Once Upon a Dystopia: An Anthology of Twisted Fairy Tales and Fractured Folklore

by Audrey M. Stevens, Heather Carson, Jared K. Chapman

Vanity is a crime and Cinderella must wear a mask. The big bad wolf puts on an armored suit to battle extraterrestrials. Rapunzel is forced to claim her throne and right the wrongs of the past. Snow White goes insane in a world where corporations have torn down the forests. Three siblings cross a bridge in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In a genetically altered society, one different girl will be hunted for her imperfections...

Proudly created by the authors of Dystopian Ink, Once Upon A Dystopia: An Anthology of Twisted Fairy Tales and Fractured Folklore contains twenty stories of fairy tale and folklore retellings that explore dystopian influence in literature. From Science Fiction based futures to Fantasy kingdoms, the message is clear: One person's utopia is another's hell. For fans of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, Hunger Games, and Unwind, the authors from Dystopian Ink teamed up to bring you a collection of tales that distort childhood favorites into dystopian masterpieces.

Contents:
* Caught in the Siren’s Wake (2021) / short fiction by Audrey M. Stevens
* Glass (2021) / short fiction by Kathryn Jacques
* Big Bad Wolfe and the Three Little P.I.G.G.s (2021) / short fiction by Jared K. Chapman
* Twisted (2021) / short fiction by K.R.S. McEntire
* While They Sleep (2021) / short fiction by Heather Carson
* The Fairest Blade (2021) / short fiction by L. B. Winters
* Heterochromia (2021) / short fiction by Mikhaeyla Kopievsky
* Wings (2021) / short fiction by Emily Pirrello
* The Bridge (2021) / short fiction by Ginny Young
* The Frozen Eye (2021) / short fiction by Harry Carpenter
* Goldie Bear (2021) / short fiction by Emily VanOverloop
* Atlas: The Tale of Hanna and Greta (2021) / short fiction by A. K. Harris
* My Own Skin (2021) / short fiction by Sherri Cook Woosley
* Lieutenant Red Hood (2021) / short fiction by Jordyn Kieft
* Forever Young (2021) / short fiction by Haleigh Diann
* HOOD: A Grindhouse Robin Hood Tale (2021) / short fiction by Jared K. Chapman
* Jack, the Clock, and the Beanstalk (2021) / short fiction by J. Lynn Hicks
* The Piper (2021) / short fiction by Christine French
* The Seven Kids (2021) / short fiction by Audrey M. Stevens
* Spinner's Song (2021) / short fiction by Heather Carson

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Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Anthologies, Dystopia, Fiction

334 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2021

Reviews

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of ambiguous endings, and some confusing story lines

I realise that these are probably short stories for actual novels by these authors. However, a lot of them seem unfinished. And while that's okay if you're expecting a longer story behind it, if it's sold in the version of a short story, it needs a bit more refining.

I did like quite a few of them, and I'm thinking of reading at least some of these books, but it still took me a while to go through all of them, as some weren't exactly to my tastes.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit that I’m not usually drawn to fairytales, fantasy, dystopian...any genre that this collection of short stories could fall under. It came to my attention when I was go smacked on Facebook when close friend of mine posted that her “book” would be coming out soon. First of all, I had no idea that she was a writer in any way and when I checked out this book, I realized that not only was her short story “Goldie Bear” by Emily VanOverloop published in this collection but she also had penned quite a few “‘indie” children’s books. I was not asked to write a review, but I told her I would leave a review. I saw that this book is available in the Kindle Unlimited collection, but I went with the hardback edition because 1) I know one of the authors and got the book signed and 2) the cover is absolutely gorgeous. The picture doesn’t do the beautiful cover justice at all! I will include the Goodreads Description so you can see the stories included in this anthology.

Goodreads Description- Once Upon A Dystopia: An Anthology of Twisted Fairy Tales and Fractured Folklore contains twenty stories of fairy tale and folklore retellings that explore dystopian influence in literature. From Science Fiction based futures to Fantasy kingdoms, the message is clear:

One person’s utopia is another’s hell.

Works included:
Caught in the Siren’s Wake - Audrey M. Stevens
Glass - Kathryn Jacques
Big Bad Wolfe and the Three Little P.I.G.G.s - Jared K. Chapman
Twisted - K.R.S. McEntire
While They Sleep - Heather Carson
The Fairest Blade - L. B. Winters
Heterochromia - Mikhaeyla Kopievsky
Wings - Emily Pirrello
The Bridge - Ginny Young
The Frozen Eye - Harry Carpenter
Goldie Bear - Emily VanOverloop
Atlas: The Tale of Hanna and Greta - A.K. Harris
My Own Skin - Sherri Cook Woosley
Lieutenant Red Hood - Jordyn Kieft
Forever Young - Haleigh Diann
HOOD: A Grindhouse Robin Hood Tale - Jared K. Chapman
Jack, the Clock, and the Beanstalk- J. Lynn Hicks
The Piper - Christine French
The Seven Kids - Audrey M. Stevens
Spinner's Song- Heather Carson

Like I said, I don’t think I would have picked this book up without knowing one of the authors. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved this unique collection of retold fairytales and the dark twists on stories that most of us would recognize from childhood or from our own children’s favorite books and movies. This collection is definitely inclusive, was full of dark twists, but I really love the feminist twists. Some stories were better than others and there were some that had open endings. Sometimes open endings will frustrate me to no end, but not all fairytales end with the Princess finding her Prince Charming. This let me think after reading each story about what could happen next. Each of these stories could easily be a jumping off point towards the writing of a full length novel. So for readers out there who like me and absolutely stay away from the fantasy and science fiction genres at all costs, don’t be afraid that this is going to be multiple stories that fall under hardcore science fiction. It really is a great collection of fairytales that we all know retold with darker themes and twists. Since this was a book that actually pulled me in with each story rather than reinforce my previous judgements of anything fantasy/science fiction and was something I truly enjoyed reading, I have to go with at least 4.5 that I will round up to 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


**For full disclosure, I know the author of “Goldie Bear”, Emily VanOverloop. However I was not asked to read this for review. This review is an honest review of this anthology. **

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers ahead*

I decided to make a short review for each story, as I felt some were much better than others for me

- Caught in the Siren’s Wake by Audrey M. Stevens ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I found this story to be very interesting; however it left a lot of plot holes. The story ends without explaining much about anything. I would have enjoyed having more details about the entire situation of Wahine Pono and the girls escape.
- Glass by Kathryn Jaques ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I very much enjoyed this story and felt it was well written. A twist on Cinderella, where the girl is bid upon by the wealthy elite to become one of their wives. The ending of it leaves me wanting more, but I love how it’s open ended, allowing me to imagine my own ending for Kyle and Ciella.
- Big Bad Wolfe and the Three Little P.I.G.G.s by Jared K Chapman ⭐️⭐️.5/5
This story was not my cup of tea. It’s written as though you are mostly in the main character’s head, which is interesting; however the plot wasn’t my favorite. This would be better suited for people who enjoy heavy sci fi stories about aliens — I am not one of those people.
- Twisted by K.R.S. McEntire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Out of the first four short stories, this one is by far my favorite. A retelling of Rapunzel, where she is meant to be killed on her 18th birthday and have her magic harvested. I desperately want to read a full length book on this to discover what happens in the battle against the Three Kingdoms.
- While They Sleep by Heather Carson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I think this story did the best job, so far, of telling a mainly completely story. However, it did leave me wanting so much more. I was disappointed only when I realized I was at the end and couldn’t learn more about what happened to Emma.
- The Fairest Blade by LB Winters ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
I was honestly so confused for the first half of this story. I had to keep rereading parts and was still not understanding. I think if it had a better background for the scenes in the beginning it would be amazing. I got into it halfway (when I figured out what was going on) and finished quickly.
- Heterochromia by Mikhaeyla Kopievsky ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The story was a little slow for my taste, but I do think the background premise was well built upon throughout.
- Wings by Emily Pirrello ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A bit more somber than the earlier stories, Emily Pirrello’s deals with child abuse and religion. Claramond is just a girl in a small town, but her father, the town preacher, has a mean streak.
- The Bridge by Ginny Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/
A sacrifice made by a sister in order for her brothers to live. Fast paced story with an incredible amount of world building for such a short story.
- The Frozen Eye ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A little creepy, which I absolutely loved. The descriptions in this story make me wish it would be made into a film, and I would certainly read more about this world.
- Goldie Bear ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What would you do if you had no memories and were told your family was dead? Goldie decides to go against The Guardians to try get her memories, as well as everyone else’s back.
- Atlas: The Tale of Hanna and Greta ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This story has love, murder, torture, escape, and so much more in the society of Atlas. They are told the wall separates them from a terrible world, but when Greta’s life is at stake, Hanna will do anything to make sure she’s safe.
- My Own Skin by Sherri Cook Woosley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This story had a lot of potential, but it fell short at the end, in my opinion. The leviathan seemed like a creature of evil, but then the character turns into one? Just as a means for revenge? If it had said something about her turning back, I would understand more. I did enjoy the rest of the story.
- Lieutenant Red Hood by Jordyn Kieft
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
I’m definitely enjoying the later stories in this anthology quite a bit more. This one was perfectly rounded out and had a nice wrapped up ending; however, I would certainly read any following stories if they were published.
- Forever Young by Haleigh Diann ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
A dark retelling of the classic Peter Pan, complete with a little kidnapping. Another one that has a complete story in just a few pages.
- HOOD: A Grindhouse Robin Hood Tale by Jared K Chapman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
This story is everything you would expect from a Robin Hood retelling, but with some gender bending. Robin, in this story, is an orphaned girl, and her fellow vigilantes are girls as well.
- Jack, the Clock, and the Beanstalk by J. Lynn Hicks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Another quick read in this anthology. Jack and the townspeople all have clocks with timers that control when they die: no more ticking=no more living.
- The Piper by Christine French
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Quick read with a great plot. Finished nicely with a solid ending.
- The Seven Kids by Audrey M Stevens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Another one that’s a bit darker, but it is incredibly well written. I was a little upset when I realized I was at the end of the story because I wanted more.
- Spinner’s Song by Heather Carson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This anthology certainly ended on a strong note for me. One of my favorite parts about this story is that it’s a prequel to a series, City on the Sea. The series will certainly be added to my ever growing TBR.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this is a anthology by indie authors! I really enjoyed many of the stories in this book! Stand out for me is Heather Carson. This was such a great collection of stories!

[Heather Mynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I loved some of the short stories in this book, but others not so much. I would have rated it higher but I wasn't happy with a few of the stories because they left me confused or questioning what happened and how they ended. Like.. that's it?! But what comes next?? Some of them I really wished were a full book because the concepts were really interesting and I wanted more than what I got in the story. Worth a read if you like dystopian fiction, fairy tales, or folk tales. I'm definitely going to have to look for some of the authors! I think it's cool that the stories are written by indie authors because I found a few that I really want to follow. :)

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
i was drawn to the idea of dystopian versions of fairytales. because 1. i love dystopia and 2. i love fairytales and the idea of them combined seemed interesting. however it was a lot different than expected, some stories were great and others not so great. also many stories with the same character name made for some confusion. other than that it was pretty good. I didnt hate it but it also isnt my favorite

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Anthology contains twenty stories of fairy tale and folklore retellings that explore dystopian influence in literature from Science Fiction based futures to Fantasy kingdoms.

Story titles included are:

• Caught in the Siren’s Wake - Audrey M. Stevens
• Glass - Kathryn Jacques
• Big Bad Wolfe and the Three Little P.I.G.G.s - Jared K. Chapman
• Twisted - K.R.S. McEntire
• While They Sleep - Heather Carson
• The Fairest Blade - L. B. Winters
• Heterochromia - Mikhaeyla Kopievsky
• Wings - Emily Pirrello
• The Bridge - Ginny Young
• The Frozen Eye - Harry Carpenter
• Goldie Bear - Emily VanOverloop
• Atlas: The Tale of Hanna and Greta - A.K. Harris
• My Own Skin - Sherri Cook Woosley
• Lieutenant Red Hood - Jordyn Kieft
• Forever Young - Haleigh Diann
• HOOD: A Grindhouse Robin Hood Tale - Jared K. Chapman
• Jack, the Clock, and the Beanstalk- J. Lynn Hicks
• The Piper - Christine French
• The Seven Kids - Audrey M. Stevens
• Spinner's Song- Heather Carson

As will always be the case, with such a wide variety as this, there will be stories you will absolutely love, and others that don’t give you that special “pull”. But in all of them, it is easy to appreciate the skill in turning these sometimes well-known tales into something new and different that may get you thinking differently about what it might mean. Turning the imagination loose is always an excellent exercise for any author to indulge in, whether for the author’s sake or the readers’. Grab your copy and see what you think. I’m always thrilled when I can recognize one of the fairy tales; and this set spreads them out from several sources. Have fun exploring this new way of looking at something old. It keeps your mind active and challenges your thinking!

[Thorn_n_thistle_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mix of short stories within this book. There are 20 in here so your bound to find ones you like and ones that aren't quite your cup of tea. I love short stories when they leave you wanting more and less so when some might abruptly end.

I really enjoyed Wings by Emily Pirrello, a re-telling of the Bluebeard, a story I'm not familiar with but now want to know about.

I also enjoyed Big Bad Wolfe and The Three Little P.I.G.G.s - a nice scifi twist on the three little pigs.

A great book to dip in and out of when you need a palate cleanser between bigger books.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5

I enjoyed a few of the stories, but some were just bizarre, and difficult to even discern the original story from. I feel like you have to be ok with a lack of information, or backstory in most dystopian novels. There is even less information when they're short stories.

My favorites were:
Glass
Forever Young
HOOD: A Grindhouse Robin Hood Tale
Jack, the Clock, and the Beanstalk
The Piper
The Seven Kids
Spinner's Song

[Katara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Twisted by KRS Mc Entire. I loved this version of Rapunzel ! Very creative . Her “awakening” is a start to an awesome story! Now if this version was in the movies I would watch it!!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading all these stories. A unique collection, diverse and twisted retellings of the stories we knew and loved as children. Taking a completely different approach to the standard fairytales, and creating a dystopian story from start to finish in less than 30 pages each is an incredible feat. Well done

[Kim Bridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty interesting collection. I love fairy tales and dystopias, so I enjoyed the combination. Some of the stories were better than others, and a few felt pretty rushed. It was overall very enjoyable though, and I’m planning on checking out more by some of the authors.

[Dream · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read!
Some of the dystopian tales are fairly obvious about the fairy tales they're putting a spin on!
It's a series of short stories and some are dark
But so are most original fairy tales
Some of the stories are very intriguing and could easily be continued into a stand alone book!

[Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retellings+dystopian worlds+ strong badass female characters= The Dream

I was given an eARC of this book from @bartowskibookclub and one of the authors Emily Pirrello. So thank you to both of them.

With all anthology series you are going to have some standout and outstanding stories and one that get outshined. It is inevitable. Saying that there were a lot of the short stories I did enjoy. As someone who loves retellings and got into readings from reading dystopian stories this was like a match made in heaven. There were some stories that you knew immediately what the retelling was and some that took a bit. There were a few that I still don't know but that could just be me not knowing the original story.

There were a lot of stories in the book, twenty to be exact! and I wanted to showcase some of my favorites.
Glass - Kathryn Jacques-
This one was probably one of my favorites. Cinderella retelling where men bid on women (that part I don’t condone) and have two wear masks due to previous generations abusing beauty but it was written really well and I just wanted it to keep going and see what would happen.

Twisted - K.R.S. McEntire-
This one was a Rapunzel retelling and it is no surprise I loved this one since I love Tangled. This one threw me off guard and surprised me. Rapunzel is soon to be queen but when she finds out a family secret things go south. Again with this one I really wanted to read more!


The Fairest Blade - L. B. Winters-
A Snow white retelling where forests are destroyed and she is determined to fight against it. I really enjoyed the mixture of real life commentary mixed with fairy tale elements.

Wings - Emily Pirrello
I enjoyed this one because it was one of the stories I never heard of. After researching I found out it is based off of the story Bluebeard. The writing was great and showed the dangers that hide behind closed doors.

The Frozen Eye - Harry Carpenter
I think this one is based off the snow queen (or frozen). It was a really fun and dark take on one of my favorite stories.

The Piper - Christine French
I loved the piper so much. The female characters were so badass and showed that they can do as much and even more then man.

[Amanda Jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Little Red Riding Hood to The Three Little Pigs, The Little Mermaid, and pretty much any fairy tale you can think of... this book has it all.

Only, these aren't for your children's bedtime stories.

I'm not sure what I expected picking this book up. Maybe that these would be similar to The Brother's Grimm? But it's nothing like that. Each author has written a dark dystopian that's completely contemporary, standing as its own entity.

I loved reading the different writing styles, each author tackling a different end-of-days subgenre.

Amazingly quick read and perfect for anyone who loves the children's stories we all grew up with, but want a whole new, dark take.

[Rebecca Dee Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just such a great collection of dystopian short stories, about 20, from many different authors, some doing more than one story. We are introduced to dark dystopian worlds inspired by fairy and folk tales, most of which you will know and recognise. But this does not stop each story from feeling original and engaging. There was not a story that I didn't enjoy in the bunch, and I would highly recommend this anthology. There were stories for authors I was already aware of but I also found some new great indie authors (and new books of theirs to add to my wishlist...)

[C. Brian Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clunky. Many stories seemed to end before they began, as of they were first drafts or only page one of a longer tale. Others were just not interesting and dull.

And why was every paragraph separated by a blank line?

[KY · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.
do not like it at all, the stories let me be like "huh?"
what was that supposed to be, is that it ?

[Roa Santè · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected there to be differences in writing styles and varying takes on how each author chose to retell their stories. I was right, but I wasn’t a fan of how it was executed. Despite wanting to give a twist on well-known tales, very rarely did any of the stories pull it off aside from using character names, titles that alluded to the fairy tale, or using “fairest of them all”. It was too much 2010s dystopia and not enough fairytale retelling for my liking, but that’s on me for not getting it from the book’s title.

A lot of the short stories had open endings or ended before anything past worldbuilding really happened. It felt more like a collection of excerpts rather than standalone stories. Ones that weren’t cut off/open-ended seemed a bit rushed, which I can only assume is caused by a limited word count. It felt like each author was given a fairy tale prompt, a word count limit, and nothing else.

I neither had a good or bad time reading it. I didn’t feel like it wasted my time, but I don’t think I’ll be reading it again. Stars for effort and for “The Piper”, which I enjoyed the most.

[Gloriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a while to get through, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! There is a definite distinction between one story to the next, as they are all written by different authors. I really like short stories, because you get thrust into the story right away and the author doesn't waste time building exposition.

A lot of these stories were really well written, too! Given the subject matter, most of them were quite dark and definitely a unique spin on the stories we know as classic fairy tales.

However, it was definitely easier to tell which fairy tale they were meant to be based on for some of them than others. Some of them announce it in the title or the first couple of pages, while others keep you guessing until the end (and some I still haven't quite figured out).

There were definitely some gems, though! In particular I liked the Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Peter Pan stories. And the last one, for any other Heather Carson fans! I don't know what fairy tale it's meant to be connected to but it's a really sweet nod to the rest of her City on the Sea series.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mixture of some twenty short stories on the topics of dystopia, amended retellings of old fairy tales or folklore, with a new and sometimes shocking twist. Some of the stories end very abruptly, or might not be what some would expect, but everyone will find a few of them that they really enjoyed and that may well introduce them to another new author. Short tasters on a wide variety of authors, to be sampled and picked up on as you wish. Pick and choose or read through from the start. Some of the stories were by authors I already knew and had read books from, but others were completely unknown to me. It didn’t make any difference, allowing me a wee taster of styles, with none taking long to read, nor too taxing. A great mixture for all who like this sort of genre and a taste of what to expect, if you are new to it. I received an ARC copy of this anthology from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Dennis Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Dystopia is a nice bundle of 20 stories of the future but sadly the authors have created sad desperate futures devoid of anything positive. But perhaps that outlook makes for a more interesting read (I would disagree). I enjoyed the stories as a whole but I wonder why so few male writers were chosen for the anthology? I found that to be somewhat disappointing.

Of the 20 stories there were 2 I liked very much: 1) Jared Chapman's Hood, a Grindhouse Tale was action-packed and a quick read. 2) Audrey Stevens story entitled The Seven Kids because the ending threw me a real curve ball...I guess the kids were pushed to the limit and the man deserved just what he got.

I hope Dystopia Ink's next anthology is more positive including more male writers. Perhaps I'll submit a story of my own.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing collection of fairytale retellings by various authors, each has its own unique story and vibe butbsome feel a bit incomplete and leave you wanting more, but I guess your imagination can run wild.
The titles include:Caught in the Siren’s Wake - Glass- Big Bad Wolfe and the Three Little P.I.G.G.s - Twisted - While They Sleep -The fairest blade -Heterochromia- Wings - The Bridge - The Frozen Eye - Goldie Bear- Atlas: The Tale of Hanna and Greta- My Own Skin - Lieutenant Red Hood - Forever Young -A Grindhouse Robin Hood Tale
- Jack, the clock and the Beanstalk - The Piper
- The Seven Kids - Spinner’s Song

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hoarding Books Herding Cats (Anya) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first dystopian anthology and it did not disappoint! I loved the combination of fairy tale retellings and feminist dystopian fiction. Each story is unique and leaves you wanting more. Seriously. Every time a story ended, I was left thinking “that’s it? But I want to know what happens next!” Of course, some stories were better than others but almost all of these stories have the potential to become full-fledged novels, or even series. If that ever happens, I’ll be one of the first in line waiting to read them!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe more to this book than you expect.
I was intrigued by the whole idea of a dystopian anthology featuring a retelling of classic fairytales. Each story was so unique and different some I liked more than others but overall it was a book full of tales I enjoyed reading. I enjoyed Spinners it is the last story and it ends in such a way that will make you think. This one was by Heather Carson but many of the others were just as thought-provoking. If used right each story could be used as a starting point for a conversation. Excellent writing by talented authors that I hope you check out. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Alison (theemptybookshelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say that the cover is so attractive and was enough to lure me.
I got so excited to read a collection of stories based on dystopia and fairytales. The stories were fun and quick to read. It was really a interesting ride through the retellings.However i didn't love love love each of them equally, but that is just based on my personal taste.

I highly recommend this amazing collection of retellings and i can already say that you will want more of certain stories!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joey Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because I’m a big fan of dystopian stories and the idea of a whole anthology of them appealed to me. I adore the stories, all of them have their own spin on how things had gone down, some leaving me wanting to know more, some making me wish they were a first chapter of a whole story. I was taken to fairytale lands and onwards, it was an amazing experience and extremely hard to put down. Overall an amazing read and one I recommend to all those who love a good snippet of dystopian fiction!

[Ella Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Almost all of the stories I made it through were trite and did not understand “show not tell”. Some of the stories had promise, but none of them executed their plots to the fullest extent. I was disappointed with many of the endings, as a lot of them ended before the crux of the story even happened.

[Wendy Woerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite anthologies! The differences between the dystopias are great and the interpretations of the fairytales kept it interesting and I loved it! My favorite was definitely the take on Cinderella but if all of them are great in their own rights. If you are looking for dystopian stories with a fairytale twist, you're gonna love this one

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing set of shorts

While this is my first time reading a set of dystopian shorts I thoroughly enjoyed them! Most definitely will be checking out each author for more of their stories.