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Twice Upon an Apocalypse: Lovecraftian Fairy Tales
These aren't your mother's fairy tales.
Throughout history parents have told their children stories to help them sleep, to keep them entertained. But we're pretty sure none of those parents had this in mind. These are the fairy tales that will give you and your children nightmares. From the darkest depths of Grimm and Anderson come the immortal mash-ups with the creations of HP Lovecraft.
These stories will scare and delight 'children' of all ages!
Brought to you by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths
So what makes this Lovecraftian Fairy Tales anthology special?
William Meikle: Lovecraft was working on stirring some base emotions in the reader, asking us to reflect on the depth and wonder of the Universe around us. Fairy tales, whether from the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen or from the oral tradition are a similar means of tapping into something old and primal, and a fusion of both gives us added insight into how archetypes and myth might evolve in an age where the most frightening thing is ourselves.
Armand Rosamilia: The mashup of Lovecraft and fairy tales blended together way too easy. It makes you wonder... Reading through these stories you can see how the two parallel and fit nicely together, especially since the base for Cthulhu mythos and fairy tales are so dark and have that underlying gloom to them.
Tell us more about your horror short story.
William Meikle: I have a fascination with the power of music to affect changes in our mental, and physical, picture of how the world works at a basic level. THE PIED PIPER OF PROVIDENCE is one of my explorations of just that. Plus, it was a load of fun exploring how a modern city might respond to an age old menace.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
48 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Kenley
25 books52 followersRachel’s first romance novel was published in 2007 when the e-book world was new. Since then she has had seven novels and numerous short stories and novellas released, with many reaching her publishers bestseller lists. She believes in shameless flirting, never missing the chance to watch The Wizard of Oz and the emotional and economic power of retail therapy. Please don’t talk to her before her morning cup of coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 30, 2017
Review copy
From the Introduction from GaryBraunbeck
"The idea of taking a traditional fairy tale and setting it in Lovecraft's universe seems so inspired that it has to already have been done, right?
"Placing these stories with their black-and-white morality into a world where virtue, ethics, courage, decency, and goodness are at best cruel jokes freed the writers from having to worry about the moral core of their chosen fairy tale being compromised, because here, here that moral code is D.O.A., the characters just don't know it yet., so the core remains unaltered."
The Pied Piper of Providence William Meikle Based on The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning
A somewhat predictable story as many of these will be. But good fun in the hands of Willie.
"Old lady Malcolm was the first to see them when, on descending into her cellar late in the evening, she was attacked by six large rats which bit her most grievously before she managed to fight them off with a broom."
The town fathers are willing to pay whatever it takes to rid the community of this growing problem, but when it comes time to "pay the piper" they, like many politicians, find a way to weasel out of their deal with odious consequences.
The Three Billygoats Sothoth Peter N. Dudar Based on Three Billy Goats Gruff by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
So much fun. True to form with a bit of whimsy
Little Maiden of the Sea David Bernard Based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson
"But the Little Maiden was stubborn, and would swim to the surface and hide among the rocks, gazing upon the lights of the village that the hybrids said the air-breathers called Innsmouth."
An absolutely delicious tale.
The Great Old One And The Beanstalk Armand Rosamilia Based on Jack and the Beanstalk by Joseph Jacob
What Jack finds at the other end of the beanstalk...
"They sang out, words I had never heard, and wished I could forget.
"I know not what they meant. But such was the chill I received when I heard them, and stared into the evil cloud-like entity they clearly worshiped. That they will be forever be imprinted on my psyche and the words spoken in my nightmares until the day I die."
In the Shade of the Juniper Tree J. P. Hutshell Based on the Juniper Tree by Philipp Otto Runge
A new author and an unfamiliar tale for me, but a terrifically horrifying story.
The Horror at Hatchet Point Zach Shephard Based on Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm
Another new author for me with a story true to the original, but with that Lovevraftian twist.
I loved his words...
"The perfect night they’d been waiting for was upon them: the clouds were dark sacks full of writhing pythons, the wind a banshee’s breath. Hatchet Point cleaved oncoming waves in a spray of black water, while distant lightning illuminated the foaming sea."
The Most Incredible Thing Bracken MacLeod Based on Det Utroligste (The Most Incredible Thing) by Hans Christian Anderson
I was not familiar with this Hans Christian Anderson tale, but researching it, I found Bracken to true to the original with the wonderful twist of the contest to determine the most incredible thing being a tv show along the lines of America's Got Talent. Clever.
Let Me Come In! Simon Yee Based on The Three Little Pigs by James Halliwell-Phillipps
Yet another fun spin on a classic tale.
The Fishman and His Wife Inanna Arthen Based on The Fisherman and His Wife by the Brothers Grimm
Great opening for a Lovecraftian infused story...
"From the way the Director-General's anterior tentacles writhed on his desk, like earthworms dropped onto hot beach sand, I suspected this conversation wasn't going to go well."
The Little Match Mi-Go Michael Kamp Based on The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
The story had little in common with The Little Match Girl and delivered little in content.
Follow the Yellow Glyph Road Scott T. Goudsward Based on The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
I automatically love any story set in this realm created by L. Ftank Baum. My only complaint was, I wanted more.
"Just follow me. 'But I’m following a talking cat down a strange road in a place I don’t know.' The cat stopped and turned to look at Dorothy with golden eyes. 'I don’t explain. I tell the lost ones to follow me, and I lead them through the maze before something comes out of nowhere and lops their head off with a giant bloody axe.'”
Another fine story
Curiosity Winifred Burniston Based on Bluebeard by Charles Perrault
True to the original in most ways with the expected Lovecraftian twist.
The Ice Queen Mae Empson Based on The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
I found this story to be as chilling as The Snow Queen. Of of only a few fairy tales that actually scared me as a kid.
"But no bee in any book I’ve read has wings that glow in the dark, or six pincer-like legs with saw-toothed claws, thick with white hair. In the space where a bee would have a head, a tangle of antennae writhe like tentacles."
Once Upon a Dream Matthew Baugh Based on Sleeping Beauty by the Brothers Grimm
Wow. Great story, nothing like the fairytale you heard as a child.
"After the two feasted on the Queen’s carcass, the King took little Cthulhu to the balcony of the tower and presented her to the people."
Bloody disgusting. I loved it.
Cinderella and her Outer Godfather C.T. Phipps Based on Cinderella by Charles Perrault
An appropriately twisted telling of this oft-told tale.
Donkeyskin K.H. Vaughan Based on Donkeyskin by Charles Perrault
Sweet Dreams in the Witch-House Sean Logan Based on Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm
A wonderful twist on this classic tale.
"He saw his sister tear off a piece of the eave and chew, but it was not creamy chocolate that dribbled down her chin, but the brown blood of l a rodent carcass."
Fee Fi Old One Thomas Brannon Based on Jack the Giant Killer by Joseph Jacobs
The King of the Golden Mountain Morgan Sylvia Based on the King of the Golden Mountain by the Brothers Grimm
The Legend of Creepy Hollow Don D’Ammassa Based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
A well-told story with a true Lovecraftian flair.
"Knowledge held in secret has no utility. When someone tells me he has learned some truth that transcends what we know of the physical universe, I can safely assume he is either lying, delusional, or a fool.”
Many the stories were played for laughs and weren't very terrifying at all, with a few exceptions.
Sometimes you just need to read for fun, not great literature, not groundbreaking prose, just to enjoy the read. This is such a book. I'll never be able to hear these children tales as I've heard them all of my life.
Twice Upon An Apocalypse is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Crytal Lake Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the Introduction from GaryBraunbeck
"The idea of taking a traditional fairy tale and setting it in Lovecraft's universe seems so inspired that it has to already have been done, right?
"Placing these stories with their black-and-white morality into a world where virtue, ethics, courage, decency, and goodness are at best cruel jokes freed the writers from having to worry about the moral core of their chosen fairy tale being compromised, because here, here that moral code is D.O.A., the characters just don't know it yet., so the core remains unaltered."
The Pied Piper of Providence William Meikle Based on The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning
A somewhat predictable story as many of these will be. But good fun in the hands of Willie.
"Old lady Malcolm was the first to see them when, on descending into her cellar late in the evening, she was attacked by six large rats which bit her most grievously before she managed to fight them off with a broom."
The town fathers are willing to pay whatever it takes to rid the community of this growing problem, but when it comes time to "pay the piper" they, like many politicians, find a way to weasel out of their deal with odious consequences.
The Three Billygoats Sothoth Peter N. Dudar Based on Three Billy Goats Gruff by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
So much fun. True to form with a bit of whimsy
Little Maiden of the Sea David Bernard Based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson
"But the Little Maiden was stubborn, and would swim to the surface and hide among the rocks, gazing upon the lights of the village that the hybrids said the air-breathers called Innsmouth."
An absolutely delicious tale.
The Great Old One And The Beanstalk Armand Rosamilia Based on Jack and the Beanstalk by Joseph Jacob
What Jack finds at the other end of the beanstalk...
"They sang out, words I had never heard, and wished I could forget.
"I know not what they meant. But such was the chill I received when I heard them, and stared into the evil cloud-like entity they clearly worshiped. That they will be forever be imprinted on my psyche and the words spoken in my nightmares until the day I die."
In the Shade of the Juniper Tree J. P. Hutshell Based on the Juniper Tree by Philipp Otto Runge
A new author and an unfamiliar tale for me, but a terrifically horrifying story.
The Horror at Hatchet Point Zach Shephard Based on Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm
Another new author for me with a story true to the original, but with that Lovevraftian twist.
I loved his words...
"The perfect night they’d been waiting for was upon them: the clouds were dark sacks full of writhing pythons, the wind a banshee’s breath. Hatchet Point cleaved oncoming waves in a spray of black water, while distant lightning illuminated the foaming sea."
The Most Incredible Thing Bracken MacLeod Based on Det Utroligste (The Most Incredible Thing) by Hans Christian Anderson
I was not familiar with this Hans Christian Anderson tale, but researching it, I found Bracken to true to the original with the wonderful twist of the contest to determine the most incredible thing being a tv show along the lines of America's Got Talent. Clever.
Let Me Come In! Simon Yee Based on The Three Little Pigs by James Halliwell-Phillipps
Yet another fun spin on a classic tale.
The Fishman and His Wife Inanna Arthen Based on The Fisherman and His Wife by the Brothers Grimm
Great opening for a Lovecraftian infused story...
"From the way the Director-General's anterior tentacles writhed on his desk, like earthworms dropped onto hot beach sand, I suspected this conversation wasn't going to go well."
The Little Match Mi-Go Michael Kamp Based on The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
The story had little in common with The Little Match Girl and delivered little in content.
Follow the Yellow Glyph Road Scott T. Goudsward Based on The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
I automatically love any story set in this realm created by L. Ftank Baum. My only complaint was, I wanted more.
"Just follow me. 'But I’m following a talking cat down a strange road in a place I don’t know.' The cat stopped and turned to look at Dorothy with golden eyes. 'I don’t explain. I tell the lost ones to follow me, and I lead them through the maze before something comes out of nowhere and lops their head off with a giant bloody axe.'”
Another fine story
Curiosity Winifred Burniston Based on Bluebeard by Charles Perrault
True to the original in most ways with the expected Lovecraftian twist.
The Ice Queen Mae Empson Based on The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
I found this story to be as chilling as The Snow Queen. Of of only a few fairy tales that actually scared me as a kid.
"But no bee in any book I’ve read has wings that glow in the dark, or six pincer-like legs with saw-toothed claws, thick with white hair. In the space where a bee would have a head, a tangle of antennae writhe like tentacles."
Once Upon a Dream Matthew Baugh Based on Sleeping Beauty by the Brothers Grimm
Wow. Great story, nothing like the fairytale you heard as a child.
"After the two feasted on the Queen’s carcass, the King took little Cthulhu to the balcony of the tower and presented her to the people."
Bloody disgusting. I loved it.
Cinderella and her Outer Godfather C.T. Phipps Based on Cinderella by Charles Perrault
An appropriately twisted telling of this oft-told tale.
Donkeyskin K.H. Vaughan Based on Donkeyskin by Charles Perrault
Sweet Dreams in the Witch-House Sean Logan Based on Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm
A wonderful twist on this classic tale.
"He saw his sister tear off a piece of the eave and chew, but it was not creamy chocolate that dribbled down her chin, but the brown blood of l a rodent carcass."
Fee Fi Old One Thomas Brannon Based on Jack the Giant Killer by Joseph Jacobs
The King of the Golden Mountain Morgan Sylvia Based on the King of the Golden Mountain by the Brothers Grimm
The Legend of Creepy Hollow Don D’Ammassa Based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
A well-told story with a true Lovecraftian flair.
"Knowledge held in secret has no utility. When someone tells me he has learned some truth that transcends what we know of the physical universe, I can safely assume he is either lying, delusional, or a fool.”
Many the stories were played for laughs and weren't very terrifying at all, with a few exceptions.
Sometimes you just need to read for fun, not great literature, not groundbreaking prose, just to enjoy the read. This is such a book. I'll never be able to hear these children tales as I've heard them all of my life.
Twice Upon An Apocalypse is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Crytal Lake Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
May 30, 2017
Review of TWICE UPON AN APOCALYPSE by Various Authors
[Crystal Lake Publishing, May 30 2017]
Fairy tale recountings have become popular of late ; but one spin that hasn't been approached, until now, is the Lovecraftian framework. In TWICE UPON AN APOCALYPSE, Lovecraft meets fairy tale, or perhaps fairy tale meets Lovecraft. Each of these delightful tales is a treasure in itself. The authors are all well-versed in both Lovecraftian Mythos, and fairy tale traditions, and what they do in melding the two is simply gorgeous. I believe lovers of either category will enjoy the results, and applaud authors and editors for utilizing this wonderful approach.
[Crystal Lake Publishing, May 30 2017]
Fairy tale recountings have become popular of late ; but one spin that hasn't been approached, until now, is the Lovecraftian framework. In TWICE UPON AN APOCALYPSE, Lovecraft meets fairy tale, or perhaps fairy tale meets Lovecraft. Each of these delightful tales is a treasure in itself. The authors are all well-versed in both Lovecraftian Mythos, and fairy tale traditions, and what they do in melding the two is simply gorgeous. I believe lovers of either category will enjoy the results, and applaud authors and editors for utilizing this wonderful approach.
May 29, 2017
Calling all horror fans. You have to check this anthology out. This book is chalked full of twisted fairy tales. The best part is that they are not full of zombies, which one might instantly think with the word "apocalypse" in the title. No these stories have demons, massacre, blood, and guts. All the ingredients of nightmares. There are so many good stories that I enjoyed. This is a bonus. There is nothing worse then reading a book full of short stories only to find that more than half of the stories are bad. Although, my favorite is probably “Let Me Come In!” by Simon Yee. It is a new take on the classic, The Three Little Pigs. In this story, the wolf is armed with grenades and a rocket launcher. Yet, the pigs are not defenseless. I dare you to pick just one story you like in this book. Now, what are you waiting for...go pick up a copy.
May 28, 2017
Twice upon an apocalypse is an anthology using original fairy tales and twisting them into the universe of H.P Lovecraft.
A delightful and terrifying mix of short stories from various authors and only one that I know of personally.
This anthology is a great way to be introduced to all these fantastic authors and the standard of these stories are a high calibre.
There were too many great stories to choose from and I found this anthology hard to put down.
I was given this ARC by Joe Mynhardt founder and CEO from Crystal Lake Publishing and I'm so happy that this is an excellent book.
A delightful and terrifying mix of short stories from various authors and only one that I know of personally.
This anthology is a great way to be introduced to all these fantastic authors and the standard of these stories are a high calibre.
There were too many great stories to choose from and I found this anthology hard to put down.
I was given this ARC by Joe Mynhardt founder and CEO from Crystal Lake Publishing and I'm so happy that this is an excellent book.
May 28, 2017
A really eclectic set of short stories. Read it and you'll never look at fairy tales quite the same way. A great summer read!
I received a copy from Crystal Lake publishing and chose to review it.
I received a copy from Crystal Lake publishing and chose to review it.
May 21, 2020
If your idea of a proper fairy tale is a Brothers Grimm original, then a. you were taught right as a child, the world is a horrifying place fraught with dangers and b. this book is just right for you. For all others, for those whose childhood fairy tales came watered down and Disneyfied…this’ll be a terrifying awakening sort of experience. But either way…this was oodles of fun. What a novel idea for an anthology. I mean, there’s been a variety of mash ups and fairy tale derivatives in pop culture lately, most notably (for me) Fables comic books and its shameless (and somehow unofficial) rip off Once Upon a Time tv show. The way that slipped under the plagiarism guidelines is a mystery. But at any rate, so far no one has thought of setting all the familiar fairy tales in the Lovecraftian universe of cosmic terrors. At least as far as I know. Crystal Lake, kudos to them once again for putting out original and quality dark fiction, not only thought up such a thing, they made it into a series feature. One I for some reason didn’t realize was a series, despite the word Twice in the title. Duh. But not like it matters really. This is a separate volume, the second one, and yes, based on this collection, I’d be absolutely delighted to read its predecessor or any volumes that might follow in its deformed webbed footsteps. Because this was fun. Lots of fun. I’ve come to associate Crystal Lake publishers with a certain level of quality over the years and they didn’t disappoint. Out of this assembly of well known and lesser so authors (with a ratio of about 60/40 to me) there were no duds. Granted, some of stories I enjoyed more than others, but overall effect was pretty up there. The collection started off on a lighter, almost fantasy like note (a territory into which it would occasionally drift from time to me), but then it got progressively darker in the best possible way. And from there on, with minor ebbs and flows, it was uniformly pretty freaking excellent. The stories did a great job of honoring their source materials, but twisted them just enough to fit within the stygian darkness of the eldritch beings and their bleak nightmarish realms. Pretty clever when you think about it. The fairy tales are by nature heavily moralistic, meant to be teaching tools for the young (and otherwise) about life and these are set in an inherently amoral lawless indifferent universe of cosmic terrors. That’s automatically a fascinating dichotomy to play with and, whether lightly and humorously or darkly and seriously, these authors play with what they are given until their toys are thrashed by tentacles and thrown into the seas of endless night and all that. Lovely. And very, very entertaining. Recommended for all genre fans, fairy tale buffs and those who gaze into abyss for funsies.
May 30, 2017
Review for Monster Librarian forthcoming. If you like a bit of Lovecraft in your fairy tales, pick up this book! Now!
March 29, 2019
Ok, without going into details about each story, let's be honest with each other. This book is not the fairy tale book you want to be reading to your kiddos. I had to laugh at so many of the stories and the way they mixed the Cthulhu mythos and took each one for a wild turn.
I have to say the one that I loved the most is the version of Sleeping Beauty. How could you not love Cthulhu in that role?
While I admit the stories are not as frighting as people would hope they would be, they are still a fun read before bed or anytime.
I have to say the one that I loved the most is the version of Sleeping Beauty. How could you not love Cthulhu in that role?
While I admit the stories are not as frighting as people would hope they would be, they are still a fun read before bed or anytime.
September 2, 2019
★★★☆☆½ ~ 3.5 Stars
Twisted fairy tales.
Twisted fairy tales.
May 31, 2017
With great style, new dark fiction anthology Twice Upon An Apocalypse accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do - - - revisit some classic fairy tales and place them within a universe populated by the creations of H. P. Lovecraft.
Here you will find new versions of traditional fairy tales by twenty-one authors, each with new interpretations that introduce classic mythos elements from Lovecraft’s influential weird fiction. These are short works, just like the original stories they are based on, and are best appreciated in small doses to be savored over time, rather than devoured in one sitting.
It’s a bumper crop of creativity, with 16 of the 21 stories hitting the mark and only five falling a bit short of the target but still remaining worthwhile. There are nine stories of premium quality, with an additional seven tales that go well beyond expectations into the realm of greatness and deserve multiple readings. Three stories within this collection are worthy of further consideration when it comes time for year’s best nominations.
Don’t miss “In The Shade Of The Juniper Tree” by J. P. Hutshell (based on “The Juniper Tree” by Philipp Otto Runge); “The Ice Queen” by Mae Empson (based on “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Anderson); and “Once Upon A Dream” by Matthew Baugh (based on “Sleeping Beauty” by The Brothers Grimm).
Not every story within the anthology is based upon a well-recognized fairy tale. There were at least four stories of which this reviewer was not familiar with the source material. Ten of the 21 stories have their roots in The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, at five tales each. The works of Charles Perrault are represented four times. Two of the stories utilize Jack (of Beanstalk and Giant-Killer Fame), the creation of Joseph Jacobs. Robert Browning (Pied Piper), L. Frank Baum (Oz), and Washington Irving (Sleepy Hollow) also have one story based on their famous works.
There are enough diverse elements and themes within the anthology to give it a freshness that other single-themed anthologies sometimes can’t provide. It’s a rich template which allowed the authors to demonstrate their creativity. Don’t miss this one.
Here you will find new versions of traditional fairy tales by twenty-one authors, each with new interpretations that introduce classic mythos elements from Lovecraft’s influential weird fiction. These are short works, just like the original stories they are based on, and are best appreciated in small doses to be savored over time, rather than devoured in one sitting.
It’s a bumper crop of creativity, with 16 of the 21 stories hitting the mark and only five falling a bit short of the target but still remaining worthwhile. There are nine stories of premium quality, with an additional seven tales that go well beyond expectations into the realm of greatness and deserve multiple readings. Three stories within this collection are worthy of further consideration when it comes time for year’s best nominations.
Don’t miss “In The Shade Of The Juniper Tree” by J. P. Hutshell (based on “The Juniper Tree” by Philipp Otto Runge); “The Ice Queen” by Mae Empson (based on “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Anderson); and “Once Upon A Dream” by Matthew Baugh (based on “Sleeping Beauty” by The Brothers Grimm).
Not every story within the anthology is based upon a well-recognized fairy tale. There were at least four stories of which this reviewer was not familiar with the source material. Ten of the 21 stories have their roots in The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, at five tales each. The works of Charles Perrault are represented four times. Two of the stories utilize Jack (of Beanstalk and Giant-Killer Fame), the creation of Joseph Jacobs. Robert Browning (Pied Piper), L. Frank Baum (Oz), and Washington Irving (Sleepy Hollow) also have one story based on their famous works.
There are enough diverse elements and themes within the anthology to give it a freshness that other single-themed anthologies sometimes can’t provide. It’s a rich template which allowed the authors to demonstrate their creativity. Don’t miss this one.
June 6, 2017
The Cthulhu Mythos is like chocolate; it can be added to nearly anything to make a good thing even better.
Twice Upon an Apocalypse, the latest release by Crystal Lake Publishing re-imagines the traditional tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson through the lens of Lovecraftian horror to create a dark and sweet confection that is sure to excite the palate of any gourmand of weird fiction.
This anthology collects twenty one classic tales with a horrifying new twist, including The Pied Piper of Providence; The Fishman and His Wife; Cinderella and Her Outer Godfather; Sweet Dreams in the Witch-House; and Fee Fi Old One, and when I first saw the list of story titles I knew that this book was one I had to have.
One might consider it a risky move to release a book of re-imagined fairy tales upon a public already suffering shell-schlock from the interminable barrage of revisionist tales that Hollywood has bombarded us with in recent years. But Twice Upon an Apocalypse proves that there is room for fresh ideas in over-saturated markets if they are done right. Indeed, the multitude of banal fairy tale remakes sets this book apart, like a glittering gem sitting atop a heap of dross.
This being an anthology of stories contributed by various authors, not all of the tales were to my taste, which is only to be expected. However, the ones I liked, I liked a lot, and my favourite story in the collection, Little Maiden of the Sea, deftly married The Little Mermaid to The Dunwich Horror in an unholy union that was worth the price of admission on its own.
If dark and twisted re-tellings of old classics seasoned with a dash of wry wit is something you would enjoy, then I definitely recommend this collection.
Twice Upon an Apocalypse, the latest release by Crystal Lake Publishing re-imagines the traditional tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson through the lens of Lovecraftian horror to create a dark and sweet confection that is sure to excite the palate of any gourmand of weird fiction.
This anthology collects twenty one classic tales with a horrifying new twist, including The Pied Piper of Providence; The Fishman and His Wife; Cinderella and Her Outer Godfather; Sweet Dreams in the Witch-House; and Fee Fi Old One, and when I first saw the list of story titles I knew that this book was one I had to have.
One might consider it a risky move to release a book of re-imagined fairy tales upon a public already suffering shell-schlock from the interminable barrage of revisionist tales that Hollywood has bombarded us with in recent years. But Twice Upon an Apocalypse proves that there is room for fresh ideas in over-saturated markets if they are done right. Indeed, the multitude of banal fairy tale remakes sets this book apart, like a glittering gem sitting atop a heap of dross.
This being an anthology of stories contributed by various authors, not all of the tales were to my taste, which is only to be expected. However, the ones I liked, I liked a lot, and my favourite story in the collection, Little Maiden of the Sea, deftly married The Little Mermaid to The Dunwich Horror in an unholy union that was worth the price of admission on its own.
If dark and twisted re-tellings of old classics seasoned with a dash of wry wit is something you would enjoy, then I definitely recommend this collection.
May 31, 2017
Dark fairytales in a Lovecraftian landscape - What's not to love?!
I'm a big fan of Crystal Lake Publishing's short story anthologies, so I jumped at the chance to get a launch copy of this book. These are all my favourite fairytales tossed into a hellish world.
Fairytales in their essence are quite horrific and not all love and happy endings. I loved the way each story was reworked into a unique talent but still carried the same original story mingled with a unique flavour of Lovecraft.
I find it hard to pick my favourites, as they are do many good stories to dip into but the twists on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella were excellent and I'm all for strong women! I also loved the Bluebeard and the Little Mermaid stories. The Little Mermaid has always struck a chord with me and I love the evilness behind Bluebeard.
The joy of a short story collection like this is being able to dip in for a short period of time. Even though I never stopped at just one story because I kept wanting to see which fairytale would come next.
I'm already dying to read the next Crystal Lake anthology
I'm a big fan of Crystal Lake Publishing's short story anthologies, so I jumped at the chance to get a launch copy of this book. These are all my favourite fairytales tossed into a hellish world.
Fairytales in their essence are quite horrific and not all love and happy endings. I loved the way each story was reworked into a unique talent but still carried the same original story mingled with a unique flavour of Lovecraft.
I find it hard to pick my favourites, as they are do many good stories to dip into but the twists on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella were excellent and I'm all for strong women! I also loved the Bluebeard and the Little Mermaid stories. The Little Mermaid has always struck a chord with me and I love the evilness behind Bluebeard.
The joy of a short story collection like this is being able to dip in for a short period of time. Even though I never stopped at just one story because I kept wanting to see which fairytale would come next.
I'm already dying to read the next Crystal Lake anthology
May 30, 2017
Mixing Lovecraft's Cthulan Mythos with fairy tales ... two great tastes that taste great together. First time I heard about this anthology I got excited, and I'm quite pleased with the finished product.
William Meikle's "The Pied Piper of Providence" starts the anthology off well, and sets the tone for what's to come. David Bernard's "Little Maiden of the Sea" is cunningly tied to my favorite Lovecraft story, "The Dunwich Horror", and a good story on its own. I also particularly liked J.P. Hutshell's "In the Shade of the Juniper Tree", Pete Rawlik's "The Gumdrop Apocalypse", C.T. Phipps' "Cinderella and her Outer Godfather", and K.H. Vaughan's "Donkeyskin" still haunts me.
William Meikle's "The Pied Piper of Providence" starts the anthology off well, and sets the tone for what's to come. David Bernard's "Little Maiden of the Sea" is cunningly tied to my favorite Lovecraft story, "The Dunwich Horror", and a good story on its own. I also particularly liked J.P. Hutshell's "In the Shade of the Juniper Tree", Pete Rawlik's "The Gumdrop Apocalypse", C.T. Phipps' "Cinderella and her Outer Godfather", and K.H. Vaughan's "Donkeyskin" still haunts me.
May 30, 2017
These are not your childhood fairy tales. You can read my full review here... https://horrornovelreviews.com/2017/0...
June 7, 2017
As with all anthologies, some stories are better than others. If you like Lovecraft and Lovecraftian themes, you will probably like this book better. I'm not the biggest fan of Lovecraft, but the whole "Fairy Tale" aspect drew me to read this book. Overall, it's a good read. Enjoy!
January 4, 2018
I don't generally read mash-ups. Every once in a while they can be cleverly done but, as Gary Braunbek states in the Introduction, they tend to work better as short stories rather than novels. The subtitle of 'Lovecraftian Fairy Tales' soon caught my eye and I eagerly offered myself...ok, I may have begged a bit.
I can't say that I was disappointed at all. The stories are generally good and range from deadly serious to tongue firmly in cheek. There were a few stand-outs but none that made me roll my eyes in disbelief or bored me to tears. Each story, despite having common themes, was it's own creation and unique. I also enjoyed the fact that along with the more well-known fairy tales some were used which are rarely seen. I have to admit that I fully expected to see many stories by the Brothers Grimm. The Grimm Brothers are amply represented but so also is Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Anderson. There are also a couple well-known stories, even if the authors are not widely known. Even though I partly expected to see at least 'The Little Mermaid' show up in an Innsmouth story, indeed how could she not? I was also pleased to see a few of the lesser known tales. I'm slightly biased towards Hans Christian Anderson's tales, I'll admit that right now.
The stories are well-written but with such a narrow framework to write a story within (Lovecraftian fairy tales leading up to an apocalypse) constrains the creativity to a degree. You know pretty much how things will end (or begin) so the only mystery is how it's going to get there or be described. Some of the better stories made very good use of atmosphere. I'm also unsure of the submission process for the stories but with the wealth of both fairy tale and Lovecraft mythos there seems to be quite a bit of repetition in view. For instance, there are two separate stories about 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.They each go in their own directions but there should really be no need for two of the same story in the anthology. Also, with the amount of different locations mentioned in Lovecraft and the fairy tales themselves seem to limit themselves to fairly confined areas. Innsmouth and Dunwich are particular favorites.
Since there are too many stories to go into them as deeply as I'd like I will sort them from best to least liked.
Madness-Inducing (Best):
The Pied Piper of Providence - William Meikle
The Three Billy Goats Sothoth - Peter N. Dudar
In the Shade of the Juniper Tree - J.P. Hutshell
The Most Incredible Thing - Bracken MacLeod
Let Me Come In! - Simon Yee
The Fishman and His Wife - Inanna Arthen
The Gumdrop Apocalypse - Pete Rawlik
Curiosity - Winifred Burniston
Sweet Dreams in the Witch House - Sean Logan
The Legend of Creepy Hollow - DonD'Ammassa
Mind-bending Angles (Good):
The Horror at Hatchet Point - Zach Shephard
Follow the Yellow Glyph Road - Scott T. Goudsward
The Ice Queen - Mae Empson
Once Upon a Dream - Matthew Baugh
Donkeyskin - K.H. Vaughn
The Great Old One and the Beanstalk - Armand Rosamilia
Slightly Skewed (Meh):
Little Maiden of the Sea - David Barnard
The Little Match Mi-Go - Michael Kamp
Cinderella and Her Outer Godfather - C.T. Phipps
Fee Fie Old One - Thom Brannan
The King of the Golden Mountain - Morgan Sylvia
Even the stories that didn't thrill me were still pretty good. Oddly, I just noticed that despite my love for Hans Christian Anderson, those seem to be the ones that I rated lowest. Perhaps I couldn't separate the originals from the mixture. Because they were mixed well, I just couldn't get into them. Others may like them more so I would not discourage anyone from reading them. For those interested in Lovecraft or fairy tale mash-ups there is a lot to be liked here. So kick back and get ready for some familiar and comfortable cosmic horror. Although that may be an oxymoron.
Received from the publisher for review consideration
I can't say that I was disappointed at all. The stories are generally good and range from deadly serious to tongue firmly in cheek. There were a few stand-outs but none that made me roll my eyes in disbelief or bored me to tears. Each story, despite having common themes, was it's own creation and unique. I also enjoyed the fact that along with the more well-known fairy tales some were used which are rarely seen. I have to admit that I fully expected to see many stories by the Brothers Grimm. The Grimm Brothers are amply represented but so also is Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Anderson. There are also a couple well-known stories, even if the authors are not widely known. Even though I partly expected to see at least 'The Little Mermaid' show up in an Innsmouth story, indeed how could she not? I was also pleased to see a few of the lesser known tales. I'm slightly biased towards Hans Christian Anderson's tales, I'll admit that right now.
The stories are well-written but with such a narrow framework to write a story within (Lovecraftian fairy tales leading up to an apocalypse) constrains the creativity to a degree. You know pretty much how things will end (or begin) so the only mystery is how it's going to get there or be described. Some of the better stories made very good use of atmosphere. I'm also unsure of the submission process for the stories but with the wealth of both fairy tale and Lovecraft mythos there seems to be quite a bit of repetition in view. For instance, there are two separate stories about 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.They each go in their own directions but there should really be no need for two of the same story in the anthology. Also, with the amount of different locations mentioned in Lovecraft and the fairy tales themselves seem to limit themselves to fairly confined areas. Innsmouth and Dunwich are particular favorites.
Since there are too many stories to go into them as deeply as I'd like I will sort them from best to least liked.
Madness-Inducing (Best):
The Pied Piper of Providence - William Meikle
The Three Billy Goats Sothoth - Peter N. Dudar
In the Shade of the Juniper Tree - J.P. Hutshell
The Most Incredible Thing - Bracken MacLeod
Let Me Come In! - Simon Yee
The Fishman and His Wife - Inanna Arthen
The Gumdrop Apocalypse - Pete Rawlik
Curiosity - Winifred Burniston
Sweet Dreams in the Witch House - Sean Logan
The Legend of Creepy Hollow - DonD'Ammassa
Mind-bending Angles (Good):
The Horror at Hatchet Point - Zach Shephard
Follow the Yellow Glyph Road - Scott T. Goudsward
The Ice Queen - Mae Empson
Once Upon a Dream - Matthew Baugh
Donkeyskin - K.H. Vaughn
The Great Old One and the Beanstalk - Armand Rosamilia
Slightly Skewed (Meh):
Little Maiden of the Sea - David Barnard
The Little Match Mi-Go - Michael Kamp
Cinderella and Her Outer Godfather - C.T. Phipps
Fee Fie Old One - Thom Brannan
The King of the Golden Mountain - Morgan Sylvia
Even the stories that didn't thrill me were still pretty good. Oddly, I just noticed that despite my love for Hans Christian Anderson, those seem to be the ones that I rated lowest. Perhaps I couldn't separate the originals from the mixture. Because they were mixed well, I just couldn't get into them. Others may like them more so I would not discourage anyone from reading them. For those interested in Lovecraft or fairy tale mash-ups there is a lot to be liked here. So kick back and get ready for some familiar and comfortable cosmic horror. Although that may be an oxymoron.
Received from the publisher for review consideration
July 16, 2017
Do the words Cthulhu, shoggoth, or R'lyeh mean anything to you? Have you read the works of August Derleth or Brian Lumley? When you hear Lovecraft, do you shudder inwardly, or think it's something out of a romantic spy novel?
Are you familiar with the Brothers Grimm? Do the names "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella" remind you of your childhood? After growing up, did you come to realize that these bedtime stories were all pretty scary and could induce nightmares in innocent children?
It has been quite some time since I dipped my toes into Lovecraft's mythos. However, once you have read the original tales, it doesn't take much to bring back the horrors captured therein. On the other hand, fairy tales have become the fodder of several TV shows, so they are pretty much front and center for all of us.
TWICE UPON AN APOCALYPSE is a creative mashup of fairy tales and mythos. In it you will find 23 stories, by a variety of authors, that are both familiar and strange (the stories and/or the writers). With titles like "The Pied Piper of Providence," "Beanstalk," and "Follow the Yellow Glyph Road," it doesn't take much imagination to see the inspiration for these particular stories.
The editors, Scott T. Goudsward and Rachel Kenley, have assembled a smorgasbord of fantasy and horror to keep you up late for several nights. This is not an anthology you will buzz through in one fast reading. There is just too much meat on the bone for that. The serious student of H. P. Lovecraft will feel right at home and will dissect each tale for its faithfulness to the mythos. The reader of fantasy and horror that hasn't read Lovecraft might just be tempted to see what the mythos fuss is all about. In either case, add this to your library and ponder the truth of Elder Gods, Great Ones and Great Old Ones.
I take my reading very seriously, so I read everything to the very end. I would recommend that you more than glance at the biographies of the authors at the end of the book. Many of them have websites where you will find links to more works that will make your skin crawl.
Are you familiar with the Brothers Grimm? Do the names "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella" remind you of your childhood? After growing up, did you come to realize that these bedtime stories were all pretty scary and could induce nightmares in innocent children?
It has been quite some time since I dipped my toes into Lovecraft's mythos. However, once you have read the original tales, it doesn't take much to bring back the horrors captured therein. On the other hand, fairy tales have become the fodder of several TV shows, so they are pretty much front and center for all of us.
TWICE UPON AN APOCALYPSE is a creative mashup of fairy tales and mythos. In it you will find 23 stories, by a variety of authors, that are both familiar and strange (the stories and/or the writers). With titles like "The Pied Piper of Providence," "Beanstalk," and "Follow the Yellow Glyph Road," it doesn't take much imagination to see the inspiration for these particular stories.
The editors, Scott T. Goudsward and Rachel Kenley, have assembled a smorgasbord of fantasy and horror to keep you up late for several nights. This is not an anthology you will buzz through in one fast reading. There is just too much meat on the bone for that. The serious student of H. P. Lovecraft will feel right at home and will dissect each tale for its faithfulness to the mythos. The reader of fantasy and horror that hasn't read Lovecraft might just be tempted to see what the mythos fuss is all about. In either case, add this to your library and ponder the truth of Elder Gods, Great Ones and Great Old Ones.
I take my reading very seriously, so I read everything to the very end. I would recommend that you more than glance at the biographies of the authors at the end of the book. Many of them have websites where you will find links to more works that will make your skin crawl.
April 27, 2018
I love fairy tales. From what I’ve read of HP Lovecraft, I like him. I certainly wouldn’t say I love his writing. I’m slowly - glacially slowly, really – working my way through his complete fiction and in an odd sort of way he reminds me of Tolkien. An absolute master of his genre in terms of his imagination, of a mythos he created but really, not always all that fun to actually read.
Combining fairy tales with Lovecraft is the kind of genius idea you’d expect from this twenty-one tale Crystal Lake anthology. They're a prolific, imaginative publisher constantly turning out interesting work. While I’m probably nowhere near well enough acquainted with Lovecraft to have picked up more than the more obvious references to his work, there wasn’t a single story I didn’t enjoy. And a few that I absolutely loved.
William Meikle’s ‘Pied Piper of Providence’ is a strong opener, combining the story of the vengeful piper wronged by the town’s officals with Lovecrasft’s cosmic horror works brilliantly here. JP Hutshell’s ‘In the Shade of the Juniper Tree’ is based on a fairy tale I don’t actually know but the story is truly, gruesomely unsettling. Zach Shephard’s ‘The Horror at Hatchet Point’ is based on my favourite fairy tale, Rumplestiltskin. His doom-laden take on it is excellent. Mae Empson’s ‘Ice Queen’ is a sad, thoughtfully grim and hugely effective post-apocalyptic story. C. T. Phipps’ ‘Cinderella and Her Outer Godfather’ stands out, too.
While the stories I noted above were my favourites, everything here is well worth a read. A great, great collection.
Combining fairy tales with Lovecraft is the kind of genius idea you’d expect from this twenty-one tale Crystal Lake anthology. They're a prolific, imaginative publisher constantly turning out interesting work. While I’m probably nowhere near well enough acquainted with Lovecraft to have picked up more than the more obvious references to his work, there wasn’t a single story I didn’t enjoy. And a few that I absolutely loved.
William Meikle’s ‘Pied Piper of Providence’ is a strong opener, combining the story of the vengeful piper wronged by the town’s officals with Lovecrasft’s cosmic horror works brilliantly here. JP Hutshell’s ‘In the Shade of the Juniper Tree’ is based on a fairy tale I don’t actually know but the story is truly, gruesomely unsettling. Zach Shephard’s ‘The Horror at Hatchet Point’ is based on my favourite fairy tale, Rumplestiltskin. His doom-laden take on it is excellent. Mae Empson’s ‘Ice Queen’ is a sad, thoughtfully grim and hugely effective post-apocalyptic story. C. T. Phipps’ ‘Cinderella and Her Outer Godfather’ stands out, too.
While the stories I noted above were my favourites, everything here is well worth a read. A great, great collection.
September 20, 2017
I was excited upon hearing the concept of this book, and being a fan of most everything related to Lovecraft and his mythos, I picked it up immediately. However, most of the stories, for me, were predictable and didn't seem to have much of required tone, dread, and suspense that it should have. There were a few stories that stood out among the others from writers J.P. Hutsell, Bracken Macleod, Winifred Burniston, and Matthew Baugh. The highlight that really nailed all the beats with creeping prose was the last story, "The Legend of Creepy Hollow" by Don D'Ammassa, who is no stranger to this subject matter and perhaps why his work stands out among the others. This collection certainly gets an A for effort, but only a C in results. Mild recommendation but credit must go to Crystal Lake Publishing for trying something new.
July 29, 2017
Twice Upon an Apocalypse is a s solid anthology with a cool theme - Lovecraftian fairy tales. Not all of the stories are gold, but they are enjoyable, and a few are pretty excellent. My favorites were Cinderalla and her Outer Godfather by C.T. Phipps, The King of The Golden Mountain by Morgan Sylvia, and The Most Incredible Thing by Bracken McCloud.
One fair bit of advice, as good as a lot of these stories are, many are only superficially Lovecraftian. Quite a few come across as a bit of silly fun with the Mythos. If you are drawn to Lovecraft because his nihilism and intense atmosphere then a good portion of these tales will fall short for you. If you can approach the collection with a sense of levity I think you will enjoy it quite a bit though.
One fair bit of advice, as good as a lot of these stories are, many are only superficially Lovecraftian. Quite a few come across as a bit of silly fun with the Mythos. If you are drawn to Lovecraft because his nihilism and intense atmosphere then a good portion of these tales will fall short for you. If you can approach the collection with a sense of levity I think you will enjoy it quite a bit though.
August 6, 2017
If you are a Lovecraft fan you will love this collection of fairytales. I was surprised and delighted by how elegantly some of my favorite stories were twisted, turned and crafted into a very different but still recognizable form. It's a romp if one can say that about the Old Ones and I must admit, most of these storytellers do a much better job of writing than Mr. Lovecraft. We all know it wasn't his literary skills that have made him famous.
September 10, 2019
This was a book of Lovecraftian fairy tales as told by several various writers. I would have loved this book when I was a kid and if I had only read one story at a sitting. Lovecraft is okay and all of the stories were okay. My mistake was reading several at a time, so they all seemed to run together. I’ll have to remember that if and when I decide to read any more collections of dark tales.
May 17, 2018
odd reoccurring christian themes ?!
all of stories that i read were very uninspired!
i thought at first that this was all hacked together by one writer that was trying to make it look like an anthology, but it was (apparently) actually written by many different authors, from a Cthulhu background, which makes it all the more mysterious!
there are christian themes that occur over & over, which are never found in the usual Cthulhu mythoes literature. ?
the stores were awful, & i don't know what to make of it as a collection ?
there was something seemed very wrong about it, definitely not a Cthulhu themed collection!
it was something else. ???
all of stories that i read were very uninspired!
i thought at first that this was all hacked together by one writer that was trying to make it look like an anthology, but it was (apparently) actually written by many different authors, from a Cthulhu background, which makes it all the more mysterious!
there are christian themes that occur over & over, which are never found in the usual Cthulhu mythoes literature. ?
the stores were awful, & i don't know what to make of it as a collection ?
there was something seemed very wrong about it, definitely not a Cthulhu themed collection!
it was something else. ???
December 31, 2021
*Review from my ten year old*
The book was very good except some stories didn't really make sense to me. Like the Juniper Tree story. Why did the wife eat the baby? I think my favorite story was The Three Little Pigs. I like how the story sort of turned and the pigs tried to eat the wolf. I think the worst part was that the authors built up a story but the last part was sort of underwhelming. We don't really know what happened to the world. Who these bad people were.
The book was very good except some stories didn't really make sense to me. Like the Juniper Tree story. Why did the wife eat the baby? I think my favorite story was The Three Little Pigs. I like how the story sort of turned and the pigs tried to eat the wolf. I think the worst part was that the authors built up a story but the last part was sort of underwhelming. We don't really know what happened to the world. Who these bad people were.
February 22, 2023
A fun mashup of horror and fairy tales. Like Lovecraft's material, it gets a bit repetitive if you read them all at once, so I'd recommend reading a handful and then something else, then another handful and something else (lather, rinse, repeat) to cleanse the palette.
February 8, 2018
A few standouts almost manage to pull this up to three stars, but not quite. Most just fall flat, or comically miss the Lovecraftian mark. A bit more editing is also in order.
November 3, 2022
Rounded up to three stars. This is an example of desperately trying to milk a dead goat (with a thousand young, but dead anyway), the results aren't exactly delicious.
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