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Of Legend and Lore: A Collection of Fairy Tale Retellings
New life is given to eleven old stories in this second collection of irresistible fairy tale retellings.
Royalty faces magical challenges: a prince uses his powers on a rescue mission and reveals a terrible secret about his people; a king takes drastic measures to save his daughters from a troublesome curse; and a princess befriends an unusual frog.
Mythical creatures can be friend or foe: three brothers face a depressed dragon with a legendary treasure; an ancient crow brings a child’s wishes to life; and one young girl discovers dragons aren’t always the enemy.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes: a miser is in danger of losing everything one cold night; a struggling mirrorsmith meets an invisible recluse; a boy must relive the fairy tale based on his ancestor’s life; a child is rejected because of his love of drawing cats; and an evil witch is sealed in a glass coffin.
Be transported to new worlds and enjoy fresh twists on old favorites.
Royalty faces magical challenges: a prince uses his powers on a rescue mission and reveals a terrible secret about his people; a king takes drastic measures to save his daughters from a troublesome curse; and a princess befriends an unusual frog.
Mythical creatures can be friend or foe: three brothers face a depressed dragon with a legendary treasure; an ancient crow brings a child’s wishes to life; and one young girl discovers dragons aren’t always the enemy.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes: a miser is in danger of losing everything one cold night; a struggling mirrorsmith meets an invisible recluse; a boy must relive the fairy tale based on his ancestor’s life; a child is rejected because of his love of drawing cats; and an evil witch is sealed in a glass coffin.
Be transported to new worlds and enjoy fresh twists on old favorites.
386 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2018
4 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Heather Hayden
13 books94 followersHeather Hayden is a writer, gamer, reader, editor, and computer geek, though not in any specific order.
She can’t remember when she first started tapping away at a keyboard but she’s grateful that those early attempts at writing are lost in the ancient format of floppy disc. She does miss that racing MS-DOS game she used to play, but has found other games to spend free time on, such as Final Fantasy XXIV and Magic the Gathering, when she has spare free time. A lot of her free time is spent reading her latest haul from the local library.
Heather wrote her first novel (which will never see the light of day) when she was fourteen, and published her first book, a YA science novella titled Augment, when she was twenty-one. She is now hard at work on her next publication, a YA fantasy novel.
When she’s not working on her current project, she can be found deep within the pages of a good book or questing somewhere in Eorzea.
At times, Heather ventures outside to hike with friends, go biking, or go swimming. She prefers ocean water over lake water, has a fear of heights, and is currently in search of a new bike (her old one, Cliffjumper, can no longer shift gears, which makes steep hills impossible.)
She also loves anime, listening to music, and chocolate, and finds writing about herself in the third person quite odd.
She can’t remember when she first started tapping away at a keyboard but she’s grateful that those early attempts at writing are lost in the ancient format of floppy disc. She does miss that racing MS-DOS game she used to play, but has found other games to spend free time on, such as Final Fantasy XXIV and Magic the Gathering, when she has spare free time. A lot of her free time is spent reading her latest haul from the local library.
Heather wrote her first novel (which will never see the light of day) when she was fourteen, and published her first book, a YA science novella titled Augment, when she was twenty-one. She is now hard at work on her next publication, a YA fantasy novel.
When she’s not working on her current project, she can be found deep within the pages of a good book or questing somewhere in Eorzea.
At times, Heather ventures outside to hike with friends, go biking, or go swimming. She prefers ocean water over lake water, has a fear of heights, and is currently in search of a new bike (her old one, Cliffjumper, can no longer shift gears, which makes steep hills impossible.)
She also loves anime, listening to music, and chocolate, and finds writing about herself in the third person quite odd.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 26, 2018
This was a terrific collection of fairytale retellings! Some greatly differed from their original tales, while others followed closely but I enjoyed them all and would highly recommend it for fantasy or fairytale lovers.
Seeing Through Him by B.C. Marine (inspired by Beauty and the Beast)
Filled with beautiful descriptions, rich world building, and likable characters, this was an awesome way to start off this anthology. I’ve always loved Beauty and the Beast and this version puts a wonderfully unique spin on it. One of my favorites in the book and a universe I’d love to dive into again.
Jack and the Storyteller by Matthew Dewar (inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk plus others)
As someone who’s enjoyed Mr. Dewar’s other short stories, I knew to expect an exciting tale, and I wasn’t disappointed. The way he seamlessly wove Jack and the Beanstalk with other fairy tales was rather ingenious and had me smiling. It’s also a surprisingly deep tale with a wonderful message at its core (which I won’t spoil). A real highlight in the collection.
Three Nights by Kelsie Engen (inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses)
This might be my favorite retelling of this particular tale. The characters were very likable and I was fascinated by the fairies and their magic. I also really liked the unique explanation for why the princesses kept disappearing.
Cursed Glass by M. T. Wilson (inspired by The Glass Coffin)
I’m not all that familiar with the tale this retelling is based on, but the mix of fantasy and sci-fi was pretty neat. That’s hard to pull off well and not something I see much of. The twist at the end was great too. Very satisfying.
Princess and the Frog by Renee Frey (inspired by The Frog Prince)
Out of all the tales in this collection, this one I think feels most relevant in today’s world due to its themes of war and colonialism. Though they’re not heavily delved into, I appreciated how they flavored the story. I also loved getting to experience the POV of an African princess and her country and customs. Oh, and the playful jabs at the original tale throughout were a nice bonus.
Swapped by Allie Mae (inspired by The Prince and the Pauper)
Thinking it over, the thing that most impressed me about this retelling was not the powers of the characters (though they were awesome) or the cool world the author created. It was that the villain felt believable. It’s so great when I read a story and it makes me go, “You know…the bad guy might have a valid point.” That takes skill.
The Gruffs vs. Dragon by Louise Ross (inspired by Three Billy Goats Gruff)
I absolutely adored the dragon in this! I mean, I’m a sucker for dragons, but he was such an awesome character and so interesting! Seriously, he’s one of my favorite characters in the entire collection. Also, I really enjoyed the writing style. It felt like it harkened back to the older tales and sagas.
Wishes Between Worlds by Sam Waterhouse (inspired by The Enchanted Quill)
The writing in this one was especially lovely but it’s really the intriguing characters that drew me in. They’re very unique and so much fun to read. I also thought how the consequences for the main character’s wishes played out was clever.
The Charcoal Cat by J. E. Klimov (inspired by The Boy Who Draws Cats)
This was a super cute tale, and I loved that it was set in Japan. The hero is unusual, but it makes him incredibly sympathetic and likable. I could really relate to him. Plus, it has cats! Who doesn’t love cats?
Solstice Flames by Heather Hayden (inspired by A Christmas Carol and The Little Match Girl)
The world building in this one is amazing! It’s also very good at tugging on the heartstrings. Miss Hayden also does a superb job at taking an initially unlikable character and turning him into someone we can root for and want to see change. It’s a tricky balance to achieve. Also, I love the little Easter eggs she put in! I always smile when I find one.
The Firestone by Elise Edmonds (inspired by The Tinderbox)
I wasn’t familiar with the tale this retelling is based on but I love Mrs. Edmonds novel Where Carpets Fly so it was wonderful to get a story set in that same world. Especially one with dragons! You can never go wrong with dragons! This was such an awesome story full of great characters and lush descriptions. Another favorite of mine in this anthology.
Seeing Through Him by B.C. Marine (inspired by Beauty and the Beast)
Filled with beautiful descriptions, rich world building, and likable characters, this was an awesome way to start off this anthology. I’ve always loved Beauty and the Beast and this version puts a wonderfully unique spin on it. One of my favorites in the book and a universe I’d love to dive into again.
Jack and the Storyteller by Matthew Dewar (inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk plus others)
As someone who’s enjoyed Mr. Dewar’s other short stories, I knew to expect an exciting tale, and I wasn’t disappointed. The way he seamlessly wove Jack and the Beanstalk with other fairy tales was rather ingenious and had me smiling. It’s also a surprisingly deep tale with a wonderful message at its core (which I won’t spoil). A real highlight in the collection.
Three Nights by Kelsie Engen (inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses)
This might be my favorite retelling of this particular tale. The characters were very likable and I was fascinated by the fairies and their magic. I also really liked the unique explanation for why the princesses kept disappearing.
Cursed Glass by M. T. Wilson (inspired by The Glass Coffin)
I’m not all that familiar with the tale this retelling is based on, but the mix of fantasy and sci-fi was pretty neat. That’s hard to pull off well and not something I see much of. The twist at the end was great too. Very satisfying.
Princess and the Frog by Renee Frey (inspired by The Frog Prince)
Out of all the tales in this collection, this one I think feels most relevant in today’s world due to its themes of war and colonialism. Though they’re not heavily delved into, I appreciated how they flavored the story. I also loved getting to experience the POV of an African princess and her country and customs. Oh, and the playful jabs at the original tale throughout were a nice bonus.
Swapped by Allie Mae (inspired by The Prince and the Pauper)
Thinking it over, the thing that most impressed me about this retelling was not the powers of the characters (though they were awesome) or the cool world the author created. It was that the villain felt believable. It’s so great when I read a story and it makes me go, “You know…the bad guy might have a valid point.” That takes skill.
The Gruffs vs. Dragon by Louise Ross (inspired by Three Billy Goats Gruff)
I absolutely adored the dragon in this! I mean, I’m a sucker for dragons, but he was such an awesome character and so interesting! Seriously, he’s one of my favorite characters in the entire collection. Also, I really enjoyed the writing style. It felt like it harkened back to the older tales and sagas.
Wishes Between Worlds by Sam Waterhouse (inspired by The Enchanted Quill)
The writing in this one was especially lovely but it’s really the intriguing characters that drew me in. They’re very unique and so much fun to read. I also thought how the consequences for the main character’s wishes played out was clever.
The Charcoal Cat by J. E. Klimov (inspired by The Boy Who Draws Cats)
This was a super cute tale, and I loved that it was set in Japan. The hero is unusual, but it makes him incredibly sympathetic and likable. I could really relate to him. Plus, it has cats! Who doesn’t love cats?
Solstice Flames by Heather Hayden (inspired by A Christmas Carol and The Little Match Girl)
The world building in this one is amazing! It’s also very good at tugging on the heartstrings. Miss Hayden also does a superb job at taking an initially unlikable character and turning him into someone we can root for and want to see change. It’s a tricky balance to achieve. Also, I love the little Easter eggs she put in! I always smile when I find one.
The Firestone by Elise Edmonds (inspired by The Tinderbox)
I wasn’t familiar with the tale this retelling is based on but I love Mrs. Edmonds novel Where Carpets Fly so it was wonderful to get a story set in that same world. Especially one with dragons! You can never go wrong with dragons! This was such an awesome story full of great characters and lush descriptions. Another favorite of mine in this anthology.
October 21, 2018
4.5 stars for the entire anthology, which was one of the very rare collections with consistently good stories throughout. Out of the eleven fairy tale retellings it contains, five stories were very good and that I favourited as a result.
Those were:
Seeing Through Him by B. C. Marine
A "Beauty and the Beast" version set in a place reminiscent of Venetia's glassmakers quarter, with a Beauty figure that works in this trade and a Beast figure who's not exactly monstrous but that is still suffering from a curse, that's in reality more a result of circumstances having to do with the world's magic than with witches or bad fairies. It was sweet without being cloying, and I also liked how the Beast's "curse" is explained without a third party's intervention.
The Gruffs vs Dragon by Louise Ross
A retelling of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," with a dragon in the place of the Big Bad Wolf. It's the most hilarious story, though the plot itself isn't meant to be light. It's the author's style that makes it so. It deals with brotherly loyalty, honour and greed, and is so well done that it's easy to forget the characters are goats and not people. I absolutely loved Brandt Gruff (never thought I'd love a goat!) and Dragon, poor darling, whose life adds a touch of tragedy to the tale as well as brings out the best in the Gruffs.
The Firestone by Elise Edmonds
This one retells "The Tinderbox" in a Russian-like setting. I'd say the story is what's attractive, not so much the characters; at least not to me, because I couldn't get sympathy vibes from either the heroine or her love interest.
The three above were the ones I liked the most, and that I'd rate five stars each. Besides these, I'd also add two more as honourable mentions:
Princess and the Frog by Renée Frey
Based on "The Frog Prince" and set in what looks like an African country during a time of invasion by some Western colonial power. The theme of colonisation by a foreign power is rather too heavy-handed and unsubtle. I mean, the imperialist army is named Les Conquerants! How more in-your-face could an author be? More subtlety and less preachiness would benefit this one. Oh, but it's very original with the froggy character, and that's why it's included in my mentions.
The Charcoal Cat by J. E. Klimov
This one draws inspiration from a Japanese tale I've never read, called "The Boy Who Drew Cats." It's the ghost story of the lot, and very much the heroics type rather than the spooky type. The message about self-improvement, persistence and courage is well delivered and written.
I'd recommend this anthology to anyone looking for quality tale retellings that aren't excessively YA or too uneven to enjoy.
Those were:
Seeing Through Him by B. C. Marine
A "Beauty and the Beast" version set in a place reminiscent of Venetia's glassmakers quarter, with a Beauty figure that works in this trade and a Beast figure who's not exactly monstrous but that is still suffering from a curse, that's in reality more a result of circumstances having to do with the world's magic than with witches or bad fairies. It was sweet without being cloying, and I also liked how the Beast's "curse" is explained without a third party's intervention.
The Gruffs vs Dragon by Louise Ross
A retelling of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," with a dragon in the place of the Big Bad Wolf. It's the most hilarious story, though the plot itself isn't meant to be light. It's the author's style that makes it so. It deals with brotherly loyalty, honour and greed, and is so well done that it's easy to forget the characters are goats and not people. I absolutely loved Brandt Gruff (never thought I'd love a goat!) and Dragon, poor darling, whose life adds a touch of tragedy to the tale as well as brings out the best in the Gruffs.
The Firestone by Elise Edmonds
This one retells "The Tinderbox" in a Russian-like setting. I'd say the story is what's attractive, not so much the characters; at least not to me, because I couldn't get sympathy vibes from either the heroine or her love interest.
The three above were the ones I liked the most, and that I'd rate five stars each. Besides these, I'd also add two more as honourable mentions:
Princess and the Frog by Renée Frey
Based on "The Frog Prince" and set in what looks like an African country during a time of invasion by some Western colonial power. The theme of colonisation by a foreign power is rather too heavy-handed and unsubtle. I mean, the imperialist army is named Les Conquerants! How more in-your-face could an author be? More subtlety and less preachiness would benefit this one. Oh, but it's very original with the froggy character, and that's why it's included in my mentions.
The Charcoal Cat by J. E. Klimov
This one draws inspiration from a Japanese tale I've never read, called "The Boy Who Drew Cats." It's the ghost story of the lot, and very much the heroics type rather than the spooky type. The message about self-improvement, persistence and courage is well delivered and written.
I'd recommend this anthology to anyone looking for quality tale retellings that aren't excessively YA or too uneven to enjoy.
June 22, 2018
This it's a fun retelling of 11 fairy tales, some familiar and others less so. My favorites are "The Firestone"and "The Charcoal Cat".
There is a handy index in the back that lists which fairy tales the stories are based on.
Don't be put off by my 4 Star rating. I don't hand out 5 stars easily! I look forward to re-reading these stories.
There is a handy index in the back that lists which fairy tales the stories are based on.
Don't be put off by my 4 Star rating. I don't hand out 5 stars easily! I look forward to re-reading these stories.
January 1, 2019
Another wonderful addition to the JLA collection.
My favorite was The Gruffs vs. Dragon. It's not a story I've ever seen retold before and I liked the interactions between the goats and "what came after" the story we all know.
My favorite was The Gruffs vs. Dragon. It's not a story I've ever seen retold before and I liked the interactions between the goats and "what came after" the story we all know.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews