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Tales of Woe and Wonder
Tales of Woe and Wonder collects nine short stories. There are original fantasy stories and fairy tales as well as classic fairy tales retold. You'll find a mix of fairy tale wonder and tragic woe, ranging from a young boy's first brush with the harsh realities of war in "A Gift from over the Sea" to a miraculous bridge in "The Master and the Miller's Daughter" to a young girl's encounter with a witch's insidious spells in "Esme's Amulet." The fairy tale "Why the Squonk Weeps" tells the story of a mythical beast and a witch's plans that go horribly awry. A mother's plans to save her son from the grief of pain go horribly awry in "A Mother's Gift." "The Fletcher's Daughter" is a humorous take on Cinderella. The flash story "Under the Bridge" comments on trolls and story telling. "The Hand with the Knife" expands on the Grimm tale of the same title. And what happens when a princess resolves to take a vampire for a lover occupies "The Princess and the Vampire."
All the stories in this collection have been previously published, appearing in online magazines or print anthologies.
Fantasy and Fairy Tales (28,000 words)
"A Gift from over the Sea" originally appeared in Everyday Fiction.
"The Princess and the Vampire" originally appeared in The Midnight Diner, Volume 3.
"The Fletcher's Daughter" originally appeared in Residential Aliens.
"The Hand with the Knife" originally appeared in Mindflights.
"Why the Squonk Weeps" originally appeared in Digital Dragon Magazine.
"A Mother's Gift" originally appeared in Silver Blade Magazine.
"Under the Bridge" originally appeared in Apollo's Lyre.
"The Master and the Miller's Daughter" originally appeared in Residential Aliens.
"Esme's Amulet" originally appeared in Golden Visions Magazine.
All the stories in this collection have been previously published, appearing in online magazines or print anthologies.
Fantasy and Fairy Tales (28,000 words)
"A Gift from over the Sea" originally appeared in Everyday Fiction.
"The Princess and the Vampire" originally appeared in The Midnight Diner, Volume 3.
"The Fletcher's Daughter" originally appeared in Residential Aliens.
"The Hand with the Knife" originally appeared in Mindflights.
"Why the Squonk Weeps" originally appeared in Digital Dragon Magazine.
"A Mother's Gift" originally appeared in Silver Blade Magazine.
"Under the Bridge" originally appeared in Apollo's Lyre.
"The Master and the Miller's Daughter" originally appeared in Residential Aliens.
"Esme's Amulet" originally appeared in Golden Visions Magazine.
108 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2012
2 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Chapman
36 books135 followersThanks for visiting my page. I write software by day and speculative fiction when I should be sleeping. Dark hot chocolate fuels my evenings. My work ranges from fairy tales to fantasy to horror and ghost stories. I've been writing all my life but decided to become super serious about it and pursue publication a few years ago. My work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines. I live with my wife, children, and cats in a house with more books than bookshelf space.
My recent novels include The Great Contagion and Cat Sidhe: Into the Witch Lands I from The Merliss Tales series; The Black Blade: A Huckster Novel from The Huckster Tales series; and The Sniggard's Revenge: A Fantasy Adventure.
Get two FREE short stories, a fairy tale and a weird western. Details at www.jeffchapmanbooks.com.
You can learn more about my stories and find links to my work in various formats at www.jeffchapmanbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2013
These are not fairy tales, fairy tales are for children.
These are tales of Tolkein's Faerie, the dangerous land whose stories take us outside the grey mundane world.
Well-structured stories, which are short enough to read in a few minutes, and make their point, joyful or (occasionally) horrific, with brevity and elegence. I've been turned off too many fantasies which failed that test, but I enjoyed Chapman's style.
The setting is faithful to the genre conventions. Kings, Princesses, Woodcutters play out their roles, but Chapman's skill is the way he handles his themes to bring out the passions and the folly of his characters.
It's fantasy, of a high standard and my only regret was to realise I'd reached the end.
These are tales of Tolkein's Faerie, the dangerous land whose stories take us outside the grey mundane world.
Well-structured stories, which are short enough to read in a few minutes, and make their point, joyful or (occasionally) horrific, with brevity and elegence. I've been turned off too many fantasies which failed that test, but I enjoyed Chapman's style.
The setting is faithful to the genre conventions. Kings, Princesses, Woodcutters play out their roles, but Chapman's skill is the way he handles his themes to bring out the passions and the folly of his characters.
It's fantasy, of a high standard and my only regret was to realise I'd reached the end.
May 14, 2013
"Tales of Woe and Wonder" is an excellent title for this collection of short stories. I didn't quite know what to expect when I dove in, but I'm glad I did. There's darkness here -- as there was in the old fairy tales -- but also much wonder.
Sometimes I stopped to re-read a sentence or a phrase, enjoying the way the words sounded, how they fit one another. Enjoying the actual writing in a novel is a rare thing for me these days, so when I encounter it, I share it with the world.
I highly recommend this book.
Sometimes I stopped to re-read a sentence or a phrase, enjoying the way the words sounded, how they fit one another. Enjoying the actual writing in a novel is a rare thing for me these days, so when I encounter it, I share it with the world.
I highly recommend this book.
April 14, 2013
I recieved a free copy of this book a while back through the Goodreads giveaway contest. This collection of short stories has something in it for everyone. Following the tradition of the Grimm Fairytales, these stories are more dark in nature and wont necessarily leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. My personal favorite was "Under the Bridge."
This book is a quick read and I would recommend it to anyone enjoys short stories that stimulate the imagination.
This book is a quick read and I would recommend it to anyone enjoys short stories that stimulate the imagination.
July 2, 2016
I received this book for free through GoodReads First Reads.
I loved this book of short stories. The stories are based on Fairytales that are a bit dark in nature. I found each story to be unique and very entertaining.
There is something in it for everyone. I Highly recommend this book.
I loved this book of short stories. The stories are based on Fairytales that are a bit dark in nature. I found each story to be unique and very entertaining.
There is something in it for everyone. I Highly recommend this book.
February 20, 2014
I enjoyed this short collection of fantasy stories. Good variety, good mix of moods. My favorite was The Master and the Miller's Daughter, a story of strength and determination with an uplifting final line that made me smile contentedly.
May 1, 2014
Some terrific fables and some new takes on old stories.
September 3, 2012
Jeff Chapman's tales of woe and wonder are aptly named; each short story elicits an immediate emotional response upon its conclusion while allowing ample room for thoughtful, spiritual reflection long after the story is set aside. This varied collection of classic fantasy fiction fits within the wonderfully imaginative genre of fairy tales, fables, tall tales, and legends. Many provide a moral lesson, being cautionary in nature, a few are allegorical, but all provide what readers want - a good story well told.
In addition to the two pieces that I published in my magazine ("The Fletcher's Daughter" and "The Master and the Miller's Daughter") my favorite in this anthology were "A Gift from Over the Sea" and "The Hand with the Knife." Like a number of stories here, both of these were tragic, the endings unresolved, and thus reflective of life in a fallen and broken world - even a world replete with magic and mystery. In other words, these are not "just" fairy tales - Chapman offers us stories of truth, wonder, and yes, woe as well. If you enjoy classic myth and wish there were more stories told in the grand tradition of this fantasy genre, then you'll find Chapman's tales a welcome addition.
(Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC and know the author from online, having published two of his stories at my magazine, ResAliens.)
In addition to the two pieces that I published in my magazine ("The Fletcher's Daughter" and "The Master and the Miller's Daughter") my favorite in this anthology were "A Gift from Over the Sea" and "The Hand with the Knife." Like a number of stories here, both of these were tragic, the endings unresolved, and thus reflective of life in a fallen and broken world - even a world replete with magic and mystery. In other words, these are not "just" fairy tales - Chapman offers us stories of truth, wonder, and yes, woe as well. If you enjoy classic myth and wish there were more stories told in the grand tradition of this fantasy genre, then you'll find Chapman's tales a welcome addition.
(Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC and know the author from online, having published two of his stories at my magazine, ResAliens.)
August 30, 2012
Held within these pages is a new take on the old Fairy Tale. Happily ever after is not guaranteed, just as in real life. These stories align with the Grimm tales in that no bad deed goes unpunished, and the foolish may end up in a witch's cauldron.
Jeff Chapman's bewitching use of prose kept me on the edge of my seat throughout such tales alike "The Hand and the Knife," and has renewed my interest in reading some of the older tales. He has created characters whose actions are believable in a fanciful world of goblins and elves. I am not usually one for fantasy in the usual sense, but this is an author I'll be keeping my eye on.
Jeff Chapman's bewitching use of prose kept me on the edge of my seat throughout such tales alike "The Hand and the Knife," and has renewed my interest in reading some of the older tales. He has created characters whose actions are believable in a fanciful world of goblins and elves. I am not usually one for fantasy in the usual sense, but this is an author I'll be keeping my eye on.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews