The Witch Tells the Story and Makes It True

by Liz Kay, Devin Forst (Illustrator), Christina Olson (Editor)

Revisiting the forest Hansel and Gretel stumble into, The Witch Tells the Story and Makes It True drifts between narrative and incantation as the witch claims her spot at the center of a tale "we know by heart"--the ravenous witch, the precocious children. And yet, "If there's a hero in this story," she declares, "I tell you, it's me." In an exploration of power, gender, and the nature of evil, this singularly monstrous woman recounts her origins and recasts her end.

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"What Liz Kay has done is to tell the origin story of every powerful woman, complete with the menacing male figure who looms and leers over each page and the witch who slips the world’s locks and emerges, enraged and ravenous and inflamed, into her own strength." --Francesca Bell, author of Bright Stain

"In this remarkable collection, Liz Kay leads us through the haunted forest of fear and desire inhabited by the witch of Hansel and Gretel. The power and music of the language make the journey all the more compelling." --William Trowbridge, author of Vanishing Point

96 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

Liz's poems have appeared in such journals as Willow Springs, Beloit Poetry Journal, Nimrod, RHINO, and Sugar House Review. She is the author of the poetry chapbook Something to Help Me Sleep and the illustrated collection The Witch Tells The Story And Makes It True. Her debut novel Monsters: A Love Story is disguised as a romance, but it's really about rape culture and the ways we hold women (like Stacey) to account for everything from what they eat and drink to whether they use profanity, while simultaneously letting powerful men (like Tommy) off the hook for egregious behavior, like how he never actually clocks the word "no."

Reviews

[Kirstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and beautiful. Just excellent.
Count yourself lucky if you managed to get a copy of this piece.

[Ella Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite intrigued by this book as my local library had it on a Staff pick shelf. I quite enjoyed the backstory, the perspective, and the imagination from the perspective of the witch in the story Hansel and Gretel. This poet can weave a beautiful story both haunting and true. Just like the witch, Liz leaves little morsels to drag us along to the concluding verse and thought.

Hello from a fellow Omahan!

[Natalie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book itself is a beautiful production—the illustrations and paper quality are just lovely. And, of course, the poems themselves are great and create a compelling look into the witch from Hansel and Gretel.

[Adora Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a neat experience that gave such a haunting ambience and vibe. It was as if the author completely channeled this character in these poems that felt like diary entries. This is a place I would revisit again and again for the atmospheric chill and realness. 

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, enchanting, and beautiful.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim and enjoyed every single page of it! The way she speaks of every part of her life really brings her to life.