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Once Upon a Time, A Bit Earlier

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Over the years and through the centuries there have been hundreds of retellings and adaptations of fairy tales. There are multiple versions of the same tale, some recorded by the same author or authors. Why are there so many versions, with similarities and disparities?

In "Once Upon a Time, A Bit Earlier" the Evil Queen's Magic Mirror sets a plan in motion that disrupts the natural order of the fairy tales as we know them. Through manipulation of time and magic, the stories as we know them shift and change. In "Once Upon a Time, A Bit Earlier" readers journey alongside our heroines and heroes as they seek to overcome his plot, and along the way, perhaps find answers to the greatest mysteries in all of fairy tales: Why do these sorceresses so desperately want these little girls dead? What is the ultimate destiny of these princesses?

Can evil truly be overcome once and for all?

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2016

3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read

About the author

Erik Peterson

8 books12 followers

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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Lauren Connor.
146 reviews
June 18, 2025
I loved this! What a great read, for younger and older readers alike. Favorite fairytales and fairytale characters come together for a read that is short, yet magical and memorable. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this. What a treat!
Profile Image for Larry Gladwell.
4 reviews
December 2, 2016
Very fun book. I would recommend it to readers of all ages. This would be a fun book to read to your kids, or to your students. I just wish it would have been longer, I wanted to keep reading.
Profile Image for Peggy.
Author 6 books140 followers
January 8, 2017
A clever mash-up of a lot of different fairy tales, all contributing to the same plot. So fun!
Profile Image for Amy Nichols Uber.
1 review1 follower
January 6, 2017
I just finished reading this charming book and LOVED it! I'm 35 so it was a quick read but I have to say that this is definitely a book for all ages and one that you will enjoy reading over and over again. It provided such a refreshingly genuine twist on these stories that I did not guess the ending at all! I'm pretty good at predicting outcomes so to be surprised at the ending was such an enjoyable surprise! Also, each story is so engaging that it's a page turner.

I enjoyed that the stories are each short and link to each other so you have the option to read one short story to your kids each night or you could read the whole group of linking stories in 2-3 hours.

My favorite theme of the book was the wonderfully written image of these strong women characters doing great things together. I feel it's an important message to give to our daughters and I appreciate the author told it in such a compelling way. Once Upon a Time, a bit Earlier, is so refreshingly genuine that I will definitely enjoy this with my children for years to come.
Profile Image for TDCbookreviews.
705 reviews68 followers
January 3, 2017
Super cute retelling of many favourite classic fairy tales. Peterson has spun a story interweaving our beloved characters - from Snow white, to little Red Riding Hood, to Hansel and Gretel, all the way to the Magic Mirror that sets this story into action and has Snow White running through the forest, meeting all types of friends and foes along the way.

A funny, quick paced tale that is perfect for reading out loud to the kids, or to yourself curled up for a light, cute read. The style is consistent and the story is complex enough to keep adults entertained, even with its childlike narration. Absolutely adorable, I would love to read more about this versions characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

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