Found: A fairytale short story collection

by Claris Lam

Found contains eight short stories bringing a twist to retelling fairytales from different points of view, such as the witch that kept Rapunzel in a tower, the titular Juniper Tree, and the hunter that refused to kill Snow White.

Fans of Grimm fairytales and their retellings will find themselves entertained with new perspectives on classic stories.

75 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2026

About the author

I'm a Chinese-Canadian multigenre author and poet writing to inspire readers with hope, perseverance, creativity, and happy endings!

All website, newsletter & social links can be found at https://clarislam.carrd.co/

Reviews

[Sin]

I received a free ARC copy in return for an honest review.

This is a wonderful collection of immersive fairy tales told from different points of view. This was the most interesting part of the stories. Each tale was neatly laid out by a character often left out or glossed over in Disney films and in stories by the Brothers Grimm.

Each story is refreshing, and shows a different side of themselves. My favourites were Rested, Bewitched, and Hunted. The second person POV throughout was immersive. I felt like I was living my way through the collection, one tale at a time. The titles were clever, and not immediately clear which fairy tale they were. That became obvious after reading them. Humour is woven in. The lessons are sometimes different from the originals, pointing out other aspects of the story for your consideration.

This is a collection well worth your time. Sometimes the heroes are villains, and the villains forgiven. The trees act as guardians for children in need. A father searches endlessly for his children, lost in the woods. I won't tell you how it ends. You'll have to read and find out.

[Nino Todua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC copy of FOUND in exchange for an honest review and I’m happy to share my review of it. First of all, it was amazing to see the perspectives of stories that we have all heard and known. The bridge between what we knew and what could happen creates a space for imagination where the author pushes the reader to participate in the retelling of new stories. The FOUND tales act as parallel dimensions that give you the courage and interest to trust and follow the author, who wants to show other perspectives and other dynamics of storytelling. These stories give you as a reader the feeling that you are a co-author, creating alternative fairytale fictions where you found a lot of fun and joy in reading these stories. I would recommend it to everybody who loves fiction and the Brothers Grimm.

[Grace R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC copy of "Found" in exchange for sharing a review. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and the uniqueness of its entirely second-person perspective, giving a voice to classic Brothers Grimm characters that have previously not had their thoughts and motivations explored. It also introduced me to some lesser-known stories, namely "The Juniper Tree". Despite the sometimes dark and gritty contexts of the original fairytales, "Found" allows for characters to find their happy endings and hold onto hope. Overall, the collection is filled with vivid, immersive imagery while still being an easy read. I would recommend for anyone seeking a middle ground between the original fairytales and contemporary sanitized retellings.

[Hiyab99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC copy of this collection of fantasy short stories for young adults and was given an opportunity to share my honest review to readers prior to publication. Having spent my own youth immersed in this genre, I was excited to experience familiar stories retold from a different perspective. Lam managed to take fairytale stories that I had heard many times before and create a nuanced reading experience, turning childhood tales into more complex ones that matured with the reader. This is a great introduction to the world of Young Adult and Adult fantasy books for growing readers.

[Lutherin Taralom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, captivating look at the "villain's" side

I finished this collection in a single sitting! It’s a must-read if you love dark fairy tales. Seeing the stories through the eyes of the villains offered a great perspective, and I even discovered a few new tales I’d never heard of before. I only wish it lasted longer!

I received an ARC copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CC Lurae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of retold fairytales was a very interesting and compelling read, and I enjoyed learning about each story from very particular character's POV! I would have liked the stories to be a bit more consistent in length-some seemed to drag on a little while others I wanted more of-but overall I think it's well worth picking up this book for anyone who enjoys fairytales.

I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for writing an honest review.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun take on some classic stories, and I appreciated the unique perspective in the retellings. For anyone who finds that stories are sort of predictable, or that fantasy is all the same, I think this is a neat collection that challenges how we typically look at a story and plotline and characters.