Once Upon A Twisted Fairytale

by Victoria Pearson

From the author of the Strange Stories series, and A Tale of Two Princes, comes Once upon a Twisted Fairytale; ten classic fairytale re-tellings for grown-ups, twisted as only Victoria Pearson can. What if Red Riding Hood's Grandmother didn't want to be saved? What if Cinderella's prince was actually a bit of a creep? What exactly was Prince Charming doing kissing a girl he found in a coffin anyway? Find out why you should always be careful what you wish for, why you shouldn't trust Hansel and Gretel just because they look sweet, and why you really don't want to displease Mr Elffe. Grab some iron to protect you from the shining ones, some salt to throw in the face of the fairies, and see what happened once upon a twisted fairytale...Some of these stories have appeared in other short story collections by Victoria Pearson.

75 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2021

About the author

Victoria Pearson lives behind a keyboard somewhere in rural Bedfordshire, with her husband, four children and dog. She can never find her car keys.

Reviews

[Victoria Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my book, I just don't know how to claim it! So obviously I think it deserves 5 stars :)

[Lisa Shambrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your favourite fairy tales turned upside down…

I really enjoy short story books, something I can dip in and out of at will, and this one was fun. Take your favourite fairy tales and shake them up, which is exactly what Pearson has done, with much aplomb! Beautiful writing with some wonderful ideas and turns of phrase, and some sentences which I wish I’d written myself!

My favourites were It Is Written, The Tale of the Tower, and Red, switching up the traditional tales for something more modern, or more harrowing, you decide. If you’re looking for a bunch of quick stories with a difference this one is for you. My only criticism, I need more! I’ll be checking out more of this author’s books.

[Miranda Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful collection of twists on classic fairytales. There were so many I enjoyed, it's hard to pick favourites, from You Don’t Displease, Mr Elffe leaving me smiling, as The Elves & the Shoemaker is one of my favs, to Red, which you just don't expect - no one every really thought of Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother like that, and then It is Written gives a whole other perspective on Cinderella.

I definitely recommend.

[Siobhan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really short book - easily read in an hour or two - with some lovely fairytale retellings! Some twisted into something darker, or more feminist, or more queer. I especially enjoyed "Red" (reworked Little Red Riding Hood), "The Mis-Sold Prince" (reworked Snow White), "It is Written" (reworked Cinderella) and "The Tale of the Tower" (reworked Rapunzel) but they're all really good. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a quick fix of modernised fairytales.