"Two and Twenty Dark Tales" Puts Mother Goose in a Whole New Light

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes 
 Title:  Two and Twenty Dark Tales
Author(s) Various
Format E-galley
Length:  340 pages
Publisher:  Month 9 Books
Rating:  5 stars

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.


My Thoughts
The stories found within the pages of this glorious collection are full of murder, mayhem, mystery, and magic; taking readers back to a time before Disney and the white washing of our  childhood rhymes in the rivers of "happily ever after".
The tales told here pull back a long untouched curtain revealing the nursery rhymes we know so well as the cautionary tales they are.  Warnings against all manner of witch, demon, spell, killer, or other bad thing that goes bump in the night.
This book is a magical cross section of myth and legend, taking inspiration from various cultures, time periods, and points of view.
The gathering of literary talent found here will make a wonderful addition to the library of anyone who is a fan of the dark and fanciful, the wild, and the wicked.

My Rating:
 

1 comment:

  1. Ugh, I want to read this book so bad. As much as I love my happily ever afters, I want to see the dark side of it.

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