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Yolen's Short Fiction #2
The Emerald Circus
Enter the Emerald Circus and be astonished by the transformations of your favorite tales. Ringmaster and internationally bestselling author Jane Yolen (Briar Rose, Sister Emily’s Lightship) spins modern fantasy classics in tales that go well beyond Wonderland and Oz, down the rabbit hole and back again.
Where is Wendy? Leading a labor strike against the Lost Boys, of course!
It’s time to go back to—and beyond—the treasured tales you thought you knew: The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and many more. Ringmaster and internationally bestselling author Jane Yolen (Briar Rose, Sister Emily’s Lightship) spins modern fantasy classics for delighted readers. A girl blown away from Kansas returns as a sophisticate with unusual gymnastic abilities. A talented apprentice, forging her first sword, is suddenly left to the mercies of Merlin. Alice’s infamous nemesis has jaws and claws, but also lacks the essential: a sense of humor.
Witty and bold, and unexpected, these tales go well beyond the rabbit hole and back again.
Table of Contents
Andersen’s Witch
Lost Girls
Tough Alice
Blown Away
A Knot of Toads
The Quiet Monk
The Bird
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame
Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown
A Gift of Magicians
Rabbit Hole
Our Lady of the Greenwood
The Confession of Brother Blaise
Wonder Land
Evian Steel
Sister Emily’s Lightship
Where is Wendy? Leading a labor strike against the Lost Boys, of course!
It’s time to go back to—and beyond—the treasured tales you thought you knew: The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and many more. Ringmaster and internationally bestselling author Jane Yolen (Briar Rose, Sister Emily’s Lightship) spins modern fantasy classics for delighted readers. A girl blown away from Kansas returns as a sophisticate with unusual gymnastic abilities. A talented apprentice, forging her first sword, is suddenly left to the mercies of Merlin. Alice’s infamous nemesis has jaws and claws, but also lacks the essential: a sense of humor.
Witty and bold, and unexpected, these tales go well beyond the rabbit hole and back again.
Table of Contents
Andersen’s Witch
Lost Girls
Tough Alice
Blown Away
A Knot of Toads
The Quiet Monk
The Bird
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame
Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown
A Gift of Magicians
Rabbit Hole
Our Lady of the Greenwood
The Confession of Brother Blaise
Wonder Land
Evian Steel
Sister Emily’s Lightship
286 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
120 people are currently reading
5427 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
971 books3,230 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
June 5, 2018
The Emerald Circus
(Note: For an explanation of my Goodreads policy, please see here.)
I’ve loved Jane Yolen’s writing since I was a youth. There’s something delicious about the way she takes old tropes, myths, or fairy tales and does a compelling–yet often twisted–take on them. (Her book Dragon’s Blood, for example, is the classic “kid raises a dragon egg” story, except here he raises the dragon to compete in brutal cock-fighting-style contests.)
In an era where “fairy tell retellings” have become hip and popular, Jane continues to show she’s a master of reimagining old stories with a new context. This collection (named after a story where Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz ended up in a circus instead of a fantasy world) is an excellent sampling of these stories. Often, they are about context. The story of the people who were there at Merlin’s birth, for example, or a fanciful story of how Hans Christian Anderson might have encountered one of the creatures from his tales.
Lyrical, at times hilarious, and always poignant, this is the best short story collection I’ve read in years. It contains not one, but two nebula-award winning stories, and is being released on the year when Jane herself has been named a SFWA Grand Master. (The highest honor the science fiction community can bestow.)
I can’t recommend this collection enough. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. It contains some of the best stories by one of the best writers of our time.
For Writers
Jane has an excellent sense for where to start and end a short story, as well as a way of looking beyond the average “retelling” of a folk tale. While I have nothing against many modern fairy tale retellings (and have enjoyed a number of them) it’s much harder (and, I feel, rewarding) to take a few extra steps when telling one of these stories.
For example, a lot of modern day fairy tale retellings will do the story straight, but transpose the setting. (Robin Hood in space, or Beauty and the Beast as a Greek tragedy.) As you read this collection, pay close attention to the character Jane decides as the viewpoint character–it’s often not the one you would expect from a “quick and dirty” retelling. Yet, it creates an innate tension which Jane exploits, as in many cases, we know these stories–so the tale itself is not surprising. It’s the eyes we see it through, and how these perhaps side characters influence the tale, or are influenced by it themselves.
What she leaves out is in many ways the most interesting part of this collection. I suggest trying to understand why she began, or ended, each story where she did–and why she often avoided the most obvious pieces.
The Short Version
This excellent collection reimagines folktales, fairy tales, and sometimes historical people in new and surprising light. It is a brilliant example of short-form storytelling by one of the treasures of the science fiction community.
Rating Notes
There are a few scenes that step up to the PG-13 line and look across, but none that get explicit.
Bias Notes
I was given a copy of this book free for review by a publisher who has also done some of my stories. (They know I’m a big fan of Jane’s work.) I’ve occasionally stood in line to get books signed by Jane Yolen, so I didn’t exactly start reading this book with no bias.
(Note: For an explanation of my Goodreads policy, please see here.)
I’ve loved Jane Yolen’s writing since I was a youth. There’s something delicious about the way she takes old tropes, myths, or fairy tales and does a compelling–yet often twisted–take on them. (Her book Dragon’s Blood, for example, is the classic “kid raises a dragon egg” story, except here he raises the dragon to compete in brutal cock-fighting-style contests.)
In an era where “fairy tell retellings” have become hip and popular, Jane continues to show she’s a master of reimagining old stories with a new context. This collection (named after a story where Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz ended up in a circus instead of a fantasy world) is an excellent sampling of these stories. Often, they are about context. The story of the people who were there at Merlin’s birth, for example, or a fanciful story of how Hans Christian Anderson might have encountered one of the creatures from his tales.
Lyrical, at times hilarious, and always poignant, this is the best short story collection I’ve read in years. It contains not one, but two nebula-award winning stories, and is being released on the year when Jane herself has been named a SFWA Grand Master. (The highest honor the science fiction community can bestow.)
I can’t recommend this collection enough. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. It contains some of the best stories by one of the best writers of our time.
For Writers
Jane has an excellent sense for where to start and end a short story, as well as a way of looking beyond the average “retelling” of a folk tale. While I have nothing against many modern fairy tale retellings (and have enjoyed a number of them) it’s much harder (and, I feel, rewarding) to take a few extra steps when telling one of these stories.
For example, a lot of modern day fairy tale retellings will do the story straight, but transpose the setting. (Robin Hood in space, or Beauty and the Beast as a Greek tragedy.) As you read this collection, pay close attention to the character Jane decides as the viewpoint character–it’s often not the one you would expect from a “quick and dirty” retelling. Yet, it creates an innate tension which Jane exploits, as in many cases, we know these stories–so the tale itself is not surprising. It’s the eyes we see it through, and how these perhaps side characters influence the tale, or are influenced by it themselves.
What she leaves out is in many ways the most interesting part of this collection. I suggest trying to understand why she began, or ended, each story where she did–and why she often avoided the most obvious pieces.
The Short Version
This excellent collection reimagines folktales, fairy tales, and sometimes historical people in new and surprising light. It is a brilliant example of short-form storytelling by one of the treasures of the science fiction community.
Rating Notes
There are a few scenes that step up to the PG-13 line and look across, but none that get explicit.
Bias Notes
I was given a copy of this book free for review by a publisher who has also done some of my stories. (They know I’m a big fan of Jane’s work.) I’ve occasionally stood in line to get books signed by Jane Yolen, so I didn’t exactly start reading this book with no bias.
August 6, 2019
The Emerald Circus is a short story collection by Jane Yolen, who's so very talented and literate. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Under the big top of The Emerald Circus (2017) is a fantastical assemblage of sixteen short stories and novelettes by Jane Yolen. Historical figures like Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Disraeli, Hans Christian Andersen and Edgar Allen Poe enter the three rings and shed their normal identities, dancing across the high wires and peering into tigers’ mouths. In this circus’ House of Mirrors we also see unexpectedly twisted reflections of fictional characters like Alice in Wonderland (who makes an appearance here in two very different Yolen tales), Merlin, and Dorothy Gale. A few fairy tale characters ― the Snow Queen, Beauty and the Beast, Red Riding Hood and the wolf ― round out the performers in this entrancing circus.
My favorite stories in this collection:
“Andersen’s Witch” ― Hans, a young boy from a destitute, conflict-ridden family, is visited by the Ice Maiden one night, who grants him his three wishes. He wishes for a bed long enough for his legs to fit, for his Papa to get well enough to earn money for the family, and to become a rich poet, a digter. Like wishes granted by faeries, though, those granted by the Ice Maiden may twist in the way they are granted.
“Lost Girls” ― Darla, angry because it isn’t fair that Wendy does all the housework in Neverland and Peter Pan and the boys get to fight pirates, goes to bed and finds herself in Neverland. It’s even worse than she imagined: there’s a whole slew of girls (all of them dismissively called “Wendy” by Peter Pan and the Lost Boys) doing all of the cleaning for a group of extremely messy boys. Darla decides to lead a strike (“Being the daughter of a labor lawyer had its advantages”) in this delightful take on Peter Pan.
“Blown Away” ― Dorothy Gale does indeed get blown away by a cyclone in this story, narrated by Tom, one of the farm hands. When Dorothy returns seven years later, claiming that she’d experienced a memory loss and had been adopted by the Emerald Circus, Tom wonders about the truth of her story. It’s intriguing to trace the connections between this story and the original Wizard of Oz story by L. Frank Baum (the fate of Toto is eyebrow-raising), but more interesting is the insights into the various characters, like the long-hidden feelings of Tom’s wife Amelia.
“Evian Steel” ― This story is a type of prequel to the King Arthur legend, set on Ynis Evelonia, an island of women who make the finest swords known in the kingdom. Elaine is sent to the island as a young girl, to live there for the rest of her life. It’s a difficult transition, but gradually she settles in and begins to get to know the other girls and to learn the art of sword making. When the time comes for Elaine’s older friend Veree to go through an initiation process, Elaine wishes to stand by her in her trial.
In some of the other stories, Alice makes a return trip to Wonderland and has to face her greatest fear in the Jabberwock (“Tough Alice”), Beauty and the Beast channel O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” with an outcome that I definitely did not expect (“The Gift of the Magicians”), Robin Hood’s dying mother has a terrifying request to make of his nurse when her son is born (“Our Lady of the Greenwood”), and Emily Dickinson meets … an unexpectedly inspiring space alien (“Sister Emily’s Lightship”). It’s a varied and imaginative collection.
A few of these stories, like “The Bird,” in which Edgar and his young, ailing wife discuss their bothersome pet raven, are vignettes, glimpses of events in a character’s life, rich with imagery but perhaps too brief or one-note to make a lasting impression. On the other hand, “Wonder Land,” though even shorter, packs a sensual, feminist punch in three pages.
Except for “The Bird,” these are previously published stories; for example, four of them appeared in an earlier Yolen short fiction collection, Sister Emily's Lightship and Other Stories. Here, though, each story is accompanied by Yolen’s insightful story notes at the end of this collection, and by a blank verse poem (most of which are new) that relates topically or thematically to that story. For example, “Tough Alice,” in which Alice desperately battles the Jabberwock, is accompanied by this thought-provoking poem:
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for review. Thank you!
Under the big top of The Emerald Circus (2017) is a fantastical assemblage of sixteen short stories and novelettes by Jane Yolen. Historical figures like Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Disraeli, Hans Christian Andersen and Edgar Allen Poe enter the three rings and shed their normal identities, dancing across the high wires and peering into tigers’ mouths. In this circus’ House of Mirrors we also see unexpectedly twisted reflections of fictional characters like Alice in Wonderland (who makes an appearance here in two very different Yolen tales), Merlin, and Dorothy Gale. A few fairy tale characters ― the Snow Queen, Beauty and the Beast, Red Riding Hood and the wolf ― round out the performers in this entrancing circus.
My favorite stories in this collection:
“Andersen’s Witch” ― Hans, a young boy from a destitute, conflict-ridden family, is visited by the Ice Maiden one night, who grants him his three wishes. He wishes for a bed long enough for his legs to fit, for his Papa to get well enough to earn money for the family, and to become a rich poet, a digter. Like wishes granted by faeries, though, those granted by the Ice Maiden may twist in the way they are granted.
Surely a price will be demanded, he thought feverishly. Witches promise you sweets and then shove you in the oven.Can the grown man Hans, the famous digter, outwit the Ice Maiden who has become the cold Snow Queen?
“Lost Girls” ― Darla, angry because it isn’t fair that Wendy does all the housework in Neverland and Peter Pan and the boys get to fight pirates, goes to bed and finds herself in Neverland. It’s even worse than she imagined: there’s a whole slew of girls (all of them dismissively called “Wendy” by Peter Pan and the Lost Boys) doing all of the cleaning for a group of extremely messy boys. Darla decides to lead a strike (“Being the daughter of a labor lawyer had its advantages”) in this delightful take on Peter Pan.
“Blown Away” ― Dorothy Gale does indeed get blown away by a cyclone in this story, narrated by Tom, one of the farm hands. When Dorothy returns seven years later, claiming that she’d experienced a memory loss and had been adopted by the Emerald Circus, Tom wonders about the truth of her story. It’s intriguing to trace the connections between this story and the original Wizard of Oz story by L. Frank Baum (the fate of Toto is eyebrow-raising), but more interesting is the insights into the various characters, like the long-hidden feelings of Tom’s wife Amelia.
“Evian Steel” ― This story is a type of prequel to the King Arthur legend, set on Ynis Evelonia, an island of women who make the finest swords known in the kingdom. Elaine is sent to the island as a young girl, to live there for the rest of her life. It’s a difficult transition, but gradually she settles in and begins to get to know the other girls and to learn the art of sword making. When the time comes for Elaine’s older friend Veree to go through an initiation process, Elaine wishes to stand by her in her trial.
In some of the other stories, Alice makes a return trip to Wonderland and has to face her greatest fear in the Jabberwock (“Tough Alice”), Beauty and the Beast channel O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” with an outcome that I definitely did not expect (“The Gift of the Magicians”), Robin Hood’s dying mother has a terrifying request to make of his nurse when her son is born (“Our Lady of the Greenwood”), and Emily Dickinson meets … an unexpectedly inspiring space alien (“Sister Emily’s Lightship”). It’s a varied and imaginative collection.
A few of these stories, like “The Bird,” in which Edgar and his young, ailing wife discuss their bothersome pet raven, are vignettes, glimpses of events in a character’s life, rich with imagery but perhaps too brief or one-note to make a lasting impression. On the other hand, “Wonder Land,” though even shorter, packs a sensual, feminist punch in three pages.
Except for “The Bird,” these are previously published stories; for example, four of them appeared in an earlier Yolen short fiction collection, Sister Emily's Lightship and Other Stories. Here, though, each story is accompanied by Yolen’s insightful story notes at the end of this collection, and by a blank verse poem (most of which are new) that relates topically or thematically to that story. For example, “Tough Alice,” in which Alice desperately battles the Jabberwock, is accompanied by this thought-provoking poem:
Managing Your FlamingoThe Emerald Circus is a circus worth visiting and revisiting from time to time.
So there she is, Alice underground,
life more complex than imagined.
A game, she’s told, though without
rules or white lines or a sense of finality.
They hand her a bird, the pink of longing,
beak as sharp as an executioner’s sword,
its gangle of legs tangling her skirt.
The queen growls: Manage your flamingo,
and the others shout: Play on, play through.
As if it were life.
As perhaps it is.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for review. Thank you!
October 16, 2017
The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen is a collection of short stories with an introduction to the works done by author Holly Black. I do believe some of these by Yolen at least have been published before but I was not familiar with her work so the entire collection was new to me. I'm not a huge fan of short stories myself but when seeing this I realized that some of the collection included stories on some of my favorite stories such as Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland so of course I had to check this one out.
Of course when all was said and done my favorites are the ones I was looking forward to reading although there were a few others within the book that I also quite enjoyed too. There were however a few stories that I wondered why they were even included as there didn't seem to be much to them but perhaps someone that loves short stories overall would enjoy them more than myself who is always thinking were is the rest of this when it comes to short stories or books. I think though that regardless of being a huge fan of this type of read if you are interested in retellings and new twists on old classics then you'll at least enjoy those stories.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Of course when all was said and done my favorites are the ones I was looking forward to reading although there were a few others within the book that I also quite enjoyed too. There were however a few stories that I wondered why they were even included as there didn't seem to be much to them but perhaps someone that loves short stories overall would enjoy them more than myself who is always thinking were is the rest of this when it comes to short stories or books. I think though that regardless of being a huge fan of this type of read if you are interested in retellings and new twists on old classics then you'll at least enjoy those stories.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
August 14, 2017
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I like fairytales and the cover screamed, "Take me. You love me."Many of them are tangential storylines based on children lit masterpieces or the authors: Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland (a few inspirations), Wizard of Oz. Fun, clever, and the tone employed for each is reflective of the original work, but with a critical twist in perspective or takeaway.
Then the stories move to series of Arthurian legends, a fae as well as some folklore inspired stories, and famous personalities like Queen Victoria and Disraeli and Edgar Allan Poe. These are darker in tone. Some are definitely stronger than others, and some are longer than others, but overall I think it is a diverting collection of short stories. Perfect for reading right before bed as you settle in for the night. Never fear, there are end notes about the inspirations for each of the stories to appease reader curiosity.
This is a nice collection, somewhere between 3.5-4 stars in rating terms. I recommend it to readers who enjoy original takes inspired by classics.
~Copy provided by NetGalley~
Then the stories move to series of Arthurian legends, a fae as well as some folklore inspired stories, and famous personalities like Queen Victoria and Disraeli and Edgar Allan Poe. These are darker in tone. Some are definitely stronger than others, and some are longer than others, but overall I think it is a diverting collection of short stories. Perfect for reading right before bed as you settle in for the night. Never fear, there are end notes about the inspirations for each of the stories to appease reader curiosity.
This is a nice collection, somewhere between 3.5-4 stars in rating terms. I recommend it to readers who enjoy original takes inspired by classics.
~Copy provided by NetGalley~
August 28, 2017
This is a mixed bag of stories, in all genres and styles, all combined by their (sometimes tenuous) links to original fairy tales, myths, and legends. These short retellings received a mixture of responses for me, with some being deceptively clever and poignantly written, to others falling short and feeling rather pointless. Whilst I enjoyed finding the myriad of original tales mentioned and did find this a well-written anthology, I wasn't sold on every one of the tales gathered within, and therefore could only give a mediocre star rating. This is, however, well-worth a read as some gems await to be discovered within.
Andersen’s Witch - 4/5 stars
This focuses on the son of a washerwoman and a shoemaker. Right from the very beginning this seemed to evoke the classic fairy tale vibe, even before the intermission of any magical disturbances. Discontent with his life of poverty and struggle young Hans makes a bargain with the Ice Maiden that will see his current position in life reversed as he ages. But making a deal with the Ice Maiden is fraught with difficulties and loop-holes, as Hans will soon find out for himself.
I enjoyed this tale but right up until the last few paragraphs wondered what the point of it all would be. Once the ending was revealed it completely changed the tone of the preceding writing and turned this into a joyful, lovely little piece.
This also showcased some truly lovely penmanship. Peppered with lovely expressions, such as “a low cloud cover, like a well-made bed, kept everything neat and tidy”, I was eager to carry on with this collection to see if the others would prove to be as captivating.
Lost Girls - 4/5 stars
From the title I had assumed this to be a Peter Pan retelling, but with switched genders for the young island inhabitants. The appearance of Captain Hook in the very first paragraph proved this assumption correct.
This revoked the darkness of the original Peter Pan tale, rather than retelling the Disney version, as Peter isn’t content with just one Wendy and has stolen a total of sixteen young girls to serve him and his horde of lost boys.
This is a modern feminist re-visioning of the Wendys’ fate. The expectations of the females to serve the males is accepted by all the previous Wendys, taken from throughout history and seen as figureheads of their individual time periods, but it takes the modern-day Wendy to inform them of the unfairness of this treatment. With new notions of gender equality invading their thoughts, the Wendy’s revolt! And through this political uprising the reader is made aware of the satirical and political edge to this tale, and a democratic community is created to replace the previously accepted dictatorship.
Tough Alice - 4/5 stars
The original Alice is one of my favourite books so I was eagerly anticipating reading this re-telling. I was initially disappointed,as the first portion of this was just a whistle-stop tour of the events from the original. That is, until the battle with the Jaberwock.
This felt most like a traditional fairy tale, as it was tinged with a moralistic edge that gave the events a wry feel. Despite its shortness this left the reader much to mull over and, again like the original tales, had an ageless and timeless appeal because of this.
Blown Away - 3/5 stars
This Wizard of Oz retelling began much like the original, only with Toto’s fate being decidedly less wholesome than in the original. Once the tornado hit Dorothy’s farm and she disappeared with the winds, this follows the lives of those left behind to mourn her.
When Dorothy returns she tells the story of what happened whilst she was far away. As part of the Emerald Circus, which this anthology is named after, she lived an extraordinary life before returning, seven years later, to her rural farm life. She changed the way the farm folk viewed their lives and inspired a yearn for otherness in some, or an acceptance of their lot in others. I found the ending of this as poignant as the others but it just missed out on the insightfulness the others seemed to achieve.
A Knot of Toads - 2/5 stars
This probably had the best title of the collection and, so, I was intrigued and excited to begin reading it.
It was easy to fall in love with a protagonist who loves books but the rest of the story kept me at a distance. For such a short piece there seemed too much preamble before the main point of the story. I also think the fantasy of the story is obvious to a reader who is aware of fables including amphibians. Once set up nothing happens for some time and I found this a dull addition to the anthology.
The Quiet Monk - 3/5 stars
The Quiet Monk has come to join the brotherhood and share the burden that haunts him. His mysterious past makes him the focus of much speculation and eagerness to learn what drove him to wandering and religion.
This brought some much needed diversity to the collection and, whilst I was not aware of any original tale it was based from, enjoyed the legends evoked in the piece. This was another slower paced story, like the last three, yet I thought it worked well in this instance.
The Bird - 4/5 stars
This begun with a hilarious anecdote of a bird who defecates wherever it lands. Its owner is at the end of his tether with his uncontrollable pet. But however negatively he feels towards it, he feels quite the opposite for Virginia. This object of his affections is brought to meet the bird but It ends up delivering far more than just amusement.
Despite the shortness of this piece it managed to deliver a surprise ending that belied the frivolity of its beginning. In a Gothic twist of events this managed to completely turn the tone of the tale around in just a few paragraphs.
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame - 3/5 stars
The reader is invited to feel nothing but dislike and distrust for the protagonist, who willingly cheats on his betrothed during his bachelor party. I adore stories with unlikable focal characters, so this immediately intrigued me. Before this even got started it seemed to end, however, which stunted my enjoyment.
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown - 3/5 stars
This follows on, in dual perspectives, from one discussions between two individuals - Disraeli and Queen Victoria. Whilst with a distinct magical twist, the basis for this story is authentic and an unlikely friendship did, in fact, form between the renowned duo.
This is a fascinating insight to the historical period detailed. Discussions of religion and belief dominate and form much of the text’s focus. Through these conversations a heartening relationship is formed and the reader is privy to its conception.
The Gift of the Magician’s - 2/5 stars
The note by the title exclaims ‘with apologies for You Know Who’, which evoked a link to Harry Potter, in my mind. Immediately, though, the reader is introduced to Belle and the Beast, which confused me, before this quickly transforming into an Alice in Wonderland retelling. There was too much going on in this one for me to understand any of it.
The Lady of the Greenwood - 4/5 stars
I believe this is my first ever Robin Hood retelling so I was intrigued with what I was going to discover. This begun nothing like the original tale and with no discernible links to it. A boy is born on the stroke of midnight and, with instructions from his now deceased mother, the midwife is to deliver him to the fae who reside in the forest. The woman’s journey through the glade is penned with a poetic beauty that made me feel the dappled moonlight and gentle stroke of leaves, as we made our way to the forest’s heart together. It also made me feel the creep of dread with what possibilities could lay in the shadows.
Despite enjoying this tale I wondered where the links to the renowned Robin Hood would come about. The reader is not provided with this information until the very last line. This, like the earlier pieces in this collection, used the withholding of information to the story’s power and made this a far stronger piece by doing so.
The Confession of Brother Blaise - 3/5 stars
This tale was set in the year 1125, in a monastery. A young girl falls pregnant within the confines of the monastery walls and claims it to be the product of a liaison that happened entirely inside her dreams. Despite the brothers of the monastery crying of the devil’s work, I could not help but to see links between this story and that of the biblical birth of Jesus. Whether that was the author’s intention or not, I can not say.
Andersen’s Witch - 4/5 stars
This focuses on the son of a washerwoman and a shoemaker. Right from the very beginning this seemed to evoke the classic fairy tale vibe, even before the intermission of any magical disturbances. Discontent with his life of poverty and struggle young Hans makes a bargain with the Ice Maiden that will see his current position in life reversed as he ages. But making a deal with the Ice Maiden is fraught with difficulties and loop-holes, as Hans will soon find out for himself.
I enjoyed this tale but right up until the last few paragraphs wondered what the point of it all would be. Once the ending was revealed it completely changed the tone of the preceding writing and turned this into a joyful, lovely little piece.
This also showcased some truly lovely penmanship. Peppered with lovely expressions, such as “a low cloud cover, like a well-made bed, kept everything neat and tidy”, I was eager to carry on with this collection to see if the others would prove to be as captivating.
Lost Girls - 4/5 stars
From the title I had assumed this to be a Peter Pan retelling, but with switched genders for the young island inhabitants. The appearance of Captain Hook in the very first paragraph proved this assumption correct.
This revoked the darkness of the original Peter Pan tale, rather than retelling the Disney version, as Peter isn’t content with just one Wendy and has stolen a total of sixteen young girls to serve him and his horde of lost boys.
This is a modern feminist re-visioning of the Wendys’ fate. The expectations of the females to serve the males is accepted by all the previous Wendys, taken from throughout history and seen as figureheads of their individual time periods, but it takes the modern-day Wendy to inform them of the unfairness of this treatment. With new notions of gender equality invading their thoughts, the Wendy’s revolt! And through this political uprising the reader is made aware of the satirical and political edge to this tale, and a democratic community is created to replace the previously accepted dictatorship.
Tough Alice - 4/5 stars
The original Alice is one of my favourite books so I was eagerly anticipating reading this re-telling. I was initially disappointed,as the first portion of this was just a whistle-stop tour of the events from the original. That is, until the battle with the Jaberwock.
This felt most like a traditional fairy tale, as it was tinged with a moralistic edge that gave the events a wry feel. Despite its shortness this left the reader much to mull over and, again like the original tales, had an ageless and timeless appeal because of this.
Blown Away - 3/5 stars
This Wizard of Oz retelling began much like the original, only with Toto’s fate being decidedly less wholesome than in the original. Once the tornado hit Dorothy’s farm and she disappeared with the winds, this follows the lives of those left behind to mourn her.
When Dorothy returns she tells the story of what happened whilst she was far away. As part of the Emerald Circus, which this anthology is named after, she lived an extraordinary life before returning, seven years later, to her rural farm life. She changed the way the farm folk viewed their lives and inspired a yearn for otherness in some, or an acceptance of their lot in others. I found the ending of this as poignant as the others but it just missed out on the insightfulness the others seemed to achieve.
A Knot of Toads - 2/5 stars
This probably had the best title of the collection and, so, I was intrigued and excited to begin reading it.
It was easy to fall in love with a protagonist who loves books but the rest of the story kept me at a distance. For such a short piece there seemed too much preamble before the main point of the story. I also think the fantasy of the story is obvious to a reader who is aware of fables including amphibians. Once set up nothing happens for some time and I found this a dull addition to the anthology.
The Quiet Monk - 3/5 stars
The Quiet Monk has come to join the brotherhood and share the burden that haunts him. His mysterious past makes him the focus of much speculation and eagerness to learn what drove him to wandering and religion.
This brought some much needed diversity to the collection and, whilst I was not aware of any original tale it was based from, enjoyed the legends evoked in the piece. This was another slower paced story, like the last three, yet I thought it worked well in this instance.
The Bird - 4/5 stars
This begun with a hilarious anecdote of a bird who defecates wherever it lands. Its owner is at the end of his tether with his uncontrollable pet. But however negatively he feels towards it, he feels quite the opposite for Virginia. This object of his affections is brought to meet the bird but It ends up delivering far more than just amusement.
Despite the shortness of this piece it managed to deliver a surprise ending that belied the frivolity of its beginning. In a Gothic twist of events this managed to completely turn the tone of the tale around in just a few paragraphs.
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame - 3/5 stars
The reader is invited to feel nothing but dislike and distrust for the protagonist, who willingly cheats on his betrothed during his bachelor party. I adore stories with unlikable focal characters, so this immediately intrigued me. Before this even got started it seemed to end, however, which stunted my enjoyment.
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown - 3/5 stars
This follows on, in dual perspectives, from one discussions between two individuals - Disraeli and Queen Victoria. Whilst with a distinct magical twist, the basis for this story is authentic and an unlikely friendship did, in fact, form between the renowned duo.
This is a fascinating insight to the historical period detailed. Discussions of religion and belief dominate and form much of the text’s focus. Through these conversations a heartening relationship is formed and the reader is privy to its conception.
The Gift of the Magician’s - 2/5 stars
The note by the title exclaims ‘with apologies for You Know Who’, which evoked a link to Harry Potter, in my mind. Immediately, though, the reader is introduced to Belle and the Beast, which confused me, before this quickly transforming into an Alice in Wonderland retelling. There was too much going on in this one for me to understand any of it.
The Lady of the Greenwood - 4/5 stars
I believe this is my first ever Robin Hood retelling so I was intrigued with what I was going to discover. This begun nothing like the original tale and with no discernible links to it. A boy is born on the stroke of midnight and, with instructions from his now deceased mother, the midwife is to deliver him to the fae who reside in the forest. The woman’s journey through the glade is penned with a poetic beauty that made me feel the dappled moonlight and gentle stroke of leaves, as we made our way to the forest’s heart together. It also made me feel the creep of dread with what possibilities could lay in the shadows.
Despite enjoying this tale I wondered where the links to the renowned Robin Hood would come about. The reader is not provided with this information until the very last line. This, like the earlier pieces in this collection, used the withholding of information to the story’s power and made this a far stronger piece by doing so.
The Confession of Brother Blaise - 3/5 stars
This tale was set in the year 1125, in a monastery. A young girl falls pregnant within the confines of the monastery walls and claims it to be the product of a liaison that happened entirely inside her dreams. Despite the brothers of the monastery crying of the devil’s work, I could not help but to see links between this story and that of the biblical birth of Jesus. Whether that was the author’s intention or not, I can not say.
May 9, 2018
This is a perfectly pleasant collection of fairy tales-with-a-twist – including"Wendy" leading a labor movement against Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, 80-year-old Alice returning to Wonderland, the "true story" of what happened to Dorothy when the tornado got her, imagined backstories to poems by Poe and Dickinson, and a couple of Arthurian additions. Only a couple were what I'd call top notch, but none was bad either. I'm not sure how many of them I'll remember a few months from now. A solid three-star offering.
February 14, 2018
Strange and wonderful. The last few stories, about Robin Hood, and Emily Dickinson, were my favorite. All the stories were elements of the family, twisted into something new. Stories about Alice and Dorothy, Beauty, and even Queen Victoria. Jane Yolen is just amazing, isn't she?
Read
November 18, 2017This collection gathers a number of Jane Yolen's short stories from other anthologies, except for one new story (a riff on Poe). Though Yolen most of her 300 books are for kid readers, I don't think this collection is for the young.
I've read most of these stories over the past three decades, which are predominantly twists on fairy tales or old folklore. Yolen was doing it before it became popular, and some hold up better than others. My favorite two are the first and last, the first a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen (whose stories, incidentally, I loathed as a child, as they were all so sad, and no little girl came out well in any of them) but this one still moved me as a beautiful tribute.
The last story, a science fiction story about Emily Dickinson and a visitor from the stars, is my favorite of all her stories.
Best of all is an essay at the end talking about the various stories and their inspirations, with poetry at the end of each note. This essay is a must for Yolen fans; even the stories that don't quite work for this or that reader might become more interesting after one reads the notes. Especially writers, who like to see what an author was aiming for.
Altogether a lovely collection, but I wouldn't give it to anyone under sixteen without reading it first.
Copy provided by NetGalley
I've read most of these stories over the past three decades, which are predominantly twists on fairy tales or old folklore. Yolen was doing it before it became popular, and some hold up better than others. My favorite two are the first and last, the first a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen (whose stories, incidentally, I loathed as a child, as they were all so sad, and no little girl came out well in any of them) but this one still moved me as a beautiful tribute.
The last story, a science fiction story about Emily Dickinson and a visitor from the stars, is my favorite of all her stories.
Best of all is an essay at the end talking about the various stories and their inspirations, with poetry at the end of each note. This essay is a must for Yolen fans; even the stories that don't quite work for this or that reader might become more interesting after one reads the notes. Especially writers, who like to see what an author was aiming for.
Altogether a lovely collection, but I wouldn't give it to anyone under sixteen without reading it first.
Copy provided by NetGalley
June 6, 2018
Dive into the amazing world of Emerald Circus where anything is possible. But here's a twist. The characters of Emerald Circus are none other than the classic characters you grew up knowing. Alice, Peter Pan, Wendy, Dorothy- if you think you know their tales, Jane Yolen will prove you wrong.
Each story will take you into the magical worlds you wished you belong to, will show you an angle you never thought belonged. However, these spinning tales seem more like written to provoke thoughts rather than for the young readers. Most of the stories will appeal to the readers who are already familar with the classic versions, otherwise it will seem gibberish. That's just the only negative aspect of the book- it's written for evid readers, not for others.
Check out the ToC. Can you guess which story belongs to which classic character?
Table of Contents
Andersen’s Witch
Lost Girls
Tough Alice
Blown Away
A Knot of Toads
The Quiet Monk
The Bird
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame
Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown
A Gift of Magicians
Rabbit Hole
Our Lady of the Greenwood
The Confession of Brother Blaise
Wonder Land
Evian Steel
Sister Emily’s Lightship
Each story will take you into the magical worlds you wished you belong to, will show you an angle you never thought belonged. However, these spinning tales seem more like written to provoke thoughts rather than for the young readers. Most of the stories will appeal to the readers who are already familar with the classic versions, otherwise it will seem gibberish. That's just the only negative aspect of the book- it's written for evid readers, not for others.
Check out the ToC. Can you guess which story belongs to which classic character?
Table of Contents
Andersen’s Witch
Lost Girls
Tough Alice
Blown Away
A Knot of Toads
The Quiet Monk
The Bird
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame
Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown
A Gift of Magicians
Rabbit Hole
Our Lady of the Greenwood
The Confession of Brother Blaise
Wonder Land
Evian Steel
Sister Emily’s Lightship
February 24, 2018
I was sent this book by the publisher so thank you so much! All my opinions are my own and are very honest
This book takes a twist on some of our favrouite fairy tales and I really enjoyed it! It was a good read but I don't think that the book will stick with me forever.
Sometimes I was a little bored with the book but sometimes I was really enchanted by the writing.
This book takes a twist on some of our favrouite fairy tales and I really enjoyed it! It was a good read but I don't think that the book will stick with me forever.
Sometimes I was a little bored with the book but sometimes I was really enchanted by the writing.
July 3, 2018
This collection of short stories, despite being varied in length, tone, and plot, unfortunately did not hold my interest. This is most probably a case of “it’s not you it’s me”, since I started this right at the beginning of a reading slump and have only just finished it now I’ve crawled out of said slump.
This is a collection of mainly retellings of fairytales, legends, and folklore. I found the beginning of the collection very strong - I enjoyed Andersen’s Witchin which (haha) we discover the reason for Hans Christian Andersen’s great success. Lost Girlswas perhaps my favourite in the whole collection, following a young girl who is swept into Neverland and finds it deeply disappointing before she incites a revolution.
Blown Away was a really fun reimagining of Dorothy and Oz, and A Knot of Toads changed the tone from previous stories by telling a creepy, mysterious tale of witchcraft in Scotland.
Unfortunately, I found many more of the stories hard going. Some, like The Quiet Monk dragged like all hell. After a few pages, I skipped The Confession of Brother Blaise entirely. Other shorts held my attention but didn’t leave me feeling satisfied - Tough Alice, The Bird and Belle Bloody Merciless Dame were unmemorable enough that I had to reread them. I liked Evian Steel because compared to many other stories there was some real world building and characterization. A story I should rightly have adored, The Gift of the Magicians, made me feel a little disassociated because of the lack of personality coming through from characters or setting.
Overall, the style was not quite to my tastes despite the abundance of imagination.
September 14, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this short story collection eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
While I have read many of Jane Yolen’s works, most have been her novels. It has only been recently that I have been reading her short stories. And I have been missing out. I was saving this collection for a day when I needed a pick me up. So when I was stuck in rain and fog and feeling under the weather, I picked this up to be transported to a more magical time and place.
This collection has 16 varied tales. Like any collection, I liked some better than others. But all show Yolen’s skill and love of storytelling. In addition this book also had something I wasn’t expecting. The end of the book has author reflections on how the stories came to be along with some of her poetry. I don’t really know much about the author’s life but she sounds like one awesome lady and this look into her writing process was lovely.
I don’t want to spoil the magic of the stories and can’t really do them justice with me own paltry words but I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones of the stories and me thoughts on me favourites:
“Andersen’s Witch” – a Snow Queen retelling with a wonderful twist; poignant and lovely start to the book
“Lost Girls” – a Peter Pan novelette where girls take over; this be me favourite of the collection by far and won the 1998 Nebula. I want to rave about how clever it is but can’t cause spoilers!
“Tough Alice” – the first Alice in Wonderland retelling wherein Alice has to fight her own battle and is entertainment for the Wonderland gang; there are three Wonderland stories in this collection. This was me favourite but it was wonderful to read and compare the differences between the three.
“Blown Away” – a tale of what really happened after Dorothy was sucked up by a tornado; this piece is where the collection title comes from. It is told from an awesome perspective that I wasn’t expecting. I also will never look at Toto the same way.
“A Knot of Toads” – a women goes back to her hometown for her father’s funeral and discovers the real reason behind her father’s death and also some truths about his life; witches and toads and Scotland. I loved it.
“The Quiet Monk” – a story about what actually happened to Lancelot; I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of Arthurian tales but I loved the feel of this one and the fabulous ending.
“The Bird” – a story about Edgar Allan Poe and his wife Virginia. Oh and a raven of course; bittersweet and wonderful.
“Belle Bloody Merciless Dame” – this is about a treacherous elf on midsummer’s day; this was the weak link for me even though it was well written. I just didn’t love it.
“Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown” – fun piece about the relationship between Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Disraeli with magic of course!
“A Gift of Magicians” – a Beauty and the Beast story; my other favourite piece of the collection. The ending!
“Rabbit Hole” – what happens when Alice goes back down the rabbit hole at 80; such a cool concept.
“Our Lady of the Greenwood” – a Robin Hood origin story; because surely he had to come from somewhere; I particularly loved how he got his name.
“The Confession of Brother Blaise” – a Merlin origin story; this was me other least liked story. Though I did like the idea of the death bed confession. It was certainly different.
“Wonder Land” – the last Wonderland retelling, this time an Alice/little red riding hood mashup; this was me least favourite of the three. Allison is going through the woods to a friends house and meets scary creatures along the way.
“Evian Steel” – this was a tale about the forging of the sword for King Arthur; I loved that the women of the island forged the steel. This story was compelling and fascinating. Ye get to see where Guinevere comes from.
“Sister Emily’s Lightship” – This last story talk about Emily Dickinson meeting a Martian; Another Nebula winner for Best Short Story in 1997, what I most loved about it was Emily’s secret nocturnal life and her relationship with her dog.
I had to admit that I was immensely cheered up by reading this collection and will be thinking about me favourites for quite some time. If ye be a Jane Yolen fan, this should tickle yer fancy. If ye aren’t familiar with her work then this might be a good place to start. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Tachyon Publications!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
While I have read many of Jane Yolen’s works, most have been her novels. It has only been recently that I have been reading her short stories. And I have been missing out. I was saving this collection for a day when I needed a pick me up. So when I was stuck in rain and fog and feeling under the weather, I picked this up to be transported to a more magical time and place.
This collection has 16 varied tales. Like any collection, I liked some better than others. But all show Yolen’s skill and love of storytelling. In addition this book also had something I wasn’t expecting. The end of the book has author reflections on how the stories came to be along with some of her poetry. I don’t really know much about the author’s life but she sounds like one awesome lady and this look into her writing process was lovely.
I don’t want to spoil the magic of the stories and can’t really do them justice with me own paltry words but I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones of the stories and me thoughts on me favourites:
“Andersen’s Witch” – a Snow Queen retelling with a wonderful twist; poignant and lovely start to the book
“Lost Girls” – a Peter Pan novelette where girls take over; this be me favourite of the collection by far and won the 1998 Nebula. I want to rave about how clever it is but can’t cause spoilers!
“Tough Alice” – the first Alice in Wonderland retelling wherein Alice has to fight her own battle and is entertainment for the Wonderland gang; there are three Wonderland stories in this collection. This was me favourite but it was wonderful to read and compare the differences between the three.
“Blown Away” – a tale of what really happened after Dorothy was sucked up by a tornado; this piece is where the collection title comes from. It is told from an awesome perspective that I wasn’t expecting. I also will never look at Toto the same way.
“A Knot of Toads” – a women goes back to her hometown for her father’s funeral and discovers the real reason behind her father’s death and also some truths about his life; witches and toads and Scotland. I loved it.
“The Quiet Monk” – a story about what actually happened to Lancelot; I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of Arthurian tales but I loved the feel of this one and the fabulous ending.
“The Bird” – a story about Edgar Allan Poe and his wife Virginia. Oh and a raven of course; bittersweet and wonderful.
“Belle Bloody Merciless Dame” – this is about a treacherous elf on midsummer’s day; this was the weak link for me even though it was well written. I just didn’t love it.
“Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown” – fun piece about the relationship between Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Disraeli with magic of course!
“A Gift of Magicians” – a Beauty and the Beast story; my other favourite piece of the collection. The ending!
“Rabbit Hole” – what happens when Alice goes back down the rabbit hole at 80; such a cool concept.
“Our Lady of the Greenwood” – a Robin Hood origin story; because surely he had to come from somewhere; I particularly loved how he got his name.
“The Confession of Brother Blaise” – a Merlin origin story; this was me other least liked story. Though I did like the idea of the death bed confession. It was certainly different.
“Wonder Land” – the last Wonderland retelling, this time an Alice/little red riding hood mashup; this was me least favourite of the three. Allison is going through the woods to a friends house and meets scary creatures along the way.
“Evian Steel” – this was a tale about the forging of the sword for King Arthur; I loved that the women of the island forged the steel. This story was compelling and fascinating. Ye get to see where Guinevere comes from.
“Sister Emily’s Lightship” – This last story talk about Emily Dickinson meeting a Martian; Another Nebula winner for Best Short Story in 1997, what I most loved about it was Emily’s secret nocturnal life and her relationship with her dog.
I had to admit that I was immensely cheered up by reading this collection and will be thinking about me favourites for quite some time. If ye be a Jane Yolen fan, this should tickle yer fancy. If ye aren’t familiar with her work then this might be a good place to start. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Tachyon Publications!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
November 12, 2017
Jane Yolen once again returns to fairy tales and classics for inspiration in this collection of 16 short stories (and as many poems in the author notes). My favorites were the longer stories that took more time to develop character motivations and subtleties. And even though I'd already read the Arthurian legend stories in Merlin's Booke, I loved rereading them. I hope she someday publishes her Arthurian trilogy like she originally planned!
Despite having read the Arthurian tales, all the other short stories were new to me. I thought I'd already read "Sister Emily's Lightship" -- about Emily Dickinson and extraterrestrials -- but I had not and it was a wonderful story. I also thought "Blown Away" -- a Wizard of Oz re-imagining -- and "A Knot of Toads" -- where Disraeli attempts to enchant Queen Victoria -- to be imaginative and unique.
Best of all (well, almost), Jane Yolen includes author notes about each story at the end, with accompanying poems! That was a really delightful surprise. I love hearing how stories come to be, and I love poetry.
Thanks to Tachyon Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Andersen’s Witch: Hans Christian Andersen's life's fairy tale, when he makes a bargain with the Ice Queen. 3.5/5
Lost Girls (Nebula Award Winner): Darla from the 21st century gets transported to Never-Never Land, where she has some ideas about women's rights and isn't about to clean up after Peter. 3.5/5
Tough Alice: Alice falls through into Wonderland again, and is trying to find a champion to fight the Jabberwock. But when no one steps up, she realizes she has to be her own champion. 3/5
Blown Away: When Dorothy is blown away in the tornado, she doesn't go to the Emerald City, rather, the Emerald Circus. She returns 7 years later and a farmhand--who tells the story--can't believe how much she's changed. 4/5
A Knot of Toads: A daughter returns from college to her small, Scottish hometown for her father's funeral. Only to discover her father's death occurred under unusual circumstances, while working on a history of witches. 4/5
The Quiet Monk: Lancelot is a wandering monk, trying to find Guinevere's grave. 4/5
The Bird (Original story): Edgar Allan Poe gifts his wife Lenore a raven on the eve of her death. 2/5
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame: A drunk chooses the wrong woman to molest in an alley. 2/5
Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown: Disraeli tries to practice Kabbalah magic on Queen Victoria. 4/5
A Gift of Magicians: Beauty and the Beast meets O. Henry's Gift of the Magi. 2/5
Rabbit Hole: 80-year-old Alice goes down the rabbit hole once more. 2/5
Our Lady of the Greenwood: Before Lady Margaret of Locksley dies in childbirth, she charges her midwife to take her infant son to the greenwood, to be named by the fae. 3.5/5
The Confession of Brother Blaise: Merlin's birth, as told by Brother Blaise on his death bed. 4/5
Wonder Land: Little Red Riding Hood goes through the woods to tell her BFF about where her boyfriend just put his hands, but she's not to be fooled by wolves or any other creature. 4/5
Evian Steel: Elaine is sent to the isle of women to be trained in their magic and craft, and forms a friendship with Veera. When Veera forges a sword as part of her initiation into adulthood, something goes wrong with the ceremony, but it's exactly the sword, and the girl, that Merlin wants. This one reminds me of Sister Light, Sister Dark. 4.5/5
Sister Emily’s Lightship (Nebula Award Winner): Emily Dickinson trades poems with an alien. Yep! 4.5/5
Despite having read the Arthurian tales, all the other short stories were new to me. I thought I'd already read "Sister Emily's Lightship" -- about Emily Dickinson and extraterrestrials -- but I had not and it was a wonderful story. I also thought "Blown Away" -- a Wizard of Oz re-imagining -- and "A Knot of Toads" -- where Disraeli attempts to enchant Queen Victoria -- to be imaginative and unique.
Best of all (well, almost), Jane Yolen includes author notes about each story at the end, with accompanying poems! That was a really delightful surprise. I love hearing how stories come to be, and I love poetry.
Thanks to Tachyon Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Andersen’s Witch: Hans Christian Andersen's life's fairy tale, when he makes a bargain with the Ice Queen. 3.5/5
Lost Girls (Nebula Award Winner): Darla from the 21st century gets transported to Never-Never Land, where she has some ideas about women's rights and isn't about to clean up after Peter. 3.5/5
Tough Alice: Alice falls through into Wonderland again, and is trying to find a champion to fight the Jabberwock. But when no one steps up, she realizes she has to be her own champion. 3/5
Blown Away: When Dorothy is blown away in the tornado, she doesn't go to the Emerald City, rather, the Emerald Circus. She returns 7 years later and a farmhand--who tells the story--can't believe how much she's changed. 4/5
A Knot of Toads: A daughter returns from college to her small, Scottish hometown for her father's funeral. Only to discover her father's death occurred under unusual circumstances, while working on a history of witches. 4/5
The Quiet Monk: Lancelot is a wandering monk, trying to find Guinevere's grave. 4/5
The Bird (Original story): Edgar Allan Poe gifts his wife Lenore a raven on the eve of her death. 2/5
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame: A drunk chooses the wrong woman to molest in an alley. 2/5
Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown: Disraeli tries to practice Kabbalah magic on Queen Victoria. 4/5
A Gift of Magicians: Beauty and the Beast meets O. Henry's Gift of the Magi. 2/5
Rabbit Hole: 80-year-old Alice goes down the rabbit hole once more. 2/5
Our Lady of the Greenwood: Before Lady Margaret of Locksley dies in childbirth, she charges her midwife to take her infant son to the greenwood, to be named by the fae. 3.5/5
The Confession of Brother Blaise: Merlin's birth, as told by Brother Blaise on his death bed. 4/5
Wonder Land: Little Red Riding Hood goes through the woods to tell her BFF about where her boyfriend just put his hands, but she's not to be fooled by wolves or any other creature. 4/5
Evian Steel: Elaine is sent to the isle of women to be trained in their magic and craft, and forms a friendship with Veera. When Veera forges a sword as part of her initiation into adulthood, something goes wrong with the ceremony, but it's exactly the sword, and the girl, that Merlin wants. This one reminds me of Sister Light, Sister Dark. 4.5/5
Sister Emily’s Lightship (Nebula Award Winner): Emily Dickinson trades poems with an alien. Yep! 4.5/5
August 28, 2017
I received an e-arc of this book via NetGallery. (NetGallery is an amazing platform that connects authors with their readers. I sincerely hope that you check it out) I say thanks to the author and the publisher for putting your trust in me.
“Did you wish for happiness?”
The stories were well thought out and well written. The author provided a darker and a more unique twist to our favorite childhood stories. My favorite was the first story, Andersen's Witch, with Blown Away being a close second. The only problem I had with this book was its length. It was just too long for my taste. I wished the author lengthened the good stories and cut the bad ones. I enjoy reading short stories but reading one after another really put a damper on my reading mood. It feels like I haven't accomplished anything though I had already finished tons of other stories. Of course, that is just my preference when it comes to books. Other than that issue, I think the book served its purpose well.
“Did you wish for happiness?”
The stories were well thought out and well written. The author provided a darker and a more unique twist to our favorite childhood stories. My favorite was the first story, Andersen's Witch, with Blown Away being a close second. The only problem I had with this book was its length. It was just too long for my taste. I wished the author lengthened the good stories and cut the bad ones. I enjoy reading short stories but reading one after another really put a damper on my reading mood. It feels like I haven't accomplished anything though I had already finished tons of other stories. Of course, that is just my preference when it comes to books. Other than that issue, I think the book served its purpose well.
Read
June 6, 2025I think I'm getting much better at putting down books I just don't love. I want to make it clear that this book is actually beautifully written and has such a cool take on classic fantasy stories. I specifically loved the one about the multiple 'Wendys' and the lost boys. It was a feminist take on the story, and I thought it was very interesting. For how far I got, I did not feel the same attachment to the other short stories. I will not be finishing this.
May 15, 2018
In the past couple of months, I’ve really come to appreciate collections of short stories. Having had to write my own this past semester, I can appreciate them even more. To me, writing a short story takes some skill and tact. Successfully tell a well-paced piece that keeps your attention throughout its short pages. Get from point A to point B without dragging along, or stuffing the reader with too much information too quickly. A successful short story is one swift movement from start to finish.
For this review, I read The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen. It’s a collection of short stories that involve revisiting of classic fairytales, clever historical fantasies and myths. Generally, people don’t have the taste for short stories or collections—which I totally get. In high school, where I was constantly conscribed to read for English, I hated short stories and found myself wanting to read volumes like War and Peace instead. And this is just my humble opinion, but short stories offer the same gratification of reading an entire novel in just one sitting. And, as hypocritical as it may seem, I do still prefer a full-length novel. But I will not shy away from short stories.
I highly recommend Yolen’s Circus. The stories are clever and offer many “aha!” moments. For example, her story, “Lost Girls” gives a new take and perspective of the beloved Peter Pan. When a girl from our present era is swept away to Neverland, she discovers the unsavory nature of Peter’s household. In protest, she introduces some modern ideas to really turn the tables. But this short story, among the others, gives an example of the twists and turns that I’ve really enjoyed about this collection.
If you are a fan of short stories, collections, witty fairy tale retellings, and magical realism, I highly recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for this opportunity
For this review, I read The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen. It’s a collection of short stories that involve revisiting of classic fairytales, clever historical fantasies and myths. Generally, people don’t have the taste for short stories or collections—which I totally get. In high school, where I was constantly conscribed to read for English, I hated short stories and found myself wanting to read volumes like War and Peace instead. And this is just my humble opinion, but short stories offer the same gratification of reading an entire novel in just one sitting. And, as hypocritical as it may seem, I do still prefer a full-length novel. But I will not shy away from short stories.
I highly recommend Yolen’s Circus. The stories are clever and offer many “aha!” moments. For example, her story, “Lost Girls” gives a new take and perspective of the beloved Peter Pan. When a girl from our present era is swept away to Neverland, she discovers the unsavory nature of Peter’s household. In protest, she introduces some modern ideas to really turn the tables. But this short story, among the others, gives an example of the twists and turns that I’ve really enjoyed about this collection.
If you are a fan of short stories, collections, witty fairy tale retellings, and magical realism, I highly recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for this opportunity
May 4, 2018
I want to be clear that while this book was not for me, it's a book I imagine a lot of people would love. I have not read much of Yolen's work - in fact, I think the only book of hers that I've read is Piggins, which I absolutely adored as a child - but more importantly, I haven't read much of the source material she uses in this short story collection. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've never read Alice in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, The Snow Queen, or The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Those stories alone were the source material for nearly half of the stories in this collection, so I realize that I may not have appreciated them in the same way that someone who grew up loving those stories might have.
But then again, I am familiar with some of the other sources she uses: Edgar Allen Poe, O. Henry, Emily Dickinson, and tales related to Merlin, Arthur, and Camelot. While I can see that I had more interest in those stories, I still didn't love them. They were, dare I say it?, a bit too fantastical for me. I know, I KNOW, Yolen writes fantasy, so what did I expect? I'm not sure exactly - I mean, the only book of hers that I've read was a mansion mystery starring a pig butler - but I guess there's a limit to how much fantasy I can tolerate at once.
That said, I did like the story "A Knot of Toads." It read like a modern-day retelling of an old Scottish legend, and I was all about that. I also liked the religious tones of "A Quiet Monk" and "The Confession of Brother Blaise." But ultimately, I learned that I need to catch up on my reading of classic children's literature. Perhaps I would've enjoyed this more if I was more familiar with Yolen's sources of inspiration.
But then again, I am familiar with some of the other sources she uses: Edgar Allen Poe, O. Henry, Emily Dickinson, and tales related to Merlin, Arthur, and Camelot. While I can see that I had more interest in those stories, I still didn't love them. They were, dare I say it?, a bit too fantastical for me. I know, I KNOW, Yolen writes fantasy, so what did I expect? I'm not sure exactly - I mean, the only book of hers that I've read was a mansion mystery starring a pig butler - but I guess there's a limit to how much fantasy I can tolerate at once.
That said, I did like the story "A Knot of Toads." It read like a modern-day retelling of an old Scottish legend, and I was all about that. I also liked the religious tones of "A Quiet Monk" and "The Confession of Brother Blaise." But ultimately, I learned that I need to catch up on my reading of classic children's literature. Perhaps I would've enjoyed this more if I was more familiar with Yolen's sources of inspiration.
November 19, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Despite my low rating this is actually a very well-written book and I did consider giving it 3 stars instead of 2. But ultimately looking back at all the stories I think the only one I actually enjoyed was Lost Girls and several of them were so bad at holding my attention that I skimmed through them. I haven't read anything by this author before but from what I understand she's been writing for a long time and that all of these stories have previously been published in other places, which makes sense because a lot of them felt rather dated to me. If you REALLY like fairytale retellings [although some of them are really stretching that definition a bit] then you might like this, but I didn't think most of them were all that innovative. Also there were 3 Alice in Wonderland retellings in a collection of maybe 12-15 stories which I thought was kind of overkill. Although I guess again if you really love AiW then that might be a selling point.
Despite my low rating this is actually a very well-written book and I did consider giving it 3 stars instead of 2. But ultimately looking back at all the stories I think the only one I actually enjoyed was Lost Girls and several of them were so bad at holding my attention that I skimmed through them. I haven't read anything by this author before but from what I understand she's been writing for a long time and that all of these stories have previously been published in other places, which makes sense because a lot of them felt rather dated to me. If you REALLY like fairytale retellings [although some of them are really stretching that definition a bit] then you might like this, but I didn't think most of them were all that innovative. Also there were 3 Alice in Wonderland retellings in a collection of maybe 12-15 stories which I thought was kind of overkill. Although I guess again if you really love AiW then that might be a selling point.
January 12, 2018
If you've not read previous Yolen collections or other Fairytale anthologies, this is a great collection.
About 1/3 of the way through, I realized I'd read the majority of them previously. Dorothy, Guinevere, Wendy, and several Alices ... all your favorite fairytale dames are here in force in the way only she can write them.
About 1/3 of the way through, I realized I'd read the majority of them previously. Dorothy, Guinevere, Wendy, and several Alices ... all your favorite fairytale dames are here in force in the way only she can write them.
February 24, 2018
I’m not sure what I can say by way of introduction to Jane Yolen, recipient of SFWA’s Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award, as well as uncounted other awards, that has not already been said. My children grew up on Sleeping Ugly, Owl Moon, and Commander Toad in Space, and I came of age as a writer with Sister Light, Sister Dark, Briar Rose, and The Devil’s Arithmetic. This current collection, the latest of many, showcases Yolen’s brilliant capacity for taking characters and situations, even worlds, and turning them literarily on their heads. Whether it’s Emily Dickinson sailing away on a starship made of light or Wendy organizing a labor strike in Neverland, or the real story of Disraeli and Queen Victoria, Yolen twists the old tales in innovative, delightful ways. I look forward to many more of her stories, short and long.
February 6, 2018
Jane Yolen mentions in the introduction to this book that she's often described as "the Hans Christian Anderson" of contemporary folktales (she jokes that she's actually the "Hans Jewish Anderson") and this collection justifies the description. I read the stories in two sittings as each was as excellent as the next--insightful modern spins on old fairy tales and folktales as well as more recent fantasy classics such as Alice in Wonderland. I loved all the stories, particularly Yolen's rich Arthurian stories and her wonderfully feminist takes on Peter Pan and several other tales (as a middle aged woman I especially appreciated her story of an aged Alice returning to Wonderland.)
Highly recommended to teen and adult fantasy and retold/remixed folktale and fairy tale fans.
Highly recommended to teen and adult fantasy and retold/remixed folktale and fairy tale fans.
November 17, 2017
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this Book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Jane Yolen is a revered and highly lauded writer of poetry, folklore, and fantasy who has been publishing for decades. At the outset, we should say these stories are fairy and folktale retellings for a young adult or adult audience. They require a certain level of insight and sophistication that will be lost on a younger child. Many of these short stories have previously appeared in other anthologies and while it's great to have these Yolen short stories all in one anthology that is not the reason you will be interested in this book, at least if you are like me. What you want is the rich trove of notes about the stories at the end of the book. These notes make for fascinating reading and an insight into Yolen's life and world.
Andersen's Witch as story built on the platform of Hans Christan Andersen's magnificent Snow Queen in which a boy, Kai, has a shard of ice put into his heart and rejects his beloved playmate Gerda, takes on a whole new meaning in Yolen's retelling but a new meaning on top of that in a poem related to the HCA story in which Yolen speaks of losing her husband and widowhood. Likewise Lost Girls gives us notes about the outrage of Peter's inability to credit Wendy for fixing his shadow problem in J. M. Barrie's story, and thoughts about the callousness of children. From Baum to Keats to Dickenson, the origins and ruminations of the stories in this volume are seen through the paradigm of Yolen's world. I do have to confess there were times I liked the notes and their accompanying poems more than I liked some of the stories.
3.5 Stars
Jane Yolen is a revered and highly lauded writer of poetry, folklore, and fantasy who has been publishing for decades. At the outset, we should say these stories are fairy and folktale retellings for a young adult or adult audience. They require a certain level of insight and sophistication that will be lost on a younger child. Many of these short stories have previously appeared in other anthologies and while it's great to have these Yolen short stories all in one anthology that is not the reason you will be interested in this book, at least if you are like me. What you want is the rich trove of notes about the stories at the end of the book. These notes make for fascinating reading and an insight into Yolen's life and world.
Andersen's Witch as story built on the platform of Hans Christan Andersen's magnificent Snow Queen in which a boy, Kai, has a shard of ice put into his heart and rejects his beloved playmate Gerda, takes on a whole new meaning in Yolen's retelling but a new meaning on top of that in a poem related to the HCA story in which Yolen speaks of losing her husband and widowhood. Likewise Lost Girls gives us notes about the outrage of Peter's inability to credit Wendy for fixing his shadow problem in J. M. Barrie's story, and thoughts about the callousness of children. From Baum to Keats to Dickenson, the origins and ruminations of the stories in this volume are seen through the paradigm of Yolen's world. I do have to confess there were times I liked the notes and their accompanying poems more than I liked some of the stories.
January 4, 2018
I only really liked two or three of the stories which was a shame. I was really looking forward to this.
Read
September 17, 2022My kind of stories. Literary but light, lampoons but loving.
My favorites: Andersen's Witch; The Gift of the Magicians; Sister Emily's Lightship.
My favorites: Andersen's Witch; The Gift of the Magicians; Sister Emily's Lightship.
November 18, 2017
I’m ashamed to have to admit that before requesting The Emerald Circus, to review, I didn’t know who Jane Yolen was. I don’t know why, but she never entered my circle of consciousness, despite being a veteran of SFF, having been publishing for over 50 years, having won countless awards, and being known as ‘the Hans Christian Andersen of America’. So I’m grateful to Tachyon for publishing this remarkable short story collection and introducing me to Yolen’s work.
The Emerald Circus is a collection of a number of Yolen’s stories both previously published (from 1985 onward) and new, almost all of which are based on legends and fairytales or on history itself, as well as an appendix of Yolen’s notes on the stories, plus an original poem for each.
The title stems from ‘Blown Away’, the fourth story in the collection, which takes the story of Dorothy and twists it in a thoroughly weird (and queer) direction. Despite this, Alice (as in Wonderland) is the star of this collection, featuring in three of the stories in this collection. Yolen connects the two with a poem in which Dorothy and Alice take tea together, both of them a little lost outside of their respective adventures.
Alongside Wonderland, the other vein running through this book is Arthurian legend (two stories of which happen to be recounted by old monks, funnily enough). My favourite story in the book is one of these: ‘Evian Steel’, set on Ynis Evelonia in the river Tamor, where only women live and where they forge the finest swords known to man. I don’t want to spoil anyone, so just read it, okay? I’d rec this book on the basis of this story alone.
The collection closes with the Nebula Award-winning ‘Sister Emily’s Lightship’—in which Emily Dickinson gets to visit space. This story is so full of quiet tenderness that when I read in the story notes that Jane Yolen knows quite possibly more than anyone else about Dickinson I wasn’t at all surprised. In a way this story feels like a gift from Yolen to a beloved author, a woman who suffered much but kept outpouring so much beauty and understanding from her heart.
While I found it unusual, the story notes at the end of the book really helped me connect with Jane Yolen as an author after reading the rest of the collection. As my introduction to her, I enjoyed reading background detail on the stories in her own voice. As for the poems, I felt their inclusion adds another layer of adaptation to these stories which are already themselves transformative of their original tales, which is fun. Plus, I never complain about additional material when I enjoyed the main as much as I did this.
The common theme in Yolen’s stories is their humanity. She treats every character in her stories with respect—there’s not one side character in one story that is a cardboard cut-out or a joke. Even in ‘The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown’, abhorrent little Queen Victoria and her designs of empire are somehow relatable, even magical, without ducking the reality of her unpleasantness and cruelty. (The only conceivable exception for me would be Morgan in ‘Evian Steel’, but given what we know about her I’d say she’s just been made more disturbing.) By this, Yolen lays out the truth of the world through myth and story, maybe the ultimate theme to this fascinating collection: nothing is simple.
The Emerald Circus is a collection of a number of Yolen’s stories both previously published (from 1985 onward) and new, almost all of which are based on legends and fairytales or on history itself, as well as an appendix of Yolen’s notes on the stories, plus an original poem for each.
The title stems from ‘Blown Away’, the fourth story in the collection, which takes the story of Dorothy and twists it in a thoroughly weird (and queer) direction. Despite this, Alice (as in Wonderland) is the star of this collection, featuring in three of the stories in this collection. Yolen connects the two with a poem in which Dorothy and Alice take tea together, both of them a little lost outside of their respective adventures.
Alongside Wonderland, the other vein running through this book is Arthurian legend (two stories of which happen to be recounted by old monks, funnily enough). My favourite story in the book is one of these: ‘Evian Steel’, set on Ynis Evelonia in the river Tamor, where only women live and where they forge the finest swords known to man. I don’t want to spoil anyone, so just read it, okay? I’d rec this book on the basis of this story alone.
The collection closes with the Nebula Award-winning ‘Sister Emily’s Lightship’—in which Emily Dickinson gets to visit space. This story is so full of quiet tenderness that when I read in the story notes that Jane Yolen knows quite possibly more than anyone else about Dickinson I wasn’t at all surprised. In a way this story feels like a gift from Yolen to a beloved author, a woman who suffered much but kept outpouring so much beauty and understanding from her heart.
While I found it unusual, the story notes at the end of the book really helped me connect with Jane Yolen as an author after reading the rest of the collection. As my introduction to her, I enjoyed reading background detail on the stories in her own voice. As for the poems, I felt their inclusion adds another layer of adaptation to these stories which are already themselves transformative of their original tales, which is fun. Plus, I never complain about additional material when I enjoyed the main as much as I did this.
The common theme in Yolen’s stories is their humanity. She treats every character in her stories with respect—there’s not one side character in one story that is a cardboard cut-out or a joke. Even in ‘The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown’, abhorrent little Queen Victoria and her designs of empire are somehow relatable, even magical, without ducking the reality of her unpleasantness and cruelty. (The only conceivable exception for me would be Morgan in ‘Evian Steel’, but given what we know about her I’d say she’s just been made more disturbing.) By this, Yolen lays out the truth of the world through myth and story, maybe the ultimate theme to this fascinating collection: nothing is simple.
May 10, 2018
I received a free e-copy through NetGalley from the publishers at Tachyon Publications. I love fairytale retellings, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Jane Yolen.
The Emerald Circus is a collection of short stories inspired by fairytales, legends, and folklore including The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table, among others.
This is kind of a mixed bag, and I wish I had enjoyed it more. While I did like a handful of the stories, I also struggled to get through some of them, and there was nothing in it I absolutely couldn’t live without. Usually in a collection, one or two stories will hit me pretty hard, and that never happened here. The funny thing is that I’m not sure why. They’re very well-written. Aside from a few editing typos, Yolen has a beautiful prose-voice, and she’s obviously perfected her craft over the years. I’m a little confused about who the audience for this book is. I went in thinking it was for children/middle grade, because that’s what I’d heard about Jane Yolen, but I think I can say it’s emphatically not for kids. Many of the themes are much darker or more sexual, and even the writing itself is difficult at times. I’m hesitant to even call it a YA collection, but I think it’s somewhere on the spectrum between YA and adult.
I did like some of the stories. The first is a strong retelling of “The Snow Queen” with a twist as Hans Christian Andersen as the main character that was very enjoyable. I always enjoy Alice in Wonderland stories (of which there are three), but they don’t bring anything particularly new to the table. My favorite was easily the title story, “The Emerald Circus”, which pulls in some Wizard of Oz mythology. The story takes a rather meandering look at Dorothy’s history in Kansas and how she gets blown away by a tornado and joins the circus. I can see why it doesn’t work for a lot of people though because the story isn’t really about Dorothy, and the circus barely features. If anything, it’s a story about wanting more, and while it takes a while to get to its point, the message really resonated with me.
I didn’t care for “Lost Girls” at all. While I’d love a feminist version of Peter Pan, and I support the utility of strikes and picketing, the story only reinforces that girls can’t fight pirates; they can only be captured by them. “Evian Steel” unfortunately has the underlying message that menstruation is unclean and “The Quiet Monk” that homosexuality is wrong, and I just don’t appreciate references like that in my fantasy that go unchallenged. They’re small things, but they represent much bigger and more problematic worldviews, and they can really kill a story. The rest of the collection is just kind of… boring. “A Knot of Toads” has a cool premise but spends most of the story wallowing in darkness, and “Evian Steel” is unnecessarily long and lacks action (especially for an island full of women who make swords).
There are two stories about classic writers that stand out if only for their change in topic. I love the idea of incorporating figures like this into the rest of our collective mythology which, in a way, we already have. The Edgar Allan Poe story doesn’t quite take off, but I loved the Emily Dickinson one, which is surprising because I usually can’t buy into aliens unless they’re the premise of a story. (As a premise, fine, then I know what I’m getting into, but as a way to explain bad plot choices, absolutely not.) It’s lovingly written though, and Dickinson makes for a clever, sympathetic main character, the realest in the entire collection. I would read a whole book about her. All in all, this isn’t as good as I was expecting, but I’m still interested to read more of Yolen’s work. I have The Devil’s Arithmetic waiting on my shelf, which is no guarantee of reading it soon, but someday.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
The Emerald Circus is a collection of short stories inspired by fairytales, legends, and folklore including The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table, among others.
This is kind of a mixed bag, and I wish I had enjoyed it more. While I did like a handful of the stories, I also struggled to get through some of them, and there was nothing in it I absolutely couldn’t live without. Usually in a collection, one or two stories will hit me pretty hard, and that never happened here. The funny thing is that I’m not sure why. They’re very well-written. Aside from a few editing typos, Yolen has a beautiful prose-voice, and she’s obviously perfected her craft over the years. I’m a little confused about who the audience for this book is. I went in thinking it was for children/middle grade, because that’s what I’d heard about Jane Yolen, but I think I can say it’s emphatically not for kids. Many of the themes are much darker or more sexual, and even the writing itself is difficult at times. I’m hesitant to even call it a YA collection, but I think it’s somewhere on the spectrum between YA and adult.
I did like some of the stories. The first is a strong retelling of “The Snow Queen” with a twist as Hans Christian Andersen as the main character that was very enjoyable. I always enjoy Alice in Wonderland stories (of which there are three), but they don’t bring anything particularly new to the table. My favorite was easily the title story, “The Emerald Circus”, which pulls in some Wizard of Oz mythology. The story takes a rather meandering look at Dorothy’s history in Kansas and how she gets blown away by a tornado and joins the circus. I can see why it doesn’t work for a lot of people though because the story isn’t really about Dorothy, and the circus barely features. If anything, it’s a story about wanting more, and while it takes a while to get to its point, the message really resonated with me.
I didn’t care for “Lost Girls” at all. While I’d love a feminist version of Peter Pan, and I support the utility of strikes and picketing, the story only reinforces that girls can’t fight pirates; they can only be captured by them. “Evian Steel” unfortunately has the underlying message that menstruation is unclean and “The Quiet Monk” that homosexuality is wrong, and I just don’t appreciate references like that in my fantasy that go unchallenged. They’re small things, but they represent much bigger and more problematic worldviews, and they can really kill a story. The rest of the collection is just kind of… boring. “A Knot of Toads” has a cool premise but spends most of the story wallowing in darkness, and “Evian Steel” is unnecessarily long and lacks action (especially for an island full of women who make swords).
There are two stories about classic writers that stand out if only for their change in topic. I love the idea of incorporating figures like this into the rest of our collective mythology which, in a way, we already have. The Edgar Allan Poe story doesn’t quite take off, but I loved the Emily Dickinson one, which is surprising because I usually can’t buy into aliens unless they’re the premise of a story. (As a premise, fine, then I know what I’m getting into, but as a way to explain bad plot choices, absolutely not.) It’s lovingly written though, and Dickinson makes for a clever, sympathetic main character, the realest in the entire collection. I would read a whole book about her. All in all, this isn’t as good as I was expecting, but I’m still interested to read more of Yolen’s work. I have The Devil’s Arithmetic waiting on my shelf, which is no guarantee of reading it soon, but someday.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
April 11, 2018
I spent nearly too long trying to think about how I felt about all of these stories once I read them that I completely buried the book on Goodreads. Whoops.
I did enjoy a majority of them, and two of the stories stuck with me, but therest kind of blurred.
I'm sorry, Jane Yolen. This review is going to be crap and just have stories titles and stars and write out some reviews on the ones I remember well.
Andersen's Witch - 5/5 Stars
This is the first story in this anthology, and it hit close to my heart, because I love Andersen and I loved the idea of him being in a sort of fairy tale himself. The story was well written and original!
Lost Girls - 3/5 Stars
I loved the idea of Peter kidnapping multiple "Wendy" girls, and that was the only thing I loved. Captain Hook as a female? Badass, but I feel like we could have learned more about that. Oh well.
Tough Alice - 3/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Blown Away - 3/5 Stars
This story had both elements that creeped me out and ones that intrigued me. It was really interesting reading about Dorothy's story from the perspective of someone who didn't go to Oz.
A Knot of Toads - 5/5 Stars
This is the other story that stuck with me. It's also the only story I didn't know anything about beforehand, so I kept wanting to read.
The Quiet Monk - 2/5 Stars
This story bored me to death, but I love the Arthurian legends and I wanted to see where it would go.
The Bird - 2/5 Stars
I didn't understand this story as much as I could have, I think. But I liked the element of Poe in here.
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown - 2/5 Stars
I hardly remember this one, but the only detail I do remember is that the labyrinth was magically toxic or something. Which was cool.
The Gift of the Magician’s - 1/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Rabbit Hole - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
The Lady of the Greenwood - 3/5 Stars
I love me a good prophetic birth, and this delivered. Though a bit boring.
The Confession of Brother Blaise - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Wonder Land - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Evian Steel - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember much of this aside from it delves into the legend of the Sword in the Stone. So there's that.
Sister Emily’s Lightship - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
I guess most of my qualms with these stories were that I wished they were explored more in depth and written less dryly. This collection was accompanied by the authors thoughts on her stories, but I will admit I didn't read them because I was done.
I did enjoy a majority of them, and two of the stories stuck with me, but therest kind of blurred.
I'm sorry, Jane Yolen. This review is going to be crap and just have stories titles and stars and write out some reviews on the ones I remember well.
Andersen's Witch - 5/5 Stars
This is the first story in this anthology, and it hit close to my heart, because I love Andersen and I loved the idea of him being in a sort of fairy tale himself. The story was well written and original!
Lost Girls - 3/5 Stars
I loved the idea of Peter kidnapping multiple "Wendy" girls, and that was the only thing I loved. Captain Hook as a female? Badass, but I feel like we could have learned more about that. Oh well.
Tough Alice - 3/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Blown Away - 3/5 Stars
This story had both elements that creeped me out and ones that intrigued me. It was really interesting reading about Dorothy's story from the perspective of someone who didn't go to Oz.
A Knot of Toads - 5/5 Stars
This is the other story that stuck with me. It's also the only story I didn't know anything about beforehand, so I kept wanting to read.
The Quiet Monk - 2/5 Stars
This story bored me to death, but I love the Arthurian legends and I wanted to see where it would go.
The Bird - 2/5 Stars
I didn't understand this story as much as I could have, I think. But I liked the element of Poe in here.
Belle Bloody Merciless Dame - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown - 2/5 Stars
I hardly remember this one, but the only detail I do remember is that the labyrinth was magically toxic or something. Which was cool.
The Gift of the Magician’s - 1/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Rabbit Hole - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
The Lady of the Greenwood - 3/5 Stars
I love me a good prophetic birth, and this delivered. Though a bit boring.
The Confession of Brother Blaise - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Wonder Land - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
Evian Steel - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember much of this aside from it delves into the legend of the Sword in the Stone. So there's that.
Sister Emily’s Lightship - 2/5 Stars
I don't remember this story, at all.
I guess most of my qualms with these stories were that I wished they were explored more in depth and written less dryly. This collection was accompanied by the authors thoughts on her stories, but I will admit I didn't read them because I was done.
February 19, 2023
Adjusted ratings and CW -
Andersen’s Witch: 4 stars
CW: Grief, alcoholism, references to abuse
Lost Girls: 5 stars
CW: References to abuse
Tough Alice: 4 stars
Blown Away: 3.75 stars
CW: Animal death, grief
A Knot of Toads: 4 stars
(though I don’t love the way the historical witch trials were used / referenced)
CW: Animal torture and sacrifice
The Quiet Monk: 3 stars
Really interesting concept, but I didn't love the execution. Also I thought the instalove / insta-hero worship was a little inexplicable??
CW: Grief, internalized ableism, "cure" for disability trope
The Bird: 4 stars
CW: Illness, grief
Belle Bloody Mericiless Dame: 3.75 stars
CW: Rape, drinking, cheating
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown: 2.5 stars
The only one so far that’s felt like a concept, not a story.
Also, even though the story itself is about antisemitism and Jane Yolen is Jewish, the way Kabbalah was used here felt super uncomfortable? Maybe that wasn’t such a problematic trope when this collection was published, but I don't like the way this story (similarly to "A Knot of Toads") put a fantasy twist on real accusations used to harm people.....by making them real.
CW: Antisemitism
The Gift of the Magicians: 2 stars
Very well-written story that I hated reading! though the accompanying poem was beautiful.
CW: Death, getting eaten by an animal / person?
Rabbit Hole: 4 stars
Our Lady of the Greenwood: 4 stars"
The Confession of Brother Blaise: 3 stars
CW: Possible rape (succubus), grief, demons
Wonder Land: 3 stars?
Bizarre.
Evian Steel: 4 stars
So clever!
Sister Emily’s Lightship: 4 stars
CW: Illness
---
Overall thoughts:
I LOVE Jane Yolen's writing style and how consistently clean and clever it is, while also changing to fit each story. Even a few of the stories I was less into I still had a fairly good time with because her ideas are so interesting and her writing so fantastic.
There were only 2 stories I actively disliked, and a few I felt mixed about. But quite a few of these I really enjoyed and a couple I loved. I also really LOVED all the poems at the back of the book that coordinated with the stories, and the backstory Jane Yolen gave on how/why she wrote the stories was super interesting.
All of that plus the excellent writing and interesting concepts mean even if the star ratings average out differently, I'm giving this 4 stars!
Andersen’s Witch: 4 stars
CW: Grief, alcoholism, references to abuse
Lost Girls: 5 stars
CW: References to abuse
Tough Alice: 4 stars
Blown Away: 3.75 stars
CW: Animal death, grief
A Knot of Toads: 4 stars
(though I don’t love the way the historical witch trials were used / referenced)
CW: Animal torture and sacrifice
The Quiet Monk: 3 stars
Really interesting concept, but I didn't love the execution. Also I thought the instalove / insta-hero worship was a little inexplicable??
CW: Grief, internalized ableism, "cure" for disability trope
The Bird: 4 stars
CW: Illness, grief
Belle Bloody Mericiless Dame: 3.75 stars
CW: Rape, drinking, cheating
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown: 2.5 stars
The only one so far that’s felt like a concept, not a story.
Also, even though the story itself is about antisemitism and Jane Yolen is Jewish, the way Kabbalah was used here felt super uncomfortable? Maybe that wasn’t such a problematic trope when this collection was published, but I don't like the way this story (similarly to "A Knot of Toads") put a fantasy twist on real accusations used to harm people.....by making them real.
CW: Antisemitism
The Gift of the Magicians: 2 stars
Very well-written story that I hated reading! though the accompanying poem was beautiful.
CW: Death, getting eaten by an animal / person?
Rabbit Hole: 4 stars
Our Lady of the Greenwood: 4 stars"
The Confession of Brother Blaise: 3 stars
CW: Possible rape (succubus), grief, demons
Wonder Land: 3 stars?
Bizarre.
Evian Steel: 4 stars
So clever!
Sister Emily’s Lightship: 4 stars
CW: Illness
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Overall thoughts:
I LOVE Jane Yolen's writing style and how consistently clean and clever it is, while also changing to fit each story. Even a few of the stories I was less into I still had a fairly good time with because her ideas are so interesting and her writing so fantastic.
There were only 2 stories I actively disliked, and a few I felt mixed about. But quite a few of these I really enjoyed and a couple I loved. I also really LOVED all the poems at the back of the book that coordinated with the stories, and the backstory Jane Yolen gave on how/why she wrote the stories was super interesting.
All of that plus the excellent writing and interesting concepts mean even if the star ratings average out differently, I'm giving this 4 stars!
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