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Grimm & Dread: A Crow's Twist on Classic Tales
Is it possible to make Grimms' Fairy Tales, the gruesome collection that shaped our storytelling, even more dreadful? Leave it to Quill & Crow Publishing House to try! Included in this anthology are twelve deconstructed tales with "A Crow's Twist." Some are dark and some are meaningful, but all of them will make you reconsider the classic stories in a brand new way. Featuring authors Lucas Mann, Mary Rajotte, Zeena Mubarak, Stephen Black, Ryan Brinson, Elou Carroll, Adam Faderewski, Sabrina Howard, Beatrice Hadwin, Brad Acevedo, J.S. Larmore, and Victoria Audley.
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2021
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra L. Thompson
28 books298 followersGothic horror lover Cassandra L. Thompson has been creating stories since she got her grubby little hands around a pen. When she is not busy managing a house full of feral children (human and canine) with her beloved husband, you can find her wandering around cemeteries, taking pictures of abandoned things, or in the library researching her latest obsession. She has a B.A. in History and an MLIS, but she ignores her degrees to focus on writing and running Quill & Crow Publishing House, both of which require copious amounts of coffee and Crows.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 10, 2021
I received this book free from Quill and Crow publishing for an honest review.
This book is a collection of fairy tales and though the original tales are often more dreadful than they're told by Disney, this book seeks to make them even more gruesome. Each retelling with its own twist.
The stories included are:
-What the Earth Bore: A Sleeping Beauty retelling by Mary Rajotte
-Black as Snow: A Snow-White retelling by Zeena Mubarak
-Where Shadows Fall: A Rapunzel retelling by Stephen Black
-The Devils Deal: A Bearskin retelling by Ryan Brinson
-Become a Flute, Become a Spy Glass, Become a Knife: a retelling of The Singing Bone by Elou Carroll
-Godmother Death: a retelling of Grandfather Death by Adam M. Faderewski
-That Which You Have Promised: a Frog Prince retelling by Sabrina Howard
-The Three Wounds: a retelling of the Three Snakes Leaves by Beatrice Hadwin
-A Tainted Rose: a retelling of The Seven Ravens by Brad Acevedo
-What's in a Name: a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin by J.S. Larmore
-The Wind So Mild: a retelling of Hansel and Gretel by Victoria Audley
-The Crow Princess: a retelling of Cinderella by Lucas Mann
All in all, I really enjoyed this retelling of so many of the fairy tales I am familiar with. There were some I had never heard of and that has prompted me to read the originals. There was a little more feminism than I prefer in my stories but that's just a personal preference. If you enjoy fairy tale type stories with a darker theme then this is the book for you. This book will be available December 10, 2021.
This book is a collection of fairy tales and though the original tales are often more dreadful than they're told by Disney, this book seeks to make them even more gruesome. Each retelling with its own twist.
The stories included are:
-What the Earth Bore: A Sleeping Beauty retelling by Mary Rajotte
-Black as Snow: A Snow-White retelling by Zeena Mubarak
-Where Shadows Fall: A Rapunzel retelling by Stephen Black
-The Devils Deal: A Bearskin retelling by Ryan Brinson
-Become a Flute, Become a Spy Glass, Become a Knife: a retelling of The Singing Bone by Elou Carroll
-Godmother Death: a retelling of Grandfather Death by Adam M. Faderewski
-That Which You Have Promised: a Frog Prince retelling by Sabrina Howard
-The Three Wounds: a retelling of the Three Snakes Leaves by Beatrice Hadwin
-A Tainted Rose: a retelling of The Seven Ravens by Brad Acevedo
-What's in a Name: a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin by J.S. Larmore
-The Wind So Mild: a retelling of Hansel and Gretel by Victoria Audley
-The Crow Princess: a retelling of Cinderella by Lucas Mann
All in all, I really enjoyed this retelling of so many of the fairy tales I am familiar with. There were some I had never heard of and that has prompted me to read the originals. There was a little more feminism than I prefer in my stories but that's just a personal preference. If you enjoy fairy tale type stories with a darker theme then this is the book for you. This book will be available December 10, 2021.
December 12, 2021
Have you ever read something that you would love to see as a movie adaptation or tv show? That’s how I felt about this collection of short stories. They honored the dark and twisted side of fairytales instead of making them happy. From the first to the last tale I was absolutely captivated. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 30, 2021
Better than the originals....
Anyone growing up hearing fairy tales via Disney, knows that surely they could be better. This collection restores the familiar tales into ones worth reading. We all knew Cinderella wasn't as nice as she appeared.
My favorite in this collection is the retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Maybe it is my desire to know a character's motivation, but this one was the most enjoyable.
While not all of the tales will be familiar to every reader, they are all worth reading, and some a bit unnerving.
This one gets five stars
Anyone growing up hearing fairy tales via Disney, knows that surely they could be better. This collection restores the familiar tales into ones worth reading. We all knew Cinderella wasn't as nice as she appeared.
My favorite in this collection is the retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Maybe it is my desire to know a character's motivation, but this one was the most enjoyable.
While not all of the tales will be familiar to every reader, they are all worth reading, and some a bit unnerving.
This one gets five stars
January 1, 2022
GRIMM & DREAD is an amazing collection of classic fairytales everyone knows. However, they aren't your usual Disneyfied version. This collection from various authors retells the stories in a way that pays homage to their Grimm fairytale ancestors. They're dark. They're frightening. They're enticing. GRIMM & DREAD is a must have for lovers of everything fairy, spooky, and dark. 10/10 would suggest!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 22, 2022
I especially liked: "That Which You Have Promised", "Godmother Death", and "The Wind so Mild".
These three stories I give 5 stars (!!!), the anthology as a whole - 4!
These three stories I give 5 stars (!!!), the anthology as a whole - 4!
December 7, 2021
What The Earth Bore - Mary Rajotte (a Sleeping Beauty retelling)
This story is told in the second person and has a highly dramatic tone. There is interesting imagery, though perhaps a few too many adjectives slowing down the narrative pace. My favourite scene is the one in the forest when the two lovers are transfigured into something almost archetypal. I felt as if I was reading the retelling of a myth.
Black As Snow - Zeena Mubarak (Snow White retelling)
This one has a more traditional “fairy-tale” narrative voice, and tackles the subject of racism in a clever way. I enjoyed this story very much and was impressed by the author’s unique turns of phrase.
Where Shadows Fall - Stephen Black (a Rapunzel retelling)
I adored the opening line to this story amongst other things, as well as the author’s use of alliteration. The story changes from present tense to past tense halfway through, which I’m not sure was deliberate or not. Briar Rose is one of my favourite characters and I would like to read more tales with her in it.
The Devil’s Deal - Ryan Brinson (a Bearskin retelling)
Another one of my favourites for its vivid sense of location and history, which added to the convincingness of the tale. There was one unanswered question towards the end, but as it only concerned a little detail, it didn’t detract from the overall story.
Become a Flute, Become a Spy Glass, Become a Knife - Elou Carroll (a retelling of The Singing Bone).
I liked the author’s interesting turns of phrase in this one, and how the story is split into succinct parts with enigmatic subtitles such as “Boar” and “Bone.” That contributed to the ancient feeling of the tale for me. In the opening paragraph, I was a little confused as to how many human characters there were, because it sounded like there were two, but as I read on, I realised it was only Tuomo and his boar in the first section.
Godmother Death - Adam M. Faderewski (a retelling of Grandfather Death).
I enjoyed the subtle historical details in this (for example, the bird-beak mask that doctors wore during the Black Plague, and what herbs they used to prevent breathing in bad smells).
That Which You Have Promised - Sabrina Howard (a Frog Prince retelling).
I enjoyed the bond between the two sisters in this story, and the ending was a brilliant twist. However, there was an unanswered question - how did the prince’s servant know the key he found led to the chest, and how did he know where to find the chest?
The Three Wounds - Beatrice Hadwin (a retelling of the Three Snake Leaves).
I liked the interesting use of vocabulary in this story, and the little details. I also liked how the princess’s character changes completely since being returned to life.
A Tainted Rose - Brad Acevedo (a retelling of The Seven Ravens).
This story had brilliant description, with different sensory details (smells, sounds, etc) and I think this is the first story I have ever read that seems to have its own signature colour palette. It was like reading a painting. I liked the strange being that was Argenta.
What’s In A Name - J. S. Larmore (a Rumpelstiltskin retelling).
I liked how the main character’s name was not revealed to the reader until it was revealed by some of the other characters. I also liked how the roles were reversed between Rumpelstiltskin and the princess, and then how the story expanded and moved off to a more Shakespearean, Midsummer-Night’s-Dreamish direction.
The Wind So Mild - Victoria Audley (a retelling of Hansel & Gretel).
This story is delightfully macabre and almost tongue-in-cheek. You don’t realise who the main character truly is until halfway through the story (I won’t spoil it by saying who it is), and it’s told in such a way that you can’t help having sympathy for the character. Wonderful descriptions of the effects of drought, rain, and fire.
The Crow Princess - Lucas Mann (a Cinderella retelling).
No presence of fairy godmothers and pumpkins being turned into coaches here, thank goodness. I enjoyed this story very much, especially the scene with the crows and the hazel tree. My favourite character was Queen Henriette.
All the tales in this collection have strong characters and a range of fascinating narrative voices. It could benefit from another round of editing / proofreading.
I received a free advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story is told in the second person and has a highly dramatic tone. There is interesting imagery, though perhaps a few too many adjectives slowing down the narrative pace. My favourite scene is the one in the forest when the two lovers are transfigured into something almost archetypal. I felt as if I was reading the retelling of a myth.
Black As Snow - Zeena Mubarak (Snow White retelling)
This one has a more traditional “fairy-tale” narrative voice, and tackles the subject of racism in a clever way. I enjoyed this story very much and was impressed by the author’s unique turns of phrase.
Where Shadows Fall - Stephen Black (a Rapunzel retelling)
I adored the opening line to this story amongst other things, as well as the author’s use of alliteration. The story changes from present tense to past tense halfway through, which I’m not sure was deliberate or not. Briar Rose is one of my favourite characters and I would like to read more tales with her in it.
The Devil’s Deal - Ryan Brinson (a Bearskin retelling)
Another one of my favourites for its vivid sense of location and history, which added to the convincingness of the tale. There was one unanswered question towards the end, but as it only concerned a little detail, it didn’t detract from the overall story.
Become a Flute, Become a Spy Glass, Become a Knife - Elou Carroll (a retelling of The Singing Bone).
I liked the author’s interesting turns of phrase in this one, and how the story is split into succinct parts with enigmatic subtitles such as “Boar” and “Bone.” That contributed to the ancient feeling of the tale for me. In the opening paragraph, I was a little confused as to how many human characters there were, because it sounded like there were two, but as I read on, I realised it was only Tuomo and his boar in the first section.
Godmother Death - Adam M. Faderewski (a retelling of Grandfather Death).
I enjoyed the subtle historical details in this (for example, the bird-beak mask that doctors wore during the Black Plague, and what herbs they used to prevent breathing in bad smells).
That Which You Have Promised - Sabrina Howard (a Frog Prince retelling).
I enjoyed the bond between the two sisters in this story, and the ending was a brilliant twist. However, there was an unanswered question - how did the prince’s servant know the key he found led to the chest, and how did he know where to find the chest?
The Three Wounds - Beatrice Hadwin (a retelling of the Three Snake Leaves).
I liked the interesting use of vocabulary in this story, and the little details. I also liked how the princess’s character changes completely since being returned to life.
A Tainted Rose - Brad Acevedo (a retelling of The Seven Ravens).
This story had brilliant description, with different sensory details (smells, sounds, etc) and I think this is the first story I have ever read that seems to have its own signature colour palette. It was like reading a painting. I liked the strange being that was Argenta.
What’s In A Name - J. S. Larmore (a Rumpelstiltskin retelling).
I liked how the main character’s name was not revealed to the reader until it was revealed by some of the other characters. I also liked how the roles were reversed between Rumpelstiltskin and the princess, and then how the story expanded and moved off to a more Shakespearean, Midsummer-Night’s-Dreamish direction.
The Wind So Mild - Victoria Audley (a retelling of Hansel & Gretel).
This story is delightfully macabre and almost tongue-in-cheek. You don’t realise who the main character truly is until halfway through the story (I won’t spoil it by saying who it is), and it’s told in such a way that you can’t help having sympathy for the character. Wonderful descriptions of the effects of drought, rain, and fire.
The Crow Princess - Lucas Mann (a Cinderella retelling).
No presence of fairy godmothers and pumpkins being turned into coaches here, thank goodness. I enjoyed this story very much, especially the scene with the crows and the hazel tree. My favourite character was Queen Henriette.
All the tales in this collection have strong characters and a range of fascinating narrative voices. It could benefit from another round of editing / proofreading.
I received a free advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 2, 2022
Since the first time I read The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, one of my favorite things about the stories has been the dark and unsettling magic in them. The Grimm & Dread anthology indulges in that dark and unsettling magic beautifully. While some of the retellings are more directly inspired by their source material and others diverge more from the tale that inspired them, all combine familiar fairy tale elements with new interpretations.
A few of my favorites from the collection are “Black as Snow” by Zeena Murbarak, “Godmother Death” by Adam M. Faderewski, “That Which You Have Promised” by Sabrina Howard, and “The Wind So Mild” by Victoria Audley.
However, the whole collection is well-worth reading and rereading, and I would love to see a second volume of Grimm & Dread in the future.
Please Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A few of my favorites from the collection are “Black as Snow” by Zeena Murbarak, “Godmother Death” by Adam M. Faderewski, “That Which You Have Promised” by Sabrina Howard, and “The Wind So Mild” by Victoria Audley.
However, the whole collection is well-worth reading and rereading, and I would love to see a second volume of Grimm & Dread in the future.
Please Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2022
Such a fabulous anthology! As somebody who adores the original Grimm's tale, I was beyond excited when Quill and Crow announced this release. The stories in Grimm & Dread most definitely live up to the ones that came before..and dare I say it? Some were actually more dreadful than the originals!
Every single one of these Grimm retellings are beautifully written, with flowing narrative and wicked twists. And the presence of even more witchcraft than the original tales had!
I loved all of them, but I think my favourite out of the bunch is The Wind So Mild, a Hansel & Gretel retelling by Victoria Audley. Such a turn of events where I actually felt sympathy for the witch by the end of it!
If you're a fan of Gothic fiction, the Grimm's tales, and dreadful twists on the old favourite, I definitely recommend Grimm & Dread a read!
Every single one of these Grimm retellings are beautifully written, with flowing narrative and wicked twists. And the presence of even more witchcraft than the original tales had!
I loved all of them, but I think my favourite out of the bunch is The Wind So Mild, a Hansel & Gretel retelling by Victoria Audley. Such a turn of events where I actually felt sympathy for the witch by the end of it!
If you're a fan of Gothic fiction, the Grimm's tales, and dreadful twists on the old favourite, I definitely recommend Grimm & Dread a read!
Read
December 28, 2021This is a great book of retellings of old fairy tales. The first story caught my attention from the very first page, and it kept my attention throughout the entire book. Each one is written well and does a great job with its own version of a classic tale from our childhoods and beyond. This is the type of book I would be willing to read again and again, especially when I need a good late night or in the mood for horror or dark reading.
I received a free ARC of this book but have also purchased it since I liked it so much before voluntarily doing a review.
I received a free ARC of this book but have also purchased it since I liked it so much before voluntarily doing a review.
January 6, 2022
This book was hard to put down. I love the original fairytales as gruesome as they may be, but Grimm and Dread elevates them to another level. The darker retelling, had me seating on the edge of my seat and craving more. Cassandra L Thompson and Lucas Mann did not disappoint with this amazing book. *disclaimer* I received this advanced reader’s copy from Quill and Crow publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily
December 27, 2021
I enjoyed these short retelling of fairy tales. I really like them better than the original/classic ones. They were creepy and compelling but also had a lesson hidden in it. I think I will get a hard copy for when my grandchildren are older.
Thanks so much for an advance review copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review of my personal opinion.
Thanks so much for an advance review copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review of my personal opinion.
February 2, 2022
This collection of twisted tales was all I hoped for and more! Each author took an original Grimm story and made they’re own, at times making it even darker than the brothers had. I loved every bit of it! I wish I could say I had a favorite, instead I’ll just say that I will definitely read and reread these stories.
March 9, 2022
If you've ever enjoyed a fairy tale, or even if you haven't, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Grimm & Dread.
Even though I wasn't familiar with all of the originals, I enjoyed every story in this anthology. Definitely some authors worth keeping an eye on in here!
Even though I wasn't familiar with all of the originals, I enjoyed every story in this anthology. Definitely some authors worth keeping an eye on in here!
March 25, 2025
Hauntingly beautiful tales
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews