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Faraway Collection #5
The Wickeds
The reviled villainesses of Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel team up to set the record straight in a subversively funny short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay.
Envious queen? Evil stepmother? Kidnapping hag? Elsinora, Gwendolyn, and Marguerite are through with warts-and-all tabloids, ugly lies, and the three ungrateful brats who pitted them against each other and the world. But maybe there’s more to the stories than even the Wickeds know. Is it time to finally get revenge? After all, they’re due for a happily-enough-ever-after. Even if they have to write it themselves.
Envious queen? Evil stepmother? Kidnapping hag? Elsinora, Gwendolyn, and Marguerite are through with warts-and-all tabloids, ugly lies, and the three ungrateful brats who pitted them against each other and the world. But maybe there’s more to the stories than even the Wickeds know. Is it time to finally get revenge? After all, they’re due for a happily-enough-ever-after. Even if they have to write it themselves.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2020
831 people are currently reading
3098 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Forman
43 books25.1k followersAward-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman has written several bestselling novels for young adults, including the Just One Series, I Was Here, Where She Went and the #1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which has been translated into more than 40 languages and in 2014 was adapted into a major motion picture.
Gayle published Leave Me, her first novel starring adults in 2016 and her latest novel, I Have Lost My Way, comes out in March of 2018.
Gayle lives with her husband and daughters in Brooklyn.
Gayle published Leave Me, her first novel starring adults in 2016 and her latest novel, I Have Lost My Way, comes out in March of 2018.
Gayle lives with her husband and daughters in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 775 reviews
December 23, 2022
In a Nutshell: Short story. Interesting concept. Above average writing. Started well. Ended a bit flat. Loved the idea though.
All of us know the three villainesses of the fairy tale world: the evil queen from Snow White, the wicked witch from Rapunzel, and the devious stepmother from Cinderella. However, do we know why they behaved the way they did? What happens when these three “wickeds” meet up and decide that they want vengeance for the way their names have been sullied? Don’t they deserve a happily-ever-after?
The concept of the book is fabulous. While it fits into the modern trend of retelling a story from the antagonist’s point of view, thus modifying our opinion about them through their version of events, the reasons provided for each woman’s behaviour covers quite relevant themes. As the three characters are given names in this story-- Elsinora, Gwendolyn, and Marguerite, it takes a while to remember who is who, but going with the flow works fine.
The ending comes as a surprise. In a way, it takes life a full circle and the three vamps realise that revenge might not be the solution to their woes.
While the story is quick and easy-going, the writing/editing brings it down. The narrative perspective didn’t make sense. There’s a mysterious “we” who are narrating the story to us, but after their identity is revealed at the end, the earlier narration doesn’t make sense, as they wouldn’t have known of many of the events that occurred earlier. Moreover, after the identity reveal, the “we” also refer to themselves by their names, thus mixing up the first person and third person. There are a couple of continuity errors as well. A round of edits would have improved the impact of the story.
Overall, a decent story that provides a somewhat-feminist retelling from the pov of three despised women from the fairy tale world. A good enough read, not a must-read.
3.25 stars.
This story is a part of the Faraway Collection and is available to Amazon Prime members.
(I don’t plan on reading the rest of this collection. I read this story only because my daughter badgered me to. She wanted to vent about the ending. Sheesh! For what it’s worth, she rated it 4 stars.)
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
All of us know the three villainesses of the fairy tale world: the evil queen from Snow White, the wicked witch from Rapunzel, and the devious stepmother from Cinderella. However, do we know why they behaved the way they did? What happens when these three “wickeds” meet up and decide that they want vengeance for the way their names have been sullied? Don’t they deserve a happily-ever-after?
The concept of the book is fabulous. While it fits into the modern trend of retelling a story from the antagonist’s point of view, thus modifying our opinion about them through their version of events, the reasons provided for each woman’s behaviour covers quite relevant themes. As the three characters are given names in this story-- Elsinora, Gwendolyn, and Marguerite, it takes a while to remember who is who, but going with the flow works fine.
The ending comes as a surprise. In a way, it takes life a full circle and the three vamps realise that revenge might not be the solution to their woes.
While the story is quick and easy-going, the writing/editing brings it down. The narrative perspective didn’t make sense. There’s a mysterious “we” who are narrating the story to us, but after their identity is revealed at the end, the earlier narration doesn’t make sense, as they wouldn’t have known of many of the events that occurred earlier. Moreover, after the identity reveal, the “we” also refer to themselves by their names, thus mixing up the first person and third person. There are a couple of continuity errors as well. A round of edits would have improved the impact of the story.
Overall, a decent story that provides a somewhat-feminist retelling from the pov of three despised women from the fairy tale world. A good enough read, not a must-read.
3.25 stars.
This story is a part of the Faraway Collection and is available to Amazon Prime members.
(I don’t plan on reading the rest of this collection. I read this story only because my daughter badgered me to. She wanted to vent about the ending. Sheesh! For what it’s worth, she rated it 4 stars.)
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
December 29, 2020
Heh 😏. That was fun!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
December 17, 2020
What a great ending for this collection. For me there was only the first story that didn't grab me while reading. This was a nice way to end the collection. We get a look at the "Wickeds". Snow White's stepmother, Cinderella's stepmother, and the woman who "kidnapped" Rapunzel. We even get their names too which I thought was a nice touch. Forman gives us a different point of view of women who were forced to raise daughters with in two cases pretty terrible husbands. I loved the three women deciding to team up and go after the women that many in the kingdom see as wonderful and perfect (Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel).
I don't want to spoil anything, but wow, we get some backstories on everyone and I loved how the story was resolved. I could have read a couple hundred more pages about all of these women that we have read about in numerous fairy tales and watched in Disney movies.
I don't want to spoil anything, but wow, we get some backstories on everyone and I loved how the story was resolved. I could have read a couple hundred more pages about all of these women that we have read about in numerous fairy tales and watched in Disney movies.
May 30, 2024
I really enjoyed what this tale attempted to do.
Not everything is black and white, there are always two sides to a story.
However, it took me a while to connect with the main characters (also I could never remember which name was for which ‘villain’).
I did not like the ‘surprise narrator’.
Also, why did the daughters make them sound like complete monsters for the most trivial of things?!
Though, I get the point that rumours spread like wildfire and things are blown out of proportion.
‘Don’t believe everything you hear.’
I just felt that the rumours were a little too extreme. Especially if the women were only just really strict parents…
Not everything is black and white, there are always two sides to a story.
However, it took me a while to connect with the main characters (also I could never remember which name was for which ‘villain’).
I did not like the ‘surprise narrator’.
Also, why did the daughters make them sound like complete monsters for the most trivial of things?!
Though, I get the point that rumours spread like wildfire and things are blown out of proportion.
‘Don’t believe everything you hear.’
I just felt that the rumours were a little too extreme. Especially if the women were only just really strict parents…
January 8, 2021
Again, a rather odd and dark fairytale retelling. This particular story had a whole host of well known names from fairytales, but with a modern theme to it.
The premise was interesting enough, but the story was fairly tedious, and I feel that there wasn't enough development as to what was happening. Also, the grammar was horrendous, and I seriously doubt that this was edited.
Normally, I appreciate a decent fairytale retelling, but this series has been quite dismal, and I'm happy I didn't have to spend actual money on it.
The premise was interesting enough, but the story was fairly tedious, and I feel that there wasn't enough development as to what was happening. Also, the grammar was horrendous, and I seriously doubt that this was edited.
Normally, I appreciate a decent fairytale retelling, but this series has been quite dismal, and I'm happy I didn't have to spend actual money on it.
January 6, 2021
THIS is by far the best of the stories [with The Cleaners tied, for other reasons] and I loved this. It was absolutely fantastic.
"She was neither beautiful or ugly.
Neither loving nor vicious.
Neither wicked or good.
She was ALL of these things.
We all are."
Gayle Foreman
"She was neither beautiful or ugly.
Neither loving nor vicious.
Neither wicked or good.
She was ALL of these things.
We all are."
Gayle Foreman
March 27, 2021
date read: 2021 march 27
August 14, 2023
A charming twist on fairytale villains who are really just villainized because they are women who aren't young and beautiful. Very entertaining.
January 15, 2021
Cute and Heartwarming.
January 1, 2024
Misunderstood, misrepresented and misinterpreted. The Evil Stepmother, Mother Gothel and Evil Queen start to meet up and plan revenge on the women, and daughters, who did them wrong. Except maybe it wasn't the princesses that started the rumours, and maybe history has a habit of repeating itself. This was an interesting take on the villains gone good story through a more feminist gaze. I just wanted more from the story.
January 22, 2021
A humorous retelling that you’ll want to read for yourself!
Ok, so boom...
Gayle Forman did a pretty cool thing in her novella, The Wickeds. We’ve all read the fairy-tale classics surrounding the princesses Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel. We also know their antagonists: Cinderella’s wicked step-mother, “Gwendolyn”, Snow White’s murderous step-mother, “Queen Elsinora”, and Rapunzel’s abductress, “Marguerite”. What I enjoyed about this version is that it is told from the perspective of the mothers 15 years after the fairytales conclude.
The mothers are bitter, of course and decide to do something to change the course of fate, in search of some form of happily ever after. Along the ride, Forman includes an array of characters including Jack and Jill and the Dwarfs.
I really enjoyed this installment and I thought it a great way to close out the Faraway series. 4.5 ⭐️
Ok, so boom...
Gayle Forman did a pretty cool thing in her novella, The Wickeds. We’ve all read the fairy-tale classics surrounding the princesses Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel. We also know their antagonists: Cinderella’s wicked step-mother, “Gwendolyn”, Snow White’s murderous step-mother, “Queen Elsinora”, and Rapunzel’s abductress, “Marguerite”. What I enjoyed about this version is that it is told from the perspective of the mothers 15 years after the fairytales conclude.
The mothers are bitter, of course and decide to do something to change the course of fate, in search of some form of happily ever after. Along the ride, Forman includes an array of characters including Jack and Jill and the Dwarfs.
I really enjoyed this installment and I thought it a great way to close out the Faraway series. 4.5 ⭐️
November 4, 2021
This was the last tale in the Faraway Series of fairy tales. It had some humor and wit to it along with some charm. It was fun. It was from the point of view of the step-mothers of Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, years after the original fairy tales.
February 1, 2021
Q:
“My nose does not look like that. I had it reshaped by a piranha years ago—dreadfully painful,” she added, touching the small scars left by the fish’s sharp teeth. (c)
“My nose does not look like that. I had it reshaped by a piranha years ago—dreadfully painful,” she added, touching the small scars left by the fish’s sharp teeth. (c)
December 22, 2020
Best one of the series!
January 5, 2021
Trigger WARNING (TW): mentions rape
May 14, 2022
3 out of 5!
This was an entertaining short little novella.
In The Wickeds we get the backstory of three villainesses from the stories of Snow White, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. And don't think you fully know their stories because you most certainly do not.
I enjoyed being in this fairytale world.
It was nice to get Gayle Forman's twist on these stories.
There was some humor, but it also got dark with mentions of attempted rape, alcoholism, gambling addictions, and more.
In the end I wanted this story to go a little darker with The Wickeds being more wicked. But I can see where the author was going with it and can appreciate the direction she took.
It's just not what I was expecting and I would've liked a little more closure at the end.
But overall it was definitely enjoyable!
This was an entertaining short little novella.
In The Wickeds we get the backstory of three villainesses from the stories of Snow White, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. And don't think you fully know their stories because you most certainly do not.
I enjoyed being in this fairytale world.
It was nice to get Gayle Forman's twist on these stories.
There was some humor, but it also got dark with mentions of attempted rape, alcoholism, gambling addictions, and more.
In the end I wanted this story to go a little darker with The Wickeds being more wicked. But I can see where the author was going with it and can appreciate the direction she took.
It's just not what I was expecting and I would've liked a little more closure at the end.
But overall it was definitely enjoyable!
November 18, 2025
A clever updating of some classic fairy tales (I would enjoy seeing this on Disney+)
Three wicked Stepmother's meet and bond in a Dr's waiting room and then over a few drinks decide on revenge against the princesses that wronged them, but along the path they discover that maybe they have the wrong end of the stick and maybe nobody is truly wicked!
Three wicked Stepmother's meet and bond in a Dr's waiting room and then over a few drinks decide on revenge against the princesses that wronged them, but along the path they discover that maybe they have the wrong end of the stick and maybe nobody is truly wicked!
January 9, 2021
This was great, really enjoyed it! I'm definitely going to read this whole collection.
December 19, 2020
This the final story in the Faraway Collection introduces Galye Foirman to this reader. This was a funny and witty story of the villainesses of Snow White, Cinderella and Rapunzel. Re-imagine them telling their stories of their relationships with their trials with their charges and them trying to find their HEAs. Had me smiling in some parts and the narration was done well by Frankie Corzo. Nice quick audiobook listen.
July 21, 2022
i'm raising my rating for this from 3 to 4 stars. i really enjoyed this different spin on the popular fairytales.
February 16, 2022
The plot idea is good; it just felt too heavy handed.
January 21, 2021
Fable Turnabout
Review of the Amazon Original Kindle eBook edition (2020)
This was a good fun revisit of the Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel fables that portrays the supposed evil queens and stepmothers of those stories as misunderstood characters who were betrayed by their selfish, self-centred rivals, daughters and stepdaughters. "The Wickeds" set out to take revenge as a collective but learn that all generations face the same issues.
On the Double Plus Good side, this story had none of the product placement advertising distractions that ruined an earlier entry in the series, The Prince and the Troll, for me.
The Wickeds is one of the 5 novellas included in the Faraway Collection, a series of fable fiction released December 15, 2020 from Amazon Original Stories. Classic fables take on new meaning as five bestselling authors serve up some deliciously modern twists. New reflections on evil queens, charmless princes, and star-crossed lovers branch out in provocative and enchanting directions. Follow the path and see where it leads...
Review of the Amazon Original Kindle eBook edition (2020)
This was a good fun revisit of the Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel fables that portrays the supposed evil queens and stepmothers of those stories as misunderstood characters who were betrayed by their selfish, self-centred rivals, daughters and stepdaughters. "The Wickeds" set out to take revenge as a collective but learn that all generations face the same issues.
On the Double Plus Good side, this story had none of the product placement advertising distractions that ruined an earlier entry in the series, The Prince and the Troll, for me.
The Wickeds is one of the 5 novellas included in the Faraway Collection, a series of fable fiction released December 15, 2020 from Amazon Original Stories. Classic fables take on new meaning as five bestselling authors serve up some deliciously modern twists. New reflections on evil queens, charmless princes, and star-crossed lovers branch out in provocative and enchanting directions. Follow the path and see where it leads...
January 16, 2021
3,25
Questo racconto è fiabesco, e non solo: riesce a riprendere tre delle favole più celebri, aggiungendo ad esse una chiave di lettura diversa. Ed è per questo che questa storia mi è piaciuta. Perché è riuscita a rielaborare qualcosa di esistente, continuando la narrazione, e non solo.
Nel fare ciò, la scrittrice è anche riuscita a parlare della genitorialità in maniera interessante e utile per i lettori più giovani. Questo volumetto parla anche di altri temi, ma a mio parere, non altrettanto bene.
A seguito di queste considerazioni, devo però aggiungere una cosa: il finale non mi ha convinto a pieno, siccome è risultato più aperto di quanto avrei voluto e non mi è piaciuto il cambio di pov che è avvenuto nell'ultimo capitolo.
Questo racconto è fiabesco, e non solo: riesce a riprendere tre delle favole più celebri, aggiungendo ad esse una chiave di lettura diversa. Ed è per questo che questa storia mi è piaciuta. Perché è riuscita a rielaborare qualcosa di esistente, continuando la narrazione, e non solo.
Nel fare ciò, la scrittrice è anche riuscita a parlare della genitorialità in maniera interessante e utile per i lettori più giovani. Questo volumetto parla anche di altri temi, ma a mio parere, non altrettanto bene.
A seguito di queste considerazioni, devo però aggiungere una cosa: il finale non mi ha convinto a pieno, siccome è risultato più aperto di quanto avrei voluto e non mi è piaciuto il cambio di pov che è avvenuto nell'ultimo capitolo.
September 30, 2024
Entertaining family listening🎧🤗😆🤔🎵
This kindle novella is fr
The three wicked sisters are looking at their present life compared to Snow White. A different spin on the fairy tale.
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers looking for a quick fantasy world 🌎 different spin on fairy tales. 2024
This kindle novella is fr
The three wicked sisters are looking at their present life compared to Snow White. A different spin on the fairy tale.
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers looking for a quick fantasy world 🌎 different spin on fairy tales. 2024
December 22, 2025
This is an interesting retelling from multiple villainess POVs, following the "evil stepmothers" and getting their perspectives, or the "real" behind the scenes from the fairy tales we grew up with. The princesses aren't what they seem and their stepmothers are cast out due to their lies. I had a great time!
December 8, 2024
Oh, I quite enjoyed this one. Might be my favorite from the entire collection.
July 5, 2025
This is a story of mothers and daughters. A story of passing trauma down the line. This is also a story of not letting others dictate who you are and what your story is. There are two sides to every tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 775 reviews