Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales

by Elisabeth Grace Foley, Rachel Heffington, J. Grace Pennington

Six fairytales you thought you knew, set against a tapestry of historical backgrounds.

A lonely girl plots revenge in the shadow of a mountain. A stolen princess fumbles a century backward. A dwarfish man crafts brilliant automatons. A Polish Jew strikes matches against the Nazis. A dead girl haunts a crystal lake. A terrified princess searches a labyrinth. A rich collection of six historically inspired retellings, Once is a new generation of fairytales for those who thought they'd heard the tales in all their forms.

Featuring the novellas of Elisabeth Grace Foley, Rachel Heffington, J Grace Pennington, Emily Ann Putzke, Suzannah Rowntree, and Hayden Wand.

Titles in this book set:
The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley
She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington
Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington
Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke
Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree
With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Romance, Historical, Steampunk

595 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2016

About the author

Elisabeth Grace Foley (that’s Elisabeth with an s) is the author of numerous works of historical fiction and historical mystery set mostly in the American West, including the Mrs. Meade Mysteries, short cozy mysteries featuring a lady detective in Edwardian-era Colorado, and the Western comedy A Sidekick’s Tale. Her most recent release, The Smoking Iron and Other Stories, is the latest of several collections of Western short stories.

She was a Peacemaker Award finalist in 2015 with her novella Left-Hand Kelly, and again in 2021 with her short story “Dakota Clothesline,” and won the Peacemaker for short fiction in 2025 with her short story "Valiant-For-Truth." Her historical mystery novel Land of Hills and Valleys was voted one of Readfree.ly’s 50 Best Indie Books of 2021.

When not reading or writing, she enjoys gardening, crocheting, digging further into her family tree, cheering for underdog European football teams, and watching old movies. She lives in upstate New York with her family.

Reviews

[Elisabeth]

And here's the big secret project I've been hinting at for a while! My contribution is The Mountain of the Wolf, a suspenseful Western take on "Little Red Riding Hood" filled with secrets, outlaws, wild horses, mountain storms and revenge. And having read the other five stories in this collection, I can tell you you're not going to want to miss any of them!

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining fantasy listening 🎶🔰

I picked this box 📦 set up three years ago because it was free. Oh how I love 💘 those free books 📚!

Did will written novella fantasy world 🌎 short stories by six different authors. Each story is inspired by a fairy tale. Each story is different with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection some violence leading to each conclusion. As with all box 📦 sets you will like some better than others but that is normal. I would recommend this box 📦 set to 👍 readers looking for something different. 2023 👒😀😡🏡

[deborah o'carroll (offline during 2026) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review originally posted on The Road of a Writer: https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com...)

Overall rating for the collection: 4 stars

Six interesting retellings of six different fairytales by six skilled authors. I found each of these to be unique and very well written, although each of them are quite different from each other, and I enjoyed some more than others. Overall, a quite good collection of tales! Here are my thoughts on each.

(I received a free e-ARC copy of this collection from the authors.)

THE MOUNTAIN OF THE WOLF (by Elisabeth Grace Foley)

4 stars

This one started out a little slow, so I was nervous I wouldn’t enjoy it, but once it got intriguing I was hooked, and read the second half in breathless anticipation.

The Little Red Riding Hood retelling part of it only came in near the end, but it worked really well and was unique. Not sure I’ve ever read a retelling of that one before! I haven’t read many westerns (I’ve seen a lot more. ;)) but I really enjoyed this one!

It all felt super authentic — descriptions, dialog, characters… all of it. Rosa Jean was a well written character who I quite liked, and Quincy Burnett was awesome! The writing is detailed and skilfully firm — I could really see the setting, even if it made the beginning slow.

Other than a quiet beginning and the fact that it took a little while for anything to be explained (including the fact that I automatically assumed Rosa Jean was a thirty year old woman whose husband had died… um, nope.. whoops), it was really good!

A gripping, vivid, well-written story, which I quite enjoyed and made me happy there at the end. ^_^ *hugs book*

***

SHE BUT SLEEPETH (by Rachel Heffington)

3 stars

(5-star story, 1-star ending. Don’t know what to rate it overall, so I'm going with 5+1=3 stars [shush, don't question my maths])

This story was GOLDEN and I ADORED it and it was amusing and cleverly witty and fascinating and fresh and I was grinning the whole time I read it and it was a sparkling 5 star story… until the last second when everything crashed and burned and it ripped my heart out and left me DEVASTATED AND FURIOUS and I can’t say what happened because spoilers but IT WAS NOT OKAY AND I AM NOT OKAY AND I’M SO UPSET I CAN’T EVEN RIGHT NOW.

Some people might not mind such an ending but for me it just totally made everything not okay. I couldn’t even keep reading the collection for awhile because this one ripped my heart out so bad and made me so furious. *SADNESSES OF ALL SADNESS*

It was a modern-turned-time-travel-1897-Romania-Sleeping-Beauty-magical-gypsy-curse kind of story with a beautiful love story (most of the time), and was a magical, clever, fresh, funny, well-written, unique story, with so much personality and charm. I just loved it so much. Which is why it’s so tragic that the ending was… well… tragic. It’s not a fairytale romance, it’s a tragedy. And I need my happy endings or else I’m a heap of displeased as high as Mount Everest. So that was super disappointing, even though the rest was really good! BUT IT MADE SAD AND ANGRY AND UGH.

I just… don’t know what to rate it, since half of me says to give it 5 stars (or at least 4… knocking one off for the ending), and the other half of me wants to rate it 1 star and not even be sorry and howl from the rooftops how such an ending is so many levels of not okay. Bad endings tend to cancel out good stories for me. Plus, I expected something else to happen with Ioan, and it never did? There were a bunch of unwrapped-up things like that. I just… I really thought the ending would come together into something clever and interesting and happy and then it DIDN’T. Lost opportunities, IMHO.

Um. I’ll just be over here in a corner feeling conflicted and royally distraught.

Great story. Awful ending. We’ll leave it at that. (BUT IT WAS SO GOOD. BUT UGH THAT ENDING WHYYY. -_-)

***

RUMPLED (by J. Grace Pennington)

4.5 stars

This story was so good! Definitely one of my favorites of the collection. :)

This was a Rumpelstiltskin retelling with a steampunk/sci-fi twist set in an alternate-history America (really intriguing, but I wish we'd learned more about it in the story than we did).

It was much more like the original fairy tale, in terms of plot layout, than any of the other stories in the collection, but I actually loved that because it made the differences, despite the similar framework, stand out a lot more strongly. Because this story was SO Rumpelstiltskin, and yet SO twisted around and fresh and different.

The writing is brilliant but also down to earth. The characters were real and interesting. I liked Amanda, and Byron, what was seen of him, was great. It almost felt like a Beauty and the Beast story occasionally, which was actually cool.

There were mysteries which kept me guessing, and I stayed on the edge of my seat for most of the story, immersed and reading as fast as I could, wondering how it would all turn out.

Overall, it was a beautifully written, entrancing and original tale, with a touching love story and a good dash of suspense, at least for me. I loved it! Definitely a favorite. ^_^

***

SWEET REMEMBRANCE (by Emily Ann Putzke)

2 stars

This is one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” things. I knew from the start that this would be a story that would not be a favorite.

World War II, The Little Match Girl, first-person-present-tense, tragic love story, with a lot of darkness and grimness, and favorite character dying, and no happy ending in sight… Those are like some of my least favorite things ever, all rolled in one (seriously, it’s only missing dystopia and zombies. XD) so I knew it just wasn’t my thing.

But I admit I was surprised how sweet the romance was and how beautiful the writing was (in some of the flashbacks, anyway), and I could see why it was written how it was (the flashbacks, which are actually most of the story, are in past-tense, so it made sense to tell it that way), and Romek was the best (*sadnesses*), and it was gripping despite not being my thing.

So I’m giving it an extra star for being well-written and having some good things like that. I just… why can’t stories have happy endings? -_- Anyway, I’m sure many people will enjoy this one, it just wasn’t for me.

I just don’t enjoy tales that are hopeless and depressing, no matter how well-written they are. Just my personal preference.

***

DEATH BE NOT PROUD (by Suzannah Rowntree)

4.5 stars

I wasn't sure what to think about this one for awhile, but it surprised me by drawing me in and I ended up really enjoying it!

I found it interesting that it was set in New Zealand in the 1920s, and I enjoyed the slight unfamiliar touches of the setting and time period. Very loosely based on Snow White, I simply LOVED finding little hints and parallels to that fairytale. Unless you knew to look for them, they could easily slip through the cracks and not be noticed, so I found them to be quite clever and fun to look for. :)

It's more of a thriller, murder-mystery type story, and much of the time you don't know who to believe or trust, which only added to the suspense and mystery. Normally I really dislike stories which leave out key bits of information that we ought to know but for some reason I didn't mind in this one. I guessed a lot of things, but despite that the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat.

The heroine, Ruby Black, was somewhat strange and I wasn't sure if I liked her at first, but I found that didn't really matter because by the end the characters were so real to me that I found "liking" or not had no say in the matter. They just... were. The other characters were interesting too, particularly Max, who we saw the most of besides Ruby, and who I was really kept on my toes wondering about.

There was also some poetry and imagery woven in, which only added to the ethereal feel. It was exciting and beautifully written, and the tiniest bit eerie, but in a way that didn't bother me. I just... really really liked it! :) Which surprised me, because it started out a little rocky and I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it. I'm so glad I kept reading!

Somewhat haunting and gorgeous and strange and unique, and I liked the clever fairytale twists in it. Another favorite!

***

WITH BLOSSOMS GOLD (by Hayden Wand)

5 stars!!! Favorite of the collection! ^_^

THIS STORY!! *shrieking* I just loved it so so so much! ^_^

A retelling of Rapunzel, set in Renaissance Italy, this story was like golden sunshine and I LOVED it. What if Rapunzel (in this story, Nella) didn't want to leave her tower?

It starts out a much lighter-hearted story than the rest, but it has its share of reality and war and adventure and peril as well. All of that comes later, but first we must meet quiet Nella, and two princes who are SO much fun to read... seriously, the dialog in this story is FANTASTIC. It's mostly about Nella, who's odd but nice and has to face many fears, and Prince Benedict, who is just... asldkjflk HE'S GREAT OKAY.

The humor in this story is superb and had me laughing aloud several times, or just grinning and grinning, quite unable to stop. The banter Benedict has with Nella, and with his brother (seriously great brother scenes with Benedict and Orlando, even if there weren't a lot) just made my day.

In a way it's a simpler plot than some, but it was just so refreshing and fun and gorgeous and I adored it. <3 When war threatens and peril engulfs our main characters, they must be brave and press on in the face of adversity, with only their love, ingenuity, and faith to guide them.

There wasn't a lot of Christianity, exactly, but it was worked into the story and certainly more prevalent than in the other stories in this collection. I quite liked how it weaved in. I also loved how some of the original fairytale things got worked in, in different ways than you'd expect. The labyrinth, for example, was cool. :D

It was a beautiful, sweet love story and fairytale retelling, with princes and castles and towers and knights, loads of humor, and priceless character interaction and bickering which I seriously cannot say enough about because I LOVED the humor and fun and characters and banter! <3

I just... *flailing* I don't even think I can think of anything I disliked about it. IT WAS AWESOME, OKAY? The perfect note to end this collection on, it left me grinning and beaming and just so happy. ^_^ This story is the BEST. EVERYONE, READ THIS COLLECTION IF JUST FOR THIS STORY!

I loved it so very much and it made me incredibly happy. <3

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a look at that gorgeous cover! It’s divine! ^_^ Dive into this new collection of fairy tale retellings to find history, dystopian worlds, time-travel excitement, western danger, suspense, and of course, romance!

***

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley. A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, this western historical tale was one I quite enjoyed. It’s non-magical, and set in the mountains were outlaws lurk and herds of wild horses roam free.
The writing style is akin to the style of the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series; and while whimsical and old-fashioned, it can be slow and isn’t my favorite ever. That being said, The Mountain of the Wolf was still a great story, and I loved that ending—exciting and dangerous, and then utterly sweet. And the one part that really reminded me of the fairy tale it retells was fabulously-done!
A unique and lovely take on the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington. I really like the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, but I honestly didn’t care for this retelling of it. Two reasons: it was a tragedy, and the characters were too acquainted with spells for my personal liking. “Sorcery” and “witching” were words I saw too often, and not only when speaking of the evil villain.
It was an interesting retelling, weaving a new Sleeping Beauty tale with bits of real historical figures and accounts, and the intrigue of time-travel. I wasn’t left bored.
But yes, the magic was a bit much for my taste. And the tale had such a heavy air about it—such sorrow and this feeling of being trapped or helpless. I prefer a tale where good triumphs over evil.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington. So I really loved this tale! My kind of story—and definitely the best retelling of Rumplestiltskin that I’ve read! This is the first time I’ve read by this author, and I’m glad I did; I will look for more books by her, for sure.
Set in a dystopian, sci-fi world, Rumpled quickly sweeps us into the intrigue of rags to riches, and webs of deception and fear. A young woman is caught up into a crazy scheme, set into motion by her bumbling father. The most unlikely of people comes to the rescue. A love story unfolds.
I quite adored the grace that layered this story. There were times of danger and drama. Breathless, heart-clenching scenes were you wondered how everything could work out right. And the sweetest of moments. The characters were just lovely—I truly liked both Amanda and her man. And the servants. And … yes. Rumpled was perfectly perfect, and I look forward to loosing myself in another story by J. Grace Pennington.

Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke. I remember The Little Match Girl being such a tragic tale, but somehow sweet—bittersweet. That’s how this WWII retelling of the story was. I don’t like tragedies, but if you’re going to write one, write it like Emily Ann Putzke did with Sweet Remembrance.
It was captivating. The history of the Jews being brutally persecuted by Germans is hard—the kind of hard where the enormity of it steals the breath from your lungs for a moment. The lost dreams so bitter. But the remembering of a heartfelt romance so sweet. All in all, it’s a sad tale of a horrific time in history … but it ends with a curious kind of hope. A hope that I want to hold onto.
Very well written. A bittersweet, heart-tugging story of an ordinary girl in a terrible time.

Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree. This was sort of a chilling tale. But then, one would expect a retelling of Snow White to be, considering the fairy tale tells of evil and jealousy and would-be-murderers. I really enjoyed that it was set in the Jazz Age, and the mystery/suspense was exciting and all worth it once you got to the end of the story. If you don’t like a story that’s a little bit spooky and has a couple mentions of gruesome speculation, then Death Be Not Proud may not be the best read for you. But I found I liked it. I didn’t find the spooky parts too overdone, and regardless of the doom in the title, it is a good story.
With mystery keeping you on the edge of your seat, Suzannah Rowntree delivers a unique story, about a singer and a man on a mission, that kept me guessing and left me satisfied.

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand. A sweet retelling of Rapunzel, though set amidst the bitterness of war and panic attacks. Though I sometimes got frustrated with Nella, one of the main characters of the story, I appreciated her character development and the authenticity of the tale.
The romance was lovely; and our hero a likable character indeed! Some of his witty remarks had me chuckling to myself.
Overall it was a fine, non-magical fairy tale retelling; set in Italy and examining difficult issues. I quite enjoyed.

***

Well, there you have it, my friends. On a whole, I was quite impressed with Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales. The stories were interesting, thoughtful, and different. The writing was very good.
Once isn’t exactly a light tome of fluffy fairy tales, but overall, it is a collection of superbly-written retellings. Check it out!

I received a copy of Once: Six Historically Inspired Fairytales from the authors.

[Emily]

I was so excited when Suzannah Rowntree and Elisabeth Grace Foley asked if I'd consider writing a retelling for their fairy tale boxset. Little old me alongside authors like Rowntree and Foley, Rachel Heffington, J. Grace Pennington, and Hayden Wand?!! I'm honored to be a part of this exciting adventure!

My story, Sweet Remembrance, is a WWII retelling of The Little Matchgirl set in the Warsaw ghetto. So, yes, it's sad by nature. But there's young love, courage, resistance, hope, and music weaved throughout the tale creating a wistful longing for what was and what could have been. It's been said to leave readers in tears.

[Hayden]

Well, look at this! I'm so excited to share this book with you all! My story is "With Blossoms Gold," a retelling of Rapunzel set in a fictional Italian kingdom during the Renaissance. The other five stories are all written by wonderful, talented authors with great historical twists on classic fairytales. Coming December 2, 2016.

[Suzannah Rowntree]

So excited about this project! Six indie authors, including myself, have banded together to bring you six enchanting new fairytale retellings set in six wildly different historical settings!

My contribution will be Death Be Not Proud, a fast-paced suspense thriller written in homage to Mary Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock, set in Jazz Age New Zealand. Coming December 2!

[☆ serethiel ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Note: I received a free copy of Once in exchange for my honest review.)

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley -- one star

Elisabeth's story is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling set in the old west, following the mysterious history behind a lonely young woman named Rosa Jean.

I hate giving any book a one-star review, particularly the first in a collection. Though the writing style was good, it was a little too descriptive for my taste, and I just didn't love it. I also wasn't particularly fond of the plot, or of any of the characters. Sadly, this was a did-not-finish, for me. :(

She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington -- two stars

Rachel's Sleeping Beauty retelling begins in modern LA, following the determination of a young set designer and her handsome intern as they venture to Romania to study the complex history of Peles Castle.

I must say, though Rachel's writing style is as rich as fudge, there were a few aspects of the story that bothered me.

For one, the amount of sorcery. Though magical content doesn't typically bother me, the way that it was presented made it seem more realistic than fictitious, and it just didn't sit well with me.

Secondly, the swearing and use of God's name in vain. Though She But Sleepeth was not drenched in such words and phrases, the amount used -- by a Christian author -- did not seem appropriate.

The beginning was a bit slow and the ending rather sudden. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance, and didn't really connect much with any of the characters.

One of the things I did like about the book was the concept... which I would go on about (as well as Queen Elisabeth, because I would've loved to have seen her story expanded more), but... spoilers. ;)

You may want to know: There was violence, swearing, and the usage of God's name in vain, as well as rather strong magical elements.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington -- five stars

Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. (*whispers*) That was amazing.

J. Grace's Rumpled is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin (or The Miller's Daughter, if you'd rather), little tributes to Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast weaved in. It follows the adventure of Amanda, a young woman whose father is determined to secure her future, from the point when a governor -- looking to hire a scientist who can build high-functioning artificial intelligence -- stops at their mill.

Rumpled was wonderful -- intriguing, clever, and unique.

In some ways, it seemed to nod it's head to Marissa Meyer's Cinder, but... I think this is so much better.

Rumpled was a bit like several of my favourite TV shows had a meeting and decided to turn themselves into one single book: There were elements of Once Upon a Time, Poldark, and even Downton Abbey; yet Rumpled remained a story all its own.

The writing was outstanding. J. Grace's voice is musical and refined, with just the right amount of description.

When it came to the characters-- Oh, the characters! They were so real, so alive, so human. The protagonist was very relatable, and what a bundle of fun she was!

The plot was incredible. I'm not a huge fan of Rumpelstiltskin, but J. Grace won me over completely with-- Well, I'm not going to say what. You'll have to find out for yourself. ;) I highly doubt you'll regret it. :)

And the romance was awesome-sauce! (*squeals*) It did seem a little unrealistic towards the very end, it was still splendid the rest of the way through, and oh-so-sweet.

The steampunk setting threw me off a little bit at first, but by the second or third chapter I was obsessed. The elements were handled very well, and I thought it very interesting how the early days of the US were recreated!

Overall, it was wonderful (and I've managed to start repeating myself, now :P ). So yes. Just yes.

You may want to know: There was mild kissing, very minor implications, and the use of the "d-word" once.

Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke -- five stars

Oh my stars... Where to begin?

Emily's retelling of The Little Match Girl takes place on the streets of Poland during World War II, where a twenty-one-year-old woman struggles to survive.

I'm not even sure how to write this review; there hardly seem adjectives great enough to describe it.

First off: This book captured my heart from the first page. Emily is an amazing writer. She described everything perfectly, so well that I felt the emptiness, the silence, and the love drifting through the pages; so well that I felt I was there.

Secondly: The plot. Wow-sers. Sweet Remembrance was the perfect length, and the romance was absolutely wonderful. And oh, how it tugged at my heartstrings!

Thirdly: The characters. Each character was so unique, so individual, yet meshed together so expertly with the others. It was outstanding.

You may want to know: There was violence and the one-time usage of the "ba-word."

Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree -- one star

Suzannah's Snow White retelling, Death Be Not Proud, is set in 1920s New Zealand, and is the story of a young woman with a strange connection to another girl... but what if the other girl was dead?

I really wanted to like this story, but I wasn't a huge fan of the setting, the characters, or the plot, though the writing style was good. Sadly, I'd have to say that this is another did-not-finish. :(

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand -- four stars

Hayden's story is set in renaissance Italy, a Rapunzel retelling of a young maiden locked in a tower, and a prince who just wants to find and rescue a damsel in distress.

I love Hayden's writing voice; it's so very clear yet so very elegant. In With Blossoms Gold, she delivers a story that's true to the original fairytale, but wanders off just enough.

With Blossoms Gold was witty but sweet. The characters were sensible but still a little headstrong, and I loved the quips and good-natured arguments that went on between the two protagonists.

The plot seemed ever so slightly slow at first, but soon sped up, putting an intriguing new spin on the Rapunzel story.

You may want to know: There is violence and warfare. A family is falsely accused of witchcraft, and there is the implied unfaithfulness of a character's betrothed.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dove into this book with mixed feelings. On the one hand I was quite excited to read Elisabeth Grace Foley's story that I had been eagerly awaiting for many months.

On the other hand, I tend to gravitate towards old books whenever I'm looking for fiction to read. And thought there are a handful of modern authors I enjoy tremendously, I tend to shy away from most modern fiction...
On top of that, modern "retellings" are not a favorite of mine either, and I tend to be very wary of them. The reason being, that they tend to end up as no more than a watered-down, abridged, emotionalized, or in some cases"sanitized" retelling of what used to be a strong, rich story with good vocabulary and hidden meanings.

I needn't have worried. :) Each of these six stories was fresh and new, and mostly of top-notch quality. The stories had similarities to the originals, but were far more than your average adaption/retelling. Each one could have stood on it's own merit and been enjoyed, without leaning on the readers' knowledge of the tale it was based on.

The Mountain of The Wolf, A Sweet Remembrance, and Death Be Not Proud were my favorites.

A little bit about each of them individually:

I have a predilection for westerns, and The Mountain of The Wolf is an excellent little western novella. It's a retelling of the 10th century folk-story Red Riding-hood, set in the canyons, wide open skies, and dusty lands of the American West. It starts out in a leisurely way, with hints of the ominous purpose of Rosa Jean—a young lady who lives alone up in the mining country. A strange man, Quincy, rides up one day with a hidden agenda, and the suspense builds as his plans interfere with hers...It's a delightful tale, with a great climax, and one of my favorites in this set.

I was not really fond of the story She But Sleepeth, but I found the historical note at the end fascinating. History and fiction were woven together seamlessly and with such talent, that I had no idea just how much truth there was to the story! And it does makes one want to visit Romania.

Rumpled was quite a change from my usual fare. I'd never read anything in the steam-punk genre, previously, but it was enjoyable and I thought it was far better than the original Rumpelstiltskin story. The ending is certainly more satisfying! It's a sweet story of trust broken and webs of deceit woven for personal gain, but the girl's conscience will not be silent, and her slow-growing love for her husband only accentuates her agony...

Poignant and realistic. That is what describes the story of the girl with matches in A Sweet Remembrance. As an amateur historian, lover of WWII history, and historical reenactor I especially enjoyed this story. It is a story of a war torn country, and of families under Nazi occupation. The author doesn't mask the sadness or the realness—and it reads like many of the true stories I've been told of the hard life during the war. Stories where agony and separation called forth little unexpected deeds of kindness, nobleness and generosity. Where beauty abounded in the midst of ashes and devastation...

Death Be Not Proud is a fast read. One of those fun thriller-mysteries that has you grinning and turning pages as quick as you possibly can. :) I do love a good mystery, and this one was short and satisfying (not to mention that it made me so curious about a certain scientific medical-phenomenon that I just had to research it!). A mystery, an island, and the tale of a prohibition era jazz singer with a dark past....who could ask for anything more? Suzannah Rowntree, the author, said that is was written in homage to Mary Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock. Now, I must confess my ignorance of Mary Stewart, but it does capture the suspense, murder, mystery, and mayhem that makes it reminiscent of the 30's and 40's film noir, of which Alfred Hitchcock was the master. Great fun all around!

Rapunzel was never a favorite fairy-tale of mine, but this retelling, With Blossoms Gold, is a fine story of courage, love, heroes, and of conquering the selfish tendencies of isolation and safety—of a girl who challenges herself to strike out with courage and devote her life to others instead of herself. Of denying your feelings in lieu of your duty. It is the most traditional of the six, and takes place among the realms of knights, kings, and castles.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall rating: 2.5 stars

Overall thoughts: Let me just say, I'm just not good with fantasy reads, which is why I struggled finishing a couple of these novellas. But it never hurts to try and I'm still glad I read some of these fairytale re-tellings.

The Mountain of the Wolf (Elisabeth Grace Foley)--4 stars
I really enjoyed this short western. The writing style and characters were all intriguing. The intensity at the end kept me reading with deep interest and I loved the grand finale. The only downfall was one swear word and a misuse of God' name, as well as the fact that only once (right at the end) did a character ask God for help.

She But Sleepeth (Rachel Heffington)--1 star
I didn't finish this story. I expected not to when I first read the synopsis, because it just sounded plain weird...and of course impossible (a dead girl coming back to life as a grown woman). I'm assuming it is based off of Sleeping Beauty and if so, then it definitely has its similarities. With the arrival of a woman who casts spells and so on, I stopped. It just wasn't worth reading any more, despite the delightful style of writing.

Rumpled (J. Grace Pennington)--2 stars
Interesting story and incredibly fascinating, but all the mechanical stuff weirded me out. I liked Bryon and Lizzy, but Rumples made me shiver.

Sweet Remembrance (Emily Ann Putzke)--4 stars
This short story was one of the main reason why I decided to read this book and it was awful on my emotions. I loved it and how real it was, but it was such a bittersweet read. It's worth a re-read for sure!
There's one misuse of God's name and a reference to getting a beer and couple smoking incidents.

Death Be Not Proud (Suzannah Rowntree)--1 star
Another weird one that I didn't finish. I might have been a little more enlightened if I finished the book, but the whole deal with the murdered girl was confusing and rather strange. Some mentions of drinking and smoking.

With Blossoms Gold (Hayden Wand)--4 stars
At first I didn't like the prince or Nella that much, but halfway through this novella I was getting really intrigued. I loved the fighting and all the events leading to a great ending. My rating is higher because of the fact Christianity, prayer, and a good message of trusting in God is evident through this story.

*I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review*

[Marquise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those rare books one comes into expecting good stuff and gets more. I had read Elisabeth Grace Foley's LRRH/Western mash-up The Mountain of the Wolf prior, had liked it, went to look for more from her, came across this anthology, and found a new favourite story from a writer I already knew plus met a new author whom I like.

The anthology isn't a typical assortment of short stories but a collection of six novellas by six different authors that have a couple of characteristics in common: all are retellings of a classic fairy tale and all are historical.

Well, the former is certainly quite true. But the latter is debatable for at least two of the stories, as I'll expand on ahead.

THE MOUNTAIN OF THE WOLF by Elisabeth Grace Foley
5 stars

The retelling that brought me here in the first place. I've already recorded my thoughts in my review here here, and this time was like enjoying it over again.

SHE BUT SLEEPETH by Rachel Heffington
1 star

This was definitely a disagreeable surprise, that got me to start fearing for the quality of all stories to follow the five-star opening, and the first of two whose inclusion in this anthology I would question on grounds of historicity. And, more importantly, of plausibility.

The plot purports to retell Sleeping Beauty in a royal castle in Romania at the end of the 19th century, having as its premise a What If? explanation for a supposed mystery about the fate of Princess Maria of Romania, only child of King Carol and Queen Elisabeth. Thus far, nothing unusual or suspicious, and the premise does sound intriguing, but . . . it goes downhill fast, too fast, immediately after the first paragraphs laying out the premise. Why? It's going to be a spoiler, so do read on with caution.

As the author elaborates in her final note, when the 3-year-old heir to the throne died of some infantile illness she was entombed on a casket placed within larger caskets. What is odd about it, I ask? Nothing in itself, good explanations that don't defy logic can be had, and this wouldn't be the first child of high rank buried in a tomb too large for their tiny size nor would it be the first extravagant (and luxurious) display of grief at a funeral. Yet, Ms Heffington's thinking was Oh, that's so odd, there must be something fishy here, and her "explanation" is that Princess Maria time-travelled to the 21st century because of a jealous gypsy wanting revenge on her father after King Carol dumped her to marry some German princess for reasons of state, so she's sent by means of blood magic to our time, where she grows up ignoring her identity and working like any commoner.

I . . . uh . . . what? I'm sorry, you lost me there. I have no objection to fantastical and alternate-history plots, but:

a. You have to convince me of the plausibility of your plot. Do tell HOW it would work credibly and logically in real life and, moreover, WHY it has to or should go down in that alternate-history way you came up with instead of how it went down in reality. This principle applies to all sorts of plots: What Ifs (as in, "What if Henry VIII had sired a legitimate son or two with his first wife?"), alternate outcomes for established historical facts (as in, "Germany won WWII in 1941 and still rules over all Europe in 1960"), explanations for unsolved mysteries from history (as in, "Who exactly were the Sea Peoples?"), and fill-in-the-gap ones ("How did Cleopatra's son Caesarion die?").

b. If you're going to use real historical figures for your speculative narration, then you've got to double-down on the above. Be more careful. Be more convincing. Be more respectful. There usually are written or recorded or even eyewitness facts, known personality traits, and actions for that given historical figure that you've got to contend with.

c. Even if you check both of the boxes above, your story may not qualify for the Historical Fiction genre label, especially if it's a What if? scenario or an Alternate History one, which tend to be tagged as Historical Fantasy or pure Fantasy/Science-Fiction depending on certain elements. So if your story has magic, sorcery or time travel, it's definitely not Historical Fiction regardless of the setting. It's Fantasy, or in this case, Science-Fiction as well.

My issue, however, isn't genre purism or apropriate genre classification as much as the lack of logic and sheer implausibility of the plot, which the writer's laughable rationale for the survival of the princess made quite grating. I'd have accepted it as plain Fantasy and left it at that, even though I was expecting every story in this anthology to be purely historical and magic-free for a change. I didn't care about the ending as others have, I'm not one to expect happy endings all the time nor do I get upsed when there isn't one. Plot integrity is what counts for me.

Now that I remember, the author also accidentally inserted a Snow White element in her Sleeping Beauty retelling, because there's an Italian version of the former folktale in which Snow White is placed in a casket within larger and larger caskets so she can grow up normally since the moment she falls comatose as a wee one till she wakes up a full woman. Curious, isn't it? Some people need to do a bit more research before writing, methinks.

RUMPLED by J. Grace Pennington
3 stars

Another retelling that disappointed me for not being entirely historical and devoid of magical elements as I'd hoped. This was a take on Rumpelstiltskin in an alternate post-Civil War United States where states have seceded and there's more than one independent Republic they've created. That alone would make this a Historical Fantasy story, but there's more: basic modern technology exists, such as robotics and electronics that are at the beginner's level we were in some decades back when just starting to invent automatic machines, cars, computers, etc. That adds the Sci-Fi element to the mix, and turns the retelling into a Steampunk story.

I can take this novella for what it is: fantasy; so my rating is due more to other details. Firstly, I've never been interested in the original fairy tale, and it often happens that when this is the case, any retelling of it will suffer as a result, though once in a blue moon a retelling of a tale I'm not particularly fond of is so good that it makes me invested in it. But this wasn't a blow-your-socks-off retelling for me. Secondly, the worldbuilding, or rather the bits of it that were teased all over the narration, did pique my curiosity, but it was left at merely teases and never developed properly. That resulted in an unfortunate case where the worldbuilding was better than the plot, in my view. Thirdly, the characterisation was flatter than most are willing to admit. The female lead had enough in her to be interesting, but is made to spend all the bloody time worrying and hand-wringing over the possibility of discovery and being ditched so much that she can barely do anything else and doesn't evolve or grow as a character. The male lead is a non-entity with Sexy tattooed on his forehead to compensate for his lack of a personality. The romance left me wondering where the gushing adoration for this was coming from, because it's not believable (nor healthy) in my opinion. I mean, when it's all based on a lie, perpetuated by a lie, and said lie is never punished nor are there consequences of import for the liar . . . and the liar is even rewarded for it at the expense of the real genius, who's made to slave away for peanuts.

SWEET REMEMBRANCE by Emily Ann Putzke
4 stars

A new author to follow for me. Putzke's story was based on Hans-Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl, one of his saddest tales. To keep up with the tragic theme of the original, this retelling is set during World War II and follows a Jewish in the ghetto for a day during a harsh winter. I'm sure I don't need to elaborate further, because anyone passing familiar with the tale or the fate of the Jews under the Nazis will easily guess how this goes and how it ends.

I've not found many stories told mainly in flashbacks that were well-done or that appealed to me, it's a technique that takes time to master and if not pulled out right can ruin a premise. This wasn't so, fortunately, even though Emily Ann Putzke appears to be a new author, I assume, because there are some identifiable beginner's rough edges here. She does have the raw talent, and a good command of storytelling for an inexperienced newcomer, and she's managed to do better than many experienced people, so I consider her one to keep tabs on.

Also, I'm seeing potential for more retellings of other tales set during WWII, a time period that doesn't generally make people think of fairy tales for obvious reasons. My argument is essentially the same as for doing more Western retellings (or strictly historical retellings, more broadly): the originality of the setting, the possibility of reworking the tales without the magic, the realism and relatability of such fantasy-devoid plots, the creative challenge of retelling fairy tales without the "fairy" part of it. As I've argued other times, the market is already saturated with fantastical/science-fictional retellings. Looking up Putzke's bio, it does seem like she's passionate about the period, so I believe she could do this if she wanted.

DEATH BE NOT PROUD by Suzannah Rowntree
4.5 stars

A very unique retelling of Snow White set in the least expected of places: 1920s New Zealand. It doesn't follow the fairy tale closely, but I suspect this would've been recognised even if it hadn't been clarified in the introduction. It's not that hard, any plot with a jealous stepmother aiming to make her husband's daughter's life as miserable as possible when not trying to end it, is practically an archetypical Snow White plotline.

That said, what does Suzannah Rowntree have to offer to make you enjoy her version? The setting, the fast-paced mystery plot, and how she introduces the non-disposable elements that make the tale what it is. Inveterate fairy tale lover that I am, I do always gleefully zoom in on any subtle and skillful nods to the originals, and I know Snow White can have hidden pitfalls as it's not that far from Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty when you omit or mismanage certain of its characteristic elements. So I loved how the author dealt with the landmark "poisoned apple," the "mirror," "the glass coffin," as well as how she characterised the stepmother, Ruby, the "Huntsman" figure and the "Prince" figure. The one detail I wasn't that keen on was the reason for the stepmotherly misbehaviour, but I did accept it made sense for the storyline.

WITH BLOSSOMS GOLD by Hayden Wand
5 stars

My favourite story together with Foley's! And my favourite character from the anthology is here, too.

This retelling of Rapunzel in a Renaissance Italy-like setting is the best take on this folktale that I've ever read, and from all those contained in this collection, it's the story that adheres more closely to the original, save for perhaps the "rapionce" bit. There's an obvious this isn't quite Italy in the Renaissance, but close enough that you'd barely notice vibe, and the relationship between a prince and a commoner wouldn't be as socially acceptable and disapproval-free in real history as in the tale, but when you look beyond that, the story is extremely realistic. Especially in the part addressing how the maiden ended in the tower and why she never left. That was very clever argument, believable both from a historical perspective as from a psychological one.

I admit I have a bit of a hard time believing Hayden Wand is so young, seeing how she writes, and I'm curious to see how her editing process is like because she's not sloppy. Her stories flow smoothly. Some people are just born with the ability to talk your ears (and eyes) off with their stories, presumably.

All that said, the average is going to be a rounded-up 4 stars rating from me. When I think of it, it's amusing that this anthology opens and closes with the two best stories, while the "worst" ones are in the middle. Not sure if it's intentional on the editor's part, and likely others will think highly of the stories I didn't think much of, but I'm inclined to believe the opening/closing ones are going to be agreed on as the outstanding ones by most if not all. So the editor also gets compliments from me for that. I don't recall if I've found this distribution before in other anthologies, because "rollercoaster" reading (ups and downs in quality all throughout) and "first half good/second half bad" (and vice versa) are the commonest distribution in anthologies.

What else? Ah, yes, of course I'm going to recommend this anthology highly. (And going to get "With Blossoms Gold" is published separately like "The Mountain of the Wolf," so they can keep each other company. Heh.)

[Naticia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this collection of novellas. Favorites were "The Mountain of the Wolf" and "Rumpled", though I enjoyed all but one. I skipped the last part of "She But Sleepeth" - just didn't like the characters at all. The rest were enjoyable, with only a few minor editing issues in one or two. I especially liked how "The Mountain of the Wolf" and "Death Be Not Proud" redid their fairy tales - subtle, but with lots of little clues once you thought to look for them.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea behind "Once" is pretty genius: six authors who enjoy writing historical fiction and fantasy band together to self-publish a collection of fairy tale retellings in various historical (and imaginary) settings. And if you like fairy tale retellings, or are already a fan of any of these authors, you're most likely going to enjoy this collection.

"The Mountain of the Wolf" by Elisabeth Grace Foley is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood tale. A handsome stranger meets a lonely woman living on the edge of the wilderness. Little by little, he learns the reason for her seclusion: she wants to find and kill the man who murdered her brother. 4 Stars!

"She But Sleepeth" by Rachel Heffington retells the Sleeping Beauty story. A movie set designer and her handsome intern travel to Romania to research a castle for an upcoming movie. There, they unexpectedly time-travel back a hundred years and learn that the intern is actually a princess, lost to her parents through the machinations of an angry Gypsy. 4 Stars!

"Rumpled" by J. Grace Pennington is a steampunk retelling of the Rumplestiltskin story. This is the most straight-forward retelling in this collection, in that there's still a poor girl, a king who wants what she supposedly can create, and an ugly little man who helps her in exchange for the promise of her firstborn child. The addition of all kinds of technology to the story gave it a fresh vibe, but it was the characters that made me like this story -- I found both girl and king very realistic and sweet. 4 Stars!

"Sweet Remembrance" by Emily Ann Putzke retells Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Match Girl.". Set in a Jewish ghetto during WWII, the story of two young people who found and then gradually lost each other, their world, and then their whole lives made me cry more than once. It was achingly beautiful, and the fact that people like these really did live through horrors like that made it even more poignant. 5 Stars!

"Death Be Not Proud" by Suzannah Rowntree is a lively retelling of Snow White set in New Zealand during the Roaring Twenties. The setting definitely drew me in, but it was the murder mystery at the heart of the story that made me love it, and the way the Snow White elements were not staggeringly obvious, but instead were woven subtly throughout. 5 Stars!

When I reached the end of the collection and read Hayden Wand's Rapunzel retelling, "With Blossoms Gold," I knew I had found my favorite story of the six. The girl here hasn't been imprisoned in a tower, she's staying there for her own safety, which was a neat twist. But what really made me love this story was the way it tackles head-on what it's like to live with panic attacks. Also, both of the main characters had wonderful character arcs and truly grew as people over the course of the story, facing fears, sacrificing things for each other, and ultimately learning to understand both each other and themselves so beautifully. 5 Stars!

I don't know if there are plans to release this collection in paperback format at some point, but I hope that does happen, because I want "Once" on my real bookshelf, not just my Kindle carousel.

Just so you know, I did receive an ARC of this book in exchange for me promising to review it honestly.

[H.S.J. Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, an excellent collection!! I was so excited to read this set of stories and I was not disappointed!

The Mountain of the Wolf--5 stars--This western completely transported me back to that rugged time era and I eagerly rode alongside our hero and heroine to unravel a mystery and see justice done. Buuuuut.....for the life of me, once I was done, I had *noooo* idea which fairytale I had just read a retelling of. It wasn't till a few hours later that I was like, "OH.....duh....the answer is in the title" Still, even though I did eventually recognize it, it was a very subtle background tone.

She But Sleepth--3 stars--weeeell.....I was a little thrown off by the heroine of the tale and got disgruntled by several turns in the story, especially the ending. But it was very cool to read about the true historical legend....its such a strange sad one and perfectly fitting for a Sleeping Beauty retelling.

Rumbled---4 stars---I liked the voice of this tale and it is certainly an exciting new setting on the classic tale. However, it is still very much like the original which is great but also.....well, frustrating for those who found the original frustrating. But it was also more deeply and emotionally explored.

Sweet Remembrance--5 stars--This. is. so. sad. Anyone who has read or watched The Little Match Girl already knows its sad. But have that girl grow up a bit, throw in a tragic love story, and set the story in the world of Polish Jew ghettos under the cruelty of the Nazi.... and yeah.....you get a reeeeally sad story. But also, it is touched with the eternal hope that lights up even the darkest places.

Death Be Not Proud--3 stars--I certainly loved the authentic and surprising feel to this era. But the tale was a murder mystery and I'm not incredibly fond of murder mystery. It also likes to completely leave out important parts until later so you are mislead on what is actually happening. Aaaaand while I love that in movies and in certain books, I got confused by this one. Possibly because I was reading too fast, lol. (Come one, how are you supposed to read slow in a murder mystery?)

With Blossoms Gold--5 stars--So I am already a very big fan of Hayden Wand. 90% of the reason I bought this book was so that I could read this story at the end. Which is why I read the story first. And of course, I loved it! Sweetly written, epically fraught, satisfyingly paced and concluded! A work of storytelling art!

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this boxed set of novellas. Most of them aren't my normal reading fair (which leans toward more fantastical fairy tale retellings that usually have happy endings), but I still enjoyed them.

If you're looking for explicitly Christian content, only the last story in this boxed set is that. If you're looking for all happy endings, this boxed set isn't that either.

But, the writing is excellent, and the stories range from heart wrenching to adorable.

Due to my reading tastes, I think Rumpled and With Blossoms Gold were by far my favorites. Rumpled is a thoroughly sweet Rumplestilskin retelling. It is kind of steampunk, dystopian, something and awesome. With Blossoms Gold is a Rapunzel retelling and has some of the best banter and my favorite characters of the collection.

I also enjoyed The Mountain of the Wolf, which managed to feel like an authentic western (not something I run into all the time).

She But Sleepeth is a time travel version of Sleeping Beauty. I enjoyed it for the neat concept, even though I missed having a happy ending and I wondered a little bit about the worry about changing time when technically time was already changed.

I enjoyed the story Sweet Remembrance more than I thought I would, considering it is set in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust and a retelling of the Little Match Girl. Perhaps because I was expecting the unhappy ending due to the fairy tale it was retelling. Perhaps because, in this story, the sad ending is also the happiest one for the characters.

Death Be Not Proud is a murder mystery set in the roaring twenties in New Zeeland. It took me a bit to get into it, but once the action started going down at the end, I couldn't stop reading.

I received a copy of this book from the authors for my honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been interested in reading this collection for a while, and a few months ago when it was on a discount price I snatched a copy. I finally found time to sit down and read it, and in effort to provide good feedback, I'll review each story separately.

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elizabeth Grace Foley
-- two stars

As a disclaimer, I mostly skimmed through this one. The Wild West isn’t my favorite aesthetic and setting to begin with, and I found this story rather slow and dull. The characters didn’t grab my interest, and their development was rather wooden. The story was also plagued by a lot of info-dumping and lack of subtext. The climax was also somewhat weak, and the chemistry between the two main characters was somewhat unconvincing.

Regardless, I think the plot concept was definitely unique, and the setting was an interesting choice for it. The execution of the concept could’ve been much better, but I’m sure the author will definitely improve her skill.

She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington
-- three stars

This one was probably the one I enjoyed the most. Maria and Heath, the two main characters, were fun and engaging, and the humor was smoothly blended in. I loved the settings and situations, both the modern-day one and the one in the past. Time-travel and magic was certainly a unique concept. Being Eastern European myself, I was thrilled at how accurate the cultural details of Romania were. I could tell the author herself had been to Eastern Europe and was conscious of portraying it well.

My complaints are that I was rather confused about some elements of the story, particularly about the villain and her evil plans, if you will. Also the climax and ending seemed rather out of place with the tone and mood of the rest of the story, and were rather rushed. It was still a fun story that didn’t try to be more than what it was.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington
-- three stars

This one was really sweet. At first I was a little bothered by how it was basically just the story of Rumpelstiltskin but everything switched out for a steampunk aesthetic, but then I ended up liking the simplicity of the plot. The love story was sweet and the techy-sciencey-engineeringy aspects were fun and unique. The author also did a good job of handling touchy, mature things very gracefully.

However info-dumps, bad characterization, and rushed, unrealistic development all plague it. I feel the author could have benefitted from taking her time and using ambiguity and subtext with many of the plot developments. Despite this, I found myself rooting for the characters at the end and enjoying the story very much.

Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke
-- four stars

I’ve always had a hard time ingesting anything Holocaust-related, but thankfully I made it through this story. It’s one of those stories that make me think of poetry; not really a plot, but more a study, if you will, on humanity. I felt the despair and ugliness of man’s depravity as it was contrasted by the main character’s memories of light and love. It’s a beautiful retelling of an unusual fairy tale, and the author handled the darkness and the light very well.

Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree
-- four stars

I read this story on its own last year, so I opted to skip it this time, but I remember I enjoyed it a lot. The setting and the time period and the main character were all very unique and engaging. The plot worked together very nicely. My only complaint was with the character who was the prince-figure; he seemed pushy and controlling, and those aren’t exactly qualities I’d paint in a good light, but other than that, it’s an enjoyable story.

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand
-- two stars

Like the first story of this collection, this one certainly had an interesting concept. However, the author was trying to do way too much in too little space. The plot was rushed and all over the place, and the characters were inconsistent and unrealistic. The info-dumping was almost unbearable; instead of showing us what the characters are like, the author instead told us through bad-quality dialogue that a character is arrogant or stubborn or whatever it is, and it simply wasn’t convincing.

It was just rushed, badly-developed, and the writing style seemed a little juvenile. I think if the author had taken this concept and setting and used it in a full-length novel, it would have worked out much better.

--

In the end, it's a fun collection of unique and interesting retellings, good for a rainy afternoon. Even though some of the stories lack quality, they are still a fun read, and I have no doubt the writers will keep improving their skills.

[Meredith Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have devoured countless fairy tale retellings, for no other type of story so eloquently illustrates the universal struggles of good and evil. Once is a bountiful buffet of rich, diverse retellings of well-known tales. Yet, despite the familiarity of such stories as Snow White, Little Red Riding-Hood, Rapunzel and others, each author has brought a unique spin that's original and enthralling. I expected it would take several days for me to read six novellas, but I could not put the book down. Below are my ratings and opinions for each story.

1. The Mountain of the Wolf, by Elisabeth Grace Foley. 5 stars. Rosa Jean lives a solitary life, only cooking for the mustangers and prospectors who seek sustenance. Her resolve to stay hidden as she plots revenge for a horrendous crime is tested when a mustanger named Quincy Burnett begins work. This retelling of Little Red Riding-Hood is a Western, (a genre I rarely read). But, the two main characters were so endearing that my heart warmed to them. I would have liked more development of secondary characters as I didn't feel I connected with them. Rosa Jean makes a decision I felt was foolhardy, but I admired her courage and determination. The climax of the story evoked the chilling feelings of prey cornered by predator, and I loved the suspense.
2. She But Sleepeth, by Rachel Heffington. 4 stars. Maria Wied, a set-designer, journeys to Peles Castle in Romania to seek inspiration for an upcoming movie. She is accompanied by her intern, a young man named Heath. But, all is not as it seems, and Maria finds herself inexorably pulled into a previous century. Is she truly who she seems, and how can she defeat an insidious gypsy queen? This retelling of Sleeping Beauty is lush and evocative. I loved the exploration of Queen Elisabeth and King Carol of Romania, and they were the most compelling characters. I also thought the villainess was frightening. I did feel the time travel subplot didn't fit, but I read few time-travel stories. The ending was beautiful and explored the theme of sacrifice in a very poignant way. I loved the historical note at the end of the story, and it provided great insight into Romanian history.
3. Rumpled, by J. Grace Pennington. 5 stars. Frankly, I looked forward to this tale the least. Rumpelstilskin has never been a favorite tale of mine. Ironically, this story turned out to be one of my favorites! It more closely follows the original tale than any of the other stories in this collection. I absolutely loved the marriage of convenience and the slowly-developing romance between the miller's daughter and the governor. The blossoming love was genuine and poignant. The villain was the most complex one in this story collection, and his calculating attitude was chilling. However, his motivation caused me to feel great empathy for his character.
4. Sweet Remembrance, by Emily Ann Putzke. 4 stars. This story, set in a Warsaw ghetto in World War II, is a heartwrenching retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl." The contrast between the horrors of war and the search to find beauty and remember the good times is truly endearing. I loved how the author described the secret meetings of Resistance workers and how she provided humanity to even the Nazi soldiers. I did wish that the tale had been a bit longer to further expound upon the characters, but the story evokes Andersen's own tale of tragedy and ultimate hope. As a musician, I love how music was woven throughout the tale.
5. Death be Not Proud, by Suzannah Rowntree. Another favorite, this retelling of Snow White is a mystery set in the lush country of New Zealand during the Jazz Age. Ruby Black, a cabaret singer, catches the attention of Max Moran, a rugby player who claims that Ruby resembles a young school girl who was murdered. In fact, Max insists that Ruby is that girl. As Max draws ever closer, and Ruby is stalked by a mysterious person, the past draws ever nearer, and a killer is on the prowl. Snow White is my favorite fairy tale of all time, and Ms. Rowntree wonderfully turns the fairy tale into a suspenseful mystery as Ruby tries to determine whom she can trust. I particularly love that Ruby is a singer and that the author incorporates one of my favorite operas, Madame Butterfly, into the story. The motif of the comb was particularly compelling, and I loved how John Donne's poetry was interwoven throughout the story as well. Ms. Rowntree's descriptive ability is amazing, too, as she evoked the beauty of New Zealand in a compelling way.
6. With Blossoms Gold, by Hayden Wand. My favorite of the collection, this tale is the most traditionally historical. Nella has lived in a secluded tower since the age of twelve with her fiercely protective grandmother. But, the angry villagers, fearing that Nella's grandmother is a witch, seek to rid themselves of her. Now Nella is eighteen and her grandmother is dead. Nella only seeks to remain hidden away, locked not just in a prison of stone but in a cell of fear. A chance meeting with a prince whose country is on the brink of war might change all. This story's characters, even the secondary ones, were compellingly drawn. I loved that this Rapunzel sets out to rescue her prince. And, I was particularly impressed that the author still managed to portray this character as vulnerable but also heroic. She's not the typical sword-wielding heroine, but she is quietly heroic and endearing. My favorite aspects were the description of the catacombs and the means by which they were traversed. I fear to say anymore in case of spoilers. Ultimately, this Rapunzel retelling is filled with intrigue, battles and the ultimate exploration of our fears; how they are always there, but they can be stilled. The tower beckons, and we must choose whether we will shut ourselves away or emerge into freedom.

Once is a compelling and page-turning collection. I thoroughly recommend it. God bless you all.

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: ~~3.5—4 Stars~~
Hehe, yeah, I'm still debating what to rate this overall. For now it's just gonna stay like this, since I can't decide whether it should be 3.5 or 4.

--The Mountain of the Wolf-4 stars--
I really enjoyed this re-telling of 'Little Red Riding Hood'! It did take me a while to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characters were all so very well done. Quincy was a dear, and while it took me a little while to understand Rosa Jean, I did so love her!
The bad guy was just downright creepy, and was very well done. He had tingles going down my spine as I read.
A wonderful, western take on a familiar fairy-tale!

--She but Sleepeth-2 stars--
Okay, so the writing here was lovely. Probably my favorite thing about this story. The word pictures were so beautiful, and the characters felt alive. Also, the setting and plot was intriguing. Such a unique take on Sleeping Beauty!
However, while I enjoyed the story, I didn't at all the magic and spells that seemed to be commonplace in the story. That made me quite uncomfortable. Also, the ending was tragic. It was not fairy-tale like at all! I sat there for a few minutes after finishing just like "What?!" That was NOT supposed to happen!
So, yes. A lovely writing style and all, but not a story I'd read again.

--Rumpled-4 stars--
Ahh, this was a lovely story! It definitely seemed to have more nods to fairy tale it was based on then the others did. I've never really enjoyed the story of "Rumpelstiltskin", but this re-telling as nothing short of amazing! I loved the character so much, and the setting- a sort of alternate America-was so fascinating!
The ending was satisfying, and the twist on the original tale that I hadn't even realized was happening had me sitting there like 'wow.' A beautiful story!

--Sweet Remembrance-4.5 stars--
Would you like to read a heartbreaking, beautiful tragedy, that hurts you just as you realize how precious it is?
Then read this.
It was so beautiful, and so, so sad. The flashbacks added so much to the story, and I found myself instantly connected to Romek and Kasia. And the music that flowed between the lines added so much to the story.
This is the kind of story that breaks you heart in two, yet at the same time, it holds a beautiful, precious hope. I'm really not sure how else to describe it. This dealt with a harsh subject. There's mot any way to get around that fact. Yet, there were small sparks that shone through the darkness of the ghetto.
Because hope can be found, even if the darkest places.
So read it. Because it's amazing.
(1/2 star taken off because of there was one outright misuse of God's name by a German soldier)

--Death be not Proud-5 stars--
*gasps* THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! Okay, so it was basically a murder mystery. Thus it was a little morbid at times. But . . . *whispers* I kinda like murder mysteries. So this was just the perfect story for me.
It was a Snow White retelling, but the nods to the original fairy-tale were a bit hidden, so that made the hints all the more fun to look for.
Literally, I was trying to figure out who the murderer was until the last four pages. I was glued to the book, trying to fathom how in the world it would all be wrapped up!
And then when it was, and everything was made clear, it made me sit back and try and figure out what had just happened. A definite re-read . . . I'm still trying to process it all.
My favorite out of the whole collection! (Though "Sweet Remembrance" is a close second. ;))

--With Blossoms Gold-4 stars--
This was a lovely story, and a lovely end to the collection! A Rapunzel retelling, it was a definite twist on the original story!
I loved Ben. he was just so wild and reckless and amazing. My favorite part of the book was probably the brotherly conversations. *grins* I love sibling stories, brother ones especially, so I was thrilled when I realized this book had just that. Also, the bantering exchanges were priceless, and they had me smiling throughout the book. I adored the fact that the author didn't dwell only on the romantic side of the story, but also put family relationships into the book. Those are so easily over looked, and I loved it!
The catacombs were fascinating as well, and I so loved that whole part of the story!

So yes, a lovely collection of historical fairy-tales!

~I received a copy from the authors in exchange for my honest review~

[Eva-Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5

I don't know when I've gotten more genuine enjoyment out of a book. It's bumped my opinion of anthologies, novellas, and fairy-tale retellings even higher than it already was. I'll give each story an individual review.

The Mountain of the Wolf (Foley) - A good word to describe this story, I think, is bleak. Well-written, filled with interesting and believable characters, but bleak all the same. Even for a serious western. 4 stars.

She But Sleepeth (Heffington) - DNF because of all the magic. Made me sad, too, because the characters and writing were both sparklingly good. I can't give this a rating, for obvious reasons.

Rumpled (Pennington) - Oh my word, I looooved this one. So much tenseness, 'cause you know what's going to happen (plus, it made me so tense and uncomfortable, the way that the heroine had so much to hide from her husband) was wonderful and filled with cyberpunk elements that reminded me of the Lunar Chronicles. 4.5 stars.

Sweet Remembrance (Putzke) - Set in WWII and very sad, as you'd expect. The writing was always my favorite, but it still made me tear up at least a couple times. 3.5 stars.

Death Be Not Proud (Rowntree) - Wow. A very, very unique and lively retelling of Snow White. Loved the setting, the characters, and the subtle similarities to the original fairy-tale. It's hard to see those similarities when reading the story, but once I was finished and I stepped back and looked at the big picture...it was brilliant. 4.5 stars.

With Blossoms Gold (Wand) - LOVED this take on Rapunzel. Awesomely done. 4 stars.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection so much! If it's not already on your bookshelf or your Kindle, you need to add this one right away! I'd highly recommend for any fairy tale enthusiast! We've got fantastic retellings for Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Rumplestiltskin, The Little Match Girl, Snow White, and Rapunzel. Truthfully, I was really excited to see some of the lesser-known fairy tales instead of the usual two or three that everyone ends up retelling. Just a pleasant change.

The Mountain of the Wolf ~ I loved the descriptions and setting of this tale, but I found it difficult to pick up on the Little Red Riding Hood references at times. The point of view shifted a lot, jumping back and forth between the two main characters (Rosa Jean and Quincy) and then sometimes leaping out to a few minor characters, and it was a little confusing at times. However, the pace was really nice, and I got wrapped up in the story fairly quickly. By the middle, I was completely captivated. I thought it a really neat twist on the usual red hood and wolf story. Overall, I'd rate this story at 4 stars. Not my favorite of the collection, but very enjoyable, nevertheless.

She But Sleepeth ~ This was probably one of the cleverest Sleeping Beauty retellings that I've ever read. Rachel Heffington really outdid herself. The setting and historical details were brilliant and so captivating. I loved the vivid colors and descriptions! It was like reading a fairy tale on a roller coaster, honestly; so many twists and unexpected turns. I will admit, the ending caught me very much by surprise, but I thought Rachel handled it well, considering everything. But yes, for the happily ever after lover in me, it was a little disappointing. The gypsy magic was a little uncomfortable for me to read personally, as it borders on actual occult magic. I won't get on my soap box here (for space reasons) but it was because of this that I'd give this story 4 stars. Magic aside, it deserves 5 stars, but sorry, folks. That's just me.

Rumpled ~ This one ties for my favorite of the collection. I love the story of Rumplestiltskin, and this was just a brilliant retelling. Honestly, I'd reread this whole collection just for the enjoyment of devouring this tale. Fairy tale retelling + steampunk. SERIOUSLY. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? It was amazing. The tale was wonderfully paced, with twists that were so unexpected, yet crafted so beautifully into the story. SO Rumplestiltskin. Amazing. Really. I loved the steampunk references. The characters, too, were so brilliantly shaped -- instead of just slapping stereotypical fairy tale peoples into the story and calling it good, J. Grace Pennington really took the time to flesh her characters out, making them seem so real and believable. 5 stars. Hands down. No questions asked.

Sweet Remembrance ~ This story had a really interesting concept: The Little Match Girl set during World War II with Jews as the main characters. I began it hungry to get into the story, but kinda floundered a bit while reading it. The chapters alternated between present-time, present-tense action and memories in past tense. Normally, it's hard for me to read in present tense, and it was difficult for me here. But that could just be a personal thing. I thought it went well with the story, considering the emphasis on the memories, but it isn't my favorite style. The story was a sweet romance, but almost a little too sappy and moody for my taste. Knowing the original fairy tale, I began the tale knowing exactly how it would end, and while I enjoyed it, there wasn't a lot that kept me driving on until the end. The only other thing I'd say about this story is a caution about the language. Overall, good, but unfortunately not my favorite. 4 stars.

Death Be Not Proud ~ This one blew me completely away. I've never seen Snow White like this before, but it was AMAZING. I'll admit, at first I was pretty skeptical, because I couldn't see how Snow White was going to come through everything. By the end, I could only sit back in my chair and think, "That was more Snow White than Disney." 5 stars. The historical setting was difficult to follow, and that would be my main complaint. It was so cool to have a fairy tale set in New Zealand with tons of vibrant characters, but oftentimes I felt like the setting slipped into something more American and modern, making it not so completely believable. There is a lot of violence in this one (probably more than any other tale in this collection), but I thought it was handled well. In the end, I really have nothing else to do but to give it 5 stars. Thrilling, mysterious, odd, but so exciting.

With Blossoms Gold ~ If I didn't like Rumplestiltskin so much, this story would probably be my favorite. OF ALL TIME. Seriously, Hayden Wand did an amazing job. And I'm not just saying that. Rapunzel in Italy. I was skeptical, too, about this one, and I wasn't completely sold when I began it as the beginning was kinda cliche and slow. But since I love Rapunzel, I kept with it, and wow! Am I glad I did! The fairy tale details were so wonderfully woven into the story, and it just kept getting better. I found the main character Nella so realistic and believable -- and really easy to relate to. As an asthmatic, I've struggled in the past with panic attacks similar to hers, so it was so interesting to see how they were portrayed. I loved the brother scenes with Benedict and Orlando, and the whole "prince-becoming-blind" element from the original fairy tale WAS JUST SO AMAZING I CAN'T EVEN. I wish this story was a full-length novel, because I seriously need it to be. How many stars? Why ask? I wish I could give it 6.

Did I already say everyone needed to read this collection? Yes? Okay, good.

Advisory: Romance (several kisses), language, and some violence.

Please note: I received a copy of this collection from the authors in exchange for my honest review.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Mountain of the Wolf"-5 stars. I really, really loved this one. It was beautifully written, exciting, dangerous, and thrilling. Plus, I loved Quincy. What can I say? I have a soft spot for cowboys, and he was certainly a fantastic character. ;)

"She But Sleepeth"-3.5 stars. Though I don't usually like modern stories, I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The time travel aspect probably helped. ;) The writing was fresh and witty, and the characters quite lovable. I'm only giving it 3.5 stars though due to some language and just a wee bit more "dark" magic than I like. Also, that ending pretty much broke my heart and left me sobbing into my pillow, so yeah. Wasn't happy about that. But it WAS beautiful....I don't know. I have mixed feelings on this story. :'(

"Rumpled"- 3 stars. I found it a little difficult to get into the whole steampunk aspect of the story, but it WAS well written and very unique and interesting. I liked the main characters, and I also loved the heroine's relationship with the servants. Very cute and fun. :)
(Also, the romance is between an already-married-couple, which I always find sweet in a story. This one didn't disappoint. :))

"Sweet Remembrance"- 4.5 stars. OKAY CAN I JUST CRY MY EYES OUT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. Seriously, I LOVED this one. Except that it was so sad. Thus the half a star off. :P But the characters were amazing and the way the story alternated between present time and the heroine's flashbacks was really cool. AND I LOVE ROMEK. The romance between him and Kasia was just he most precious thing. I just...ahhh. Loved this story. <3

"Death Be Not Proud"- 4 stars. This was a really exciting, intriguing story and I found the plot and characters and just everything very vivid. I didn't LOVE it (I'm not sure if murder mysteries are my thing, plus I found the ending just a little quick and convenient, but hey, it's a short story) but I did really enjoy it and would definitely read it again.

"With Blossoms Gold"- 3 stars. I feel awful giving this one only 3 stars. I was looking forward to this story a lot, but it just didn't quite click with me. I did love the unique, no-magic take on the story of "Rapunzel" it told, though. The setting and plot were all very well done, and I did LIKE the characters....I just didn't exactly connect with them. :/
(But as a side note, I did love Orlando and his bride-to-be, Silvie. Maybe even more than the main couple? Oops. :/) (And Persi, Nella's cat, was absolutely adorable. :))

All in all, I'm really glad I read this collection of fairy tale retellings, and definitely recommend it! :)

[Hanna-col · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairytale retellings have quickly become a favorite of mine. For many of these stories it’s my first exposure to the fairytale, but I love them and the themes that always seem to be intricately woven into their very structure. When I learned my favorite indie authors were collaborating to release a collection of retellings together, I was ecstatic. And then I was given the opportunity to read them in exchange for a review. Cue happy dance.

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley starts out the collection of stories and ended up probably being my favorite of the six retellings. It is an atmospheric western retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that showcases my favorite aspects of Foley’s writing— a character driven plot, compelling characters, and a satisfying ending.

The second story She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington I found less to my liking. While the Romanian setting and its historical background intrigued me, the story just did not click for me personally. Something that should not in the least reflect on Miss Heffington. Her writing is something to savor and I have loved everything else I have read of hers.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington was unusual for me. I rarely ever venture into the world of steampunk, but I enjoyed this foray into the genre and it confirmed my desire to read more of Miss Pennington’s work.

I knew going into Emily Ann Putzke’s Sweet Remembrance it was going to hurt and it did. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, she retells the story of the Little Match Girl with heartbreaking vividness and reality. You can feel the cold seeping under your skin and you can feel her character’s pain. It is a tearjerker.

Suzannah Rowntree can weave a story like no one else. She has a way with words that is stunning to behold and this vibrant fast paced mystery set in Jazz era New Zealand does not disappoint. Death Be Not Proud kept me glued to the page from start to finish.

I did not know what to expect going into Hayden Wand’s With Blossoms Gold but was delighted by its sweet story and what I found to be a somewhat different take on the tale of Rapunzel.

I have to hand it to these ladies. They are excellent at their craft and masters of description. Each story came to life in its own unique way that made it memorable. I would highly recommend this collection to lovers of fairytales and historical fiction, or anyone who loves a good story.

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

[Katie Hanna]

I'll be updating these as I go along.

Mountain of the Wolf--3 stars. The action-to-dialogue ratio was too heavy for me (y'all know how I am about action scenes blehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh), but the romance was VERY sweet and I enjoyed it. <333

She But Sleepeth--2 stars. *scratches head* I don't get it.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I'm gonna be honest and say I didn't actually read this whole book. I skipped two stories because they just didn't sound like ones I would enjoy. But I'll review the ones I did read.

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley. Five stars. I didn't actually realize what fairytale this was until the end, but I loved it. It was sweet and slow, and I loved the romance. I'm not normally a fan of western books, but this one was amazing.

She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington. One star. I have never been a fan of sleeping beauty, but I've always loved the prince. In this though? We're jerked between modern and one hundred years in the past in a dizzying way. The main girl is not really lovable, and she uses magic. Both the main characters say they are Christian but they use spells, and never pray, and never seem to bring God into anything. I really hated all the magic and thought it was sending a bad message that these suposidly Christian characters don't even ask for God's help when He is stronger then any magic out there. Also, it's got a horrible ending.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington. Five stars. I loved this! I have never read a Rumplestiltskin retelling, so it was fun to see it in a new light. I loved Amanda. She was a loveable, vulnerable, sweet girl, and her inventions were fun. The romance was just about the sweetest thing, and I really appreciated how the author handled some rather delicate situations. The ending was really good, and just went to show how amazing all these characters were. They felt like real people.

I skipped Sweet Remembrance and Death Be Not Proud

With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Wand. Five stars. I found this book the easiest to imagine it really happening. I loved the romance and their journey. I wrote a full review for it here: My review

Overall, I liked one half of the collection. I would recommend specific stories, but not the whole collection.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well now! I am quite impressed with the imaginations of these six authors to take well known fairytales and spin them so differently, yet keep enough of the familiar so that one recognizes the basic storyline. I've seen each of them around the web and was thrilled to finally get a chance to taste a bit of their writing. Let me just say that I will definitely be checking out more from each of them. (Also, can I mention that I loved Rachel Heffington's preface? It set the stage so perfectly for me to begin reading!) Every single one of these stories is so very well-written, and seriously, the creativeness involved in displacing these familiar characters on new and exciting adventures is fabulous. Kudos, ladies! Y'all have a new fan. :)

Each story is quite different from the others. Ms. Foley clearly excels in writing westerns, as that genre doesn't usually interest me, yet I got swept away and anxiously wondered how things were going to turn out. I shouldn't have worried! Ms. Heffington's story was by far the one I was uncertain about the most. Not her writing, but just the fact that there was an overall sadness surrounding the characters. I kept hoping that somehow my desired happy ending would come! Turns out it was more of a hopeful ending than a happy one, but that didn't take away from the imaginativeness she used. I was quite intrigued with the world she created! Ms. Pennington's ended up being my favorite of the six, I have to admit. I absolutely loved the slow burn romance and how sweet Byron was. And the automatons and machines that Amanda created!

Ms. Putzke gave her story a very bittersweet feeling. But the alternating chapters between present time and past was so well done! As were the descriptions of how horrible it was for the Jews during WWII. I kept hoping just maybe a happy ending would come, but ultimately I figured out that wouldn't have worked. Ms. Putzke knew how the journey needed to go. I definitely appreciated the hopefulness that infused the overall storyline though. Ms. Rowntree's story was certainly a fascinating one! I kept trying to figure out who I should trust and who I shouldn't and still wasn't totally right by the time the clues all came together. She created a unique setting, I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I started chapter one, so my curiosity was high. While not my favorite, I have to say I was invested to know what would happen! And finally, Ms. Wand's story was a sweet way to end the book. While not every scene involved sweetness necessarily (there were harsh moments where the roughness of war needed to be made clear), ultimately it made me grin over the adorable romance. Also I liked the fact that Nella's struggles weren't magically over at the end. She made huge strides in overcoming, but time was still needed for complete healing. Which is very true of life!

Altogether, these stories are a wonderful and easy read. While not the fluffy bits of entertainment one usually associates with fairytales, each writer added a few of those moments somewhere in her story. Enough to satisfy a fairytale lover like me! :) These six stories are truly worth your time to read, friends. When you're in need of a quick story to while away a couple hours, one that will make you smile and keep you on your toes, this little book is perfect. Trust me! :)

**I received a complimentary copy from the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Ness Kingsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book/boxset/anthology was placed into my paws for free, the only unspoken condition being that I should be honest in my review. This is my review. It has honesty. I rate it at three-and-half-to-four-let's-call-it-three-point-seven-five-stars

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley confused me at first. I didn't know which fairytale it was inspired by and so assumed that it was an obscure German one. (It wasn't.) Despite the fact that Westerns aren't always my cup of tea, this grew on me and I found myself enjoying it. Rosa Jean was stubborn though, maybe I missed something, but logic, girl, logic.

Also, there is a horse called Pheasant. I approve of the name. (As an irrelevant side note: if you are ever out driving in the English countryside at night you'll find that pheasants have suicidal inclinations.)

She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington was an adventure. (All books are adventures but still ...) Things happened in quick, breath-taking succession and my only complaint was that it felt as though it needed a little more time. Things were accepted too quickly. I needed more time with certain characters to fully feel the KAPOW! of the *cough* spoiler *cough*

But this was a fairytale re-telling. Allowances shall be made. I liked the ending. (Isn't that ambiguous? But seriously. I liked it.)

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington reconciled me to a fairytale that I've never really liked. I wasn't sure that I would like the heroine but, y'know, character development happened. I was immensely proud of her when she started on the dusters and hoovers and KitchenAids.

Sweet Remembrance by Emily Ann Putzke was bitter-sweet. Somewhere Only We Know (sung by Lily Allan) fitted my mood reading this perfectly. Only ... I'm still not certain which fairytale it was inspired by.

Death Be Not Proud by Suzannah Rowntree puzzled me at first. Which fairytale WAS it? But then I realised. And then I felt awfully smug for putting the puzzle pieces together. This has a touch of Mary Stewart and a dash of Poirot (look, I felt I was in a good and proper 'who dunnit' okay?). Quite the read.

The more I read With Blossoms Gold by Hayden Ward the more I became enchanted by it. It reminded me a little of Melanie Dickerson's writing, but I enjoyed it more (forgive me, Dickerson fans!). The story fit its length well, the characters grow, the back-stories are well fleshed out and I want the heroine's tower. And library. And cat. Is that too much to ask? No. No, it's not.

Review on my blog. I have gifs and no cookies. I apologise for the deficiency of the latter

[Andrew Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found ONCE to be collection of wonderfully imaginative and original, fairy-tales retold. The stories are all well put together and are intensely gripping. For me, the diversity of the different stories in the collection was probably the most appealing thing. Within these six different novellas, you get a taste of western, fantasy, steampunk, history, and mystery.

My favorite was Sweet Remembrance, a re-telling of The Little Match Girl in WWII Poland. This story gives one a good glimpse of Jewish suffering in the Warsaw ghetto. Despite its' excellence in historical setting, Sweet Remembrance was quite distressing in its' poignant sadness. As a sort of Last Post in literary format, it was superb.

The Mountain of the Wolf was, I thought, possibly the best written of them all. It was also the most realistic, which despite the fact that this collection is compiled of fairy-tale re-tellings, was quite attractive.

She But Sleepeth was the one story from this book that I did not find satisfying. I found myself uncomfortable with the moral complexities of spells and magic, used in this one. The ending too, left me slightly bewildered and disgruntled. Aside from that, the character building was very good, particularly the main villain, whose presentation was one of the best I have read.

Rumpled was fun. I have never really read steampunk, but this introduction to it was calculated to bring be back for more. I especially enjoyed the world-building of this story; the setting was crafted excellently to back the tale.

Death Be Not Proud was an intriguing and sinister mystery, set in NZ. I enjoyed the themes in this novella, life triumphing over death and deception eventually being unmasked. However, the schemes and subterfuge of this story were a little difficult to follow. Particularly in the end, where things come to a head rather rapidly, and leave one feeling mildly bewildered. As well as wanting to choke the villain.

With Blossoms Gold was a story that was enjoyable to read, with a good, strong theme of facing duty. I appreciated the flavor of Italian, Renaissance time, court intrigue and kingdom rivalry.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book as an excellent example of fairy-tale re-tellings. It also gives you a wide taste of genres, while maintaining a common thread throughout all the different novellas.

[Cela Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read widely, caring less for genre boundaries than you do about discovering imaginative, well-crafted stories wherever you can find them, then I recommend this collection to you!

And if you love retold fairy tales for the sheer ingenuity of the thing - the joy of experiencing human creativity as it launches familiar themes into new genres and settings and characterizations, and explores well-traveled territory in fresh and inspiring ways - then I heartily recommend this collection to you!

Whether or not you like all of these tales equally well might very well be a measure of how many different genres and historical time periods you normally enjoy reading. But despite these differences, I found this collection to have a powerful unity of theme. That theme is Courage:

Courage to surrender one's bitterness for the hope of something better. Courage to love in the face of despair and even death. Courage to admit one's need for mercy - and then extend it to another. Courage to face the darkest secrets of one's past in order to have hope for the future. Courage to confront one's deepest, most uncontainable fears for someone else's sake.

For me, these things embody what I think of as the Queen Lucy of Narnia kind of courage.

Who doesn't need a shot of that kind of courage? So allow me to encourage you to be good to yourself today: Read this book. Find refreshment. Find new courage. Enjoy.

Note: Although I received an ARC from the authors in exchange for an honest review, I've also purchased my own copy on Amazon because I know I'll reread it in the future, so I wanted to have the final, published version on my ebook shelf.

[Bethany Oetken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The four stars is an overall rating, because I really loved one, but the rest.... I don't know. My favorite was "Death be not Proud". Suzannah Rowntree is one of my favorite authors, so I was looking forward to her story the most, I must admit. What I enjoyed most about hers, as it pertains to the fairytale elements, was that it didn't seem like a retelling, but a full fledged story of it's own, with little glimmers of the fairytale showing through. I felt that the first story, "The Mountain of the Wolf" had a similar feeling in that regard, which I enjoyed. It gave them an unpredictability, which is a fun element for such well known tales.
So while I didn't dislike the other stories, compared to the inventiveness of those two, they weren't quite as engaging for me to read, although they had their good elements as well.
This was a hard review to write, so I'll leave you with this. If you like fairytales with a twist of something new, or I should say historical, then this is certainly a fun little read.

*I was given a copy of this book for a honest review*

[Tirzah Eleora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I do say what fairytales the stories are based on in the following review. If you'd rather not know prior to reading, stop now!

4 stars for The Mountain of the Wolf!
Beginning this story, I wasn't sure if it was quite my thing since I've never touched the Western genre, but I greatly enjoyed it! Miss Foley's writing is excellent; it pulled me into the story and kept me wanting to turn the page. The story maintains an even, easy pace for the most part, but then escalates into a suspenseful climax. As far as the Little Red Riding Hood elements go, they are lurking in the corners for most of the story, but it is only when we get to the climax that it really comes out and we understand all the little hints that have been dropped previously. At first the lack of recognizable similarities to the fairytale made me wonder, but in the end I liked that the author wasn't screaming "Retelling!!" right off of the bat. She leaves those bits a mystery for the reader to try and figure out before she helps us along. Aside from a very predictable romance, a great tale! Recommended.

She But Sleepeth
After that great beginning story, this one was a bit of a letdown. The writing felt incoherent, as if the author were making it up as she went along, and I didn't like the main character at all. It turned out to be a time travel story, which can be hard for the best of writers to pull off, and here it just added to the confusion and lack of consistency in tone. DNF.

Rumpled 2.5 stars
I enjoyed reading this one, but it didn't blow me away with the creativity or anything. The plot is basically identical to the fairytale it's based on, Rumpelstiltskin, with just the world it's in changed. The romance and using Disney princess song names for chapter titles were cute though.

Sweet Remembrances A solid 5 stars.
This. Story. The Little Match Girl retold as a the tragic romance of two Jewish teenagers in a Polish ghetto. It's heartbreaking and it's so beautiful. The prose takes you to another place; one where you can feel the hate and cold, and the love and warmth. I teared up at the end, and if you only read one story in this collection, make it this one.

Death Be Not Proud 3.5 stars. Cleverly done retelling of Snow White. Written as murder mystery in New Zealand during the 1920s, it has a great Gatsby vibe going. (See what I did there??) It's kinda confusing at times, and I felt the author could have cleared things up at the end more, but I really enjoyed reading it!

With Blossoms Gold 2.5 stars
I was expecting to like this one since I've heard pretty good things about it. But honestly, it felt uninspired and was quite chiché, especially in the first half of the story. The characters were poorly developed; there's a whole lot a' telling and not much showing. I also couldn't help but feel that the author had been heavily influenced by Disney's Tangled. Still, it's not a bad read if you aren't picky about how original your retellings are.