What do you think?
Rate this book
Villainous: An Anthology of Fairytale Retellings
IT IS TIME FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
Ten fairytale villains set the record straight, sharing their version of classic tales. They may still be villainous or redeem themselves - you decide.
Retold stories feature the Evil Queen, Rumplestiltskin, the Giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, Maleficient from Sleeping Beauty, the Ogress from Rapunzel, the witch from Hansel and Gretel, the Big Bad Wolf, the Pied Piper, Bluebeard, and the stepmother from Cinderella.
Villainous features twisted tales sure to intrigue you because, after all, what would a fairytale be without its villain?
All profits from the sale of Villainous will be donated to Project Night Night, a charity that provides books to homeless children.
Ten fairytale villains set the record straight, sharing their version of classic tales. They may still be villainous or redeem themselves - you decide.
Retold stories feature the Evil Queen, Rumplestiltskin, the Giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, Maleficient from Sleeping Beauty, the Ogress from Rapunzel, the witch from Hansel and Gretel, the Big Bad Wolf, the Pied Piper, Bluebeard, and the stepmother from Cinderella.
Villainous features twisted tales sure to intrigue you because, after all, what would a fairytale be without its villain?
All profits from the sale of Villainous will be donated to Project Night Night, a charity that provides books to homeless children.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2021
12 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 11, 2022
This collection has 8 retellings of popular fairy tales from the point of view of the villain in them. Here, you'll find Rumpelstiltskin, Hänsel & Gretel, Bluebeard, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack & the Beanstalk, and Snow White as seen by the baddies.
As has become usual in rehashes "from the other side," most of these stories rely on the old trick of simply villainising the hero/heroine of the original tale, a tired technique I'm personally not fond of for how unimaginative and overused it is. The worst offenders here are, in my opinion, the retellings of Cinderella and Snow White, which also happen to be the worst-written overall.
But there's a couple that stand out for their creative interpretation and the writing, and one that, although it was flawed, deserves a shout out as well. They were:
STRAW INTO GOLD by Carol Beth Anderson
5 stars
A Rumpelstiltskin story that stands out because it's a gender-bent take. Yes, that's right! It's the only retelling I've found that has a female Rumpelstiltskin and a male miller's child, and for that alone it's already worth a read, but it's also well-written and has a nice premise. I only wish the ending were a bit longer.
THE PIED PIPER by Rebecca F. Kenney
4 stars
The title is self-explanatory. This story takes place in a fictional version of Hamelin that's a bit hard to swallow for how evil people are there, and the love story is too insta-lovey, practically within hours of meeting, and these were serious points against it. However, I enjoyed this one because of the originality of the plotline. The ending was a bit open-ended, you feel like this could have continued further.
An honourable mention goes to:
TRUE LOVE'S KISS by Julia Embleton
3 stars
A contemporary, magic-less and school-age retelling of Sleeping Beauty that follows the Disney animated film rather than the fairy tale. In this version, Aurora is twin sister to Maleficent, here called Laura and Mallory, and it has all the tropes of teen dramas. Why does it stand out, then? Because it's funny, in a dark, bratty way, as here Mal is wicked without being downright evil, a troubled and resentful teenager that unexpectedly goes further than she'd have wished for.
The first story made it worth the price of this anthology, for me, but the rest weren't good enough to make this book one I'd eagerly recommend.
As has become usual in rehashes "from the other side," most of these stories rely on the old trick of simply villainising the hero/heroine of the original tale, a tired technique I'm personally not fond of for how unimaginative and overused it is. The worst offenders here are, in my opinion, the retellings of Cinderella and Snow White, which also happen to be the worst-written overall.
But there's a couple that stand out for their creative interpretation and the writing, and one that, although it was flawed, deserves a shout out as well. They were:
STRAW INTO GOLD by Carol Beth Anderson
5 stars
A Rumpelstiltskin story that stands out because it's a gender-bent take. Yes, that's right! It's the only retelling I've found that has a female Rumpelstiltskin and a male miller's child, and for that alone it's already worth a read, but it's also well-written and has a nice premise. I only wish the ending were a bit longer.
THE PIED PIPER by Rebecca F. Kenney
4 stars
The title is self-explanatory. This story takes place in a fictional version of Hamelin that's a bit hard to swallow for how evil people are there, and the love story is too insta-lovey, practically within hours of meeting, and these were serious points against it. However, I enjoyed this one because of the originality of the plotline. The ending was a bit open-ended, you feel like this could have continued further.
An honourable mention goes to:
TRUE LOVE'S KISS by Julia Embleton
3 stars
A contemporary, magic-less and school-age retelling of Sleeping Beauty that follows the Disney animated film rather than the fairy tale. In this version, Aurora is twin sister to Maleficent, here called Laura and Mallory, and it has all the tropes of teen dramas. Why does it stand out, then? Because it's funny, in a dark, bratty way, as here Mal is wicked without being downright evil, a troubled and resentful teenager that unexpectedly goes further than she'd have wished for.
The first story made it worth the price of this anthology, for me, but the rest weren't good enough to make this book one I'd eagerly recommend.
Read
March 8, 2021I'm so excited to be part of this anthology. I had the pleasure of reading all the other stories in it this weekend, and what a cool collection of villainous tales! There's everything from a romantic Pied Piper to a hilarious Big Bad Wolf (with a snarky Little Red Riding Hood who steals the show).
For this anthology, I wrote a genderbent Fae romance retelling of Rumplestiltskin.
The book is available for pre-order on Amazon, and all profits go to Project Night Night, a charity providing books to homeless children.
For this anthology, I wrote a genderbent Fae romance retelling of Rumplestiltskin.
The book is available for pre-order on Amazon, and all profits go to Project Night Night, a charity providing books to homeless children.
March 31, 2021
This book has numerous fairy tale retellings given from the villain's point of view and each is written by a different author. Each story brings new life to the tale you thought you knew. This book even included tales I was unfamiliar with such as Bluebeard's Wife. Each story leaves you wondering, were they really so bad after all?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2021
This was such a great set of retellings. Very entertaining and well written. Highly recommend it to all fans of fairy tales and retellings of fairy tails.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2021
This was a fun collection of stories to read. Some of them had me convinced that the villain was actually the her and others were simply disturbing. My favorites were the Rumplestiltskin retelling and the Pied Piper retelling. The Hansel and Gretel retelling was probably the most disturbing of the batch, but it was fun to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, but my opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, but my opinions are my own.
April 3, 2021
What an absolutely wonderful collection! Fairytale retellings are a weakness of mine and I adore any new angle that common stories are taken on.
The authors in here weave beautiful stories! Some embrace the darkness of the original tales while some give a sympathetic spin on these well known villains. Each one has the personal touch of each writer making each story a wonderful new experience.
I love how these stories embrace all kinds of fairytales! Both the common ones and the uncommon ones! You’ll find more than one to your liking!
I do so hope to read more works by each of these writers at my first opportunity!
The authors in here weave beautiful stories! Some embrace the darkness of the original tales while some give a sympathetic spin on these well known villains. Each one has the personal touch of each writer making each story a wonderful new experience.
I love how these stories embrace all kinds of fairytales! Both the common ones and the uncommon ones! You’ll find more than one to your liking!
I do so hope to read more works by each of these writers at my first opportunity!
March 27, 2021
This anthology was a pleasure to read. There's always two sides to a story, and these tales tell the villains version of events. All of them were successful in making me sympathetic towards them.
My favourite was a modern version of Sleeping Beauty. The bones of the story were there and even without it being a fairytale retelling, it was an enjoyable read.
My favourite was a modern version of Sleeping Beauty. The bones of the story were there and even without it being a fairytale retelling, it was an enjoyable read.
October 1, 2021
What a wonderful collection of twisted fairytales by a very talented group of indie authors. Not knowing what to expect, I loved this anthology that retold some of the most loved fairytales from the point of view of the villain.
Misunderstood and misrepresented, these so-called villains tell their tales and we the reader get to see the other side of the happy ever after.
Each tale was as good as the one before it and all were so enchanting that it's hard to select just one, although my personal favourites were those based on the Pied Piper, Red Riding Hood, and Sleeping Beauty.
Extremely well-written, this anthology would make the perfect Christmas gift.
Misunderstood and misrepresented, these so-called villains tell their tales and we the reader get to see the other side of the happy ever after.
Each tale was as good as the one before it and all were so enchanting that it's hard to select just one, although my personal favourites were those based on the Pied Piper, Red Riding Hood, and Sleeping Beauty.
Extremely well-written, this anthology would make the perfect Christmas gift.
March 27, 2021
This is a real treat for those who love
to read re - worked fairy - tales.
Enjoy !!
Phyllis
to read re - worked fairy - tales.
Enjoy !!
Phyllis
March 27, 2021
What a deliciously fun anthology of villainy remakes of tales. Such a delightful little read. I enjoyed this book immensely.
March 24, 2021
You think you know some of the oldest fairy tales? Guess again. As you read these, you’ll get the other side. Forget everything you thought and see it all, from the other side
I truly enjoyed these stories and will be checking out more from the authors in this anthology.
Great read for all ages.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I truly enjoyed these stories and will be checking out more from the authors in this anthology.
Great read for all ages.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2021
Allow a full day for this PG collection of altered fairy tales.
Straw Into Gold by Carol Beth Anderson: family-friendly one-hour read. 5*
Sisters by Helen Whistberry: A PG15 half-hour tale of gingerbread house maintenance. 5*
Bluebeard's Wife by E.P. Stavs: PG13, half-hour read. 5*
The Ogress by Philip M. Jones: PG ninety-minute read about a girl in a tower. 5*
The Big Bad Wolf Is Born by Jacob Klop: PG 40 minute read 5*
The Pied Piper by Rebecca Kenney: PG 1 hour 5*
The Stepmother by Katherine MacDonald: family-friendly half-hour 5*
True Love's Kiss by Julie Embleton: PG 45 minutes 5*
Jack, the Giant, and the Beanstalk by L.T. Ward: PG 1 hour 5*
Take My Heart by K.A. Miltimore: PG 1 hour 5*
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Straw Into Gold by Carol Beth Anderson: family-friendly one-hour read. 5*
Sisters by Helen Whistberry: A PG15 half-hour tale of gingerbread house maintenance. 5*
Bluebeard's Wife by E.P. Stavs: PG13, half-hour read. 5*
The Ogress by Philip M. Jones: PG ninety-minute read about a girl in a tower. 5*
The Big Bad Wolf Is Born by Jacob Klop: PG 40 minute read 5*
The Pied Piper by Rebecca Kenney: PG 1 hour 5*
The Stepmother by Katherine MacDonald: family-friendly half-hour 5*
True Love's Kiss by Julie Embleton: PG 45 minutes 5*
Jack, the Giant, and the Beanstalk by L.T. Ward: PG 1 hour 5*
Take My Heart by K.A. Miltimore: PG 1 hour 5*
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2021
Interesting, innovating story tellings from the other side of the story! I liked this innovated idea and the stories as well as their charitable cause. I liked some stories more than others maybe because I was so fixed on the other side of the story up to now, but I would recommend it regardless of this! The stories have different names ie Cinderella is not called Cinderella, but you can totally understand which story is which. I liked that I knew most of the stories and now I got to hear the Villan’s side of things.
I received a free ARC copy of this book, I am voluntarily leaving a review and this did not affect my review in any way.
I received a free ARC copy of this book, I am voluntarily leaving a review and this did not affect my review in any way.
March 25, 2021
This is a delightful book and it was so much fun discovering the different approaches each author took to reimagining the traditional fairytales.
Some tales change or intensify the genre to/of romance, horror story, mystery thriller or detective noir. In others some characters change gender or (fantasy) race; and then there are the stories where the villain has plausible reasons for their actions such as being victims of circumstance or are even innocent and defamed by the so-called heroes.
I don’t want to go into detail of the individual stories, as I feel it will give too much of the twists away and discovering them is half the fun, however I have to mention my favourites; so if you don’t want to know anything please ignore the next paragraph.
Absolute top is: The Big Bad Wolf is Born, this one blew me away. Such a clever, complete reimaging, turning everything on its head while keeping true to the essence of the story.
Following it closely is The Pied Piper, such a lovely, feel good tale; which doesn’t change much, but gives insight into the character of the piper and his motivations.
Third place is shared by Bluebeard’s Wife and Sisters. The former reminds me of the mysterious, sinister tales of Edgar Allen Poe and the latter develops an already slightly scary story into a proper disturbing horror.
All in all I can highly recommend this Anthology, especially to fans of fairytales, but really anyone who enjoys a good story.
Not forgetting the good cause behind this book.
I received this book as an advance reader copy and am leaving this review of my own volition.
Some tales change or intensify the genre to/of romance, horror story, mystery thriller or detective noir. In others some characters change gender or (fantasy) race; and then there are the stories where the villain has plausible reasons for their actions such as being victims of circumstance or are even innocent and defamed by the so-called heroes.
I don’t want to go into detail of the individual stories, as I feel it will give too much of the twists away and discovering them is half the fun, however I have to mention my favourites; so if you don’t want to know anything please ignore the next paragraph.
Absolute top is: The Big Bad Wolf is Born, this one blew me away. Such a clever, complete reimaging, turning everything on its head while keeping true to the essence of the story.
Following it closely is The Pied Piper, such a lovely, feel good tale; which doesn’t change much, but gives insight into the character of the piper and his motivations.
Third place is shared by Bluebeard’s Wife and Sisters. The former reminds me of the mysterious, sinister tales of Edgar Allen Poe and the latter develops an already slightly scary story into a proper disturbing horror.
All in all I can highly recommend this Anthology, especially to fans of fairytales, but really anyone who enjoys a good story.
Not forgetting the good cause behind this book.
I received this book as an advance reader copy and am leaving this review of my own volition.
March 13, 2021
This is a collection of various fairy tales, particularly with a lens pointed at changing the traditional villains of the tales. With proceeds going to charity and my own love of fractured fairy tales, of course I'd want to read this!
We begin with "Straw Into Gold" playing off the Rumpelstiltskin tale and twisting it into something different. It's a miller's son that has to spin the straw into gold, and Rumpelstiltskin is the young woman that had been drawn into a fae';s trap centuries before to be his. This inversion of the tale and the emotions that are evoked along the way really draw me in, and made me eager to keep going with the story. "Bluebeard's Wife" sets up a mystery from the start as our blue bearded main character goes through the motions at a ball. The mystery is cleared up soon enough, and I really enjoyed this take on the familiar tale of Bluebeard and the locked room. "The Ogress" riffs off Rapunzel, and there's a blink and you'll miss it reference to another fairy tale. It's a fun kind of story, where the reader knows more than Rapunzel does, and that's where the enjoyment in reading the story comes from. "The Big Bad Wolf is Born" changes the genre a bit, which I really enjoyed.
Those stories are easily my favorites, but they're all really fun stories, and an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
We begin with "Straw Into Gold" playing off the Rumpelstiltskin tale and twisting it into something different. It's a miller's son that has to spin the straw into gold, and Rumpelstiltskin is the young woman that had been drawn into a fae';s trap centuries before to be his. This inversion of the tale and the emotions that are evoked along the way really draw me in, and made me eager to keep going with the story. "Bluebeard's Wife" sets up a mystery from the start as our blue bearded main character goes through the motions at a ball. The mystery is cleared up soon enough, and I really enjoyed this take on the familiar tale of Bluebeard and the locked room. "The Ogress" riffs off Rapunzel, and there's a blink and you'll miss it reference to another fairy tale. It's a fun kind of story, where the reader knows more than Rapunzel does, and that's where the enjoyment in reading the story comes from. "The Big Bad Wolf is Born" changes the genre a bit, which I really enjoyed.
Those stories are easily my favorites, but they're all really fun stories, and an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2021
Familiar fairytales, told from the point of view of the villains. But don't think these are tongue in cheek fractured fairytales giving a redeeming backstory to the villains. While there are a few stories that completely turn upside down what you thought you knew about the story and paint the villains in a completely different light, others turn what was a story to frighten children into something that horrifies adults! There are sweet stories, funny stories, and some truly horrifying stories hidden in the depths of this anthology.
There were some absolute stand-out stories in this collection and not a single weak tale. Every story in this anthology was well crafted and edited. All were complete stories with a full story arc and the information you needed to enjoy them. Some of these charity anthologies are hit and miss - they seem to be filled with hastily written prequels and side stories that are part of a larger story or preliminary, scarcely edited drafts that the author intends to flesh out into a full novel when the collection is pulled down. That is absolutely not the case with this anthology. I was frankly surprised with the quality and felt satisfied with each story. I will definitely be following up on a couple new to me authors in this collection - excellent storytelling!
There were some absolute stand-out stories in this collection and not a single weak tale. Every story in this anthology was well crafted and edited. All were complete stories with a full story arc and the information you needed to enjoy them. Some of these charity anthologies are hit and miss - they seem to be filled with hastily written prequels and side stories that are part of a larger story or preliminary, scarcely edited drafts that the author intends to flesh out into a full novel when the collection is pulled down. That is absolutely not the case with this anthology. I was frankly surprised with the quality and felt satisfied with each story. I will definitely be following up on a couple new to me authors in this collection - excellent storytelling!
March 27, 2021
"Villainous" more than lived up to its titled with the delightfully wicked stories. Most of the entries were well written and cunning. I especially enjoyed the interesting takes on Rumpelstilskin, Bluebeard, and the Pied Piper. It was refreshing that so many of the authors chose fairytales that are a little less well-worn, less oft repeated. Still, the new takes on classics such as Snow White and Cinderella that make you actually hurt a little for the villains were masterfully done.
I came in to the anthology familiar with the work of several of these authors. I'm leaving it with an even longer to-be-read list.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I came in to the anthology familiar with the work of several of these authors. I'm leaving it with an even longer to-be-read list.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2021
This was a very entertaining book. I kept finding myself returning to read just a little more. It makes you stop and think that everything you hear may not be the true story.
Sometimes we let others decide what we should believe instead of checking out the people and incident ourselves.
If you want a book to keep you interested, this is it. Loved it
Sometimes we let others decide what we should believe instead of checking out the people and incident ourselves.
If you want a book to keep you interested, this is it. Loved it
March 25, 2021
Villainous
I love this collection of original reimagining of my favorite fairytales. The stories are just too short. I highly recommend this collection, so do yourself a favor and add "Villainous" to your TBR list.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review
I love this collection of original reimagining of my favorite fairytales. The stories are just too short. I highly recommend this collection, so do yourself a favor and add "Villainous" to your TBR list.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review
March 16, 2021
Every story in this anthology hooked me in and I couldn't put them down. They are all fabulous retellings of well known stories from fresh perspectives.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2021
what an amazing anthology!!
November 1, 2021
An entertaining read of (mostly) familiar fairytales that are told from the point of view of the villains. Some have been tweaked--like genderbent, a modern take, etc.--others go as expected but 'creepified', but they don't all end with a so-called 'happy ending' for the villains. So, it begs the question: are the ones we know as villains truly evil, or have their sides of the story not been told yet?
March 29, 2021
This is a book of short stories about the villains in the well-known fairytales we all grew up listening. And I liked very, very much.
A collection of fractured fairytales (one of my favourite things!) that give us a new perspective on the villains of their stories - sometimes redemption, sometimes ambiguity, others just getting to know the “bad guy” a little better. They were great reads and so interesting!
Other things I liked: getting to know some new writers, some of the writers had such good writing!, the cover, the many mentions to the Fae and probably a lot of other things I’m forgetting right now.
Some things I wished were different: some of the stories were not completely obvious from the start about which fairytale they were about and I wish they were because I think I would have enjoyed them more and, also, some of the stories mentioned fairytales that were the focus of other authors and they did not match with each other - they didn’t have to but I would have enjoyed the book more if they did.
Stories to look out for (in my humble opinion): Straw into Gold by Carol Beth Anderson, Sisters by Helen Whistberry and The Pied Piper by Rebecca F. Kennedy. I enjoyed most of the stories but these three were so, so good!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A collection of fractured fairytales (one of my favourite things!) that give us a new perspective on the villains of their stories - sometimes redemption, sometimes ambiguity, others just getting to know the “bad guy” a little better. They were great reads and so interesting!
Other things I liked: getting to know some new writers, some of the writers had such good writing!, the cover, the many mentions to the Fae and probably a lot of other things I’m forgetting right now.
Some things I wished were different: some of the stories were not completely obvious from the start about which fairytale they were about and I wish they were because I think I would have enjoyed them more and, also, some of the stories mentioned fairytales that were the focus of other authors and they did not match with each other - they didn’t have to but I would have enjoyed the book more if they did.
Stories to look out for (in my humble opinion): Straw into Gold by Carol Beth Anderson, Sisters by Helen Whistberry and The Pied Piper by Rebecca F. Kennedy. I enjoyed most of the stories but these three were so, so good!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2021
I love short stories!
This a group of stories that share a common theme amongst them, fairytales from the bad guys viewpoint. I never looked at fairytales from this point of view. The characters in each story are well constructed and developed to an adequate level to fulfill the needs of the story. World building in these cases are more a matter of a finer level to support the characters’ point of view. All that being said these fairytales are not the stories I would ever read to a child. That being said I love this anthology and recommend it without reservation to any reader regardless of their favorite genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
This a group of stories that share a common theme amongst them, fairytales from the bad guys viewpoint. I never looked at fairytales from this point of view. The characters in each story are well constructed and developed to an adequate level to fulfill the needs of the story. World building in these cases are more a matter of a finer level to support the characters’ point of view. All that being said these fairytales are not the stories I would ever read to a child. That being said I love this anthology and recommend it without reservation to any reader regardless of their favorite genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 28, 2021
An interesting box set of retellings of familiar fairytales. I enjoyed reading these tales, and the villainous twist of the stories, some you might forgive, some you might not. It starts with the 'Straw into Gold' where Pel has been sent out to swindle coins or valuables, and she comes across a man who might need her 'help'. Then it's followed by 'Sisters', who even from her earliest memory they were bitter enemies and rivals, but they are stuck together in a cursed existence. Seeing the box set has ten tales, I won't tell you about each of them, but I enjoyed them all, and trying to figure out which familiar tale they linked to, and the tales they weaved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 30, 2021
Some of our favorite fairy tales told from the point of view of the accused villain. Such a wonderful twist. I often wondered about the other side of the story. What was the motive of their actions? Did the event(s) really happen the way the stories have always been told? This book answers those questions for some of our favorite tales.
I would recommend reading these to children right after reading the original stories. Show them both sides of the stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I would recommend reading these to children right after reading the original stories. Show them both sides of the stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 15, 2023
I enjoyed it! Some of the classic villain stories, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White, were just the fairytale with a bit more historical background written from the 'bad guys', were they point out how history can be cruel to woman. I've read some of those already, but still enjoyed them. I especially loved the retellings of Rumpelstilskin, the pied piper and Jack and the Beanstalk, where the fey are wild and unpredictable. Also honorable mention for the retelling of sleeping beauty, which was more a cute high school drama, but where you feel for the main.
March 21, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great drama and romance with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great drama and romance with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 29, 2021
I love anthologies with themes and this one was a blast to read. I loved these short stories of popular fairy tales totally told from the bad guys or gals point of view. They made me laugh and groan but really think and kind of feel sorry for the villain, just a little. Not only were the stories from the villain side but hey also had a bit of a twist included too that made them even a better read. Totally worth getting to be entertained.
March 29, 2021
Villanious is a great mix of ten "fractured" fairytales. Classic tales are given an unique spin and some might make you feel sorry for the villian.
Each story is unique and a joy to read. I enjoyed this unique book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Each story is unique and a joy to read. I enjoyed this unique book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews