Once Upon a Curse: Stories and Fairy Tales for Adult Readers

by Anna Kashina

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF MYTH AND MAGIC…

Fair maidens, handsome princes, witches, and fairy godmothers all show their dark and dangerous side in this anthology inspired by myths and fairy tales, retold by some of the best authors in this generation and by some upcoming new talents. Told with a dark twist, focused on the lure of the gorgeous evil, this collection will take the readers on a wild ride through magical realms of Ancient Greece, old Russia, medieval Europe, and modern day America.

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

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2012

About the author

Anna Kashina is a critically acclaimed award-winning author of “The Majat Code” series, featuring adventure, swordplay, intrigue, and romance in a historical fantasy setting. She is the author of the official novelization of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, a bestselling video game by Nihon Falcom Co.

Awards: 2015 Prism Award (Fantasy, and "Best of the Best" grand prize), Locus Award Nominee, 2013 ForeWord Book of the Year (IndieFab) Award, 2014 Independent Publishers Book Award (IPPY).

Reviews

[Marquise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most anthologies, this is a mixed bag: there's the great stories, there's the decent ones, and then there's the terrible ones. With a total of eleven myth & fairy tale retellings, Once Upon a Curse contains examples of all three.

I couldn't bother to review the six stories that turned out either bad or unremarkable, I've already largely forgotten them in any case. But the overall rating of 3 might give the wrong impression that there's nothing worth your time in this anthology. There are, and it'd be a pity to miss the gems because of the chaff. There's five stories here that stood out to me:

THE GOOD ONES:
Come Lady Death by Peter S. Beagle gets 3.5 stars. It's more a legend-inspired short story than a proper retelling, and has an intriguing plot: a bored high society aristocrat decides to shock the London ton by extending an invitation to the unlikeliest of guests, Death itself. Nobody believes Death will actually deign to come, but Death does surprise everyone and does come. What happens because of this unexpected attendance isn't anything the other guests would've been able to imagine, including Lady Neville, the host, who's going to have to face an important choice because, naturally, inviting Death has a price.

It's a well-written story, and with just this my first sample of his writing, I think Mr Beagle is as good a storyteller as I was led to believe. However, this story would really have benefitted from a bit of expansion. Oh, it's fine enough as a short story, but in parts it feels so condensed that one or two more paragraphs would've done wonders for it, such as when it comes to explaining motivations. Like, why exactly is Death who it is? What did it do to become Death originally?

Summer Wind by Nancy Kress gets a 3 star rating. It's the first of two retellings of Perrault's "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," and the least developed of the two. The premise, that Briar Rose escaped the sleeping curse, is novel enough to be attractive to a retellings fan. Unfortunately, Kress doesn't handle motivation and cause-effect very well: she outright ignores the need to give a motive for Briar Rose to be spared whilst the rest aren't. Yes, there's an outcome that pretends to wrap up and lend some sense to the plot as it unfolds, but no word on reasons for it to exist. Like, if Rose was going to be spared, why did the curse exist in the first place? And who are all those women that appear out of nowhere? Are they witches or fairies? And why exactly did they manipulate events to force such an ending on Rose?

Like the previous story, this one's well-written. But so infuriatingly plothole-y! And would've benefitted from a bit more length as well.

Solstice Maiden by Anna Kashina gets 3.5 stars. Not a proper retelling exactly, but it does take a lot from Russian folktales as to be classified as such. It's mainly based on the various existing tales about Koschei the Deathless, Maria Morevna, and Prince Ivan. It's not mentioned in the anthology's notes whether this was written in Russian (the author's native tongue), but if it was so, then translation could be to blame for the somewhat bumpy and "off" flow of the story. Whatever the case, this story would also benefit greatly from expansion, for which I was glad to read by the end that Kashina was making this into a full novel. If Koschei is better fleshed out in the novel, and if some unexplained parts dealing with Ivan are explained, then that might be a novel worth checking out.

THE GREAT ONES
Stronger than Time by Patricia C. Wrede gets 4.5 stars. It's the second "Sleeping Beauty" retelling, and the best one. A lot of the great remakes of this fairy tale deal with people other than the sleeping princess, as it gives a broader room to authors to manoeuvre and less passivity, and this story is no exception. Told from the POV of a woodcutter living a stone's throw from the briar-surrounded cursed castle, who's enlisted to help a princely quester with entering the castle, it's a bittersweet story. Love, honour and promises to keep are the main motifs, and there's a dose of tragedy that only becomes evident by the end, when some truths about the Prince are unveiled.

Finally, there's the 5-starred story, my favourite and bestest of 'em all: But Can You Let Him Go? by Cindy Lynn Speer. It's honestly the best retelling of "Cinderella" I've read, and I say this even though I'm not a big fan of this fairy tale. Well! Not liking the source of inspiration has never stopped me from adding some excellent retellings of non-favourite tales to my favourite books list.

This one's told from the POV of the fairy godmother. Ach, ja, I'm aware that this isn't the first to tell it from the perspective of the godmother, but this one is really, really original in how it tells it. It's not merely "showing the other side" and calling it a day, thank you, here's a biscuit and a pat on the back for your creativity. No, this goes beyond flipping the coin. It's a story of redemption, of working hard to earn it. But what on Earth could the good old Fairy Godmother have done to need to redeem herself, she being such an angel? You'll have to read it to find out. I'm only going to give you a wee hint: "The things I do for love..."

If you catch the hint, do treat yourself to a biscuit and to this anthology, if only for the good stories.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairy Tales and it's subsequent retelling s are a genre, that despite my (advanced) age continue to fascinate me...
Maybe because in the end, good always triumph (normally..)...and maybe because when I should have read them , I didn't!!

So..apparently I still feel this "need" to devour them....everytime I see a shiny cover with some promising stories inside!!
Basically my inner six year old self is still the boss of me...but do not be fooled, this is not a kid's fairy tales.

This anthology, well it seemed so intriguing that I was sure I was going to love it!

As you can see, it didn't quite happened...

I admit however, that at the moment, I am having one too many Mr. Darcy "not interesting enough to tempt me" moments when reading books. o.O

This one, well it suffers from the basic anthology issues!
It has some interesting stories, others that are okay, and others that are just plainly bad!

This three star rating signifies an okay (being one star bad, two mediocre) reading. Two would be more accurate, but there's a couple of stories in this that don't deserve so lower rating.


A Necklace of rubies by Cindy Lynn Speer, 2 Stars

A Bluebeard re-tale.
The writing was okay, but the characters were just too much one dimensional (and stupid to live),to make me appreciate the tale:

It doesn’t much matter, you see. It’s what I was saying about the hunting cats. He may be a murderer, and I may be the next victim. But when he scolds me gently for sleeping on the sofa (“It’s freezing in this room. You’ll be sick.”) and when he picks me up and carries me upstairs promising a present for me; he’s so soft and so loving, I cannot feature it.
He’s often a cold, hard man, but he softens for me. He cherishes me. It makes me feel special, as if I’ve done something no other woman could.

Come Lady Death by Peter S. Beagle 3.5 stars

This was the "name" that made me notice this anthology in the first place. And in thuth, I can't say that it disappointed me.

Unfortunately this whimsical tale of a bored Lady who decides to invite Death itself for her grand party, was just too short!
The characters are mostly irrelevant. Here the only thing it matters is the quality of the writing, and the tale itself.

“Be sure,” said Death. “Be sure of what you want, be very sure. Do all of you want me to stay? For if one
of you says to me, no, go away, then I must leave at once and never return. Be sure. Do you all want me?”
And everyone there cried with one voice, “Yes! Yes, you must stay with us. You are so beautiful that we cannot let you go.”

Summer Wind by Nancy Kress 4 stars

A Briar Rose re-telling, this turned out to be one of my favorites in this anthology. It gives us the full extension of a curse during the girl's lifetime. And I am afraid, no happy ever after for her...

The first old woman repeated sharply, “It is no little thing you have gained, sister.”
Rose said, “I would rather have had my lost life.”

Stronger Than Time by Patricia C. Wrede 3.5 stars

Another Briar Rose/ Sleeping Beauty re-tale...
Another good story, that I think would have benefited immensely if it had been longer.
It's another sad story (Yes, all of them are...but some I just couldn't care less!) about failure, doing the right thing...and of ghosts!

Words Like Pale Stones by Nancy Kress 2 stars

A little too much of a mess. I just couldn't connect with the story or characters.

The pale fire moved up from the ground and onto my fingers, charring them to stumps. A vision burned in my head. I screamed, but only from pain: Dirk was saved, and I didn’t care that I would never spin again, nor that every gold thread in the kingdom had suddenly become stone, pale, and smooth and ordinary as a true word.

Every Word I Speak by Cindy Lynn Speer 3.5 Stars

Okayyyyy..so when I first read this, I honestly didn't like it all that much, but now after having re-read it in another anthology, I found myself liking it!
So...clearly my opinion is really realiable O_O.
It is the story of how a blessing can turn into a curse..

My husband is gone. I can be silent today, tomorrow, and until his return. There’s freedom in that, knowing that I can go and sew by the lake, perhaps, or take meals in my room by myself.

Remains by Siohban Carrol 1 Star

I have no idea what this few pages were for...
...a draft, maybe?

We hear on the radio that a body has been found. Some of the unliving rise, put on thick woolen gloves, get ready for the drive. In other, farther places, we lie hoping for an ending that never comes.


Frayed Tapestry by Imogen Howson 2 Stars

An apparently contemporary setting (you'll understand this if you read it) for a "Persephone and Hades" story....imaginative yes, but...in the end i don't see myself re-reading this. And i can't help wondering what will happen in Winter....or, is Spring going to be eternal?
Bottom line: I like re-tellings, but there are some things that shouldn't be altered...
And Candy??? Really? Wasn't there another name less....sugared and more appropriate?

With every step the earth welcomed her. The grass softened under her feet, grew lush with spring growth. The wind lost its cold bite, threading gentle fingers through her hair. Sweet night-time scents rose around her.
“Candy. . . ”
He was following her. She didn’t look back at him. “That’s not my name.”
She heard him swallow. “Persephone. Please understand. I love you.”

The Cold Blackness Between by Lucy Ann Snyder 0 Stars..

Reading this is like having a: WTH (moment)???
Why, was this included in this anthology?
This is paranormal romance!

Mary trudged up to her bedroom on the third floor to change. She wondered how she was ever going to break the news of her affair to William. He was still more her employer than her husband. She’d started as his personal nurse, but when sex became a part of their relationship, he decided they should be married. She was fond of him. . . but he was not a passionate man and never had been. And he had grown increasingly cold over the past year; he hardly spent time with her anymore.

Solstice Maiden by Anna Kashina 3.5 Stars

The writing is above average, but the characters were just too stereotypical. Or maybe i'm just too jaded...and the insta attraction moment (I know it's a short, but even so!!) didn't convince me.
Even though is worth reading for the quality of the writing alone.

It is a tale, old as time, true as life. Every Solstice, a maiden must die to appease the god of the crops, to keep hunger out of our simple kingdom. And I, the Mistress of the Solstice, must be the one to sacrifice her. On that night, every one of our subjects gathers around a bonfire, consumed by the power of love. Of lust, really, for no love could possibly bloom for one night and fade into nothingness,(..)"

But Can you Let Him go by Cindy Lynn Speer 4.5 Stars (my favourite)


I know I'll probably sound contrary, because in some of the previous tales I've mentioned that their short length ruined the tale for me, but this one, who was longer than the other ones, I reached a point in which:

"Okay, okay, i get it!! It's always the same thing!!"

This is Cinderella and her prince curse, told by Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. And it is pretty good....despite the events repetitions.

"This is me. The caution in your tale, the one with the thousand guises. Right now my disguise is nothingness,(..)"

"As I tell her the tale, I long to I sink myself into that tree, allow myself to move into it, my body becoming wood grain, my blood becoming sap. It is a dangerous tree, because it is so very deep that you could get lost in it. The further you go in, the more isolated from the world you become."

Like i said:
Some interesting tales, but most of them are not that great...

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Once Upon A Curse’ is a collection of stories and fairy tales by a handful of authors. Some new, some well known, all very capable. Like many fairy tales, these stories are not for children. Some travel familiar paths and some re-invent myth. All feel fresh and original.

The first story, ‘A Necklace Of Rubies by Cindy Lynn Speer, retells the tale of Bluebeard. I have read the story before in another similarly themed anthology and enjoyed discovering it all over again. A young woman is wooed by a mysterious man – already sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? – and after they wed, she discovers not all is as it seems. The writing is spellbinding and the pace perfect. The repetition of several motifs, the foxes, the jewels and the motto ‘Be Bold’, lures the reader into the story and keeps them there. I am not familiar with the original tale, but this interpretation inspires me to read it. I can only hope I enjoy it as much!

‘Come Lady Death’ by Peter S. Beagle is next on the list. Bored with the usual parties and the usual guests, Lady Neville invites Death to her next ball. The invitation is accepted and Death arrives, dramatically, after the last stroke of midnight, in the guise of a lovely young woman. Throughout the course of the evening, she charms many, though few actually lose their fear of her. When she tries to leave, however, the party goers beg her to stay. She does, but there is a price. ‘Come Lady Death�� is a strange, fascinating and compelling story.

There are two versions of ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘Summer Wind’ by Nancy Kress and ‘Stronger Than Time’ by Patricia C. Wrede. Both are interesting interpretations, but ‘Stronger Than Time’ was a truly moving tale. When an impetuous prince fails to rescue the princess after one hundred years, he must find another way to break the curse. I loved this version of the story; the ending was quite simply beautiful.

Among the other stories, the tales of Rumpelstiltskin and Persephone are both retold with a twist. There are also a couple of stories I had not read before, in any guise. The stand out for me, however, is the last entry, also by Cindy Lynn Speer. ‘But Can You Let Him Go’ re-interprets the story of Cinderella. The origin of the tale is slowly revealed from the perspective of the ‘fairy godmother’. There are hints early on, but as the story dips and weaves, interleaving related tales from other cultures, the reader is left wondering if this time the conclusion will be different. It is and it isn’t; telling you more would ruin the surprise and the utter sweetness of the conclusion. ‘But Can You Let Him Go’ is a wonderful, wonderful story.

All in all, this is a great collection. I would have liked to have seen more variety in authorship, but the stories are varied and all worthy of the reader’s attention and the anthology does a nice job of showcasing the talent of some lesser known authors. In addition, the size of the volume, a slim 250 pages, inspires the reader to start at the beginning and finish at the end rather than pick and choose a few stories somewhere in between.

Written for and originally published at SFCrowsnest.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story collections, especially those by many authors, tend to be a very mixed bag of the good, the bad and the meh. Once Upon a Curse (a collection of reworked folk/fairy tales linked by the notion of a curse) has all three, but why talk about the bad and the meh? I'd rather focus on some of the standout tales.

I requested this ARC because I knew it contained a Peter Beagle story,and I was not disappointed by his contribution. Titled "Come Lady Death," it has that quality that many Peter Beagle pieces have, a sort of bright and vivid, sharp edged, pictorial quality, rather like viewing a tapesty that tells a story. The characters are somewhat two-dimensional because it is not a character-story; it's a concept-story of a jaded elderly woman who decides to make her next party a real showstopper - by inviting Death to be a guest. It's got a lovely ending.

A new writer to me was Cindy Lynn Speer, who contributed several tales to the collection; by far the strongest was the final story, "But Can You Let Him Go." Speer combines Cinderella stories from many cultures to form her own version, narrated by the "fairy godmother," herself under a curse until she can repair a fatal error committed in her youth. As rich as cheesecake.

Anna Kashina's story, "Mistress of the Solstice," is (I assume) a retelling of a Russian folk tale, and it is delightful because it is both novel and strangely familiar - a bit like meeting a distant relative and hearing a family phrase on her lips. I understand that she is bringing out a novel, also called Mistress of the Solstice, and I am assuming that the novel fleshes out this story - in which case, I will certainly be buying it.

And finally, I have to mention a story I did not like - but which I think has some powerful potential. "Frayed Tapestry" by Imogen Howson is a retelling of the Persephone myth, and it has some delicious ideas (Persephone remembers herself when she tastes her own blood, the only fluid untainted by Lethe), but it comes apart rather tragically at the end. I really, really want Howson to try again with Persephone - perhaps turn this story into a novel and spend some time fleshing out her characters and the false world they live in. I have faith in you, Imogen Howson!

Thanks to the LibraryThing Early Reader Program for my ARC of this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a mixed bag of re-worked Fairy tales. Some were excellent, I particularly loved the modern version of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. An excellent way for adults to retain their love of Fairy Tales.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid fairy tale retellings and variations.

[Shayla Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology mostly missed the swings in quality and content that so many anthologies suffer. There was no story where I wondered "how did this get included, who picked this?" There was, however, an overall higher than I expected number of typos and errors. Guess I shouldn't have been surprised at the internal typos, since there's even one on the back cover description...

"A Necklace of Rubies" by Cindy Lynn Speer: Well done creepy, with a perfect twistiness.

“Come Lady Death” by Peter S. Beagle: Deliciously written, I am a huge fan of Beagle's style of descriptive prose. No real plot twists or surprises, but enjoyable to read.

“Summer Wind” by Nancy Kress: What if Sleeping Beauty was the only one who didn't fall asleep, and is instead alone, trapped in a castle full of people frozen in time?

“Stronger than Time” by Patricia C. Wrede: Another Sleeping Beauty, but this time it went wrong for the prince. How do you fix it when the right prince can't make it? Nope, not like that... it's even better.

“Words Like Pale Stones” by Nancy Kress: Rumplestiltskin is not a kind story on the best of tellings, but Kress is out to destroy your heart with this one.

“Every Word I Speak” by Cindy Lynn Speer: Pretty straight-forward retelling of Diamonds and Toads, from the point of view of the diamond girl. Well-written and interesting to read, with a fairy-tale appropriate ambiguous ending.

“Remains” by Siobhan Carroll: Very short story about the effects on the community of a vampire infestation.

“Frayed Tapestry” by Imogen Howson: A beautiful trip through a twisted world of lies, and the need to escape from a relationship that's a pretty trap.

“The Cold Blackness Between” by Lucy A. Snyder: Not sure what fairy tale this was spun from, but ultimately it didn't matter; it was a fun read and you should read it.

“Solstice Maiden” copyright by Anna Kashina: I am not even sure how to describe this one. It had the same sort of desperate feel that a good Baba Yaga story has, of basically good people made to do horrible things, and at least one detail directly from a Baba story (the needle). There's lies and loyalty, and a little help from the Immortals. Also, this may be the only time I've seen the word florescence used correctly.

“But Can You Let Him Go” by Cindy Lynn Speer: I really enjoyed this trail of Cinderellas through different cultures; frankly, I think the French version we all know from Disney is maybe the least interesting iteration so it was nice to see it in direct contrast to the older tellings. Wrapping them around a fairy godmother who's trapped by her own past was a wonderful touch.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be fair to other anthologies, all of the stories in this book have been published elsewhere. So the editor was able to cherry pick the very best instead of asking people they like to participate and hope they were spot on this time.

**** A Necklace of Rubies by Cindy Lynn Speer - An excellent version of "Bluebeard" with some new elements thrown in that made it interesting.
*** Come Lady Death by Peter S. Beagle - Not sure what this was based on. It was good, but Beagle has never quite had my favorite voice.
**** Summer Wind by Nancy Kress - A version of "Sleeping Beauty" with a more interesting ending for Aurora. I liked it. It reminded me of Sheri Tepper's Beauty.
***** Stronger Than Time by Patricia C. Wrede - I have read this version of "Sleeping Beauty" before and it has lasted the test of time. Still excellent.
**** Words Like Pale Stones by Nancy Kress - A sad version of "Rumpelstiltskin" that touches on a mother's love for her child. I liked it for its originality, but didn't like it for the ending.
*** Every Word I Speak by Cindy Lynn Speer - A version of "Toads and Diamonds". Again, the theme is sad. The stories in this book seem to take away all power from women save their right to choose who their demise benefits.
** Remains by Siobhan Carroll - I think this was supposed to be some sort of version of "Dracula", but it was too short and imprecise for me to tell.
***** Frayed Tapestry by Imogen Howson - Beautiful retelling of Persephone's story. Loved it so much more than the entire series I've just read based on it.
The Cold Blackness Between by Lucy A Snyder -
*** Solstice Maiden - by Anna Kashina - Again, not sure if this was based on another story. It was good and I would have read more if there had been more.
**** But Can You Let Him Go - by Cindy Lynn Speer - This was a version of "Cinderella". I'd say this was my favorite story in the book. Loved the "fairy godmother".

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare for me to wholeheartedly recommend an anthology, but I am recommending this one. Once Upon a Curse is a collection of amazing fairy tale interpretations from some pretty fantastic authors. With short story collections, I usually only like a couple and am neutral about the rest, but for this one there isn't one story that I didn't like. Most of them, I loved.

There are some things keeping me from giving this book a perfect rating. The last story definitely could have been cut by at least ten pages. While it was interesting to read about all the different cultural retellings of Cinderella, I don't think it was necessary to the main plot and all the stories-within-the-story made it drag. There were also a couple of others where the endings fell a bit flat, but not enough to make me dislike them outright.

There are two Sleeping Beauty stories in here (both excellent), along with Bluebeard, Cinderella, "Diamonds and Toads," among others. Anna Kashina has become my new favorite fantasy author with her story "Solstice Maiden," and I most definitely plan to check out her other works. If you're at all a fan of fantasy, you will find at least one story in this book to love (although, I'm betting that you'll find more). These stories are all entertaining, full of twists, and have interesting characters.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.*

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this short story collection because Peter S. Beagle was featured. I still haven't read any of his novels, which I really need to remedy. But I was pleased with the other stories here, not just his, which makes me happy. I did get the feeling that I should recognize the myths some of these stories are based on, but I suppose my mythology is lacking. Many of the stories tasted familiar, as if I had read something like it before, but I couldn't pin it down. For all that, this collection had me reading fast, because the stories are well written. Beagle's story is about the personification of Death (seems like I've seen quite a few of those lately) but it's a good twist on the theme. And there is always a price for talking with the one who will take you out of the world...

Some of the fairy tales are repeated in different authors' stories, but each one is told in a unique way. Some were creepy, yet romantic, and others just made me squirm. These are not fairy tales you would tell your young children, but YA lovers would be comfortable. Overall a good, if dark, collection and a good introduction to the various authors.

Received as a digital ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

[Alison C · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Once Upon a Curse, edited by Anna Kashina, is a collection of short stories and novellas by Cindy Lynn Speer (3 stories!), Peter S. Beagle, Nancy Kress (2 stories), Patricia C. Wrede, Siobhan Carroll, Imogen Howson, Lucy A. Snyder and Anna Kashina, all of them previously published and all purportedly twists on fairy tales like Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin. However, also included is a completely unrelated vampire story ("Remains," by Siobhan Carroll) and a long novella, "Frayed Tapestry" by Imogen Howson, that is actually a retelling of the Persephone myth. Although I liked some of the stories, I was not happy that they were all reprints rather than original to the anthology, and I found the conflation of myth, legend and fairy tale to be, well, kind of insulting as the three forms have very different meanings and purposes. Overall, a disappointment; the reader interested in retellings of fairy tales would be much better off with any of the numerous anthologies edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (Snow White, Blood Red, for example).

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of short stories from authors that I love (like Peter Beagle) and some authors that I've never heard of before (but oh- I am so going to find other works from them now!).

One of the main reasons I love reading these types of collections is that it introduces me to authors that I may never run across in my normal book shopping. Usually I also get bored with part of a normal collection. So to find an anthology where all but one (which still was OK but didn't drag me in like all the others) I loved is a feat indeed.

Waring: I'm pretty sure that there is at least one tale from one of a past anthology collections I've read, but it was still good to re-read it :)

Overall, I'd recommend for anyone that likes fairy tale remakes, interested in finding some new fantasy authors and for those that like a bit of twists in their short stories.

Received this book from the publisher for a review via the LibraryThing.com Early Reviewer giveaway.

[Maki ⌒☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Curse is an anthology of fairy tales that focus more on the evil aspects of stories than the good. Most stories still have their happily ever after, but there's always some sort of twist.

I enjoyed each of the stories in this collection. They were all an interesting spin on old stories. If I had to choose a favorite, though, I'd have to go with the last story, "But Can You Let Him Go". It was based on Cinderella - not just the commonly used French version, but several different cultures' versions of the tale. The story was very well done - I loved how the story sort of spiraled in on itself, until only the ending remained.

This is a good book to read if you enjoy reading fairy tales with a twist, or just retellings of fairy tales in general.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed most all of these stories. I especially liked "A Necklace of Rubies" which at first I thought was a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" but was actually a retelling of "Bluebeard," a story I had never heard of before.
"But can you let him go" was an interesting, albeit rather long and involved, retelling of the "Cinderella" story spanning several lifetimes of the characters and the Fairy Godmother.
"Stronger than time" was a retelling of the "Sleeping Beauty" story as was "Summer Wind" and I enjoyed both of these versions.
All were well written and I would read more by all the authors.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not usually one for short stories; I often find myself wanting more. Fortunately, I really liked this collection. I like how the "usual" stories were changed up; they were very interesting. I especially liked the first & the last stories. Allthe authors did a great job writing the stories. They each captured my attention & held it. The writing itself was very good. I recommend this collection to anyone who likes fairy tales, but is looking for more than just the usual.

[DOLLY · Rating 4 out of 5]

the last story, "But Can You Let Him Go" by Cindy Lynn, tells a Cinderella story that transcends lifetimes. so touching and heartwarming - an exciting twist of a fairy tale where 'Happily Ever After' is far from guaranteed. And for once, instead of thinking myself too grown up and above all that nonsense, I was wishing with all my heart for a happy ending.
This author's keeping it real. props, girl.

[Claire Gilligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good! I mean, I'm always a sucker for reimagined fairy tales, but these are excellent despite the fact that I'd heard of none of the authors before. And "adult" really only means grown-up; it doesn't feature any sex (although it does allude to more marital activities than what I'd want my child to read before at least teens).

If the description "reimagined fairy tales" piques your interest at all, I think you'll like this one. I'm quite happy with it.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked pretty much all of the stories. There was maybe one or two that I wasn't feeling, but the rest were great. My favorite was Frayed Tapestry. A Necklace of Rubies gave me the heeby jeebies. And Every Word I Speak was heartbreaking.

Oh and I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of great and interesting re-tellings of fairy tale classics like Cinderella and Bluebeard, probably more for adults (they are a bit dark in places).

[Virginia Johnson]

I am a big fan of 'fractured' or retold fairytales, and this didn't disappoint. Some truly memorable takes on familiar classics.

[Vittoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

There isn't really a truly terrific story here (which would usually push the collection to five stars for me), but most of the stories are good quality or above. (all but one, which is just too long winded, imo, but still very well written).

I have just been thinking about other fairy tale inspired short story collections I've read in the past that were just so disappointing in comparison.

Stories that were moralistic rather than had a moral to them, that had nothing to do with fairy tales at all, that contained dubious poetry or pushed messages that were just plain stupid.

These stories aren't heavy-handed, they don't hit you over the head with the torch the author is carrying, they aren't vacously and exhasperatingly _boring_ in that fashion.

All in all, a terrific selection, and five stars because I just can't stand when authors take up proselitising and climb on soap boxes.

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this on a whim when it was cheap and oh I am so glad I did.

Necklace of Rubies is second only to The Seventh Bride in Bluebeard retelling. Come Lady Death has an odd, mannered, Pratchetty charm that I loved. I'd read the two Sleeping Beauty remixes in the Color Noun Color Noun anthology series put together by Windling and Datlow, but revisiting was fun. Words Like Pale Stones is inspired. Frayed Tapestry is the coolest Persephone variation I can imagine, and But Can You Let Him Go is a cross-cultural masterpiece.

The originals - Remains and Cold Blackness Between - are both lingeringly creepy and fun - Remains atmospheric, Cold Blackness character-driven (and by what a character).

I'm also kind of astonished at how much I liked this twist on the jewel-speaking sister.

[Hadassah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of different stories, giving alternative view and endings to popular fairytales like Cinderella story, the tale of Bluebeard and Sleeping beauty.
This is not children’s book though.

My best story in the book is “But Can You Let Him Go” by Cindy Lynn Speer; the story of Cinderella and her prince who were separated by a fairy, who then feeling repentant, tried to bring them together again. It was more difficult than it first appeared though and the process to bring them together went on in loop for a couple of centuries with the fairy getting weaker and more desperate . I especially feel the ending was ingenious.

The reason for the 4 stars is because all the stories were not as good as this.

[Ashley (Tiny Navajo Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these retellings

I will always love the retellings of fairy tales. They always bring something new to the table in my own opinion. And what I loved about this one was that there were multiple retellings and they all had that common thread, that small connection to the fairy tales we know and love, but somehow darker or more mature than previous versions. Excellent read all around!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed several of the stories in this anthology. Some of the original tales were not familiar to me but that did not influence my enjoyment of them. The first few stories seemed to end abruptly - yes there was closure but a few more details wouldn't have been amiss. For the most part I found these stories to be rather creepy. Not my usual cup of tea.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most anthologies, some of these stories were stronger than others, but over all, a solid read. It introduced me to some authors that I will seek out for further reading.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent one and all.

[MBenzz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally enjoy short stories, but I really loved this book. My favorite story was by far 'Come Lady Death', closely followed by 'Stronger Than Time'. If you like fairy tales or are a fan of the show 'Once Upon A Time', I suggest giving this book a try. Sure, some of the stories are a little strange, but the majority of them are extremely engaging. The book ends with the longest story of the book 'But Can You Let Him Go'. It's a very different take on Cinderella's tale, but a very good one.

Overall, I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. It popped up on a 'Recommended For You' list and sounded interesting. It certainly was. I would love to find more books similar to this.

[Sunshine✰✰✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories retelling some classic fairy tales and some unknown. Some of the stories I have never heard before, like Bluebeard and Diamonds and Toads, so I don't know how it's being retold but I found them enjoyable nonetheless. I think the last story of Cinderella's Fairy Godmother was a bit long and at first almost hard to follow. It just jumps to the next scene without any breaks in the writing. All the stories are told with more of the darker side then how fairy tales are usually told, but still, most stories have the happily ever after in the end.

[Lauren]

“A Necklace of Rubies” by Cindy Lynn Speer
“Come Lady Death” by Peter S. Beagle;
“Summer Wind” by Nancy Kress
“Stronger than Time” by Patricia C. Wrede
“Words Like Pale Stones” by Nancy Kress
“Every Word I Speak” by Cindy Lynn Speer
“Remains” by Siobhan Carroll
“Frayed Tapestry” by Imogen Howson
“The Cold Blackness Between” by Lucy A. Snyder
“Solstice Maiden” copyright by Anna Kashina
“But Can You Let Him Go” by Cindy Lynn Speer