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Fairy Tales Gone Bad #1
Fairy Tales Gone Bad: Zombierella
The first in a funny, deliciously dark, three-part series of twisted classics, written in verse by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Freya Hartas.
"Such a fun story with excellent illustrations ... with enough familiarity to feel known but with enough difference to make it quirky and original" Malorie Blackman
A yellow moon hangs in a satin sky the night Cinderella, barefoot and in hand-me-downs, slips at the top of the stairs … and dies. But not for long. The Shadow of Death arrives to breathe life back into her bones and, for three nights only, Cinderella goes forth as ZOMBIERELLA. With her skin as cold as ice and her faithful horse Lumpkin back by her side, can she seek revenge on her three cruel, fake sisters, once and for all?
Crawl out of the grave and step into your mushroom carriage for this haunting and humorous adventure of the undead girl searching for her happily ever after.
"Such a fun story with excellent illustrations ... with enough familiarity to feel known but with enough difference to make it quirky and original" Malorie Blackman
A yellow moon hangs in a satin sky the night Cinderella, barefoot and in hand-me-downs, slips at the top of the stairs … and dies. But not for long. The Shadow of Death arrives to breathe life back into her bones and, for three nights only, Cinderella goes forth as ZOMBIERELLA. With her skin as cold as ice and her faithful horse Lumpkin back by her side, can she seek revenge on her three cruel, fake sisters, once and for all?
Crawl out of the grave and step into your mushroom carriage for this haunting and humorous adventure of the undead girl searching for her happily ever after.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2020
6 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Coelho
83 books83 followersJoseph Coelho is a British poet and children's book author who was elected Children's Laureate in 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 20, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Cinderella falls down the stairs one night and is killed whilst her ‘fake’ mother and step-sisters are at the mansion where a three-night ball is being held so that the new owner, the Prince, can find himself a bride.
Death shows up and turns Cinderella into a Zombie and tells her for three nights she can go and dance with the Prince and be happy. Bringing back to life Cinderella’s beloved pets that have died over the years to be her horse and footmen, they set off to the mansion in a mushroom that has become her coach and a dress made of leaves.
The Prince is smitten with Cinderella but every night at midnight she runs away. On the third night she leaves a part of her on the steps, but will the Prince ever find the woman he has fallen in love with?
The opening words of Zombierella tells you everything you need to know. ‘This gory story has bugs and bogeys, slimy surprises, and more than a spot of revenge. And, yes…I’m afraid dear sweet readers, that there is DEATH.’ If you have a child who isn’t into dark books featuring a Zombie, Vampire, dead animals, and Death then you might not want to let them read this book. However, if they love a bit of gore then this is the perfect book.
I was unsure what I was going to make of the book as it opens with one of Cinderella’s pets who was old and infirm dying and her having to bury it. But then the book came alive. It was an exceptional read. Very funny and cleverly written keeping all the main parts of the original Cinderella and making them grim, put it this way it’s not her shoe that Cinderella leaves on the stairs for the Prince to find!!
The book is filled with amazing black and white artwork which complements the writing perfectly. As well as an amazing re-telling there are wonderful messages throughout the book about being kind and forgiveness too.
I’m not usually a fan of fairy-tale retellings but this story is so witty, humorous, and creepy that I adored it. The perfect read for Halloween. I am now looking forward to seeing which other fairy-tales author Joseph Coelho turns bad.
Cinderella falls down the stairs one night and is killed whilst her ‘fake’ mother and step-sisters are at the mansion where a three-night ball is being held so that the new owner, the Prince, can find himself a bride.
Death shows up and turns Cinderella into a Zombie and tells her for three nights she can go and dance with the Prince and be happy. Bringing back to life Cinderella’s beloved pets that have died over the years to be her horse and footmen, they set off to the mansion in a mushroom that has become her coach and a dress made of leaves.
The Prince is smitten with Cinderella but every night at midnight she runs away. On the third night she leaves a part of her on the steps, but will the Prince ever find the woman he has fallen in love with?
The opening words of Zombierella tells you everything you need to know. ‘This gory story has bugs and bogeys, slimy surprises, and more than a spot of revenge. And, yes…I’m afraid dear sweet readers, that there is DEATH.’ If you have a child who isn’t into dark books featuring a Zombie, Vampire, dead animals, and Death then you might not want to let them read this book. However, if they love a bit of gore then this is the perfect book.
I was unsure what I was going to make of the book as it opens with one of Cinderella’s pets who was old and infirm dying and her having to bury it. But then the book came alive. It was an exceptional read. Very funny and cleverly written keeping all the main parts of the original Cinderella and making them grim, put it this way it’s not her shoe that Cinderella leaves on the stairs for the Prince to find!!
The book is filled with amazing black and white artwork which complements the writing perfectly. As well as an amazing re-telling there are wonderful messages throughout the book about being kind and forgiveness too.
I’m not usually a fan of fairy-tale retellings but this story is so witty, humorous, and creepy that I adored it. The perfect read for Halloween. I am now looking forward to seeing which other fairy-tales author Joseph Coelho turns bad.
April 13, 2021
Este libro ha sido toda una sorpresa, y un gran descubrimiento; como ya he dicho mil veces, me encantan los retellings, donde se le da una vuelta de tuerca a cuentos populares, aunque no siempre son reinterpretaciones, sino que a veces simplemente utilizan los mismos nombres y no encontramos ningún detalle que nos recuerde a la historia original.
Sin embargo, en esta ocasión, he de decir que me ha dejado alucinada reconocer partes del cuento popular y ver cómo había logrado cambiarlos para transformar esta historia en una tan turbia y a la vez divertida (pues no hay que olvidar que el público al que está dirigida es infantil, con lo que no va a dar miedo, pero sí vamos a encontrar elementos del género de terror).
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
Sin embargo, en esta ocasión, he de decir que me ha dejado alucinada reconocer partes del cuento popular y ver cómo había logrado cambiarlos para transformar esta historia en una tan turbia y a la vez divertida (pues no hay que olvidar que el público al que está dirigida es infantil, con lo que no va a dar miedo, pero sí vamos a encontrar elementos del género de terror).
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
February 8, 2022
Una historia muy original aunque sea un retelling del cuento de la cenicienta. Original porque nuestra cenicienta, como bien indica el título, es zombi, y original también porque es una historia poética, todo se cuenta a través de poesías y bellas ilustraciones.
Me ha gustado la forma de ver a esta cenicienta a la que se le muerte todo lo que tiene alrededor hasta que ella misma también la palma. Lo que si veo es que no es una historia demasiado infantil, porque a veces es un poco escatologica y otras bastante truculenta. Como detalle las hermanastras no tienen desperdicio y el principe tampoco es un principe al uso, ahí lo dejo, si os pica la curiosidad ya sabéis.
Me ha gustado la forma de ver a esta cenicienta a la que se le muerte todo lo que tiene alrededor hasta que ella misma también la palma. Lo que si veo es que no es una historia demasiado infantil, porque a veces es un poco escatologica y otras bastante truculenta. Como detalle las hermanastras no tienen desperdicio y el principe tampoco es un principe al uso, ahí lo dejo, si os pica la curiosidad ya sabéis.
February 13, 2022
3.5
Me gustó, estuvo entretenido. Es un retelling de la cenicienta en versión más terrorífica pero desde un punto de vista infantil aunque igual no lo considero apto para niños xd
Esta escrito en verso y tiene ilustraciones, así como el cuento del grinch pero con un poco más de texto, aunque igual se lee rapidito.
Me gustó, estuvo entretenido. Es un retelling de la cenicienta en versión más terrorífica pero desde un punto de vista infantil aunque igual no lo considero apto para niños xd
Esta escrito en verso y tiene ilustraciones, así como el cuento del grinch pero con un poco más de texto, aunque igual se lee rapidito.
February 13, 2022
Este corta y curiosa historia pertenece a la serie de cuentos de hadas estropeados y como tal retellings que nos muestran el supuesto que pasaría si estos al igual que una fruta se echaran a perder, podridos por no haber sido encontrados, pues bingo! Esta historia muestra una faceta putrefacta (ya sé estoy exagerando), de Cenicienta que en este caso es una zombie, el como y porqué ya lo descubrirán a través de sus páginas, no me pareció tan escabroso pero creo que no lo recomendaría para niños muy pequeños.
February 8, 2022
el libro me ha gustado. Es un retelling de Cenicienta y forma parte de la serie Cuentos Estropeados. Nunca había oído esto - cuentos estropeados, pero este me ha gustado. Es una versión más tétrica y macabra del cuento de Cenicienta y quizás no sea apta para niños pequeños.
Curioso.
Curioso.
September 9, 2020
This fabulously illustrated and spooky little book is the perfect Halloween read for any kids (or adults!) with a taste for gore and twisted fairy tale fun. It's a hilariously gruesome take on Cinderella, who rises from the dead to attend the ball of a sinister prince who travels from town to town setting up house to hunt for fresh "brides" in every area...so he's pretty much perfect for her. ;)
Here's a snippet:
So, the prince would buy the mansion in advance,
and send his servants ahead of his coffin-shaped
carriages to carry out his orders:
"Black the windows!"
"Remove the garlic from the kitchen!"
"Unsharpen the pencils!"
"Cover the mirrors!"
He was a particular prince
with particular needs...
***
It's an MG novel in verse and I raced through it with total delight because it was so gleefully fun (even when it was, very intentionally, gross - this is the kind of book that some sensitive kids won't be able to handle while others will lap it all up with a spoon). It was hilarious, clever, and had a surprisingly sweet and satisfying ending.
And I can't not talk about the illustrations, because the art (by Freya Hartas) is just as major a feature in this book as the poetry (by Joseph Coelho), and it's also GORGEOUS. I've posted a few images from it on my Instagram, but every page is full of new delights, and I'd definitely recommend buying this book in paperback rather than ebook, just to savor every detail of the beautiful packaging.
SO much fun all round! I really hope that this duo publishes many more fairy tales gone BAD. :)
Here's a snippet:
So, the prince would buy the mansion in advance,
and send his servants ahead of his coffin-shaped
carriages to carry out his orders:
"Black the windows!"
"Remove the garlic from the kitchen!"
"Unsharpen the pencils!"
"Cover the mirrors!"
He was a particular prince
with particular needs...
***
It's an MG novel in verse and I raced through it with total delight because it was so gleefully fun (even when it was, very intentionally, gross - this is the kind of book that some sensitive kids won't be able to handle while others will lap it all up with a spoon). It was hilarious, clever, and had a surprisingly sweet and satisfying ending.
And I can't not talk about the illustrations, because the art (by Freya Hartas) is just as major a feature in this book as the poetry (by Joseph Coelho), and it's also GORGEOUS. I've posted a few images from it on my Instagram, but every page is full of new delights, and I'd definitely recommend buying this book in paperback rather than ebook, just to savor every detail of the beautiful packaging.
SO much fun all round! I really hope that this duo publishes many more fairy tales gone BAD. :)
February 12, 2022
Un retelling algo tétrico del cuento de la Cenicienta. Y digo tétrico, porque la Cenicienta en este cuento está muerta, y vuelve a la vida como zombie, y ya no os digo nada de su príncipe, un vampiro que va de pueblo en pueblo buscando novias.
Si ya esto es raro, está contado en forma de poesía. Ahí es nada.
Se lee fácil, y resulta una lectura curiosa, cuando menos.
Si ya esto es raro, está contado en forma de poesía. Ahí es nada.
Se lee fácil, y resulta una lectura curiosa, cuando menos.
February 15, 2021
Una nueva versión del clásico cuento de Cenicienta, donde hay zombis, vampiros, una madre y tres hermanas farsantes, y hasta la propia muerte. Un cuento que está narrado de una forma muy especial y que viene acompañado de unas ilustraciones y una edición preciosas.
March 30, 2021
3.5 🧟♀️
No sabía muy bien qué podía encontrarme en este libro pero ha sido todo un descubrimiento, una cenicienta diferente, con su toque terrorífico pero también divertido y muy asequible para los más peques.
No sabía muy bien qué podía encontrarme en este libro pero ha sido todo un descubrimiento, una cenicienta diferente, con su toque terrorífico pero también divertido y muy asequible para los más peques.
August 23, 2021
Espero que este sea el primero de varios cuentos de hadas estropeados. Es original y me han gustado las ilustraciones
August 25, 2021
Read this with my ten year old daughter and we were both hooked!
My daughter struggles with reading and is often put off by chapter books... But this... With its dark and lyrical prose and wonderful illustrations had her asking for just one more chapter... Just one more.
The first time she has done that!
Zombirella is perfectly dark and quirky and we can't wait for the next in the series 🖤
My daughter struggles with reading and is often put off by chapter books... But this... With its dark and lyrical prose and wonderful illustrations had her asking for just one more chapter... Just one more.
The first time she has done that!
Zombirella is perfectly dark and quirky and we can't wait for the next in the series 🖤
September 2, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an eARC of Zombierella.
I enjoyed this. Its a Cinderella retelling that's told in verse but is also extremely dark, funny and witty. There were times where I wondered if it might be a little too dark for kids, seen as this is a middlegrade. But otherwise, I really enjoy this retelling.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well, they definitely added to the story.
I enjoyed this. Its a Cinderella retelling that's told in verse but is also extremely dark, funny and witty. There were times where I wondered if it might be a little too dark for kids, seen as this is a middlegrade. But otherwise, I really enjoy this retelling.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well, they definitely added to the story.
September 11, 2020
As part of the 'Fairy Tales Gone Bad' series, Coelho and Hartas join up for a deliciously dark (sprinkled with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humour) retelling of the Grimm variant. Cinderella, in this version, inherits her name from carrying her mother's ashes around with her in a locket. We find her living at home with her FAKE beautiful sisters and step-mother who treat her as badly as the original Cinders was treated. With both her biological parents dead, Cinderella's only companion is her faithful steed, Lumpkin who is on his last legs...
When the town receives an unusual visitor in the guise of a prince whose culinary tastes are on the bloody side and whose bed is more wood and dirt than cushions and frame, Cinderella's life is about to take a dark turn. Yet whether life as a Zombie is as bad as it sounds is something for the reader to decide.
There are many things to love about this fractured fairytale. The immediate appeal for me was Coelho's cold embrace of those gory elements which we associate with the earlier Grimm tellings. Zombie aside, here we have a vampire, guts, brains on show and hacked feet as the prince goes upon his quest to find his true bride. All of which is penned in the free verse that drips with cunningly dark imagery and design yet, somehow, with a lightness of touch that will leave the reader grinning widely.
Huge praise must also go both to the talents of Freya Hartas and the book's editorial team. The illustrations make those gory moments even funnier and there is a warmth and lightness to a cast who are mostly dead - that's quite an achievement. The balance too, between text and image, is perfect. Sometimes the verse commands the page leaving space for single, soft vignettes but at other times smashing double-page spreads blast off the page with space for a punchy, single word of prose.
Zombierella is not all about the gory details (and let's face it, neither were the originals). This story carries both moral and message about kindness and love - and unlike the original - a dose of forgiveness to boot. Altogether this is a joyful achievement and I hope to see more 'Fairy Tales Gone Bad' in the future.
When the town receives an unusual visitor in the guise of a prince whose culinary tastes are on the bloody side and whose bed is more wood and dirt than cushions and frame, Cinderella's life is about to take a dark turn. Yet whether life as a Zombie is as bad as it sounds is something for the reader to decide.
There are many things to love about this fractured fairytale. The immediate appeal for me was Coelho's cold embrace of those gory elements which we associate with the earlier Grimm tellings. Zombie aside, here we have a vampire, guts, brains on show and hacked feet as the prince goes upon his quest to find his true bride. All of which is penned in the free verse that drips with cunningly dark imagery and design yet, somehow, with a lightness of touch that will leave the reader grinning widely.
Huge praise must also go both to the talents of Freya Hartas and the book's editorial team. The illustrations make those gory moments even funnier and there is a warmth and lightness to a cast who are mostly dead - that's quite an achievement. The balance too, between text and image, is perfect. Sometimes the verse commands the page leaving space for single, soft vignettes but at other times smashing double-page spreads blast off the page with space for a punchy, single word of prose.
Zombierella is not all about the gory details (and let's face it, neither were the originals). This story carries both moral and message about kindness and love - and unlike the original - a dose of forgiveness to boot. Altogether this is a joyful achievement and I hope to see more 'Fairy Tales Gone Bad' in the future.
October 16, 2020
The book Zombierella didn’t only look wonderful from the outside, but the story inside was wonderful too, with all the peculiar twists and turns in the life (or death?) of Cinderella written in the most amusing and comical way. It was literally the best twisted version of Cinderella I HAD EVER READ.
This adorable book revolves around Cinderella, who lives and works all day for her FAKE sisters and mother in the most tiresome way. One night, after her FAKE family goes out to the ball to dance with the mysterious prince, Cinderella slips on the stairs and DIES!! The death angel walks in then and revives her for three nights ahead so she could live and enjoy life for a limited time and dance with the prince! Things take a mischievous turn then that makes you wonder, did this fairy tale really go bad, or did the fairy tale go riotously right?
The illustrations in this book were so beautiful, SO BEAUTIFUL, I felt all giddy like a child while reading the story and looking through its illustrations. I kept smiling as I read through some adorable pages, and understood the poor girl’s hardships in many pages too, and it made me wonder how - in a way, the kids of this generation were learning so many things that the teachers and our elders were frightened to teach us when we were young, about grief and sadness – especially after losing a loved person or a pet - in a healthy way. I know kids can’t go out and play like we used to, but they can surely read books much more fascinating than we used to.
5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This adorable book revolves around Cinderella, who lives and works all day for her FAKE sisters and mother in the most tiresome way. One night, after her FAKE family goes out to the ball to dance with the mysterious prince, Cinderella slips on the stairs and DIES!! The death angel walks in then and revives her for three nights ahead so she could live and enjoy life for a limited time and dance with the prince! Things take a mischievous turn then that makes you wonder, did this fairy tale really go bad, or did the fairy tale go riotously right?
The illustrations in this book were so beautiful, SO BEAUTIFUL, I felt all giddy like a child while reading the story and looking through its illustrations. I kept smiling as I read through some adorable pages, and understood the poor girl’s hardships in many pages too, and it made me wonder how - in a way, the kids of this generation were learning so many things that the teachers and our elders were frightened to teach us when we were young, about grief and sadness – especially after losing a loved person or a pet - in a healthy way. I know kids can’t go out and play like we used to, but they can surely read books much more fascinating than we used to.
5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 6, 2021
Este libro es un #retelling de La Cenicienta, que se lee de una sentada, y es adictivo de manera increíble.
Entre sus páginas podemos encontrar el clásico escrito en prosa poética acompañado de unas ilustraciones en blanco y negro maravillosas y tétricas a partes iguales, que además incluyen muchos detalles en ellas, así que vale la pena detenerse a observarlas bien.
Es un buen libro para que los más pequeños de la casa (y no tan pequeños) pierdan el miedo a criaturas como la muerte, los zombis, los vampiros, los espíritus, etc. Pues los muestra gentiles y buenos, así que creo que son de gran ayuda.
Creo que es una historia muy original, con toques de amor, humor, fantasía, venganza... Elementos que hacen que el cuento gane puntos por doquier.
El bibliotecario del principio y final me ha gustado mucho, ¡y estoy deseando leer más cuentos de hadas estropeados!
Entre sus páginas podemos encontrar el clásico escrito en prosa poética acompañado de unas ilustraciones en blanco y negro maravillosas y tétricas a partes iguales, que además incluyen muchos detalles en ellas, así que vale la pena detenerse a observarlas bien.
Es un buen libro para que los más pequeños de la casa (y no tan pequeños) pierdan el miedo a criaturas como la muerte, los zombis, los vampiros, los espíritus, etc. Pues los muestra gentiles y buenos, así que creo que son de gran ayuda.
Creo que es una historia muy original, con toques de amor, humor, fantasía, venganza... Elementos que hacen que el cuento gane puntos por doquier.
El bibliotecario del principio y final me ha gustado mucho, ¡y estoy deseando leer más cuentos de hadas estropeados!
October 7, 2020
This fabulously spooky book is a great read for children and adults! It is a gruesome take on Cinderella that will definitely make you giggle. The illustrations in this book are also amazing! Whilst the book remains spooky and filled with gory, it also carries an important message about kindness, love and forgiveness. I absolutely raced through this book and I’m sure it would be throughly enjoyed in the classroom!
December 6, 2021
A great twist on the story of Cinderella! The illustrations throughout this story compliment the text wonderfully and math the tone of the story perfectly. A great and fun read.
May 2, 2021
Un retelling original de Cenicienta dirigido a un público infantil, lleno de elementos de "terror" que les van a encantar.
El texto es rimado, algo que recuerda mucho a los cuentos infantiles y que, aunque al principio se hace algo "raro" de leer, le da un toque todavía más original a esta historia.
El texto es rimado, algo que recuerda mucho a los cuentos infantiles y que, aunque al principio se hace algo "raro" de leer, le da un toque todavía más original a esta historia.
May 2, 2022
That was such a fun read!!
This is a spooky retelling of Cinderella.
The story starts with a mysterious librarian discovering a forgotten bookshelf with rotten books (like rotten fruits!) that are considered dangerous and forbidden. This bookshelf contained many well-known to us fairytales that went bad. The librarian chose to share a rotten story of Cinderella, that now is named Zombierella!
In this book, Zombierella lives with her fake mother and her three fake sisters in a village. One day she rode her favorite horse Lumpkin over the gray fields, and she saw that at the mansion on the hill, the new Prince arrived. According to rumors, he was searching for a bride! The news reached the fake mother’s ears, and she took her three daughters to the mansion to meet the new Prince. Zombierella stayed back at the house to do her chores. Unfortunately, she slipped at the staircase and died. And then Death approached and raised her as a zombie in order to go to the ball at the mansion, that btw would last three nights. Death raised also from the dead, Zombierella’s favorite companion animals and her favorite horse that died from old age. Each night, Zombierella was coming closer to the Prince that he found in her a bride with a cold heart like his and a cold skin like his…the Prince was a vampire! So technically both of them were dead… At some point, the 3rd fake sister wanted to set a trap to Zombierella on the third night, to not allow the Prince to choose her as a bride. She used some kind of very strong glue at the steps outside the mansion, so when Zombierella would arrive, her bare feet would get stuck, and she wouldn’t be able to enter the mansion and dance with the Prince. However, Zombierella, selected another way to go to the ball, and she entered from a side door instead. She danced with the Prince and when the clock hit midnight she had to leave immediately (as every other night) because the zombie-spell would wear off! She runs away to escape the mansion at midnight, and there she gets stuck on the steps with the glue. She had no other choice but to “leave her own foot” there and go home asap. There she lied dead on the floor in front of the staircase for her fake mother and sisters to find her. The Prince found the foot and declared that he will only marry the girl with the missing foot. The fake mother and the sisters buried Zombierella in the garden and waited for the Prince to come. The fake mother chopped off her eldest daughter’s foot in order to fit the bride-case. Prince was not convinced of the eldest sister being his bride, because it was the wrong leg that was missing, then the next sister chopped off the right foot but it was too short/or long the remaining one, so again the Prince was not convinced, and then the third sister chopped off the right foot on the right size, but again the Prince figured out that none of them is his beloved Zombierella. He followed the hints from drugging a smelly dead body from the staircase to the garden and asked them to dig out Zombierella. After that, he united with his bride and true love’s kiss made them both alive to live a happily ever after!
The librarian promised to share more stories like this, and I honestly cannot wait!! :D
This book was so silly at some parts, but it still made me laugh so much!! I adored every page and I was looking at the illustrations for a longtime because they were just stunning!! The covers have additional illustrations from the inside, that I had totally missed the first time I looked at that book.
I would consider it a read for Halloween, but I read it in May because I didn’t want to wait!
This is a spooky retelling of Cinderella.
The story starts with a mysterious librarian discovering a forgotten bookshelf with rotten books (like rotten fruits!) that are considered dangerous and forbidden. This bookshelf contained many well-known to us fairytales that went bad. The librarian chose to share a rotten story of Cinderella, that now is named Zombierella!
In this book, Zombierella lives with her fake mother and her three fake sisters in a village. One day she rode her favorite horse Lumpkin over the gray fields, and she saw that at the mansion on the hill, the new Prince arrived. According to rumors, he was searching for a bride! The news reached the fake mother’s ears, and she took her three daughters to the mansion to meet the new Prince. Zombierella stayed back at the house to do her chores. Unfortunately, she slipped at the staircase and died. And then Death approached and raised her as a zombie in order to go to the ball at the mansion, that btw would last three nights. Death raised also from the dead, Zombierella’s favorite companion animals and her favorite horse that died from old age. Each night, Zombierella was coming closer to the Prince that he found in her a bride with a cold heart like his and a cold skin like his…the Prince was a vampire! So technically both of them were dead… At some point, the 3rd fake sister wanted to set a trap to Zombierella on the third night, to not allow the Prince to choose her as a bride. She used some kind of very strong glue at the steps outside the mansion, so when Zombierella would arrive, her bare feet would get stuck, and she wouldn’t be able to enter the mansion and dance with the Prince. However, Zombierella, selected another way to go to the ball, and she entered from a side door instead. She danced with the Prince and when the clock hit midnight she had to leave immediately (as every other night) because the zombie-spell would wear off! She runs away to escape the mansion at midnight, and there she gets stuck on the steps with the glue. She had no other choice but to “leave her own foot” there and go home asap. There she lied dead on the floor in front of the staircase for her fake mother and sisters to find her. The Prince found the foot and declared that he will only marry the girl with the missing foot. The fake mother and the sisters buried Zombierella in the garden and waited for the Prince to come. The fake mother chopped off her eldest daughter’s foot in order to fit the bride-case. Prince was not convinced of the eldest sister being his bride, because it was the wrong leg that was missing, then the next sister chopped off the right foot but it was too short/or long the remaining one, so again the Prince was not convinced, and then the third sister chopped off the right foot on the right size, but again the Prince figured out that none of them is his beloved Zombierella. He followed the hints from drugging a smelly dead body from the staircase to the garden and asked them to dig out Zombierella. After that, he united with his bride and true love’s kiss made them both alive to live a happily ever after!
The librarian promised to share more stories like this, and I honestly cannot wait!! :D
This book was so silly at some parts, but it still made me laugh so much!! I adored every page and I was looking at the illustrations for a longtime because they were just stunning!! The covers have additional illustrations from the inside, that I had totally missed the first time I looked at that book.
I would consider it a read for Halloween, but I read it in May because I didn’t want to wait!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2021
RESEÑA EN EL BLOG ➜http://bit.ly/30v0yDF
¿Se han preguntado alguna vez que pasa con esos libros olvidados en las estanterías? Pues nuestros amados libros nunca mueren, de hecho hay algunos que evolucionan gracias a su capacidad de reinventarse para mantenerse vigentes.
Por ejemplo, ya todos conocemos a Cenicienta, esta chica que ha pasado toda su vida obligada a ser la servidumbre de su madrastra y hermanastras sin recibir nada a cambio. Pero en este primer libro de Joseph Coelho veremos cómo este popular clásico da un giro un pelín más sombrío donde nuestra protagonista se transforma en Zombicienta, una chica que muere al caer por las escaleras por culpa de sus hermanastras pero que al igual que la original es visitada por una hada, en este caso el hada de la muerte quien le dará la oportunidad de vivir tres noches de ensueño antes de caer en el sueño eterno.
Ya saben que desde siempre he sido una niña más bien rarita, así que estoy totalmente fascinada por esta versión de un clásico, ¿por qué acaso hay algo mejor que los zombies? Obviamente la respuesta es no y eso queda claro en este pequeño libro que sin importara edad que tengan va a conquistarlos de principio a fin.
Solo me queda esperar a que haya más libros de esta serie donde los zombis, vampiros y falsas hermanastras hacen que todo sea mejor.
December 5, 2021
Thank you to Danielle (agenuineopinion on IG) for sending me her copy of 𝐙𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 by Joseph Coelho to read. Don't you just love having bookish friends that you can swap books with?!
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𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀
𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫
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Zombierella is the first in a three-part series by Coelho, called 'Fairytales Gone Bad', which are retellings of classic fairytales, but with a gruesome twist!
In this retelling of Cinderella, Cinders falls down a flight of stairs (after slipping on some dog poo 💩) and becomes a Zombie Princess, but can she still enjoy the ball and woo the Prince?
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𝐙𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟
𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐬,
𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬,
𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬,
𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐮𝐩
𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥.
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Zombierella was longlisted for the UK Diverse Book Awards 2021, and with it being written by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho, and beautifully illustrated by Freya Hartas, I can absolutely understand why.
I especially liked the amusing twists on the classic tale, like Zombierella leaving behind a foot instead of a glass slipper.
The three fake sisters chopping off their own feet, in an effort to convince the prince that the foot belongs to them, is very reminiscent of the original Brothers Grimm version of the tale, where the sisters chopped off toes and parts of their heels in an effort to make the slipper fit.
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𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞,
𝐒𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢��𝐞,
𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲.
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I think Zombierella is perfect for younger readers who like a bit of gruesomeness to their tales - those who like Horrible Histories will no doubt like this story.
I would probably read more of the Fairytales Gone Bad series, but I definitely feel that this series is aimed at a younger audience. It would make a perfect gift for younger bookworms.
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𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀
𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫
-
Zombierella is the first in a three-part series by Coelho, called 'Fairytales Gone Bad', which are retellings of classic fairytales, but with a gruesome twist!
In this retelling of Cinderella, Cinders falls down a flight of stairs (after slipping on some dog poo 💩) and becomes a Zombie Princess, but can she still enjoy the ball and woo the Prince?
-
𝐙𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟
𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐬,
𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬,
𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬,
𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐮𝐩
𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥.
-
Zombierella was longlisted for the UK Diverse Book Awards 2021, and with it being written by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho, and beautifully illustrated by Freya Hartas, I can absolutely understand why.
I especially liked the amusing twists on the classic tale, like Zombierella leaving behind a foot instead of a glass slipper.
The three fake sisters chopping off their own feet, in an effort to convince the prince that the foot belongs to them, is very reminiscent of the original Brothers Grimm version of the tale, where the sisters chopped off toes and parts of their heels in an effort to make the slipper fit.
-
𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞,
𝐒𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢��𝐞,
𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲.
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I think Zombierella is perfect for younger readers who like a bit of gruesomeness to their tales - those who like Horrible Histories will no doubt like this story.
I would probably read more of the Fairytales Gone Bad series, but I definitely feel that this series is aimed at a younger audience. It would make a perfect gift for younger bookworms.
April 10, 2022
This is one of the most creative adaptations of Cinderella I have ever read -- and despite its whimsy, big font, and easy-ish language, one of the darkest I've ever read, too! I think I'm still processing it. But the illustrations are gorgeous, the story itself is beautiful and autumnal and while at a few points I know I would have been terrified as a child, it ends so sweetly. I've lived next to a cemetery for the past four years and I could just picture it all! Definitely worth a read -- but not for the faint-hearted!
SMALL UPDATE UPON REFLECTION
This adaptation: “Zombierella” by Joseph Coelho with illustrations by Freya Hartas. What to say, other than, listen, it’s been a long time since a Cinderella adaptation actually made me audibly gasp. This is a gorgeous, lushly illustrated, incredibly dark version of ‘Cinderella.’ It’s marketed for ages 9-11, but has large font and illustrations more like books I would shelve for 6-8 year olds. But the story — well! Cinderella’s pet horse dies in the first chapter, then SHE dies halfway through the book — but both are resurrected each evening until the clock strikes midnight to attend the balls held by a mysterious, vampiric prince. It’s very gory and visceral, at times, though nothing overly horrific is shown in the illustrations.
I’ve really never read any adaptation like it! If you’re into Tim Burton films and gothic aesthetics, mixed with visual influences from Haitian Vodou, this is for you. I do wish they’d leaned a little more into Vodou lore in the written text (though quite possibly references are there that I missed), but honestly, this version is unique and 100% worth a read.
SMALL UPDATE UPON REFLECTION
This adaptation: “Zombierella” by Joseph Coelho with illustrations by Freya Hartas. What to say, other than, listen, it’s been a long time since a Cinderella adaptation actually made me audibly gasp. This is a gorgeous, lushly illustrated, incredibly dark version of ‘Cinderella.’ It’s marketed for ages 9-11, but has large font and illustrations more like books I would shelve for 6-8 year olds. But the story — well! Cinderella’s pet horse dies in the first chapter, then SHE dies halfway through the book — but both are resurrected each evening until the clock strikes midnight to attend the balls held by a mysterious, vampiric prince. It’s very gory and visceral, at times, though nothing overly horrific is shown in the illustrations.
I’ve really never read any adaptation like it! If you’re into Tim Burton films and gothic aesthetics, mixed with visual influences from Haitian Vodou, this is for you. I do wish they’d leaned a little more into Vodou lore in the written text (though quite possibly references are there that I missed), but honestly, this version is unique and 100% worth a read.
October 23, 2020
Intentionally grim and gross, hilariously witty and filled with spooky yet classic black and white illustrations akin to Nightmare Before Christmas? Erm, yes please! This is everything a Zombie story would ever need!
It feels like the perfect twisted fairy tale that the spooky season calls for, and is essentially a gruesome Cinderella-esk retelling as she rises from the dead to go to the ball. Admittedly, the gore is a little gorier than children with a less strong stomach could probably manage, so if your child has a sensitive disposition I would definitely have a quick flick through first!
My only complaint really is that I wish the illustrations had been as beautiful as the cover, complete with vibrant colours and full pages. But otherwise, it's a wonderfully twisted and capricious spooky read that brave children will love sinking their teeth into!
ARC provided from walker books in exchange for an honest review.
It feels like the perfect twisted fairy tale that the spooky season calls for, and is essentially a gruesome Cinderella-esk retelling as she rises from the dead to go to the ball. Admittedly, the gore is a little gorier than children with a less strong stomach could probably manage, so if your child has a sensitive disposition I would definitely have a quick flick through first!
My only complaint really is that I wish the illustrations had been as beautiful as the cover, complete with vibrant colours and full pages. But otherwise, it's a wonderfully twisted and capricious spooky read that brave children will love sinking their teeth into!
ARC provided from walker books in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
I was sent an arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
4.5
This is a great little read for kids who are just a bit morbid, like I was.
I loved how unapologetically dark it was. It still has all the classic fairytale messages such as true love and being a good person but with a zombie Cinderella and other dead/undead characters.
I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it hadn't had so many great illustrations, they are so beautiful and gothic looking while showing the humour in the story. They really brought the story to life (pun not intended) for me.
Highly recommended to anyone of any age who enjoys a good retelling of a classic fairytale with an undead twist.
I'm kinda hoping that they'll do Creeping Beauty next, that picture intrigued me.
4.5
This is a great little read for kids who are just a bit morbid, like I was.
I loved how unapologetically dark it was. It still has all the classic fairytale messages such as true love and being a good person but with a zombie Cinderella and other dead/undead characters.
I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it hadn't had so many great illustrations, they are so beautiful and gothic looking while showing the humour in the story. They really brought the story to life (pun not intended) for me.
Highly recommended to anyone of any age who enjoys a good retelling of a classic fairytale with an undead twist.
I'm kinda hoping that they'll do Creeping Beauty next, that picture intrigued me.
December 28, 2021
Lo amé. Es una historia perfecta para Halloween de hecho, llena de gore, zombies y vampiros. Un retelling muy divertido para niños y adultos y aparte, está escrito en verso y se siente bien diferente.
Todos los elementos que cambiaron para este cuento me encantaron, parece un poco adaptado a la modernidad, Cenicienta definitivamente muere y revive en el cuento, hasta nuestra “hada madrina” es bien distinta y tiene que recurrir a cosas muy diferentes para que el cuento siga su curso. De los mejores retelling a infantiles que he leído. Espero que el autor escriba más libros como tiene planeado.
Todos los elementos que cambiaron para este cuento me encantaron, parece un poco adaptado a la modernidad, Cenicienta definitivamente muere y revive en el cuento, hasta nuestra “hada madrina” es bien distinta y tiene que recurrir a cosas muy diferentes para que el cuento siga su curso. De los mejores retelling a infantiles que he leído. Espero que el autor escriba más libros como tiene planeado.
November 28, 2020
Right at the back of the library, chained with a demon padlock, are the dangerous forbidden books. These are not at all the fairy tales you know so well, you can find The Monstrous Duckling, Jack and the Flesh-Eating Beanstalk... and of course Zombierella.
I enjoyed the author's reading of his book, I probably wouldn't have done justice to the verse reading it myself, however I did miss out on the illustrations.
I enjoyed the author's reading of his book, I probably wouldn't have done justice to the verse reading it myself, however I did miss out on the illustrations.
March 3, 2021
Que libro tan bonito, en cuanto a edición y a historia. Leerlo es un paseo, y aunque tiene ciertos toques macabros que hacen sentir que no es un libro infantil en su totalidad, la historia se me hizo súper tierna. Es el clásico cuento de cenicienta de Disney con una combinación del cuento de los hermanos Grimm, acompañado de ilustraciones HERMOSAS que hacen que leerlo sea todo un espectáculo.
November 8, 2020
This is a fun twist on the classic fairytale Cinderella, the illustrations were amazing and added to the spooky and gory theme to this. I also loved the poetry feature in this, an element that could definitely be used in the classroom.
October 30, 2020
I enjoyed this a LOT. Would have loved it as a kid.
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