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How To Survive This Fairytale
You are not a hero.
You don't get your True Love.
This is the part where you lose everything.
This is the part where you rewrite your story.
After losing everything in service to the Evil Queen, and driven to the edge of sanity by a cruel narrator who won't let him die, Hansel must bring himself to do the impossible: forge his own destiny or give up on his Happily Ever After.
For fans of T. Kingfisher's THORNHEDGE and Tamsyn Muir's HARROW THE NINTH, comes a story crafted by S. M. Hallow. Twining together a dark fairy tale retelling with mental health and disability representation plus queer normative world-building splashed with a cozy horror game vibe, HOW TO SURVIVE THIS FAIRYTALE is rewriting Happily Ever Afters.
You don't get your True Love.
This is the part where you lose everything.
This is the part where you rewrite your story.
After losing everything in service to the Evil Queen, and driven to the edge of sanity by a cruel narrator who won't let him die, Hansel must bring himself to do the impossible: forge his own destiny or give up on his Happily Ever After.
For fans of T. Kingfisher's THORNHEDGE and Tamsyn Muir's HARROW THE NINTH, comes a story crafted by S. M. Hallow. Twining together a dark fairy tale retelling with mental health and disability representation plus queer normative world-building splashed with a cozy horror game vibe, HOW TO SURVIVE THIS FAIRYTALE is rewriting Happily Ever Afters.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
20 people are currently reading
925 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 8, 2025
HOW TO SURVIVE THIS FAIRYTALE is a brilliant work of fairytale horror with interlocking characters and also a fascinating look at generational trauma, identity, agency, and love. I grabbed it purely on impulse when I saw Hedone's Thread post about how some of their books would be leaving KU, even though I'd never really heard of any of the titles before, and as soon as I started this book, it was all I could think about. I currently have the flu and I was curled up on my bed, white-knuckling my laptop as I read the book on my app, desperate to see what would become of Hansel in his bizarre and compelling story.
The book takes a "choose your own adventure" approach, sometimes showing how different outcomes would pan out before moving on to the "correct" one. The last book I read that did this was Vivian Vande Velde's HEIR APPARENT, which was a video game that gently poked fun at stock fantasy tropes. I loved this approach there too and had always been looking for something similar, but I never found it until reading HOW TO SURVIVE A FAIRYTALE.
I'd recommend this to people who loved 10th Kingdom and Once Upon a Time, who read Angela Carter and Tanith Lee, who love queer love stories and shape-shifting as a metaphor for a trans "coming out." This book was all of that and so much more and I will absolutely be reading anything else this author writes because I loved this book more than words can really say.
5 stars
The book takes a "choose your own adventure" approach, sometimes showing how different outcomes would pan out before moving on to the "correct" one. The last book I read that did this was Vivian Vande Velde's HEIR APPARENT, which was a video game that gently poked fun at stock fantasy tropes. I loved this approach there too and had always been looking for something similar, but I never found it until reading HOW TO SURVIVE A FAIRYTALE.
I'd recommend this to people who loved 10th Kingdom and Once Upon a Time, who read Angela Carter and Tanith Lee, who love queer love stories and shape-shifting as a metaphor for a trans "coming out." This book was all of that and so much more and I will absolutely be reading anything else this author writes because I loved this book more than words can really say.
5 stars
January 16, 2025
How To Survive This Fairytale is a powerful story of what it means to love someone as they are, where they are, while learning to love yourself. The second-person POV makes this message all the more resonant.
While I loved so much about this book, my absolute favorite part is the overarching message that it's okay to try again. It's okay to give yourself the space to heal from trauma and the grace to do better. What a beautiful and timeless message. I felt called in to reflect and grow alongside Hans.
These characters are incredible. Many are familiar fairytale characters whose personalities and stories I initially presumed I knew...but I quickly realized I was wrong. Each main character has complex motivations and evolving senses of self. Their stories shift and intersect in ways I could never predict. Consider my expectations subverted!
Thanks so much to Hedone Books for sending me an ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
While I loved so much about this book, my absolute favorite part is the overarching message that it's okay to try again. It's okay to give yourself the space to heal from trauma and the grace to do better. What a beautiful and timeless message. I felt called in to reflect and grow alongside Hans.
These characters are incredible. Many are familiar fairytale characters whose personalities and stories I initially presumed I knew...but I quickly realized I was wrong. Each main character has complex motivations and evolving senses of self. Their stories shift and intersect in ways I could never predict. Consider my expectations subverted!
Thanks so much to Hedone Books for sending me an ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
January 19, 2025
Set in the liminal space between Sondheim’s Into the Woods, William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, and a meta choose your own adventure game, this is my favorite novella yet.
Do you love the existential dread, heartbreak, and grimly hopeful vibes in Slay the Princess ? Do you love hunting for references and seeing things fit together like a satisfying circular puzzle? Do you want to feel personally attacked by the exploration of loss, trauma, self-determination, eating disorders, and disability in a fantasy setting? (That one might just be specific to me.) Have I got a book for you.
The prose is lovely and evocative, and Hallow does an excellent job establishing the world while maintaining tension (I was so stressed during those early chapters!!) and an interesting plot, along with introspection and character development. It’s impressive how much they have done here with the page count. I don’t often read books in second person, but I loved it. My beef with second person is that it often reads like the protagonist is a cardboard cutout with no personality, and that was not at all the case here. Hans feels like his own character, not like a blank slate for the reader to project onto. The reader isn’t the protagonist; the reader is Hans.
I do think you need to be okay with the framing device not being fully explained and one plot point in the climax being left a bit vague. I’m very familiar with this type of meta mechanic from visual novels, so I was able to just roll with it and keep reading. It might be more difficult for readers who have not encountered this sort of thing to accept this framing without more explanation. But for me—at least in a novella—I didn’t have an issue just letting my brain connect the dots, and I don’t think it detracts at all from the reading experience.
So allow me to use my one moment of earnestness I’m allotted per year before I go back to being a miserable hater to say I think this novella is really special and I loved it. Making me cry is probably the easiest thing in the world to do but I can count on one hand the number of books that have made me cry this much. I’m very excited to see what’s next from S. M. Hallow.
Would I re-read this: yes, when I’m less emotionally fragile
Who should read this: anyone who loves Sondheim’s Into the Woods, fairytale nerds, choose your own adventure fans, time loop enjoyers
PS, for those of you who need it: the on-page animal death in the content warning is not about the dog.
Do you love the existential dread, heartbreak, and grimly hopeful vibes in Slay the Princess ? Do you love hunting for references and seeing things fit together like a satisfying circular puzzle? Do you want to feel personally attacked by the exploration of loss, trauma, self-determination, eating disorders, and disability in a fantasy setting? (That one might just be specific to me.) Have I got a book for you.
The prose is lovely and evocative, and Hallow does an excellent job establishing the world while maintaining tension (I was so stressed during those early chapters!!) and an interesting plot, along with introspection and character development. It’s impressive how much they have done here with the page count. I don’t often read books in second person, but I loved it. My beef with second person is that it often reads like the protagonist is a cardboard cutout with no personality, and that was not at all the case here. Hans feels like his own character, not like a blank slate for the reader to project onto. The reader isn’t the protagonist; the reader is Hans.
I do think you need to be okay with the framing device not being fully explained and one plot point in the climax being left a bit vague. I’m very familiar with this type of meta mechanic from visual novels, so I was able to just roll with it and keep reading. It might be more difficult for readers who have not encountered this sort of thing to accept this framing without more explanation. But for me—at least in a novella—I didn’t have an issue just letting my brain connect the dots, and I don’t think it detracts at all from the reading experience.
So allow me to use my one moment of earnestness I’m allotted per year before I go back to being a miserable hater to say I think this novella is really special and I loved it. Making me cry is probably the easiest thing in the world to do but I can count on one hand the number of books that have made me cry this much. I’m very excited to see what’s next from S. M. Hallow.
Would I re-read this: yes, when I’m less emotionally fragile
Who should read this: anyone who loves Sondheim’s Into the Woods, fairytale nerds, choose your own adventure fans, time loop enjoyers
PS, for those of you who need it: the on-page animal death in the content warning is not about the dog.
December 25, 2024
With prose that is as unflinching as it is mesmerizing, S. M. Hallow's How to Survive This Fairytale lures you into its dark, magic-littered woods. What will happen to you there is at the same time uncertain and predetermined, as is any fairytale character's fate: there will be love, and pain, some laughter and so much hunger, and kind feathered friends. Above all, there will be the realization that choice can be something you can learn to grow into, like a sweater made of nettles, itchy and woven with sacrifice, but yours all the while.
I may or may not have bawled my eyes out while reading this one.
I may or may not have bawled my eyes out while reading this one.
January 3, 2025
Thank you so much to the author for providing this as an ARC!
OH....where do I start with this book? As the first read of 2025, I was almost...scared to finish this. Hallow's prose is wonderful, the way each Fairytale is woven tighter and tighter together as the story progresses from Hansel's youth into his time as the Huntsman and what follows after is so well done. The 2nd person POV is really interesting, and I love how it was employed here.
And Hans...oh, my darling Hansel. He's been broken and scarred and hurt his entire life. He doesn't think he's enough. He doesn't want to eat because of what happened with the witch and his sister, but he knows he has to, so it's a hard relationship the rest of his life.
And then he meets Gertrude and the Swan Prince and, well, the rest goes from there.
If you read any book this year, read this one. It's wonderful (but please mind the content warnings!)
OH....where do I start with this book? As the first read of 2025, I was almost...scared to finish this. Hallow's prose is wonderful, the way each Fairytale is woven tighter and tighter together as the story progresses from Hansel's youth into his time as the Huntsman and what follows after is so well done. The 2nd person POV is really interesting, and I love how it was employed here.
And Hans...oh, my darling Hansel. He's been broken and scarred and hurt his entire life. He doesn't think he's enough. He doesn't want to eat because of what happened with the witch and his sister, but he knows he has to, so it's a hard relationship the rest of his life.
And then he meets Gertrude and the Swan Prince and, well, the rest goes from there.
If you read any book this year, read this one. It's wonderful (but please mind the content warnings!)
January 28, 2025
This felt like such a special book. It absolutely lived up to the comps of Thornhedge/Harrow the Ninth for me, but with some Wayward Children thrown in. It’s also such a fast paced, quick read that I inhaled it in one sitting. Highly recommend!
January 3, 2025
First of all thank you for the ARC! I'm very excited for the official release, and I truly do recommend this one for people who like the classic fairytales we grew up with. (Fun game while reading: write down all the fairytales you can catch, some are subtle).
Besides the obvious fairytale themes, there's also an underlying atmosphere that instantly reminded me of horror/survival games, which I then later saw was also mentioned in the description of this book, so I can confirm that's definitely accurate! The first time it happened I wasn't entirely convinced, but by the next page it clicked and ended up being very exciting and gave an interesting twist to stories we all have most likely already heard.
Lastly a quick note on the characters: I loved all of them. And it's clear the author did too. And it is beautiful. Thank you.
Besides the obvious fairytale themes, there's also an underlying atmosphere that instantly reminded me of horror/survival games, which I then later saw was also mentioned in the description of this book, so I can confirm that's definitely accurate! The first time it happened I wasn't entirely convinced, but by the next page it clicked and ended up being very exciting and gave an interesting twist to stories we all have most likely already heard.
Lastly a quick note on the characters: I loved all of them. And it's clear the author did too. And it is beautiful. Thank you.
September 27, 2025
i’ve been wanting to read this one for awhile and today the QLL bought it… holy shit this book!
first, it’s pretty short (read it in an hour and a half) which is nice for my sleep schedule. second, it combines a bunch of fairy tales which i’ve always loved (and does it soooo well). third, really awesome and unique formatting/plotting. at first, sorta choose your own adventure where it explores some paths that end in “your” death, but then finally finds a path without “your” death. then, a really great part i won’t spoil and from there the book is more about healing after the trauma (which i looove). cue, found family and bittersweet romance. all of that just pulled together so beautifully. the one thing i’m ?!?!? about is the end!!!! omfg pls…….. crazy!!!! just crazy.
also! there were a few drawings in here and they were so cute!!! kinda random what was drawn but added to the vibes.
overall, super imaginative, dark and sad but with a (mostly) happy and healing ending.
first, it’s pretty short (read it in an hour and a half) which is nice for my sleep schedule. second, it combines a bunch of fairy tales which i’ve always loved (and does it soooo well). third, really awesome and unique formatting/plotting. at first, sorta choose your own adventure where it explores some paths that end in “your” death, but then finally finds a path without “your” death. then, a really great part i won’t spoil and from there the book is more about healing after the trauma (which i looove). cue, found family and bittersweet romance. all of that just pulled together so beautifully. the one thing i’m ?!?!? about is the end!!!! omfg pls…….. crazy!!!! just crazy.
also! there were a few drawings in here and they were so cute!!! kinda random what was drawn but added to the vibes.
overall, super imaginative, dark and sad but with a (mostly) happy and healing ending.
June 20, 2025
How To Survive This Fairytale is one of the most unique and affecting books I’ve ever read. While it draws from the tradition of fairytale retellings, it defies easy categorization. It offers something far more profound, darkly poetic, and emotionally resonant.
Written in second person, the narrative style takes some getting used to, but it ultimately heightens the experience. It forces you to slow down, to engage more deliberately, to feel every word. And with Hallow’s writing, every word counts. A single sentence can leave you breathless, stunned, and undone.
There were multiple moments where I found myself reading through tears, and once they started, they didn’t really stop. Few books have impacted me on such a deep emotional level. A friend told me this book changed her brain chemistry. I didn’t fully understand what she meant until I read it myself. Now I do.
How To Survive This Fairytale is haunting and tender, raw and lyrical. It’s not just a story, it’s an experience that stays with you, reshaping the way you see pain, healing, and the power of choice.
Written in second person, the narrative style takes some getting used to, but it ultimately heightens the experience. It forces you to slow down, to engage more deliberately, to feel every word. And with Hallow’s writing, every word counts. A single sentence can leave you breathless, stunned, and undone.
There were multiple moments where I found myself reading through tears, and once they started, they didn’t really stop. Few books have impacted me on such a deep emotional level. A friend told me this book changed her brain chemistry. I didn’t fully understand what she meant until I read it myself. Now I do.
How To Survive This Fairytale is haunting and tender, raw and lyrical. It’s not just a story, it’s an experience that stays with you, reshaping the way you see pain, healing, and the power of choice.
January 19, 2025
Now, I'm going to be honest here. I was unsure about this at first. Second person perspective often feels fan fictiony or pretentious. Not here though. S.M. Hallow takes that perspective and makes it flow beautifully. It fits the story being told perfectly and you wouldn't feel the same impact without it. In fact I was so quickly grabbed by the writing style that I found myself plowing through near 1/3 of the book in one short sitting. (It would have been more, but I had to go be an adult for a bit.)
The words on these pages felt like a fever dream at times. How to Survive This Fairytale manages to be horrific, magical, romantic, tense, soft, dreamy and so many other things all at the same time. I don't even know how to adequately describe the experience that was reading this book. It's something you just need to read yourself. Just know that I will be impatiently awaiting all of S.M. Hallow's future work!
The words on these pages felt like a fever dream at times. How to Survive This Fairytale manages to be horrific, magical, romantic, tense, soft, dreamy and so many other things all at the same time. I don't even know how to adequately describe the experience that was reading this book. It's something you just need to read yourself. Just know that I will be impatiently awaiting all of S.M. Hallow's future work!
December 8, 2025
I was a bit sceptical about the second person POV at first and wasn't sure what to expect of a "cozy horror game vibe", but it worked amazing for this story. Beautiful and touching!
December 18, 2025
I cried…so much
also why is horror the second tag on this? there’s literally zero horror, not even really any horror elements.
also why is horror the second tag on this? there’s literally zero horror, not even really any horror elements.
December 29, 2024
The magic and fantasy of a fairy tale with the intensity of a survival horror. This book has a rich and emotional narrative style that pulls you along with the character. It covers a sprawling number of years. The care for the characters by the author is clearly evident within the descriptions and necessary pace of the novella, and is an honest tribute to the darkness and whimsy of the fables it references.
I have S.M. to thank as well for getting me out of a major reading slump -- it felt like being told a bedtime story and remembering the importance of understanding different characters and separate lives :) certainly many ideas about trauma, love, and choices that can be reflected upon. Certainly excited for the release!
I have S.M. to thank as well for getting me out of a major reading slump -- it felt like being told a bedtime story and remembering the importance of understanding different characters and separate lives :) certainly many ideas about trauma, love, and choices that can be reflected upon. Certainly excited for the release!
May 16, 2025
Esto fue tan hermoso que para el final se me salieron un par de lagrimas de pura felicidad, me apretaron bien fuerte el corazón.
La historia la encontré tan original. Y muy bien pensada en como fue hilando todo los cuentos. Además de tener una narración preciosa, marqué muchas frases y escenas.
Este libro refleja muy bien lo que es leer fantasía fairytale, con ese aire antiguo, con un poco de horror, con esos romances sacados de sueños y un merecido felices por siempre. Me encantó
La historia la encontré tan original. Y muy bien pensada en como fue hilando todo los cuentos. Además de tener una narración preciosa, marqué muchas frases y escenas.
Este libro refleja muy bien lo que es leer fantasía fairytale, con ese aire antiguo, con un poco de horror, con esos romances sacados de sueños y un merecido felices por siempre. Me encantó
January 22, 2025
To say I sobbed would be an understatement. This was such a beautiful story. The tale will live in my soul and I will recommend it to everyone. 😭😭
😅
🤣🤣 I’m such a mush and a mess haha.
😅
🤣🤣 I’m such a mush and a mess haha.
August 1, 2025
Aren't you glad to have had that happiness now that you can never have it again? You'd do anything to go back there. You'd do anything to be that boy again. But that boy is gone.
★★★★★
Ouch. This book slaps in all the best ways.
How To Survive This Fairytale is a fantastic retelling not of any one specific fairytale but an amalgamation and re-interpretation of several familiar stories that also manages to be an exploration of fate/destiny, love, trauma, depression, and the corruption of innocence that somehow all works. And beautifully at that. The closest comparison I can come up with to this thematically in my mind is a mash-up of Slay the Princess x The Last Unicorn. Also, that cover is perfect in so many ways with the bloody text in stark contrast to the lovely serene art. I did not know what to expect based on the cheeky title but boy did this exceed any expectations. Fairytale retellings and I have a love-hate relationship, in that I find many of them in an attempt to twist up archetypes completely lose the entire essence or purpose of the original story or the entire concept of fairytales to begin with.
This book is narrated in second person which can be a hit or miss for some people, but it was the perfect choice here. There's a lot of fourth wall breaking and just crazy things going on with the narrative structure especially in the first half. I do wish some things related to the plot were wrapped up a little bit better but honestly I can't complain. The characters were lovable and somehow the author manages to create some wholesome and sweet moments among them without being annoyingly twee about it. I was, however, most surprised by the depth of emotions portrayed in the story, and some feelings especially hit a little too close to home - the guilt of feeling somehow incomplete despite having and treasuring all the love in the world, the bone-deep yearning for a more innocent and happier time in your life. It's rich in metaphors if you look closely enough and I both love and hate that so much because damn it where did these tears come from!!!
Deciding you don't need happily ever after. Deciding peacefully ever after would be generous enough.
— ♩♫♩ ~ Isabella's Lullaby
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
This book was selected for me as apart of my December TBR challenge. I’m thankful for this recommendation because it was a pleasant surprise.
I went in wondering how I would feel given the second person POV, but it truly fits here and is done so well. Each character has complexities and issues that require thought and understanding.
This was a binge worthy work of fairytale horror that keeps you gripped through the entirety of the tale. Witten in a "choose your own adventure" style with a twist. Hallow manages to deliver a thrilling piece of prose while also deconstructing issues of identity, generational trauma and love. The best bit is the overall messaging about loving yourself. That ultimately, it's okay to start over, to try again and grow from your past.
Overall, this was a 5 star read for me. I am so thankful to Kay for thinking out of the box with her recommendation, because I might not have picked it up otherwise. I would recommend this to readers who love queer stories, Once Upon A Time, Sondheim's Into the Woods and time loops.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I went in wondering how I would feel given the second person POV, but it truly fits here and is done so well. Each character has complexities and issues that require thought and understanding.
This was a binge worthy work of fairytale horror that keeps you gripped through the entirety of the tale. Witten in a "choose your own adventure" style with a twist. Hallow manages to deliver a thrilling piece of prose while also deconstructing issues of identity, generational trauma and love. The best bit is the overall messaging about loving yourself. That ultimately, it's okay to start over, to try again and grow from your past.
Overall, this was a 5 star read for me. I am so thankful to Kay for thinking out of the box with her recommendation, because I might not have picked it up otherwise. I would recommend this to readers who love queer stories, Once Upon A Time, Sondheim's Into the Woods and time loops.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 26, 2025
How To Survive This Fairytale is what would have happened if someone asked me to describe my perfect book and then went ahead and wrote it. Perfectly. Which sounds like the normal raving book review exaggeration, only... it's not. To an honestly disturbing degree.
I've spent the last few days shoving this book into the hands of every person who crossed my path. And I'm still torn between needing to make *everyone* read it and wanting just a little bit for it to be something personal and special and mine.
And I feel like none of the things I might say about it - that it's about fairytales, and hurt, and agency, that it made me cry, that it's one of the most hopeful books I've read - can encompass this book, or begin to describe the sheer magic of it.
I've spent the last few days shoving this book into the hands of every person who crossed my path. And I'm still torn between needing to make *everyone* read it and wanting just a little bit for it to be something personal and special and mine.
And I feel like none of the things I might say about it - that it's about fairytales, and hurt, and agency, that it made me cry, that it's one of the most hopeful books I've read - can encompass this book, or begin to describe the sheer magic of it.
December 18, 2025
This book is sorrow and joy and oh so interesting. I hope more people read it.
The author makes great use of structures beyond just text to tell a story here from structure to font to illustrations and I really like how it added to the meta nature of the story. Some have said choose your own adventure but to me it is more like a visual novel game, the repeated game over screens and trying of new tactics gives you that same feeling as save scumming. It was such a unique read. The story too is melancholic but all about growth. Definitely one to take on when you are in a reasonably good mental health state.
The author makes great use of structures beyond just text to tell a story here from structure to font to illustrations and I really like how it added to the meta nature of the story. Some have said choose your own adventure but to me it is more like a visual novel game, the repeated game over screens and trying of new tactics gives you that same feeling as save scumming. It was such a unique read. The story too is melancholic but all about growth. Definitely one to take on when you are in a reasonably good mental health state.
December 5, 2025
the style and narrative choices were super cool. it was a choose your own adventure at the beginning and then later it was about the choices and sacrifices you make to be happy and to make those around you happy. very interesting stuff. i love creative reimagining of fairy and folk tales and this book did a great job of combining stories
April 19, 2025
what a roller-coaster of a journey this took me on.
June 21, 2025
Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before.
November 30, 2025
A unique, compelling, and touching story that takes you on a journey you would have a hard time forgetting.
January 16, 2025
this book deserves more than five stars
it is so beautifully written, it’s an innovative take on fairytales while staying true to the original feel of the well known stories.
the deep understanding of mental health issues and trauma and how they’re portrayed is amazing. the philosophy about what choices we can make and if we have the power to make them is compelling.
the clever use of narrative structure, narrative voice, and different fonts is great. the nod to video games with different choices for different outcomes is well done.
it’s a quick read with short chapters, but the story is so full and engaging. i can’t recommend this book enough.
it is so beautifully written, it’s an innovative take on fairytales while staying true to the original feel of the well known stories.
the deep understanding of mental health issues and trauma and how they’re portrayed is amazing. the philosophy about what choices we can make and if we have the power to make them is compelling.
the clever use of narrative structure, narrative voice, and different fonts is great. the nod to video games with different choices for different outcomes is well done.
it’s a quick read with short chapters, but the story is so full and engaging. i can’t recommend this book enough.
May 2, 2025
a book thats so unique i don't think i'll ever forget or experience something like it again
December 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this sweet and heartbreaking novella. I found the author did a lovely job of showing the trauma a person carries and how that trauma can slowly be healed. How a found and chosen family can help. How a person doesn't have to choose one way or another. I liked the writing as well, very well done.
June 20, 2025
I'm a sucker for Fairy Tale mashups. I grew up loving Into the Woods, I binged Once Upon a Time in college. Retellings are wonderful too, but there's something special about taking the idea of storytelling, throwing a bunch discrete tales in a blender, and seeing what new comes out of it. How to Survive This Fairytale made me laugh, made me cry, and made me cry some more. I'm usually not a super emotional person, but this book got to me in a really profound way. Hallow has a fantastic debut novel, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Read if You Enjoy: Fairy tale mashups, characters processing trauma, romance subplots, aggressively paced books
Avoid if you Dislike: 2nd person narration, tidy endings, protagonists not always being the center of the story, books without fight scenes
Elevator Pitch:
This story centers on Hans, or Hansel from Hansel and Gretel. The story mostly takes place after the events of the original fairy tale however, and follows him through several decades into his adult life. Featuring prominently in his journey are a girl and her brothers (cursed to be swans), Snow White's evil Queen, and a loyal dog. This book is focuses on Hans' journey to see if a happy ending is possible. The story is told in second person, with the 'narrator' being a sort-of explicit character who interacts with the story as Hans experiments with different possible paths through the situations he faces.
What Worked For Me:
So much, but Hallow's choices around prose and scenes really made this book shine. Her writing is beautifully sparse, cutting out anything unnecessary to the emotional core of the story. She doesn't bother wasting time on things you already know, uses sentence fragments when it fits the emotional state of the character, and keeps chapters short, brisk, and focused on a few key purposes.
While this is a relatively extreme example, I think sharing the prologue in it's entirety is a good sample of what to expect:
A Prologue
A father leads his children into the woods and leaves them there.
That's it. That's the entire prologue. She establishes early on that each word matters. The entire book isn't quite this brutally written - she get's downright flowery at times when Hans is in love. However, a sense of urgency is always core to the story, even when we're lingering on something beautiful or sad. I accuse a lot of books of having bloat, and needing to be cut down, but this is not one of those books. Hallow really had a chokehold on the pacing of this book (plot, emotional, etc), and I am astounded that this is a debut novel.
If i haven't already made it clear, Hans' journey is pretty emotional. A lot of this book is him (and the other important characters) processing their own trauma, and trying to find their own happy endings. Hans develops an eating disorder after his time in the Gingerbread House, lives in constant self-doubt, and is forced to do some pretty awful things by the evil queen (or perhaps he was complicit, and he doesn't deserve a good life after the things he's done while under her thumb). There's a sense of relentless melancholy and dread that covers so much of this book, yet it is an optimistic story at its core. It's probably not as messy as this level of trauma would be in real life, but healing certainly isn't an easy journey for Hans in this book.
These happy endings look different for different folks, and Hallow worked hard to emphasize that Hans was the center of his own story, not everyone else's. Side characters frequently solve their own problems, cure their own curses, and have Big Plot Events happen entirely offscreen.
Finally, I need to acknowledge that the chemistry between Hans and Cyrus (who spends a good amount of the book as a swan and/or out of Hans' life) was off the charts. I haven't quite found a good way of identifying why chemistry works or doesn't, but I think in this case it had a lot to do with Hallow manipulating the tone of the book. As a boy cursed-to-be-a-swan, Cyrus isn't exactly having flirty banter with Hans (though when it does happen, it flows wonderfully), but their time together is an idyllic step away from the horrors of what came before and after. This sort of tone swapping happens a lot in the book, though ironically the narrator character preparing you for these tonal shifts makes them all the more powerful. The love story became a central plot point in the second half of the book, but I wouldn't classify this story as a Romance in the classical sense, since so much of Hans' journey happens without Cyrus present.
What Didn't Work For Me
I don't want to say the ending didn't work for me, but I've been going back and forth on it in the 24 hours since I've finished the book. I won't say much for fear of spoiling things, but feel comfortable sharing that the book was left in a tidier place than the journey to get there felt like. I've dinged books in the past for this, but ultimately I think it fit with some of the themes developed in the book well.
If averse to second person narration or fourth wall breaking, this might not be the book for you. Try the free sample on amazon and see if the style is a good fit for you.
In Conclusion: An easy 5/5 stars, especially for folks who like Fairy Tale stories, or deeply emotional books without much action
Want more reviews like this? Try my blog, CosmicReads
Read if You Enjoy: Fairy tale mashups, characters processing trauma, romance subplots, aggressively paced books
Avoid if you Dislike: 2nd person narration, tidy endings, protagonists not always being the center of the story, books without fight scenes
Elevator Pitch:
This story centers on Hans, or Hansel from Hansel and Gretel. The story mostly takes place after the events of the original fairy tale however, and follows him through several decades into his adult life. Featuring prominently in his journey are a girl and her brothers (cursed to be swans), Snow White's evil Queen, and a loyal dog. This book is focuses on Hans' journey to see if a happy ending is possible. The story is told in second person, with the 'narrator' being a sort-of explicit character who interacts with the story as Hans experiments with different possible paths through the situations he faces.
What Worked For Me:
So much, but Hallow's choices around prose and scenes really made this book shine. Her writing is beautifully sparse, cutting out anything unnecessary to the emotional core of the story. She doesn't bother wasting time on things you already know, uses sentence fragments when it fits the emotional state of the character, and keeps chapters short, brisk, and focused on a few key purposes.
While this is a relatively extreme example, I think sharing the prologue in it's entirety is a good sample of what to expect:
A Prologue
A father leads his children into the woods and leaves them there.
That's it. That's the entire prologue. She establishes early on that each word matters. The entire book isn't quite this brutally written - she get's downright flowery at times when Hans is in love. However, a sense of urgency is always core to the story, even when we're lingering on something beautiful or sad. I accuse a lot of books of having bloat, and needing to be cut down, but this is not one of those books. Hallow really had a chokehold on the pacing of this book (plot, emotional, etc), and I am astounded that this is a debut novel.
If i haven't already made it clear, Hans' journey is pretty emotional. A lot of this book is him (and the other important characters) processing their own trauma, and trying to find their own happy endings. Hans develops an eating disorder after his time in the Gingerbread House, lives in constant self-doubt, and is forced to do some pretty awful things by the evil queen (or perhaps he was complicit, and he doesn't deserve a good life after the things he's done while under her thumb). There's a sense of relentless melancholy and dread that covers so much of this book, yet it is an optimistic story at its core. It's probably not as messy as this level of trauma would be in real life, but healing certainly isn't an easy journey for Hans in this book.
These happy endings look different for different folks, and Hallow worked hard to emphasize that Hans was the center of his own story, not everyone else's. Side characters frequently solve their own problems, cure their own curses, and have Big Plot Events happen entirely offscreen.
Finally, I need to acknowledge that the chemistry between Hans and Cyrus (who spends a good amount of the book as a swan and/or out of Hans' life) was off the charts. I haven't quite found a good way of identifying why chemistry works or doesn't, but I think in this case it had a lot to do with Hallow manipulating the tone of the book. As a boy cursed-to-be-a-swan, Cyrus isn't exactly having flirty banter with Hans (though when it does happen, it flows wonderfully), but their time together is an idyllic step away from the horrors of what came before and after. This sort of tone swapping happens a lot in the book, though ironically the narrator character preparing you for these tonal shifts makes them all the more powerful. The love story became a central plot point in the second half of the book, but I wouldn't classify this story as a Romance in the classical sense, since so much of Hans' journey happens without Cyrus present.
What Didn't Work For Me
I don't want to say the ending didn't work for me, but I've been going back and forth on it in the 24 hours since I've finished the book. I won't say much for fear of spoiling things, but feel comfortable sharing that the book was left in a tidier place than the journey to get there felt like. I've dinged books in the past for this, but ultimately I think it fit with some of the themes developed in the book well.
If averse to second person narration or fourth wall breaking, this might not be the book for you. Try the free sample on amazon and see if the style is a good fit for you.
In Conclusion: An easy 5/5 stars, especially for folks who like Fairy Tale stories, or deeply emotional books without much action
Want more reviews like this? Try my blog, CosmicReads
January 23, 2025
One plot hole I noticed was that the magic binding Hansel not to speak did not restrict or manipulate his actions. He claims he killed the young innocent maidens for survival, I just don't get why he didn't run away earlier. As soon as he realized the queen was a witch, he should have ran the first chance he got. He claims he didn't have control but... he did? So he's just a murderer. A serial killer. "Just following orders" isn't a good enough excuse. He refused to kill Snow so clearly he could have refused to kill any of the others. This is one of my biggest gripes with the book.
S. M. Hallow's writing style, while not for me felt well crafted and easy to follow overall. There was only 1 noticeable typo that bugged me, so not bad ig. At some point (i don't remember where) the author used the word "you" where they should have used "to" twice, for the same sentence repeated. It's a grammatical error, not a creative choice as far as I am aware.
The story was compelling, fast paced, and kept me reading all the way through. This is the first book I've finished in over a year, so that says something good abt it for sure.
The focus on the theme of survival as a core motivator got a little stale after a while. Additionally, the narrator "character?" was confusing.
The fairytale elements were well implemented and felt somewhat natural though the lack of conclusions bothered me.
The romance element was INCREDIBLY lackluster. It's rare that after reading a novel with romance in it I dislike the main couple, but I seriously do. I don't care about the swan Prince at all and didn't find his struggle relatable. Maybe that says more about me than the quality of the story but wanting to be a bird? Choosing being a bird over everything else? Wow. And then changing your mind... it all felt very weird and I couldn't see where he was coming from nor sympathize. His brothers had the right idea; if someone cursed me to be a bird there is no way that after becoming human again I'd miss it, let alone miss it enough to want to go back. Let alone miss it enough to be like no, I can't be with you or love you because I want to have feathers and eat stuff from the lake and fly. And then there is the fact 90% of the book (or what felt like that) they weren't together and I didn't have time to believe that they realistically fell in love, nor did I see any chemistry between them.
As for the Huntsman... I liked the way his overall story went. Very creative. I found his struggle compelling, if a little underdeveloped but still relatable. I honestly felt like the set ups and pay offs weren't good enough. For example (one out of many), the ending. Spoiler alert for the end. Hansel returns to the witch's house. Gretal is there (or something?) and this is never explained or elaborated on. Hansel kills her without a second thought, leaves, and this is never explained. I want to know and (assuming there isn't going to be a sequel) that annoys me profusely. In my opinion not knowing doesn't add any depth to the story. It doesn't make me think. It just irritates me. Similarly, the way Hansel's family, Swan Boy and Hand Queen (I suck with names it's not personal) already know about what he did and are fine with it. How Swan Boy already understands, without Hasnel telling him, what he struggles with. Hansel not meeting Snow White again. I was really looking forward to that. Hansel not struggling with his mental health as much as I thought he would. Even the way he recovers feels very abrupt and sudden. What triggered the change?
Then there was the bestiality. No, Hansel never has sex (to my knowledge) with Swan boy when he's a swan. However, he fell in love with him as a swan and that's weird enough as it is. Not to mention, even when he's in swan form he refers to him as his husband. This made me uncomfortable.
Then the theme of free will vs fate throughout the book. I honestly don't know what this author was trying to say. Do we have free will, don't we? Hansel seems to discover he has free will but then tells a little girl "we can't change our fate" so whose to say. It all felt very vague and uncertain.
Anyway, overall neutral experience, 3.5 stars for keeping me somewhat entertained and for being of above average (especially for this genre) quality. Would not read again. I've been told time and time again I'm a harsh reviewer. People love things that I have a list of criticisms for, so take my word for it at your own risk. Who knows, you might love it.
S. M. Hallow's writing style, while not for me felt well crafted and easy to follow overall. There was only 1 noticeable typo that bugged me, so not bad ig. At some point (i don't remember where) the author used the word "you" where they should have used "to" twice, for the same sentence repeated. It's a grammatical error, not a creative choice as far as I am aware.
The story was compelling, fast paced, and kept me reading all the way through. This is the first book I've finished in over a year, so that says something good abt it for sure.
The focus on the theme of survival as a core motivator got a little stale after a while. Additionally, the narrator "character?" was confusing.
The fairytale elements were well implemented and felt somewhat natural though the lack of conclusions bothered me.
The romance element was INCREDIBLY lackluster. It's rare that after reading a novel with romance in it I dislike the main couple, but I seriously do. I don't care about the swan Prince at all and didn't find his struggle relatable. Maybe that says more about me than the quality of the story but wanting to be a bird? Choosing being a bird over everything else? Wow. And then changing your mind... it all felt very weird and I couldn't see where he was coming from nor sympathize. His brothers had the right idea; if someone cursed me to be a bird there is no way that after becoming human again I'd miss it, let alone miss it enough to want to go back. Let alone miss it enough to be like no, I can't be with you or love you because I want to have feathers and eat stuff from the lake and fly. And then there is the fact 90% of the book (or what felt like that) they weren't together and I didn't have time to believe that they realistically fell in love, nor did I see any chemistry between them.
As for the Huntsman... I liked the way his overall story went. Very creative. I found his struggle compelling, if a little underdeveloped but still relatable. I honestly felt like the set ups and pay offs weren't good enough. For example (one out of many), the ending. Spoiler alert for the end. Hansel returns to the witch's house. Gretal is there (or something?) and this is never explained or elaborated on. Hansel kills her without a second thought, leaves, and this is never explained. I want to know and (assuming there isn't going to be a sequel) that annoys me profusely. In my opinion not knowing doesn't add any depth to the story. It doesn't make me think. It just irritates me. Similarly, the way Hansel's family, Swan Boy and Hand Queen (I suck with names it's not personal) already know about what he did and are fine with it. How Swan Boy already understands, without Hasnel telling him, what he struggles with. Hansel not meeting Snow White again. I was really looking forward to that. Hansel not struggling with his mental health as much as I thought he would. Even the way he recovers feels very abrupt and sudden. What triggered the change?
Then there was the bestiality. No, Hansel never has sex (to my knowledge) with Swan boy when he's a swan. However, he fell in love with him as a swan and that's weird enough as it is. Not to mention, even when he's in swan form he refers to him as his husband. This made me uncomfortable.
Then the theme of free will vs fate throughout the book. I honestly don't know what this author was trying to say. Do we have free will, don't we? Hansel seems to discover he has free will but then tells a little girl "we can't change our fate" so whose to say. It all felt very vague and uncertain.
Anyway, overall neutral experience, 3.5 stars for keeping me somewhat entertained and for being of above average (especially for this genre) quality. Would not read again. I've been told time and time again I'm a harsh reviewer. People love things that I have a list of criticisms for, so take my word for it at your own risk. Who knows, you might love it.
January 16, 2025
S.M. Hallow’s How to Survive This Fairytale is a breathtakingly original and deeply moving reimagining of the fairy tale genre. Dark, clever, and profoundly introspective, this story takes the familiar elements of "Happily Ever After" and turns them into a poignant exploration of identity, agency, and resilience.
Hansel is an unforgettable protagonist—flawed, raw, and heartbreakingly human. His journey, marked by the loss of everything he once held dear and the cruel manipulation of a sinister narrator, is both heart-wrenching and empowering. Watching Hansel wrestle with his pain and push back against the forces trying to define his story is nothing short of inspiring.
The narrator, an omnipresent and malevolent force, adds a unique meta layer to the narrative, making the reader feel the weight of Hansel’s oppression. This interplay between character and storyteller is both chilling and brilliant, driving the plot forward with relentless tension.
Hallow’s writing is lush and evocative, bringing the dark, twisted fairy tale world to vivid life. The story seamlessly blends familiar elements of classic tales with fresh, inventive twists, creating a world that feels both nostalgic and entirely new.
What truly sets How to Survive This Fairytale apart is its emotional depth. Themes of loss, mental health, and self-determination are woven into the narrative with care and sensitivity, making Hansel’s fight to rewrite his destiny resonate on a deeply personal level.
This book is more than a dark fairy tale—it’s a profound exploration of what it means to forge your own path, even when the odds seem insurmountable. S.M. Hallow has crafted a masterpiece that will linger in your mind long after the final page. If you love dark, introspective retellings with rich characters and a touch of the unexpected, How to Survive This Fairytale is a must-read.
Hansel is an unforgettable protagonist—flawed, raw, and heartbreakingly human. His journey, marked by the loss of everything he once held dear and the cruel manipulation of a sinister narrator, is both heart-wrenching and empowering. Watching Hansel wrestle with his pain and push back against the forces trying to define his story is nothing short of inspiring.
The narrator, an omnipresent and malevolent force, adds a unique meta layer to the narrative, making the reader feel the weight of Hansel’s oppression. This interplay between character and storyteller is both chilling and brilliant, driving the plot forward with relentless tension.
Hallow’s writing is lush and evocative, bringing the dark, twisted fairy tale world to vivid life. The story seamlessly blends familiar elements of classic tales with fresh, inventive twists, creating a world that feels both nostalgic and entirely new.
What truly sets How to Survive This Fairytale apart is its emotional depth. Themes of loss, mental health, and self-determination are woven into the narrative with care and sensitivity, making Hansel’s fight to rewrite his destiny resonate on a deeply personal level.
This book is more than a dark fairy tale—it’s a profound exploration of what it means to forge your own path, even when the odds seem insurmountable. S.M. Hallow has crafted a masterpiece that will linger in your mind long after the final page. If you love dark, introspective retellings with rich characters and a touch of the unexpected, How to Survive This Fairytale is a must-read.
February 28, 2025
“That can’t be the way this story ends. Try again?”
Wow. This book will stay with me forever. I almost can’t describe it. It was a cross between a retelling of fairytales you grew up with and kind of a choose your own adventure, but not really. Written in second person POV, something rare to me in books and I absolutely LOVE it, it takes you on all these adventures while finding love in the process. You, the character, is so afraid to make the wrong choices you are stuck for years doing something you hate (the evil queen’s bidding in this case). I feel like so many of us can relate to this in our own work environment, our relationships we keep. We don’t live until it’s too late. This story also shows that it is okay to try again and keep trying. I think every adult that feels stuck needs to read this book.
A few quotes that stuck with me:
“Sometimes you are stuck in a story that isn’t even your own. Sometimes, if you don’t change the story you’re living in, it will kill you.”
“…the moment I realized I could change the story… Do the specifics matter? I found my way, and changed it.”
“So: how are you doing? The answer is: not great. But also, better than you thought. But also, very, very bad. And somehow still, wonderful, as in full of wonder, as in not ready to give up on what comes next. Maybe a better answer is: it depends on the day, the hour, the minute. Maybe a better answer is: how are you doing is the wrong question. But you’re not sure what a better question would be.”
Wow. This book will stay with me forever. I almost can’t describe it. It was a cross between a retelling of fairytales you grew up with and kind of a choose your own adventure, but not really. Written in second person POV, something rare to me in books and I absolutely LOVE it, it takes you on all these adventures while finding love in the process. You, the character, is so afraid to make the wrong choices you are stuck for years doing something you hate (the evil queen’s bidding in this case). I feel like so many of us can relate to this in our own work environment, our relationships we keep. We don’t live until it’s too late. This story also shows that it is okay to try again and keep trying. I think every adult that feels stuck needs to read this book.
A few quotes that stuck with me:
“Sometimes you are stuck in a story that isn’t even your own. Sometimes, if you don’t change the story you’re living in, it will kill you.”
“…the moment I realized I could change the story… Do the specifics matter? I found my way, and changed it.”
“So: how are you doing? The answer is: not great. But also, better than you thought. But also, very, very bad. And somehow still, wonderful, as in full of wonder, as in not ready to give up on what comes next. Maybe a better answer is: it depends on the day, the hour, the minute. Maybe a better answer is: how are you doing is the wrong question. But you’re not sure what a better question would be.”
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