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Asexual Fairy Tales
Once upon a time, our ancestors were much more honest and open about the spectrum of human sexuality. Among the fairy tales and myths they told were stories of androgynes, neither male nor female; of women and men who resist sex and marriage for other kinds of love; of chaste romances, miraculous childbirth and bodily transformations. These are the asexual fairy tales you will find in this book.
These tales come from many places: from Grimms’ Fairy Tales to The Thousand and One Nights, from Greek mythology and Arthurian legend to the silent films of the 1920s and from Scandinavia to Japan. Retold, reimagined, and sometimes reinvented as new stories for the 21st century, these stories will change the way you think about fairy tales, and bring asexuality out of the closet.
These tales come from many places: from Grimms’ Fairy Tales to The Thousand and One Nights, from Greek mythology and Arthurian legend to the silent films of the 1920s and from Scandinavia to Japan. Retold, reimagined, and sometimes reinvented as new stories for the 21st century, these stories will change the way you think about fairy tales, and bring asexuality out of the closet.
132 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2019
23 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Hopkinson
24 books36 followersElizabeth Hopkinson is best known for Asexual Fairy Tales, Silver Hands, and a range of short fantasy stories and original fairy tales.
Elizabeth describes her writing as, "seeing the magical in the ordinary". She has loved fairy tale and history since studying English Literature at Leeds University;.
She has lived all her life in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK (home of the Bronte sisters and the Cottingley Fairies) and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Elizabeth has been writing ever since she used to make books out of scrap paper in wet playtimes at school. She has had around 100 short stories and articles published, and has won prizes in the James White Award, the Jane Austen Short Story Award, the Historic House contest and the Liars' League National Gallery Inspiration contest.
She has spoken at Swanwick Writers' Summer School, Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe and University of Leeds Careers Expo. Among her loves are coffee shops, the piano, and the Yorkshire arts scene.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 14, 2021
Pierwsze opowieści mocno naciągane, ale całkiem urocze, ale dalej tłumaczenie sobie gwałtu, seksizmu i mizoginii to już było dla mnie za dużo; motyw Sleeping Beauty obrzydliwy i nie do przetrawienia. Plus, niektóre dopiski autorki poddają w wątpliwość jej znajomość tematu baśni i opowieści ludowych. Bardzo mi smutno, bo reprezentacja jest ważna, ale nie taka.
August 5, 2021
Are you an nonromantic/aromantic asexual or a non-hetero romantic asexual ? Then you will find nothing to represent you in this book. The stories are all about m/f romantic couples (exept maybe one, and still). And the link between asexuality and most of the stories is...obscure. Sometimes I didn't even see the connection, despite the small introductory paragraph in the beginning of each story. And as if that were not enough, the author also makes rape apology in one of the stories.
Go you way, really. There should dozens of other stories with asexual characters that are much more interesting than these.
Etes-vous un(e) asexuel(le) non-romantique/aromantique, ou un(e) asexuel(le) romantique non-hétéro ? Alors vous ne trouverez rien pour vous représenter dans ce livre. Les histoires sont toutes à propos de couples m/f romantiques (sauf peut-être une, et encore). Et le lien entre l'asexualité et la plupart des histoires est... obscure. Parfois je n'ai même pas vu le lien, malgré le petit paragraphe d'introduction au début de chaque histoire. Et comme si ce n'était pas suffisant, l'autrice fait de l'apologie au viol dans une des histoires.
Passez votre chemin, vraiment. Il doit y avoir ailleurs des dizaines d'autres histoires avec des personnages asexuels qui valent bien plus le coup que celles-ci.
Go you way, really. There should dozens of other stories with asexual characters that are much more interesting than these.
Etes-vous un(e) asexuel(le) non-romantique/aromantique, ou un(e) asexuel(le) romantique non-hétéro ? Alors vous ne trouverez rien pour vous représenter dans ce livre. Les histoires sont toutes à propos de couples m/f romantiques (sauf peut-être une, et encore). Et le lien entre l'asexualité et la plupart des histoires est... obscure. Parfois je n'ai même pas vu le lien, malgré le petit paragraphe d'introduction au début de chaque histoire. Et comme si ce n'était pas suffisant, l'autrice fait de l'apologie au viol dans une des histoires.
Passez votre chemin, vraiment. Il doit y avoir ailleurs des dizaines d'autres histoires avec des personnages asexuels qui valent bien plus le coup que celles-ci.
May 20, 2020
I had a different opinion at first but the more I thought about it, the more this book didn't sit well with me. It was a gross misrepresentation of consent in one story and fell largely flat in other areas. I enjoyed some stories but overall this book left a sour taste in my mouth.
October 31, 2020
Either 2.5 or 3 stars - I wanted to like this. The idea is good... but the execution is not great or even horrific at times.
Zellandine and Troylus is the first one that comes to mind - it contains r*pe apologetics! That's horrific even at the best of times. But then to put in a book about Asexual Fairytales... what were you thinking?!
On top of that others had very little relation to asexuality at all.
Which leads me to wonder... if you're having trouble finding fairytales about asexuality... why not make your own up?
Zellandine and Troylus is the first one that comes to mind - it contains r*pe apologetics! That's horrific even at the best of times. But then to put in a book about Asexual Fairytales... what were you thinking?!
On top of that others had very little relation to asexuality at all.
Which leads me to wonder... if you're having trouble finding fairytales about asexuality... why not make your own up?
November 20, 2022
Not really sure what this was trying to accomplish to be honest. What it wasn't doing was just retelling well known fairy tales and shoehorning asexuality into them. It seemed to be a disparate selection of myths, fairy tales and stories that had some vague and mostly fairly insulting references or implications of asexuality, and the retelling brought them to the fore a little. So I guess the point was that it's not actually a weird newfangled concept and you can find awareness of ace people's existence deeply embedded into many different cultures etc. But honestly a 4 page essay could have accomplished that much more effectively.
I didn't particularly enjoy any of the stories and there was nothing special about the writing. Pretty much every single one was filled with problematic clichés and attitudes (e.g. it turned out the reason characters were ace was that they weren't actually human), as well as all the classic misogyny and rapes. There's a reason we aren't that familiar with these 'fairy tales' any more; it's because they're fucking horrible.
This is scraping 2 stars because the writing wasn't terrible, the problematic nature of the original stories isn't strictly the fault of the reteller, and I'm sure there was some noble intention to do with asexual representation behind it even if the execution was so badly bungled I'm not actually sure what that intention was.
I didn't particularly enjoy any of the stories and there was nothing special about the writing. Pretty much every single one was filled with problematic clichés and attitudes (e.g. it turned out the reason characters were ace was that they weren't actually human), as well as all the classic misogyny and rapes. There's a reason we aren't that familiar with these 'fairy tales' any more; it's because they're fucking horrible.
This is scraping 2 stars because the writing wasn't terrible, the problematic nature of the original stories isn't strictly the fault of the reteller, and I'm sure there was some noble intention to do with asexual representation behind it even if the execution was so badly bungled I'm not actually sure what that intention was.
January 4, 2023
TW - R*pe
There are maybe a couple of stories in this that deal with asexuality - most of them actually seem to deal more with being Aromantic and so you're not getting the content that you were hoping for.
Most of the stories are still interesting and a nice read.
The one major issue I had with this is that in one of the stories the author seems to be trying to justify rape - which there is never any justification for - and an asexual wanting a baby but not sex does not make it ok, even if the character is in a "cursed sleep" and doesn't experience any part of it.
There are maybe a couple of stories in this that deal with asexuality - most of them actually seem to deal more with being Aromantic and so you're not getting the content that you were hoping for.
Most of the stories are still interesting and a nice read.
The one major issue I had with this is that in one of the stories the author seems to be trying to justify rape - which there is never any justification for - and an asexual wanting a baby but not sex does not make it ok, even if the character is in a "cursed sleep" and doesn't experience any part of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2025
Hey so this super sucked! Like I appreciate the idea but if feels like the author slapped a bunch of random words on the page in the hope that a book would emerge (reader, one did not). Most of the introductions provided before each chapter offer little to no actual information about what the story is, what background it has, why she’s chosen to adapt it, and how. Some particularly horrendous standouts include:
The worst reading of Pygmalion and Galatea I’ve ever seen! I’ve literally translated this poem multiple times and I promise there is nothing asexual about it. Horrible representation.
Actual SA, like blatantly no consent and a resulting victim who feels awful. That one is paired with some bullcrap mythology too but yeah no, bad choice. I cannot believe that was used in a book about asexuality AND that the author tried to excuse it? Disgusting.
A story where Mary (yes, the Virgin Mary) is heralded as “an ace icon” by the author, who then proceeds to offer nothing to backup this claim and instead plops her down as a weird fairy godmother to a girl whom she blesses with the gift of asexuality.
In conclusion, this book is awful, poorly edited, and haphazardly thrown together. At best, it is a confusing retelling of stories that fails to deliver the meaning that the author intends. At worst, it’s making excuses for actual rape and blatantly stating that it would be nice in that situation?? Please don’t read this.
The worst reading of Pygmalion and Galatea I’ve ever seen! I’ve literally translated this poem multiple times and I promise there is nothing asexual about it. Horrible representation.
Actual SA, like blatantly no consent and a resulting victim who feels awful. That one is paired with some bullcrap mythology too but yeah no, bad choice. I cannot believe that was used in a book about asexuality AND that the author tried to excuse it? Disgusting.
A story where Mary (yes, the Virgin Mary) is heralded as “an ace icon” by the author, who then proceeds to offer nothing to backup this claim and instead plops her down as a weird fairy godmother to a girl whom she blesses with the gift of asexuality.
In conclusion, this book is awful, poorly edited, and haphazardly thrown together. At best, it is a confusing retelling of stories that fails to deliver the meaning that the author intends. At worst, it’s making excuses for actual rape and blatantly stating that it would be nice in that situation?? Please don’t read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
Read as part of Read Harder 2022 as a second attempt at queer fairy tales and my attempts are getting worse. I am not asexual but I don't really believe any of these characters were very good examples to bring more understanding to me. The first story with the tailor was tolerable and then everything went downhill. Also wtf were those awful drawings that looked like a 5 year old did them. They annoyed me almost as much as the stories.
January 7, 2026
Four stars for rep. These were mostly good, but all so short. I would have preferred fewer, but longer ones.
October 23, 2022
Represented Asexuality very poorly indeed. Don’t bother reading this.
August 27, 2023
3.5 stars
I liked some of the stories alright, others I didn't care much for.
Was it a good representation of asexuality? I feel like this book is a very personal collection of stories in which the author herself saw her own asexuality. Her experience is as unique as asexuality itself. The book wasn't what I might've been looking for, I related to few lines myself, but that doesn't make it bad asexual representation.
Perhabs I had wished for a bit more joy instead of pain within the book - but joy isn't really the essence of fairytales. I'd also prefered less romance and maybe just an abundance of sex within the stories altogether (or at least more of them).
I did like some of the fantastic elements though and especially the accounts of platonic friendship.
I liked some of the stories alright, others I didn't care much for.
Was it a good representation of asexuality? I feel like this book is a very personal collection of stories in which the author herself saw her own asexuality. Her experience is as unique as asexuality itself. The book wasn't what I might've been looking for, I related to few lines myself, but that doesn't make it bad asexual representation.
Perhabs I had wished for a bit more joy instead of pain within the book - but joy isn't really the essence of fairytales. I'd also prefered less romance and maybe just an abundance of sex within the stories altogether (or at least more of them).
I did like some of the fantastic elements though and especially the accounts of platonic friendship.
February 12, 2020
Probably don't read the Rapunzel one though. While its theme is valid its execution is weak in... a pretty triggery way.
February 28, 2022
This is not asexual representation and most of the stories are incredibly problematic.
September 8, 2022
Only heteromantic rep and mention/romantization of r*pe. Stories were ok I guess.
January 3, 2025
Super messy review bc im ill and needed to jot my initial feelings down.
I really wanted to LOVE this book because I find asexuality so fascinating. The beginning was great if a bit lacking in prose but I figured it wasn’t that kind of book. I wanted to read about different narratives that not just bring it Ace representation but give it nuance. And though each author’s note before each piece did so — stories of platonic intimacy, of maternal or paternal intimacy, of romance without sex, of the different ways in which the human experience ebbs and flows with regard to sexuality — the pieces themselves felt like I didn’t get that kind of magic that comes with reading a fairytale. I just feel like there’s something amiss.
The message and everything was fantastic and I love the idea of collecting and merging different fairy tales to produce a story about asexuality and to view the stories of our childhoods through an asexual lens BUT I feel like the author’s note that begins the book led me to believe that these were strictly retelling or an almost archival collection of asexuality in fairytales when it was largely if not entirely the author’s own work with references to different stories. I feel a little mislead but that could just be a me missing it kind of thing. Also, I feel like the format was a bit lacking and did nothing to contribute to an overarching literary thesis. I missed the point a bit. The stories didn’t feel like they followed a logical flow despite a lot of the author’s notes themselves following a kind of academic tone to precede the narratives.
I’m a big fan of a little narrative and academia thrown together I.e. my OWN book but I feel something was missing here. Not to say I did this perfectly in my book at all or that I’m using my book as a yard stick but it just felt like… idk how many diff ways one can say something was missing lmaooo
Anyway I did enjoy it nonetheless but I feel like my expectations should’ve been managed. I think I was demanding more from this than I should have. It was a fun read and to read fairytales that had romance with passion minus innate sexuality was wonderful! I loved what this book stands for and what it posits. 3 is too low and 4 too high so I’m giving it a 3.75 on fable and StoryGraph but inshallah good reasonably updates so I can do that here too. I feel like rounding down doesn’t make sense to anyone else but it does to me LMAOO
I really wanted to LOVE this book because I find asexuality so fascinating. The beginning was great if a bit lacking in prose but I figured it wasn’t that kind of book. I wanted to read about different narratives that not just bring it Ace representation but give it nuance. And though each author’s note before each piece did so — stories of platonic intimacy, of maternal or paternal intimacy, of romance without sex, of the different ways in which the human experience ebbs and flows with regard to sexuality — the pieces themselves felt like I didn’t get that kind of magic that comes with reading a fairytale. I just feel like there’s something amiss.
The message and everything was fantastic and I love the idea of collecting and merging different fairy tales to produce a story about asexuality and to view the stories of our childhoods through an asexual lens BUT I feel like the author’s note that begins the book led me to believe that these were strictly retelling or an almost archival collection of asexuality in fairytales when it was largely if not entirely the author’s own work with references to different stories. I feel a little mislead but that could just be a me missing it kind of thing. Also, I feel like the format was a bit lacking and did nothing to contribute to an overarching literary thesis. I missed the point a bit. The stories didn’t feel like they followed a logical flow despite a lot of the author’s notes themselves following a kind of academic tone to precede the narratives.
I’m a big fan of a little narrative and academia thrown together I.e. my OWN book but I feel something was missing here. Not to say I did this perfectly in my book at all or that I’m using my book as a yard stick but it just felt like… idk how many diff ways one can say something was missing lmaooo
Anyway I did enjoy it nonetheless but I feel like my expectations should’ve been managed. I think I was demanding more from this than I should have. It was a fun read and to read fairytales that had romance with passion minus innate sexuality was wonderful! I loved what this book stands for and what it posits. 3 is too low and 4 too high so I’m giving it a 3.75 on fable and StoryGraph but inshallah good reasonably updates so I can do that here too. I feel like rounding down doesn’t make sense to anyone else but it does to me LMAOO
March 19, 2023
Asexual Fairy Tales is a compilation of some lesser known (in certain areas, at least, because some of these stories are apparently very popular in their specific cultures/regions) folk tales that do not center on romance and/or have main characters that very specifically refuse sex, romance, and/or marriage, though not all read as clearly aro and/or ace to me.
It is normal for folk tales to have many different variations, so rather than choosing just one and reprinting it, Elizabeth Hopkinson instead rewrites around the basic shape of the story while including details from a variety of specific versions. Because of this melting pot approach, she is sure to specify which particular versions of the tale are referenced, and there is a bibliography with full citations for anyone who wants to go read those.
I very much liked this collection of folktales. So many of the most popular/well known stories are romances that I didn't even realize most of these existed. The most disappointing thing about this collection is that the vast majority of the collection is European (with several stories from Greek mythology/philosophical writings, a couple each from France and Britain, a Scandinavian story, and a couple that are clearly European but are not/cannot be attributed to a specific regional origin), with only a couple tales from other parts of the world (specifically: one Middle Eastern and one Japanese story). That might be because the author is European - British, specifically, according to her bio - so these might just be the stories she's most familiar with. Writers have got to start somewhere, after all. And there is a another book in this...not-a-series called More Asexual Fairy Tales, so hopefully the sequel features stories from a greater range of cultures. I have already ordered that book and very much look forward to finding out.
In any case, Asexual Fairy Tales was a very interesting dive into some of the lesser known folktales, illustrating a greater range of human experience than most people would think embedded into even the oldest surviving cultural building blocks.
It is normal for folk tales to have many different variations, so rather than choosing just one and reprinting it, Elizabeth Hopkinson instead rewrites around the basic shape of the story while including details from a variety of specific versions. Because of this melting pot approach, she is sure to specify which particular versions of the tale are referenced, and there is a bibliography with full citations for anyone who wants to go read those.
I very much liked this collection of folktales. So many of the most popular/well known stories are romances that I didn't even realize most of these existed. The most disappointing thing about this collection is that the vast majority of the collection is European (with several stories from Greek mythology/philosophical writings, a couple each from France and Britain, a Scandinavian story, and a couple that are clearly European but are not/cannot be attributed to a specific regional origin), with only a couple tales from other parts of the world (specifically: one Middle Eastern and one Japanese story). That might be because the author is European - British, specifically, according to her bio - so these might just be the stories she's most familiar with. Writers have got to start somewhere, after all. And there is a another book in this...not-a-series called More Asexual Fairy Tales, so hopefully the sequel features stories from a greater range of cultures. I have already ordered that book and very much look forward to finding out.
In any case, Asexual Fairy Tales was a very interesting dive into some of the lesser known folktales, illustrating a greater range of human experience than most people would think embedded into even the oldest surviving cultural building blocks.
May 7, 2022
I came across my copy of this book while I was cleaning out my bookshelves, and realized that I'd never actually finished it. I contemplated reading the last 50 pages of it (a bit less than half), and even flipped through to try and hype myself up, but I found I just couldn't bring myself to. (So keep in mind my review is a dnf from 2 years ago; largely not super reliable a source, I know).
I was very desperate at the time I got this book to find books with asexuality in them, and see my experiences reflected in stories. This one, something very short and focusing on retold fairy tales, seemed like something that would be just up my alley. As many others in the reviews, though, I found it to be lacking. I think the abundance of M/F couples in the fairy tales was one part of that- I was very much hoping for more diversity. Given that these fairy tales are already retellings, it would not have been terribly hard to repaint more of them as M/M or F/F partners, or even some that had less to do with gender and featured nonbinary people. In addition, the Troylus and Zellandine tale portrays sexual assault as a representation of asexuality, which is certainly not the best for an already relatively slim market of representation.
While I did not finish the book, and thus feel a little unfair giving it a fully negative review, I also can't change how I felt about it. I was disappointed and disinterested in finishing it. As another reviewer mentioned, it often felt that this was the author's interpretation of myths, in ways that she was able to relate her own asexual experiences in them. That is completely fine, but obviously did not resonate with me in the same way, and so this may just not be the book for me; and as I move away from the label of asexuality towards something more like demisexuality, I find that I am less inclined to read representation that I don't feel fits me or that I relate to fully. That said I hope we continue to see a proliferation of materials representing asexuality.
I was very desperate at the time I got this book to find books with asexuality in them, and see my experiences reflected in stories. This one, something very short and focusing on retold fairy tales, seemed like something that would be just up my alley. As many others in the reviews, though, I found it to be lacking. I think the abundance of M/F couples in the fairy tales was one part of that- I was very much hoping for more diversity. Given that these fairy tales are already retellings, it would not have been terribly hard to repaint more of them as M/M or F/F partners, or even some that had less to do with gender and featured nonbinary people. In addition, the Troylus and Zellandine tale portrays sexual assault as a representation of asexuality, which is certainly not the best for an already relatively slim market of representation.
While I did not finish the book, and thus feel a little unfair giving it a fully negative review, I also can't change how I felt about it. I was disappointed and disinterested in finishing it. As another reviewer mentioned, it often felt that this was the author's interpretation of myths, in ways that she was able to relate her own asexual experiences in them. That is completely fine, but obviously did not resonate with me in the same way, and so this may just not be the book for me; and as I move away from the label of asexuality towards something more like demisexuality, I find that I am less inclined to read representation that I don't feel fits me or that I relate to fully. That said I hope we continue to see a proliferation of materials representing asexuality.
December 6, 2025
After reading this book, I’m trying to figure out if the author likes asexual people or wrote this to try to make ace people feel less than and bad about themselves. This book is filled with stories about people feeling miserable and lonely, and being forced into marriages and includes a rape scene that the author writes away as something that could be good for asexuals (WTF?!). I went into this book with so much hope for just some happy stories. That could be asexual/aromantic stories, happy ace relationships stories, friendship stories, etc. This possibilities are endless! I only found one story out of twelve that I could say was a moderately good story. After every story, I tried to figure out 1) how this connected to asexuality and 2) what the authors intent in saying that this was a story about asexuality, because all of these stories show that ace people don’t fit into society and can’t form good healthy relationships outside of sex, which is not what asexuality is about. While I can relate to not feeling like I fully belong into society at times (as I think is a common feeling as queer people are discovering their true selves), this author seems to depict one part (and a possibly small part at that!) at discovering and accepting your identity, and extends that as if that will be the main and constant feeling of ace people throughout their lives. Perhaps it was cathartic for the author to write these stories in this way, but I don’t feel like they represent the fullness of the asexual identity. I am so disappointed in this book and in this author for blatantly misleading every reader. I hope that no one learning about asexuality or coming to realize that they are ace will read this book, as I think it will ultimately destroy any joy that comes with learning about your identity. This was an awful book and I would recommend it to no one.
For all ace and queer people, know that your identity matters and you are loved!
For all ace and queer people, know that your identity matters and you are loved!
April 20, 2022
I am loathed to speak harshly of a book that should be so personal but I must. It felt like actually none of these stories really explored asexuality: the prince and princess not getting together at the end isn't enough. There needs to be some real discussion of all the other facets of emotional, physical, intellectual connections that asexuals enjoy. Maybe if there had been fewer stories, and the remaining ones had more detail, more character development, it would have been better. To me, it felt like the author was either crow-barring asexuality into the stories where it didn't really fit (she even says of one of the stories the representation of asexuality is problematic...I suggest that's because it wasn't there at all) or she wasn't skilled enough to reflect the different kinds of attraction, connection and relationship she could have. Rather disappointing.
May 16, 2023
It's a stretch to call most of the fairy tales collected in this book 'asexual.' Indeed, in many cases, the author simply rewrote the fairy tales to stretch them to make them fit her theme and even then, her approach to doing so was still rocky at best.
In addition, while rape is common enough in fairy tales, if you're going to rewrite them and try to stretch them to fit your theme, that gives you the creative liberty - however poorly used - to make adjustments. Instead, the author chooses to apologize for including rape as a means of driving stories. All in all, it reads kind of like a high school kid's assignment - very juvenile writing.
That said, there is a great list of references at the back listing where she pulled the stories from that she "touched up" and I will be using that reference list to get the ones I am missing.
In addition, while rape is common enough in fairy tales, if you're going to rewrite them and try to stretch them to fit your theme, that gives you the creative liberty - however poorly used - to make adjustments. Instead, the author chooses to apologize for including rape as a means of driving stories. All in all, it reads kind of like a high school kid's assignment - very juvenile writing.
That said, there is a great list of references at the back listing where she pulled the stories from that she "touched up" and I will be using that reference list to get the ones I am missing.
May 29, 2022
Extra stars for my favourites- Zellandine and Troylus, The Man without Desire (I’d like to see the film now!) and the very best, The Lost Children of Lorenwald. To me Z and T definitely conveyed what Hopkinson intended: a fairy tale version of conceiving a child without having to engage in sex. And overall a standout among the many versions of Sleeping Beauty. Lost Children appealed to my love of forests, tree nymphs, etc. There were only a few tales I found more clumsily written or unnecessary to the collection (mainly Companions of the Grail… the narrative voice felt off).
Overall I think critics have to remember that this is a collection of fairy tales, emulating the way they have been told classically. I look forward to reading the follow-up, Asexual Myths and Tales!
Overall I think critics have to remember that this is a collection of fairy tales, emulating the way they have been told classically. I look forward to reading the follow-up, Asexual Myths and Tales!
February 26, 2021
I like the concept but unfortunately the book itself didn't live up to my expectations. Occasionally it seemed more anti-sexual rather than asexual, and one particularly problematic tale features sexual assault as a romantic plot-point. I assume the author purposefully adopted a simplistic writing style to emulate the telling of fairy tales, but most of the time instead of coming across as simple and straight-forward, I found it to be flat and dry. I hope that if the author revisits this type of tale in the future they are more confident about injecting their own style into their story-telling.
March 25, 2022
I only got to about page 80 in this book and it was not what I expected it to be at all.
I felt like the only “asexual” parts apart this were the explanations from the author who compiled the stories/myths/legends.
Though as I don’t want to be too slanderous against this book, for not living up to its title, I will say the collection of stories being examples from sources such as Fairy Tales, Arthurian Legends and Greek Myths (at least from the ones I read) was good.
I guess I expected this book to be more original stories and not retelling of myths and legends.
I felt like the only “asexual” parts apart this were the explanations from the author who compiled the stories/myths/legends.
Though as I don’t want to be too slanderous against this book, for not living up to its title, I will say the collection of stories being examples from sources such as Fairy Tales, Arthurian Legends and Greek Myths (at least from the ones I read) was good.
I guess I expected this book to be more original stories and not retelling of myths and legends.
February 27, 2024
5.43/10 on CAWPILE -> 3 stars
The concept was more interesting than the execution. I found myself most interested in the little paragraphs before each story which were about why the author chose this particular fairy tale, which stories it was based on and why she interpreted a character as asexual.
The retellings themselves were a bit dull. Not necessarily bad, but they fell a bit flat. The writing style didn't flow that well.
I appreciate the effort this anthology made and it certainly made me interested in looking up some of the original stories I had never heard of before.
The concept was more interesting than the execution. I found myself most interested in the little paragraphs before each story which were about why the author chose this particular fairy tale, which stories it was based on and why she interpreted a character as asexual.
The retellings themselves were a bit dull. Not necessarily bad, but they fell a bit flat. The writing style didn't flow that well.
I appreciate the effort this anthology made and it certainly made me interested in looking up some of the original stories I had never heard of before.
February 3, 2021
Some of these stories were at best ok, and those were mostly ones introduced as retellings of others stories. The ones the author introduced as her own stories, which were influenced and inspired by past stories were truly exceptional. Other commenters have pointed out that some stories do excuse rape (and even present it in a positive light), which is really bad. Im not gonna go more into that but if you ignore those stories this book isnt terrible.
June 10, 2020
By far one of my favourite books, "Asexual fairy tales" is the kind of book that I wish I had grown up with. While some of these tales aren't necessarily appropriate for the youngest children, no fairy tales are. But it is definitely worth your while to read it, whether for yourself or your children. And once you start, you won't be able to put it down.
August 6, 2020
I feel like this book could easily have been called "Asexual and aromantic fairy tale", because a lot of these stories seem to steer more towards aromantic representation than asexual representation. I really enjoyed it, though! The writing fell a bit flat in places, but other than that it was good.
March 18, 2022
I feel pretty conflicted with this one. The premise is strong and I was excited to read fairytales that differ from the heteronormative narratives. However, it doesn’t really deliver on this, many of the stories feature gender conforming characters who experience M/F attractions. Whilst well-written, I closed the book hoping for more. There was a great potential here that just wasn’t fulfilled.
November 23, 2022
This book didn't really relate to asexuality as much as it did to being marriage-averse. Plenty of asexual people are happy in relationships! If you're trying to represent aromantic people, that needs to be made clear.
One extra star for my favourite story in this: The Lost Children of Lorenwald.
One extra star for my favourite story in this: The Lost Children of Lorenwald.
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