What do you think?
Rate this book
Red as Blood and White as Bone
Red as Blood and White as Bone by Theodora Goss is a dark fantasy about a kitchen girl obsessed with fairy tales, who upon discovering a ragged woman outside the castle during a storm, takes her in--certain she’s a princess in disguise.
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2016
75 people are currently reading
4282 people want to read
About the author
Theodora Goss
133 books2,170 followersTheodora Goss was born in Hungary and spent her childhood in various European countries before her family moved to the United States, where she completed a PhD in English literature. She is the World Fantasy and Locus Award-winning author of the short story and poetry collections In the Forest of Forgetting (2006), Songs for Ophelia (2014), and Snow White Learns Witchcraft (2019), as well as novella The Thorn and the Blossom (2012), debut novel The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (2017), and sequels European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman (2018) and The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl (2019). She has been a finalist for the Nebula, Crawford, Seiun, and Mythopoeic Awards, as well as on the Tiptree Award Honor List. Her work has been translated into thirteen languages. She teaches literature and writing at Boston University and in the Stonecoast MFA Program.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
July 22, 2017
Goodreads recommended this short story to me while I was randomly browsing around, and all I can say is, “Thanks, Goodreads!”
Compelling, somewhat dark (but not too dark!) fairy-tale, interwoven with pre-, during-, and post WWII landscape.
The story transports us to the 1930s, in a made-up Eastern / Central European land, where we meet young Klara. A poor girl, raised by nun, she is allowed to read nothing but the Bible. And yet, she has a different kind of Bible:
Klara is obsessed with fairy-tales. Princesses in disguise, handsome princes, kisses and happy endings. Sadly, her life after the convent, as a second kitchen maid in a Baron’s castle, is far from a story. If anything, she is Cinderella, but no prince or a fairy godmother is coming for her.
When a mysterious woman shows up on the doorstep, she’s sure she has met a princess in disguise. Klara would never be a princess herself, but, surely, she could be the princess’s sidekick? Brush her hair, help her prepare for the ball, and all that.
Klara’s hopes and imagination and the world around her are beautifully described. Although I guessed pretty early on who/what the mysterious woman was and what she was about to do, it didn’t diminish the story in any way. While in a fairly contemporary setting, it has a strong fairy-tale-like feel, and young Klara’s narrative voice is a delight.
The reason I’m deducting a star is that the second part is way too rushed. I feel it should have either been a quick epilogue, or should have been developed much more. Right now, as something in between, it’s all a laundry list: this happened, and that happened, and I did this and that. No emotion and connection. Honestly, if the story had ended with the first part, I would have given it 5 stars. While I really liked some ideas and thematic connections between the first and second parts, I think if the author wanted to do it this way, she should have made it much longer. There was way too much happening and the themes were too big; it didn’t fit the short story format.
Overall, a really enjoyable story. I expected something darker from the summary, but I’m happy I was wrong!
“It was the first moment I chose courage over fear, and I have always made the same choice since.”
Compelling, somewhat dark (but not too dark!) fairy-tale, interwoven with pre-, during-, and post WWII landscape.
The story transports us to the 1930s, in a made-up Eastern / Central European land, where we meet young Klara. A poor girl, raised by nun, she is allowed to read nothing but the Bible. And yet, she has a different kind of Bible:
“Fairy tales are another kind of Bible, for those who know how to read them.”
Klara is obsessed with fairy-tales. Princesses in disguise, handsome princes, kisses and happy endings. Sadly, her life after the convent, as a second kitchen maid in a Baron’s castle, is far from a story. If anything, she is Cinderella, but no prince or a fairy godmother is coming for her.
When a mysterious woman shows up on the doorstep, she’s sure she has met a princess in disguise. Klara would never be a princess herself, but, surely, she could be the princess’s sidekick? Brush her hair, help her prepare for the ball, and all that.
Klara’s hopes and imagination and the world around her are beautifully described. Although I guessed pretty early on who/what the mysterious woman was and what she was about to do, it didn’t diminish the story in any way. While in a fairly contemporary setting, it has a strong fairy-tale-like feel, and young Klara’s narrative voice is a delight.
The reason I’m deducting a star is that the second part is way too rushed. I feel it should have either been a quick epilogue, or should have been developed much more. Right now, as something in between, it’s all a laundry list: this happened, and that happened, and I did this and that. No emotion and connection. Honestly, if the story had ended with the first part, I would have given it 5 stars. While I really liked some ideas and thematic connections between the first and second parts, I think if the author wanted to do it this way, she should have made it much longer. There was way too much happening and the themes were too big; it didn’t fit the short story format.
Overall, a really enjoyable story. I expected something darker from the summary, but I’m happy I was wrong!
November 14, 2022
و" تغلبت في داخلي الشجاعة على الخوف..و منذ ذلك الحين صارت الشجاعة هي خياري الدائم في الحياة "..هكذا فكرت كلارا ابنه الثانية عشر..و هكذا تغيرت حياة تلك اليتيمة السلافانية للأبد
كم مرة تمنينا انا و انت ان يكون هذا هو خيارنا الدائم نحن ايضا
كم مرة تمنيت و تمنيت و تمنيت.. لو انتهت حكاياتنا مثل :ال
Fairy tales
وانا افضل هنا المصطلح الانجليزي..لانه اكثر تعبيرا من الحكايات الخيالية.." أحمر كالدم و ابيض كالعظام"قصة مزجت الخيال باجواءالحرب..💣
تدور احداثها في وسط اوروبا منذ اواخر الثلاثينات لفتاة على أعتاب المراهقة ووسط الظلم و العمل الشاق تلتقي بمن سيغيرها للأبد✏
..جاءت في وقتها تماما...في وقت كدت اكفر فيه بجدوى الخيال..و ما يمنحه لنا من الهام
الجزء الأخير من القصة كان تطورا غير مألوف
كان ملىء بصفقات صعبة ولكن عادلة..فمنذ ان بكت بطلتنا لان ما فعلته اميرتها..جعل الحياة أكثر قبحا و فجاجة..تغيرت حياتها
تذكرت معها.. اوفيليا في :متاهة بان. .تذكرت طفولة هاري بوتر..و تخيلت ان هذه قصة من طفولة كاتبة في حجم جوان رولينج
اشكر الصديقة أمينة من قلبي على ترشيح الجميلhttps://db.tt/7iOndX9a واللينك
كم مرة تمنينا انا و انت ان يكون هذا هو خيارنا الدائم نحن ايضا
كم مرة تمنيت و تمنيت و تمنيت.. لو انتهت حكاياتنا مثل :ال
Fairy tales
وانا افضل هنا المصطلح الانجليزي..لانه اكثر تعبيرا من الحكايات الخيالية.." أحمر كالدم و ابيض كالعظام"قصة مزجت الخيال باجواءالحرب..💣
تدور احداثها في وسط اوروبا منذ اواخر الثلاثينات لفتاة على أعتاب المراهقة ووسط الظلم و العمل الشاق تلتقي بمن سيغيرها للأبد✏
..جاءت في وقتها تماما...في وقت كدت اكفر فيه بجدوى الخيال..و ما يمنحه لنا من الهام
الجزء الأخير من القصة كان تطورا غير مألوف
كان ملىء بصفقات صعبة ولكن عادلة..فمنذ ان بكت بطلتنا لان ما فعلته اميرتها..جعل الحياة أكثر قبحا و فجاجة..تغيرت حياتها
تذكرت معها.. اوفيليا في :متاهة بان. .تذكرت طفولة هاري بوتر..و تخيلت ان هذه قصة من طفولة كاتبة في حجم جوان رولينج
اشكر الصديقة أمينة من قلبي على ترشيح الجميلhttps://db.tt/7iOndX9a واللينك
August 18, 2018
I am a daughter of these mountains, and of the tales. Once, I wanted to be in the tales themselves. When I was young, I had my part in one—a small part, but important. When I grew older, I had my part in another kind of story. But now I want to become a teller of tales.
this story is everything that's right with the free tor shorts. i got hooked on these things a couple of years ago and i try to read one a week. i have only given five stars to 13 of them, and a couple of those are maybe four stars with wings, but this one earned its five stars, and if i could give it more, i would. it's the kind of story you want to hoard all to yourself for a while, rolling it around in your mouth like a jewel, but then you need to spit it out and crow about it from the highest mountaintop.
i am in phase two of this process now. commence crowing.
i love fairy tale retellings, especially ones that take all the grim, dark beauty of their source material and attach it to real-world situations, giving them a new life and a deeper resonance for a modern reader. this one, while not a retelling per se, has all the earmarks of a traditional fairy tale, while also being cheekily meta enough to address its place in the canon.
I am an orphan. I was born among these mountains, to a woodcutter and his wife. My mother died in childbirth, and my infant sister died with her. My father felt that he could not keep me, so he sent me to the sisters of St. Margarete, who had a convent farther down the mountain on which we lived, the Karhegy. I was raised by the sisters on brown bread, water, and prayer.
This is a good way to start a fairy tale, is it not?
an orphan girl, with humble origins, raised in a cloistered environment to become a servant in the household of a baron - klara is a perpetual outsider, one whose place is to serve, but also to observe. she had been taught to read by the nuns, and her most valued possession is a book of fairy tales given to her by a man who had once lived in the guesthouse at her convent, telling her, “You remind me of a princess in disguise, Klara, here among your goats.” in these tales, she recognized her own life reflected back at her in the core of these stories, beneath their magical window-dressings, and she longs for the happy ending, or at least the adventure that fairy tales promise to girls like her.
I knew about girls who scrubbed floors and grew sooty sleeping near the hearth, and fish who gave you wishes (although I had never been given one), and was not Greta, our cook, an ogress? I’m sure she was. I regarded fairy tales as infallible guides to life, so I did not complain at the hard work I was given, because perhaps someday I would meet an old woman in the forest, and she would tell me that I was a princess in disguise. Perhaps.
klara may never get to be a princess, but she definitely gets her adventure.
the writing is absolutely dazzling - it's clear and vivid, but there's something of the old-world to it, in its vocabulary and syntax, that gives it the feel of a traditional fairy tale. it's so hard to come up with something 'new' in the fairy tale genre - there are so many cultures, so many mythologies, how do you even locate new territory? and yet here - this offers something completely new in the fairy tale part of the story that then even more ambitiously shades into a completely unexpected real-world coda that THEN loops back to the fairy tale realm in its last line, where it invokes an existing mythological being i did not expect to encounter here, but makes perfect sense.
I had no stories to explain what had happened.
and i have no words to explain how good this is.
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
review to come, but spoiler alert - it is a perfect story.
come to my blog!
this story is everything that's right with the free tor shorts. i got hooked on these things a couple of years ago and i try to read one a week. i have only given five stars to 13 of them, and a couple of those are maybe four stars with wings, but this one earned its five stars, and if i could give it more, i would. it's the kind of story you want to hoard all to yourself for a while, rolling it around in your mouth like a jewel, but then you need to spit it out and crow about it from the highest mountaintop.
i am in phase two of this process now. commence crowing.
i love fairy tale retellings, especially ones that take all the grim, dark beauty of their source material and attach it to real-world situations, giving them a new life and a deeper resonance for a modern reader. this one, while not a retelling per se, has all the earmarks of a traditional fairy tale, while also being cheekily meta enough to address its place in the canon.
I am an orphan. I was born among these mountains, to a woodcutter and his wife. My mother died in childbirth, and my infant sister died with her. My father felt that he could not keep me, so he sent me to the sisters of St. Margarete, who had a convent farther down the mountain on which we lived, the Karhegy. I was raised by the sisters on brown bread, water, and prayer.
This is a good way to start a fairy tale, is it not?
an orphan girl, with humble origins, raised in a cloistered environment to become a servant in the household of a baron - klara is a perpetual outsider, one whose place is to serve, but also to observe. she had been taught to read by the nuns, and her most valued possession is a book of fairy tales given to her by a man who had once lived in the guesthouse at her convent, telling her, “You remind me of a princess in disguise, Klara, here among your goats.” in these tales, she recognized her own life reflected back at her in the core of these stories, beneath their magical window-dressings, and she longs for the happy ending, or at least the adventure that fairy tales promise to girls like her.
I knew about girls who scrubbed floors and grew sooty sleeping near the hearth, and fish who gave you wishes (although I had never been given one), and was not Greta, our cook, an ogress? I’m sure she was. I regarded fairy tales as infallible guides to life, so I did not complain at the hard work I was given, because perhaps someday I would meet an old woman in the forest, and she would tell me that I was a princess in disguise. Perhaps.
klara may never get to be a princess, but she definitely gets her adventure.
the writing is absolutely dazzling - it's clear and vivid, but there's something of the old-world to it, in its vocabulary and syntax, that gives it the feel of a traditional fairy tale. it's so hard to come up with something 'new' in the fairy tale genre - there are so many cultures, so many mythologies, how do you even locate new territory? and yet here - this offers something completely new in the fairy tale part of the story that then even more ambitiously shades into a completely unexpected real-world coda that THEN loops back to the fairy tale realm in its last line, where it invokes an existing mythological being i did not expect to encounter here, but makes perfect sense.
I had no stories to explain what had happened.
and i have no words to explain how good this is.
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
review to come, but spoiler alert - it is a perfect story.
come to my blog!
March 16, 2020
4.5 stars. A really wonderful dark fairy tale-type of fantasy story, free online here at Tor.com. Review first posted at Fantasy Literature:
Klara, the daughter of a woodcutter, now a kitchen maid at a wealthy baron’s castle, deeply loves fairy tales, which are the only outlet for her imagination. Perhaps she is a princess in disguise, or at least can help one someday. So one day when a mysterious, lovely ― and naked ― woman collapses in the outside doorway to the kitchen, Klara brings her into the castle, shows her around and helps her to prepare for the next night’s ball in honor of the engagement of the baron’s son, convinced that she’s secretly a princess come to dance with the visiting Prince Radomir and win his heart.
Theodora Goss does an admirable job in preserving the feel of classic fairy tales in this story, despite the fact that it is an original plot, though it contains many echoes of other tales. It’s easy, at first, to gloss over the fact that this is set in relatively modern times, in the years leading up to WWII. In the aftermath of the main events in this story, Klara becomes part of the Resistance of the Nazi occupation of her eastern European country. Though it seems at first an odd dénouement to the story, there are themes that tie it in to the rest of the tale.
Klara, the daughter of a woodcutter, now a kitchen maid at a wealthy baron’s castle, deeply loves fairy tales, which are the only outlet for her imagination. Perhaps she is a princess in disguise, or at least can help one someday. So one day when a mysterious, lovely ― and naked ― woman collapses in the outside doorway to the kitchen, Klara brings her into the castle, shows her around and helps her to prepare for the next night’s ball in honor of the engagement of the baron’s son, convinced that she’s secretly a princess come to dance with the visiting Prince Radomir and win his heart.
Theodora Goss does an admirable job in preserving the feel of classic fairy tales in this story, despite the fact that it is an original plot, though it contains many echoes of other tales. It’s easy, at first, to gloss over the fact that this is set in relatively modern times, in the years leading up to WWII. In the aftermath of the main events in this story, Klara becomes part of the Resistance of the Nazi occupation of her eastern European country. Though it seems at first an odd dénouement to the story, there are themes that tie it in to the rest of the tale.
“Stories are everywhere, and everyone tells them. But our stories may be different from yours. About the Old Woman of the Forest, who grants your heart’s desire if you ask her right, and the Fair Ladies who live in trees, and the White Stag, who can lead you astray or lead you home . . .”I highly recommend this short story for readers who like fairy tales with a few twists.
October 21, 2016
This was a lovely story! OMG! Okay, honestly I wasn't happy with the situation but it all came out in the end sort of . . .
Klara was given to the sister of St. Margarete when she was young. Her mother had died and her father didn't know what to do with a newborn baby. One day when she was a little older a man told her about fairy tales and gave her a book. From then on she loved fairy tales.
When she was 12 she was sent to train as a servant to Baron Orso Kalman. Klara didn't have it too good there in my opinion but those were the days. One night Klara found a woman on the doorstep. She was naked and had long beautiful black hair that covered her like a cloak. Klara just knew that she was a princess and wanted to help her. Klara's princess worked with her in the kitchens for a while until they had a big ball. Then things take a turn (for the better if you ask me). I can't tell you what happens but it was awesome.
I was sad at what happened near the end.
Later on Klara left and went on to do other things, but she never forgot her fairy tales.
You can read a copy of this short story on Tor.com. Here's a link:
FREE STORY
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Klara was given to the sister of St. Margarete when she was young. Her mother had died and her father didn't know what to do with a newborn baby. One day when she was a little older a man told her about fairy tales and gave her a book. From then on she loved fairy tales.
When she was 12 she was sent to train as a servant to Baron Orso Kalman. Klara didn't have it too good there in my opinion but those were the days. One night Klara found a woman on the doorstep. She was naked and had long beautiful black hair that covered her like a cloak. Klara just knew that she was a princess and wanted to help her. Klara's princess worked with her in the kitchens for a while until they had a big ball. Then things take a turn (for the better if you ask me). I can't tell you what happens but it was awesome.
I was sad at what happened near the end.
Later on Klara left and went on to do other things, but she never forgot her fairy tales.
You can read a copy of this short story on Tor.com. Here's a link:
FREE STORY
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
February 7, 2017
I love fairy tales with teeth. This one, despite being a quick read, definitely has some.
Klara, the MC, is an orphan. She's sent to a convent as a child and then to serve in a noble household when she's a young girl. A passing poet gifts her a book of fairy tales, and from that moment onward they become her way to escape the drudgery of her life.
She reads them so often that they become real to her. So, when one day a beautiful young woman in need of help comes quite literally crashing into her, Klara becomes convinced that she's a princess in disguise and is there to meet and fall in love with the prince.
Well, she's something in disguise. And she does want to "meet" the prince.
Anyone in need of a quick fairy tale fix should pick this one up. It's well written, free (at tor.com), and comes with a bite.
This review can also be found at The Alliterates.
March 17, 2017
One of my Hugo Award nominees, novelette, 2016.
____
Available for free, here: http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
I love Theodora Goss, and this story does not disappoint...
Although the story's set at the lead-up to a World War, the life of an orphaned peasant girl in Eastern Europe doesn't differ much from how girls lived - or endured - in medieval fairy tales. Sent as a charity case from a convent to servitude at a Baron's manor, Klara is frightfully unaware of the larger world outside her circumscribed quotidian existence. But a book of fairy tales given to her by a travelling poet has given her dreams. Therefore, when a stranger arrives, naked and desperate, at the kitchen door, Klara assumes a fantastic tale of royalty in hiding.
However, as bloody consequences spin themselves out, Klara's fancies might not be as far-fetched as one might guess. Ancient folklore and modern politics mesh beautifully in a tale that is both sad and magical.
____
Available for free, here: http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
I love Theodora Goss, and this story does not disappoint...
Although the story's set at the lead-up to a World War, the life of an orphaned peasant girl in Eastern Europe doesn't differ much from how girls lived - or endured - in medieval fairy tales. Sent as a charity case from a convent to servitude at a Baron's manor, Klara is frightfully unaware of the larger world outside her circumscribed quotidian existence. But a book of fairy tales given to her by a travelling poet has given her dreams. Therefore, when a stranger arrives, naked and desperate, at the kitchen door, Klara assumes a fantastic tale of royalty in hiding.
However, as bloody consequences spin themselves out, Klara's fancies might not be as far-fetched as one might guess. Ancient folklore and modern politics mesh beautifully in a tale that is both sad and magical.
May 5, 2016
I read Red as Blood and White as Bone on a whim, and I'm very much glad I did. It is everything a short story should be: interesting, thought provoking, captivating, and above all emotionally engaging.
This was the story of Klara, a young kitchen girl, who finds a bedraggled women outside in the midst of a storm. Klara's obsession with fairytales leads her to only one conclusion: the women must be a princess in disguise! Klara is convinced this is her part to play a small role in the princess's story so she decides to help her.
The story was part fairytale, part magical realism, but all dark fantasy. It had a perfect mix of reality and fantasy. In that regard it reminded me of the awesome Pan's Labyrinth movie.
The story was not without its flaws, it never finished quite as strong as it started, but all in all I really loved reading this one!
Rating: 5 stars.
This was the story of Klara, a young kitchen girl, who finds a bedraggled women outside in the midst of a storm. Klara's obsession with fairytales leads her to only one conclusion: the women must be a princess in disguise! Klara is convinced this is her part to play a small role in the princess's story so she decides to help her.
The story was part fairytale, part magical realism, but all dark fantasy. It had a perfect mix of reality and fantasy. In that regard it reminded me of the awesome Pan's Labyrinth movie.
The story was not without its flaws, it never finished quite as strong as it started, but all in all I really loved reading this one!
Rating: 5 stars.
May 10, 2016
Shoehorning as many themes as possible does not a great short story make. Also too many logicfail moments.
October 18, 2016
I guess I’m obsessed with fairy tales :D This story has some roots to older tales and I enjoyed guessing, comparing and evaluating. The main heroine begins her life as a Cinderella
I held up a discarded shaving glass I had found one morning on the trash heap at the bottom of the garden. I used it sometimes to search my face for any signs of beauty, but I had found none yet.
but with no prince as princes have no real importance to her (in fact a princess-in-hiding is more needed to her) and she gets her princess for sure. Then I think I found some similarities to The Little Mermaid as the princess-in-hiding seems so weird and magical in human world, more over she sacrificed all she had to an old witch-grandmother to grant her wish, to become and sacrifices but not for a prince (in fact she sacrifices ) for the second strongest feeling after love - revenge. So far so good. And then reality stuck, and it was like
And I wasn’t prepared for reality to strike, not so fast. I almost said: Hey, go back to your cave and don’t attack good people!
Anyway it wasn’t SOOOOOOO bad, but I felt like something is out of place and then, then the ending came. It left an intrigue and well, I wasn’t prepared for the story to end either :D
What can I say, I’m not old enough for reality :D
I held up a discarded shaving glass I had found one morning on the trash heap at the bottom of the garden. I used it sometimes to search my face for any signs of beauty, but I had found none yet.
but with no prince as princes have no real importance to her (in fact a princess-in-hiding is more needed to her) and she gets her princess for sure. Then I think I found some similarities to The Little Mermaid as the princess-in-hiding seems so weird and magical in human world, more over she sacrificed all she had to an old witch-grandmother to grant her wish, to become and sacrifices but not for a prince (in fact she sacrifices ) for the second strongest feeling after love - revenge. So far so good. And then reality stuck, and it was like
And I wasn’t prepared for reality to strike, not so fast. I almost said: Hey, go back to your cave and don’t attack good people!
Anyway it wasn’t SOOOOOOO bad, but I felt like something is out of place and then, then the ending came. It left an intrigue and well, I wasn’t prepared for the story to end either :D
What can I say, I’m not old enough for reality :D
May 7, 2016
Glorious, glorious, glorious.
A boatload of thank you's to Karen the Queen of Tor shorts for this wondrous recommendation. It was absolutely perfect, I can't stress enough.
A boatload of thank you's to Karen the Queen of Tor shorts for this wondrous recommendation. It was absolutely perfect, I can't stress enough.
February 25, 2018
Klara grew up in an abbey, raised by nuns, with a secret love of fairy tales nurtured by a gift from a man while herding goats. When she is old enough to make her own way in life she joins the household of a baron, poised on the edge of marrying his son to a general's daughter. Until one day, after many days of rain, there's a knock at the kitchen door...
I really enjoyed this. It has a flavour of several different genre types, historical, fantasy and magical realism which I really enjoyed. Its wonderfully well written, and as with most of these short stories I've read from tor.com, too short for my liking.
The only thing I will say is that I was unsure of time period throughout. It reads like historical fiction, with talk of servants and castles, yet also mentions cigarettes and aeroplanes. I have a feeling, based on the near ending, that it may be 1940s... but I'm still unsure. It mentions Germany and resistance fighting, but this may not even be our world and our history. I think this is intentional however, as it makes it difficult to pinpoint where or when this story occurs, like s lot of classic fairy tales.
Great stuff.
I really enjoyed this. It has a flavour of several different genre types, historical, fantasy and magical realism which I really enjoyed. Its wonderfully well written, and as with most of these short stories I've read from tor.com, too short for my liking.
The only thing I will say is that I was unsure of time period throughout. It reads like historical fiction, with talk of servants and castles, yet also mentions cigarettes and aeroplanes. I have a feeling, based on the near ending, that it may be 1940s... but I'm still unsure. It mentions Germany and resistance fighting, but this may not even be our world and our history. I think this is intentional however, as it makes it difficult to pinpoint where or when this story occurs, like s lot of classic fairy tales.
Great stuff.
July 26, 2022
Stories are everywhere, and everyone tells them.
Klara loves fairytales and she works at the Baron's household as a kitchen maid. When a mysterious but beautiful woman with long black hair and skin as white as porcelain comes knocking on the kitchen door, Klara opens it to let her in. Klara believes that the mysterious woman is a lost princess and she has come to attend the ball that is to be held in a few days' time. Now, Klara has to make sure that the lost princess does attend the ball and dances with the prince as it happens in all the fairytales and finds her happily ever after.
This was a dark and mysterious tale that reads like a fairytale but it also reads like a spy thriller as it is set in the time of WWII. I loved the world-building and the writing is utterly captivating. Klara's child-like fairytale-obsessed POV works really well in narrating the story. The second half was rushed a little but other than that this was a lovely read.
4 stars
Klara loves fairytales and she works at the Baron's household as a kitchen maid. When a mysterious but beautiful woman with long black hair and skin as white as porcelain comes knocking on the kitchen door, Klara opens it to let her in. Klara believes that the mysterious woman is a lost princess and she has come to attend the ball that is to be held in a few days' time. Now, Klara has to make sure that the lost princess does attend the ball and dances with the prince as it happens in all the fairytales and finds her happily ever after.
This was a dark and mysterious tale that reads like a fairytale but it also reads like a spy thriller as it is set in the time of WWII. I loved the world-building and the writing is utterly captivating. Klara's child-like fairytale-obsessed POV works really well in narrating the story. The second half was rushed a little but other than that this was a lovely read.
4 stars
May 8, 2016
This is an excellent short story set predominantly before WWII. It is a tale of magical realism in which the protagonist, Klara, works as a lowly kitchen maid for a minor nobleman in Eastern Europe. Klara's only literary influences are the Bible and a book of fairy tales. It is the latter which influences her the most, and it is to the stories in this book that she looks for guidance in her own life. She is waiting for that moment that she is confident will come--that moment when the fairy tale she is destined to be a part of will begin. It happens when a beautiful, mysterious young woman, apparently destitute, appears at the kitchen door. Here is the princess in disguise that Klara has been waiting for!
The prose is simple but engaging, and the story moves along at a brisk clip. In fact, the end would have benefitted from a slower pace--there is quite a lot of information flung at you in a rushed manner. The ending is weakened by the pacing, but still ties up nicely with the overall thread of the story. A very enjoyable quick read!
The prose is simple but engaging, and the story moves along at a brisk clip. In fact, the end would have benefitted from a slower pace--there is quite a lot of information flung at you in a rushed manner. The ending is weakened by the pacing, but still ties up nicely with the overall thread of the story. A very enjoyable quick read!
May 16, 2016
Another wonderful (and, again, free) short story on tor.com with a wonderfully beautiful cover.
In this story, we follow Klara, a young girl (daughter of a woodcutter) who works in the castle of an Eastern European baron. As anyone who likes fairytales can immediately tell, this is a story about a girl's dream to be the protagonist of a fairytale coming true. Unique is that this story is set in the pre-WWII era.
What is remarkable about this story is that although the writing style is relatively simple, it is thrilling and endearing and with this writing style the author manages to fantastically evoke the feel of all the classic fairytales. That combined with the ending that ties back to the relatively modern setting (that I had almost forgotten throughout) was very well done.
In this story, we follow Klara, a young girl (daughter of a woodcutter) who works in the castle of an Eastern European baron. As anyone who likes fairytales can immediately tell, this is a story about a girl's dream to be the protagonist of a fairytale coming true. Unique is that this story is set in the pre-WWII era.
What is remarkable about this story is that although the writing style is relatively simple, it is thrilling and endearing and with this writing style the author manages to fantastically evoke the feel of all the classic fairytales. That combined with the ending that ties back to the relatively modern setting (that I had almost forgotten throughout) was very well done.
September 19, 2016
Free at http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
What a magical little tale! I did not expect it to dig that deep.
Is it a fairytale or magical realism, perhaps paranormal or historical fiction? Mmm... that's a good question. :)
I'd rather you judge it for yourself.
Lovely writing.
What a magical little tale! I did not expect it to dig that deep.
Is it a fairytale or magical realism, perhaps paranormal or historical fiction? Mmm... that's a good question. :)
I'd rather you judge it for yourself.
Lovely writing.
December 1, 2023
3/5
I love bad bitches who kill men in revenge.
I love bad bitches who kill men in revenge.
July 29, 2016
“I am a daughter of these mountains, and of the tales. Once, I wanted to be in the tales themselves. When I was young, I had my part in one—a small part, but important. When I grew older, I had my part in another kind of story. But now I want to become a teller of tales. So I will sit here, in your hut on goose legs, which sways a bit like a boat on the water. Tell me your stories, Grandmother. I am listening...”
Marvelous!! Beautifully written, dark tragic fairy tale!
It's sort of two stories put together. Really stunning!
August 24, 2022
Red as Blood and White as Bone by Theodora Goss is a dark fantasy about a kitchen girl obsessed with fairy tales, who upon discovering a ragged woman outside the castle during a storm, takes her in--certain she’s a princess in disguise.
A dark fairy tale set during the beginning of WWII, cleverly interweaving the fantasy dreams of a naive kitchen worker named Klara, the double-sided nature of a princess with a deadly secret and a lead up into the actual events WWII. It reminded me a little bit of Pan's Labyrinth; a naive orphan girl obsessed with fairy tales learning about the cruelty of war, the world, the selfishness of adults and slowly learning how to rebel against them after observing the brave yet tragic actions of those close to her. Just as Klara said, fairy tales are bibles for those that know how to read them. They reflect the darkness of the real world and teach you how to fight against it.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, fantasy, sci-fi and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
A dark fairy tale set during the beginning of WWII, cleverly interweaving the fantasy dreams of a naive kitchen worker named Klara, the double-sided nature of a princess with a deadly secret and a lead up into the actual events WWII. It reminded me a little bit of Pan's Labyrinth; a naive orphan girl obsessed with fairy tales learning about the cruelty of war, the world, the selfishness of adults and slowly learning how to rebel against them after observing the brave yet tragic actions of those close to her. Just as Klara said, fairy tales are bibles for those that know how to read them. They reflect the darkness of the real world and teach you how to fight against it.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, fantasy, sci-fi and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
April 20, 2020
”Fairy tales are another kind of Bible, for those who know how to read them.”
Gorgeous. Even though the second part of the story does seem a bit rushed and not fleshed out enough, the first part is mesmerizing and just beautiful. The writing is extremely good and Goss created a very interesting, almost magical atmosphere.
You can read it here.
March 9, 2020
What I liked about this short story was the main narrator and the way the writer made it feel like I was reading a fairy tale. The first part was pretty great as well, though it was easy to guess what was going on. The second part was a bit rushed and not as good as the first one.
May 21, 2016
"I am a daughter of these mountains, and of the tales. Once, I wanted to be in the tales themselves. When I was young, I had my part in one—a small part, but important. When I grew older, I had my part in another kind of story. But now I want to become a teller of tales. So I will sit here, in your hut on goose legs, which sways a bit like a boat on the water. Tell me your stories, Grandmother. I am listening . . ."
Brilliant!
This is the story of Klara, the daughter of a woodcutter who was sent to a convent after her mother died and then to a wealthy baron's house to train as a servent, while she was in the convent, she met a guest who gave her a fairy tales book that soon became another kind of bible and an infallible guide to life..
On a rainy day, a young woman covered only with her long hair knocked kitche's door and collapsed as soon as it was opened. Klara, who thought the young lady was a princess in disguise and came for the bal, took care of her, not knowing what's to come...
Brilliant!
This is the story of Klara, the daughter of a woodcutter who was sent to a convent after her mother died and then to a wealthy baron's house to train as a servent, while she was in the convent, she met a guest who gave her a fairy tales book that soon became another kind of bible and an infallible guide to life..
On a rainy day, a young woman covered only with her long hair knocked kitche's door and collapsed as soon as it was opened. Klara, who thought the young lady was a princess in disguise and came for the bal, took care of her, not knowing what's to come...
May 19, 2016
This was an amazing story! I adore fairy tales, and this one was perfect! I thought it was interesting that the author chose to set the story during the time before WWII.
Read it for free at Tor's website: Red as Blood and White as Bone
Read it for free at Tor's website: Red as Blood and White as Bone
March 12, 2021
What a rare thing: a fairy-tale set in an invented Eastern European country during the Second World War, and a work of pure creative fabulism and literary beauty. Just a short novelette, but it moved me so much. It's a little dark and melancholy, but so gorgeous.
May 24, 2016
Beautiful unexpected things happen . When you need something so much , you get it in the end. when you want something to happen , it must happen some day.
These are the fixed rules of fairy tales all fairy tales , aren't they ?!
That's why we love fairy tales ..
That's why fairy tales were created in the first place . And that's why we human beings must maintain them , so that we simply continue to believe that our dreams- even those which seem incredibly difficult -would come true one day - even in a world that no longer believes in dreams and fairy tales ! - ..
That's what this very short fairy tale wants to say ..
Karla the kitchen second maid who is fond of fairy tales became a part herself of a beautiful sad fairy tale when she was a child because she wanted to , then lived her own special fairy tale that was full of wisdom , meaning and goal because she deserved it ..
Enjoyed the reading so much , it was simply beautiful ..
These are the fixed rules of fairy tales all fairy tales , aren't they ?!
That's why we love fairy tales ..
That's why fairy tales were created in the first place . And that's why we human beings must maintain them , so that we simply continue to believe that our dreams- even those which seem incredibly difficult -would come true one day - even in a world that no longer believes in dreams and fairy tales ! - ..
That's what this very short fairy tale wants to say ..
Karla the kitchen second maid who is fond of fairy tales became a part herself of a beautiful sad fairy tale when she was a child because she wanted to , then lived her own special fairy tale that was full of wisdom , meaning and goal because she deserved it ..
Enjoyed the reading so much , it was simply beautiful ..
April 24, 2017
I am an orphan. I was born among these mountains, to a woodcutter and his wife. My mother died in childbirth, and my infant sister died with her. My father felt that he could not keep me, so he sent me to the sisters of St. Margarete, who had a convent farther down the mountain on which we lived, the Karhegy. I was raised by the sisters on brown bread, water, and prayer.
This is a good way to start a fairy tale, is it not?
I'm partial to beautiful names. I'm partial to beautiful cover art. And I'm particularly partial to beautiful stories. This one hit all three perfectly. Kudos, Ms. Goss!
And thank you, Diana Green, for reading and reviewing this story! I love discovering new authors and works.
This is a good way to start a fairy tale, is it not?
I'm partial to beautiful names. I'm partial to beautiful cover art. And I'm particularly partial to beautiful stories. This one hit all three perfectly. Kudos, Ms. Goss!
And thank you, Diana Green, for reading and reviewing this story! I love discovering new authors and works.
August 23, 2017
I am an orphan. I was born among these mountains, to a woodcutter and his wife. My mother died in childbirth, and my infant sister died with her. My father felt that he could not keep me, so he sent me to the sisters of St. Margarete, who had a convent farther down the mountain on which we lived, the Karhegy. I was raised by the sisters on brown bread, water, and prayer.
This is a good way to start a fairy tale, is it not?
This is a good way to start a fairy tale, is it not?
May 7, 2016
For such a revenge, you must give up everything...
A gorgeous fairy tale--and set during WWII, which is unusual. I wish my library would carry some of Goss' ebooks! She's always great.
A Tor short; read it here: http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
A gorgeous fairy tale--and set during WWII, which is unusual. I wish my library would carry some of Goss' ebooks! She's always great.
A Tor short; read it here: http://www.tor.com/2016/05/04/red-as-...
March 23, 2017
Three stories in one: First one is a predictable fairy tale of the sort "grant my wish, old lady of the woods" set in some Eastern country (somewhere around Hungary or Bulgaria, but not entirely clear) just before WWII. Second one is a rushed biography of nazi resistance. Last one is overcoming totalitaristic communism after WWII where the main protagonist Karla understands the true value of stories. Moral punchline is about courage and belief.
Overall far too long, unevenly distributed tension arc, the epilogue went on and on. On the other hand, the story was told as beautifully and calm as the illustration. The story just lost me after the boring first part.
Overall far too long, unevenly distributed tension arc, the epilogue went on and on. On the other hand, the story was told as beautifully and calm as the illustration. The story just lost me after the boring first part.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews