This new collection of fairy tale retellings has it all—enchanting Regency ballrooms, demon-infested forests, billionaire-controlled boardrooms, and dark alien planets. And all the fairy tales come with a twist. Below is a review of three of the stories to give you an idea of the type of tales you may encounter!
*** Reviewing “FALLING INTO OZ” by C. L. Riley ***
Believing an earthquake had struck the Pacific NW with a shaking and horrible roaring sound, Dorthia (“Thia”) finds herself instead staring at three suns and two moons in a violet sky! She has a massive headache and can’t figure out where she is. She spotted a small golden brick path, spattered with what looked like blood, that appeared out of nowhere and looped toward the forest where it disappeared. But this alien world obviously isn’t Oz, even though that is what they call it. A voice asked for her papers and wanted to know what her crime was! No one was near her, so she refused to answer. When he made himself visible, she saw a large talking snake that changed into a green man with scales and sharp teeth. He identified himself as Wilden the Warden of the quadrant she was in. She had evidently inadvertently killed a vamp named Sayge somehow. One of the other snake-people who could determine if someone lied, said she was telling the truth that she did not deliberately kill anyone. Putting the facts together, she realized she must be in a coma.
As they sat and ate together, Wilden told her that getting home will require stealing an emerald sphere from a dangerous fanged creature and delivering it to an unpredictable sorcerer. If she claims the emerald sphere and destroys the remaining vampire prince, Oz will be less of a prison and more of a home, according to Wilden the Warden. But with the large number of rogue prisoners that wandered into other quadrants, which she must constantly look out for, that task was not going to be easy. He also added that Earth was right now being invaded and claimed by a bunch of other aliens! She was given a small blade and a map. Was she ready for an adventure?
It turns out Oz is a prison planet where dangerous criminals banished by their own galaxies’ governments are exiled, the worst of the worst. The only hope for Thia’s survival and escape will depend on her trusting Lornox, the golden lion shifter; Strax, the sexy alien dependent on robotics; and Trophus, the purple-skinned space pirate. And later a fourth will be added. These are her mates. But once she has her men, going home to Earth doesn’t seem that important anymore! Will she wake up and find this was all an elaborate dream? Or is this her new reality?
*** Reviewing “MERCY'S END” by Lacey Carter Andersen & May Dawson ***
Mercy walked down the stairs, watching her parents (Beauty and the Beast) who only had eyes of love for each other, never for her. She stopped on the stairs when her knife, strapped to her ankle, slipped. When she looked up, the handsome shifter Ares was at the bottom of the stairs looking up at her and he asked her to dance. He never danced at these balls – what was he up to? So she asked him! When he compared her actions and voice to a prickly cactus, she was furious and started to argue on the dancefloor. Her father cut in, angry at having had to leave his wife, and asked what was going on. He readily agreed to the cactus analogy and then told her very painful things he saw in her and why she made a good assassin. Every word cut her. He said if she couldn’t be charming and personable, she would be worthless as an assassin and her training would end now. Having the skills to kill but not able to get close would not work. No one will ever hire her if she can’t master both sides of an assassin.
As she is ready to snarl at Ares, a strange man grabs her and dances away with her. He is Lord Burton and, for payment of half a million, wants her to kill Lord Hadrian Drakkar, who abuses his power and is ready to take over from his father as leader of their house. She could set up her own business with that much money! She agrees. As she turns to walk away, she walks right into a smirking Sebastian (“Bash”). Since he is usually with Hadrian, it may help her get close to him to complete her new job. Not fully understanding the job she has taken, does she have any idea of the trouble she is heading for?
The story introduces you to Mercy and her parents, Ares, Sebastian/Bash and Hadrian. The story is well-written, intriguing, and I am absolutely eager to read more about these characters in their upcoming series.
*** Reviewing “ELLA AND THE ALIEN PRINCE” by Margo Bond Collins ***
The focus of this story is one I have seen used in a number of other alien stories where the aliens provide protection and in return would like an agreement to allow human brides to replenish their population. Ella is surprised to be attending the reception to honor the blue aliens who helped them, but the Prince's "godmother" had required all unmated female staff to attend. If this has something to do with the Bride Alliance she heard about, Ella doesn’t want to be put on display for the Khanavai warriors. But when she locks eyes with the handsome Prince Khai, she immediately knows she may not have a say in the matter at all! Will he choose her to be his? Can she refuse?