of Oz stories. This one focused on the farmhand's experience of the twister and aftermath. Interesting take.
"Rabbit Hole" -- Here we see Alice's visit to Wonderland as a old woman. Loved it!
"Sister Emily's Lightship" -- Emily Dickinson was such fascinating character in history. I loved this spin on her afflictions.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige

Title: Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3)

Author: Danielle Page

Publisher: HarperCollins 2016

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 270

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings; I love Libraries

My name is Amy Gumm. Tornadoes must have a thing about girls from Kansas, because—just like Dorothy—I got swept away on one too. I landed in Oz, where Good is Wicked, Wicked is Good, and the Wicked Witches clued me in to my true calling: Assassin.

The way to stop Dorothy from destroying Oz—and Kansas—is to kill her. And I’m the only one who can do it. But I failed. Others died for my mistakes. Because of me, the portal between the worlds has been opened. And if I don’t find a way to close it? Dorothy will make sure I never get to go home again. Now it’s up to me to: join the Witches, fight for Oz, save Kansas, and stop Dorothy once and for all.

So I would say that I loved the last 75 pages of this book. The last 1/4 was an amazing ride through Oz's magic. We even get to meet Lurline in person! The first 3/4 of the book was a bit slow. The entire section in Kansas was a bit boring and I kept hoping Amy would get back to Oz soon. This review sounds like I didn't like the book at all, but I did. Just wish the first sections would have moved a bit faster. I loved the characters in this one especially The Nome King and Ozma. Plus we get to see the epic battle at the heart of Oz. Loved it! On to the last book in the series...

Dorothy Must Die

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Lunar Chronicles Stores - Part 2

Title: Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky(The Lunar Chronicles #2.5); After Sunshine Passes By; The Princess and the Guard; Something Old Something New

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Felwel andFriends 2016

Genre: YA Scifi

Pages: 39; 21; 61; 56

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling

The enchantment continues. . . . The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories - and secrets - that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies? With six stories - two of which have never before been published - and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer's novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

"Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky" -- A cute little story featuring Thorne's childhood. I loved reading about the expansion of a story Cress learned in her research.

"After Sunshine Passes By" -- More insight into the history of the various characters. This time we get to learn more about Cress and her childhood. Sibyl Mira is as scary as ever in this story...

"The Princess and the Guard" -- My favorite story of the entire book. I loved learning more about the relationship between Winter and Jacin. The story shows us the depth of their relationship and sheds some light onto where their character's are at when we meet Jacin aboard Sibyl Mira's ships. A great short story!

"Something Old Something New" -- A nice epilogue story for the series. It was great seeing all the main characters again. Plus we get some development in their stories. My only disappointment was not enough Winter and Jacin in this story. They were my favorites!

The Lunar Chronicles

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Title: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel andFriends 2015

Genre: YA Scifi

Pages: 827

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling; I Love Libraries

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

A fitting conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles. While I really enjoyed the previous books, this one really caught my attention. I was drawn into the story on page one. Winter is hands down my favorite character of the entire series. I loved the chapters that were from her point of view. The other chapters were good, but Winter stole the show. I was on pins and needles waiting to see if Winter survived and if she and Jacin finally got together. I was riveted by the build up to the confrontation between CInder and Levana. Oh my it was so stressful! But it was such a great ending. While the last chapter was a bit rushed, I still really really enjoyed it.

The Lunar Chronicles

#0.5 Glitches
#0.6 The Little Android
#1 Cinder
#1.5 The Queen's Army
#2 Scarlet
#2.5 Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky
#3 Cress
#3.5 Fairest
#3.6 Stars Above
#4 Winter

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Title: Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles #3.5)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel andFriends 2015

Genre: YA Scifi

Pages: 220

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling; I Love Libraries

Pure evil has a name, hides behind a mask of deceit, and uses her "glamour" to gain power. But who is Queen Levana? Long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress in The Lunar Chronicles, Levana lived a very different story—a story that has never been told . . . until now. New York Times –bestselling author Marissa Meyer reveals the story behind her fascinating villain in Fairest, an unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes a special full-color image of Levana's castle and an excerpt from Winter, the exciting conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles.

In a sense, I didn't like this book. Levana is such a horrible person that of course I didn't want to have any sympathy for her. And I don't have any sympathy for her even after reading her story. She has always been a cruel person manipulating people to cover her own insecurities. On the other hand, I did enjoy getting more story featuring the characters we know now including Jacin, Winter, and Selene. Overall, a very interesting story...

The Lunar Chronicles

#0.5 Glitches
#0.6 The Little Android
#1 Cinder
#1.5 The Queen's Army
#2 Scarlet
#2.5 Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky
#3 Cress
#3.5 Fairest
#3.6 Stars Above
#4 Winter

The Lunar Chronicles Stories - Part 1

Title: Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles #0.5); The Little Android (The Lunar Chornicles #0.6); The Queen's Army (The Lunar Chronicles #1.5)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Felwel andFriends 2012

Genre: YA Scifi

Pages: 31; 35; 47

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Romance set in the future; Fairytale Retelling; 52 Books - W49

The enchantment continues. . . . The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories - and secrets - that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies? With six stories - two of which have never before been published - and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer's novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

After reading Cinder, I decided to pick up Stars Above so I could read the short stories that take place before the first book or right after. "Glitches" was a fun little introduction to Cinder and her life before the events of the first book. We get to find out how she arrived in New Beijing and met her new family. It also drops some great hints are to who she really is. "The Queen's Army" gave us a glimpse into the creation of Levana's Lunar army. Very interested to see more of the Lunar side. And finally, "The Little Android" was a great retelling of The Little Mermaid. Now I can move on to reading Scarlet.

The Lunar Chronicles

#0.5 Glitches
#0.6 The Little Android
#1 Cinder
#1.5 The Queen's Army
#2 Scarlet
#2.5 Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky
#3 Cress
#3.5 Fairest
#3.6 Stars Above
#4 Winter

Witches edited by Paula Guran

Title: Witches: Wicked, Wild, and Wonderful

Edited by: Paula Guran

Publisher: Prime Books 2012

Genre: Short Stories; Paranormal

Pages: 375

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Challenge

Surrounded by the aura of magic, witches have captured our imagination for millennia and fascinate us now more than ever. No longer confined to the image of a hexing old crone, witches can be kindly healers and protectors, tough modern urban heroines, holders of forbidden knowledge, sweetly domestic spellcasters, darkly domineering, sexy enchantresses, ancient sorceresses, modern Wiccans, empowered or persecuted, possessors of supernatural abilities that can be used for good or evil — or perhaps only perceived as such. Welcome to the world of witchery in many guises: wicked, wild, and wonderful!

Overall, a very hit and miss collection of stories. I really enjoyed a few such as "Walpurgis Afternoon" and "Basement Magic." But my favorite was definitely Neil Gaiman's story featuring Bod and the graveyard. The retooling of Rapunzel was also very intriguing. Unfortunately, many of the stories were dull.

The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales

Title: Complete Fairy Tales

Author: Hans Christian Anderson

Genre: Short stories; fairy tales

Pages: 1504

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: T4MC -- Short Stories; Genre -- Short Stories; Ebook; 52 Books -- Week 9

How I Got It: iPad download

Reared in poverty, Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen created more than 200 folk and fairy tales beloved by countless generations of children -- and adults.

Overall I am very disappointed in this story collection. I adore the Grimm fairy tales and thought this would be similar. I was mistaken. These are morality tales cloaked in sometimes a fanciful nature (I know the Grimm stories are too, but they hide it better). They are overtly Christian in their subject matter and tone. I just didn't enjoy these stories. I find my mind wandering while reading. I couldn't kept on track. It's taken me almost three weeks to get through this volume a bit at a time. I made it, but I won't be revisiting this volume any time in the future. I'll stick with my Grimm tales.

Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott

Title: Flower Fables

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Genre: Classic fairy tales

Pages: 140

Rating: 2 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Telling Tales; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Flower Fables is a treasury of six different stories penned by Louisa May Alcott. These old-fashioned fairy tales have been compiled and edited by Daniel Shealy, who has done editing on several Alcott books. The text is very readable, and has magic flavor added via the font's joining together of several letters. Today's children, like many children of the past, will enjoy meeting Alcott's fairies, sentient flowers, and other real and imagined characters. Illustrator Leah Palmer Preiss has filled the book with delightful and interesting fairies and other creatures. The illustrations are bright and full. Readers may want to watch for the bonuses of quotations and tiny portraits of those who influenced Louisa May Alcott. This book would make a good bedtime storybook, and like many tales of old, has good morals that children could take away with them perhaps without even realizing there was a lesson involved. The afterword is also interesting as it shares interesting details about Miss Alcott. For example, she wrote these tales when she was 16. Another bonus at the end of the book is the biographies that go along with the quotations and miniature portraits. -- FromIndependent Publisher --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Bored. That's my initial thought after reading this volume. I'm bored. These tales just aren't interesting or exciting to me. I don't want to read anymore. And I love old fairy tale stories. These just lacked any oomph. That's all. Boring.