Once Upon A Twisted Time

by Miranda Stork

Think you know your fairytales? Think again. These aren’t your normal happily-ever-after. Within these pages, a murderous Little Mermaid gets her revenge, the Cinderella doesn’t really want to wear the slipper, Snow White is up to her eyes in industrial experiments, and the Beauty is in fact the Beast.
This collection of four novellas will surprise you, make you gasp in horror, sigh with relief, and sit on the edge of your seat. And most of all…they will make you rethink everything you think you know about dark fairytales…


Song of the Abyss-Lindsay Avalon

Princess Nerissa had envisioned a perfect wedding to a handsome prince. Instead, she fell into a nightmare. When her new husband tries to murder her just hours after pledging his life to her, she must flee towards the sea. Caught in transition from woman to selkie, she is trapped by the dark waters she hoped would be her salvation. Now her destiny becomes that of luring young men to their death…until one comes along that reignites the spark of love inside her. However to ensure her future, she must first face her past. Revenge must be taken…for both her life, and the life of the young man she now loves.

Miss Cavendish and the Spark of Salvation-Tara Stogner Wood

In a city toiling under the iron fist of the Spiegel Syndicate and its monopoly on coal, Miss Georgina "George" Cavendish is on the brink of a breakthrough that could change the world forever. There's just one thing standing in her way, her aunt - Xenobia Cavendish. Threatened by her efforts, the Syndicate procures the services of a notorious assassin with a past tied to her own, known as The Huntsman, to dispatch the brilliant scientist. But once he gets a glimpse of the headstrong beauty, will he be able to do the job, or will Georgina sway him to The Cause? And will George find the breakthrough she needs in time, or is New London Town doomed to forever lie under the dark shadow of her aunt's factories?

Hawke and the Beast-Trish Marie Dawson

Some curses last forever, and some can be broken with the whisper of three little words. Isabella Rose Woodward fell in love with a witch's son over a century ago. Her punishment for breaking the young man's heart was a beastly one. Every month she turns into a different creature, aging on the full moon when her curse allows for a brief return to her human form. Her only salvation is to find a man that will love her as she is…be it adorned in feathers, fur or scales. Has she found this love with the handsome Jasper Hawke? Or will a mysteriously determined Hunter find her first, and snuff out the life she so desperately seeks? A life of normalcy, where she loves and is loved in return… just as she is.

Reborn City-Miranda Stork

Nyx has one mission in life; bring down the brainwashing of New Omsk’s citizens, and release them from their mundane lives of toil. The year is 2355, and the world is a new place. A Governor is in charge of every city in the world, and humanity is attempting to rebuild itself after recovering from a war that nearly killed it. But this Governor has set his eyes on the intrepid little hacker, Nyx, and he will stop at nothing to get her. But perhaps he needs her more than he ever dreamed he would…as do his citizens.

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Anthologies, Retellings, Fiction, Short Stories

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2012

About the author

I'm Miranda Stork, and I'm addicted. Addicted to writing and reading books, anyway. And chocolate, but that's another issue - no interventions, please.

I live in the middle of a forest in North Yorkshire, spending my spare time as the wild woman of the woods, scaring small children and upsetting the sheep. On the days that I feel like being civilized, or I haven't got any unicorns to ride, I sit down and pour the tumbling thoughts in my head out onto digital paper. Mainly the thoughts and characters come out in paranormal form, with a good smattering of romance, because everyone likes a good cuddle. But you can also find strong elements of thrillers, myths, and even dystopia amongst the pages of all my novels. I've wanted to write books ever since I first realised that fairytales were not the newspapers of the fairy kingdom, but the imaginings of actual people who wanted to tell fancy made-up stories to other people. From that moment, I was hooked.

Why do I write? Good question. It might be easier to just keep the stories in my head, or even just to write them for myself. But I want to share them. There is no greater delight for a writer than when a reader devours your book, and declares, "Something in that novel resonated with me. And I want MORE." So grab your lucky clover and a baseball bat (there's some nasty paranormal creatures where we're going), eat the cookie with 'eat me' tagged on it, and enter through the tiny door into the world of Miranda Stork...

Reviews

[Livia Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this anthology! Truth - I've been stuck at home all week sick as a dog with a nasty cold. I am so pleased I had Once Upon a Twisted Time to dip into when I was ready to beat up the television. Each offering was well written, engaging, enjoyable. I won't pick a favorite simply because I enjoyed them all as individual stories. The choices were unique, but overall the anthology was well balanced and each story worked in harmony with the others. Sort of like a well coordinated fashion show (that's the cold medicine and too much Project Runway talking!) Most of all, OUATT is the perfect escape for a miserable person nursing a cold. This is curl up under a blanket and just let the clock tick reading. I highly recommend a cup of tea and a fire to go along with Once Upon a Twisted Time.

[Vibina Venugopal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a sweet tooth for fairytale and happily ending tales...I also love the fantasy that gets me into a world away from reality for a change..This book is a collection of four dark fantasy that roots from famous fairytale with a difference...
My favorite is the first one in the group Song of the Abyss...Losing her parents in a tragic accident Princess Nerissa had been content to slip into a life of contentment to be married to the crown prince Lyulf ,instead she feels as though she is to be thrown to the ware wolves and to be killed by the very same man who had owed to protect her but then escaping into the sea she learns she had some powers , powers that helped her to survive but not enough to get back to her past life, yet with her sheer grit and a new found love she has to seek revenge and protect the countrymen from a man who is imposing to be the king..It is a slow starter that goes to the era of beautiful Princess and Prince living a fairytale life in the gone by era with special world with their own powers and magic..Oh how much as a young girl I loved these kind of tale to live those magic moment wround me...
Miss Cavendish and the spark of salvation is about George and Huntsmen, Huntsmen though with a disturbing and twisted past leading to George herself needs his help to unravel the milestone that she is all set to open up to the world but oh no there is a vamp to stop all of it and its that is none other than her aunt Xenobia....Enchanting beauty and a fierce dashing man how will they get it through??? This is a power packed full throttle ride that will race through after a slow start of Song of the Abyss..
Hawk and the beast-Trish Marrie Dawson takes you through the curses and the reversal of it by love and honesty that would remind of the fairytale that you once read as a child leaving you all enchanted...Beauty and the beast a unequal combo that always attracts each other...
Reborn city which is like a coming of age tale of Nyx who has only one desire in life to erase the brainwashing of the Omsk's citizen but how will she pose an imposing threat to the giants who are well down playing their part well, but Nyx has to fix it for the benefit of the people but how??Its vivacious and bubbly tale...

All in all its a total package of entertainment ...Great for an easy breezy read...

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this anthology.
Even though the four authors featured in it have quite different writing styles, they still manage to meld together beautifully. Great concept to take classic fairytales and put a unique twist to them. 5 stars well deserved.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good fairy tale. Since I was little I loved fairy tales and as I got older I loved the different takes that many other authors have gone with traditional tales. So, when I was offered a chance to read and review these tales I was very excited. These four diverse yet similar stories take the base of the fairy tale and like the title says twists it on it ear. I loved the use of the selky legends incorporated with the story of the Little Mermaid. I loved that Snow White was a scientist. I loved that Beauty was the beast. I loved that Cinderella was a hacker and a revolutionary. These twists let you forget your reading a fairy tale but the love part brings up back to why we read fairy tales in the first place. Although these are not your usual fairy tales I wouldn’t necessarily read them to your children as bed time stories. There is violence and graphic sex scenes. I’m sure the graphic violence is reminiscent to the original tales, but the additional sex scenes adds a level that as an adult reading these stories I would love to be any one of these “princesses”. I would recommend this read to anyone who has read Gregory Maguire’s twists on the fairy tales and anyone who like a good paranormal romance.

[Krystal Willingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I love it when someone takes the fairytale concept and puts their own unique spin on it and I love it even more when they put a few naughty bits in for good measure too.

Each story was something different and refreshing. You can tell that each writer has her own technique but for me they fit together quite nicely into this one book.

My favorite story has to be Hawke and the Beast. For me it spoke to me on a personal level about loving yourself and finding that one person that can love you through everything. It truly was a wonderful story and Rose reminded me a lot of myself so very relatable.

All in all this entire book was wonderful and I just hope that there will be more books like this.

*Disclosure Notice*
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, the authors take a fairytale and put their own spin on it. Each story is different and yet the authors clearly fit their own style to match perfectly with the others.

The characters are interesting and the interpretations of the classic fairytale concept was fresh and truly creative.

[Bella Doerres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Upon A Twisted Time by
Lindsay Avalon, Trish M. Dawson, and Miranda Stork, and Tara S. Wood.

These delightfully talented ladies have taken four Fairy Tales and given them a new twist. I loved this anthology and have to say I give it five of five stars. I love the old standards the traditional tales, but I have to admit that I have replaced them with these in my mind as favorites. This book is captivating, entertaining and wonderful. If you want to read something that delights you read Once Upon A Twisted Time. You won't be disappointed.
Bella Doerres M.Ed.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the fairy tale, and will always give a book that incorporates them a second look. This is a compilation from several authors, where the fairy tale has been revamped and a twist is added, removing the ‘happily ever after’ sanitization that is so common in the movie theatres and providing readers with a feel that harkens back to the original gestation of these stories long ago.

Combining romance, jealousy, science fiction, paranormal and even some political elements, these four authors have turned each tale on its ear with a new treatment that is sure to please readers. I haven’t been able to choose a favorite: each story stands out as unique, interesting and memorable. When I think there is one that is superior, another character will come forward with my favorite moment from them, and the overthinking begins.

Each author in this book has a unique style, all well suited to the story they have created for your enjoyment: voices are strong, characters are defined and the potential for malice and mayhem is a subtle tension that carries through the entire book.

I purchased the eBook copy for my personal collection. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Alexa Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVED IT! Favorite stories were Miss Cavendish and the Spark of Salvation & Hawke and the Beast.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read

I actually had to fight Sara for the pleasure of reading this anthology because the premiss appealed to both of us. A blending of paranormal, scifi, steampunk, fantasy, and romance, Once Upon a Twisted Time is a delightful collection of novellas that put a twist on four classic, and much-loved, fairytales. Each novella is a fast, enjoyable read that will leave you smiling right to the end. And of course, each has a happy ending. What good fairytale doesn’t?

While I loved each story, my favorite out of the four was Hawke and the Beast. Now I may be a bit biased because I’m a Beauty and the Beast addict, but the spin that Dawson puts on her version just really appealed to me. This doesn’t mean the other three tales weren’t equally as enjoyable in their own ways, but I was just able to connect with Dawson’s story faster and could relate more to what was going on plot-wise.

Yes, each story has something that will appeal to the reader. From airships and evil robots to shapeshifting and mythological creatures seeking revenge, there’s never a dull moment in this anthology. And each tale has a touch of romance as well. The scene between Asher and Georgina in Miss Cavendish and the Spark of Salvation automatically comes to my mind at the moment. There’s something to be said about a guy who likes to be in charge in bed once-in-awhile. ~smirks~

Truthfully, you just can’t go wrong with this book. If you love fairytale retellings with a twist, then I highly recommend you pick this collection up. I promise, you won’t regret it. =^.^=

[Lauren]

Song of the Abyss-Lindsay Avalon

Miss Cavendish and the Spark of Salvation-Tara Stogner Wood

Hawke and the Beast-Trish Marie Dawson

Reborn City-Miranda Stork

[Cinta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full review coming soon

[Maddie Buckner]

I WANT TO READ THIS BOOK SO BADLY!! I can't wait until I come into contact with it!!