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Bedknobs and Beanstalks
An erotic collection of m/m fairy tales!
Once upon a time. As children, those four words told us we were about to enter a brand-new world: scarier, happier, more enchanted than our everyday life. No matter our own particular expectations and experience with fairy tales, we knew we were in for a wild ride. Handsome princes would save beautiful damsels in distress and the ogres never got the girl.
Perhaps in our own stories, or in our own lives, we aren't quite satisfied with those happily-ever-afters. What sound-minded prince would choose any of those airheaded bosomy blondes that populate familiar animated versions of the original, much darker, and more ominous tales made famous by the Brothers Grimm?
Not to mention, fairy tales were often used as bedtime stories.
Well, put all that behind you and prepare for a new type of fairy tale. Not only are they guaranteed to get you into bed. though not for sleep, you won't find a single of those old-fashioned stereotypical characters.
Instead enter a world where a magic cock ring can grow into a mighty peenstalk, or an unhappy shepherd can meet the sexiest wolf imaginable. A Japanese youth with the strength of a bear finds himself weak in the face of a beautiful samurai, and a young man in a ball gown can charm a prince to distraction. These are but a few of the adventures that await you, once upon a time!
Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black
Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis
Kintaro by S.J. Frost
Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis
Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick
Swan Made by Mina Kelly
King’s Honor by JL Merrow
The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo
Once upon a time. As children, those four words told us we were about to enter a brand-new world: scarier, happier, more enchanted than our everyday life. No matter our own particular expectations and experience with fairy tales, we knew we were in for a wild ride. Handsome princes would save beautiful damsels in distress and the ogres never got the girl.
Perhaps in our own stories, or in our own lives, we aren't quite satisfied with those happily-ever-afters. What sound-minded prince would choose any of those airheaded bosomy blondes that populate familiar animated versions of the original, much darker, and more ominous tales made famous by the Brothers Grimm?
Not to mention, fairy tales were often used as bedtime stories.
Well, put all that behind you and prepare for a new type of fairy tale. Not only are they guaranteed to get you into bed. though not for sleep, you won't find a single of those old-fashioned stereotypical characters.
Instead enter a world where a magic cock ring can grow into a mighty peenstalk, or an unhappy shepherd can meet the sexiest wolf imaginable. A Japanese youth with the strength of a bear finds himself weak in the face of a beautiful samurai, and a young man in a ball gown can charm a prince to distraction. These are but a few of the adventures that await you, once upon a time!
Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black
Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis
Kintaro by S.J. Frost
Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis
Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick
Swan Made by Mina Kelly
King’s Honor by JL Merrow
The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2009
7 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lynley
48 books234 followersEM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. Her Precious Gems series is best described as “Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone”—only gayer. The Delectable series is Gay Romance with Taste.
A Rainbow Award winner and EPPIE finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.
She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon & other book distributors.
A Rainbow Award winner and EPPIE finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.
She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon & other book distributors.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 30, 2009
I love anthologies, but I've learned to expect that not all the stories in it are going to appeal to me. Well, this anthology threw that assumption out the window!
There are nine very different stories and each one of them, in my opinion, is a winner.
Who knew that one minute I'd be reading a retelling ~ and a very naughty one at that ~ of Jack and the Beanstalk and then the next I was in ancient Japan's era of the Samurai ~ and sexy? ooh ya. What's really amazing is that they actually go together very well.
All througout the book I was taken all over the place and yet the common thread of M/M fairy tales comes through and ties the whole together.
1. Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht: A silly & naughty fairy tale that takes liberty with Jack and the Beanstalk... and I laughed and enjoyed the heck out of it.
2. The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black:
Prince Kieran was not a fool and knew to look beneath the surface... smart man. And it’s amazing what can be achieved with a little patience!
3. Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis: A Welsh fairy tale perhaps? Different and very enjoyable... and I do love a sexy wolf!
4. Kintaro by S.J. Frost: This is taken from the legends of the Samurai... sexy, beautiful and heartwarming... gotta go Japanese! S.J. Frost is already a favourite author... this just cements that.
5. Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis
Ashes shares a similar background with legendary Cinderella... but he’s all man. Will the Prince be able to accept the mysterious lady’s secret? Another author whose writing I want to investigate further.
6. Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kirkpatrick: This was just so unexpected... but very enjoyable... and very sexy.
7. Swan Made by Mina Kelly: There was a good measure of heartbreak, but being a fairy tale all worked out very nicely.
8. King’s Honor by JL Merrow: Oh I enjoyed this one... it's always nice when the good guys triumph over the not-so-good one. Reuben and Corin were very, very good!
9. The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo: Loved Karan and Tir's story... and who doesn't love a sexy... uh fish-man?
There are nine very different stories and each one of them, in my opinion, is a winner.
Who knew that one minute I'd be reading a retelling ~ and a very naughty one at that ~ of Jack and the Beanstalk and then the next I was in ancient Japan's era of the Samurai ~ and sexy? ooh ya. What's really amazing is that they actually go together very well.
All througout the book I was taken all over the place and yet the common thread of M/M fairy tales comes through and ties the whole together.
1. Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht: A silly & naughty fairy tale that takes liberty with Jack and the Beanstalk... and I laughed and enjoyed the heck out of it.
2. The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black:
Prince Kieran was not a fool and knew to look beneath the surface... smart man. And it’s amazing what can be achieved with a little patience!
3. Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis: A Welsh fairy tale perhaps? Different and very enjoyable... and I do love a sexy wolf!
4. Kintaro by S.J. Frost: This is taken from the legends of the Samurai... sexy, beautiful and heartwarming... gotta go Japanese! S.J. Frost is already a favourite author... this just cements that.
5. Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis
Ashes shares a similar background with legendary Cinderella... but he’s all man. Will the Prince be able to accept the mysterious lady’s secret? Another author whose writing I want to investigate further.
6. Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kirkpatrick: This was just so unexpected... but very enjoyable... and very sexy.
7. Swan Made by Mina Kelly: There was a good measure of heartbreak, but being a fairy tale all worked out very nicely.
8. King’s Honor by JL Merrow: Oh I enjoyed this one... it's always nice when the good guys triumph over the not-so-good one. Reuben and Corin were very, very good!
9. The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo: Loved Karan and Tir's story... and who doesn't love a sexy... uh fish-man?
July 24, 2010
I realize to my chagrin that I never reviewed this collection. Bad, bad reader. So here goes - Anthologies are tricky to review since it's impossible to like all of the stories equally. There are a couple of stories here I would have given 3'2 and a couple would receive 5's if they were standalone, so I've taken the average for the whole.
EM doesn't have an entry herself in this set but she does a fabulous job as editor, a harder prospect than one might imagine. Themed anthologies can be deadly boring, with too many of the stories sounding the same. EM has managed to find a perfect balance of mood, style and theme. Each story is a reworking of a different folk/fairytale (with one for which I couldn't come up with a predecessor at all.)
There are a couple that didn't quite measure up but perhaps that's not fair, since the writing in many of them is exceptional. Sort of like breaking the curve on the Physics exam.
Two are hilarious - Jack and the Peenstalk, a retelling of, well, you know, with some biting social commentary and a magic cock ring. Come on now, how can you not read a story with a magic cock ring? Then there's Kilt Kilpatrick's retelling of Hansel and Gretel, Handsome and Grateful. As usual, Kilt has his fingers all in the pie of pop culture, with references to John Waters and Andy Warhol. Please, before anyone gets huffy, Kilt's characters are young but definitely adult. And before anyone can jump to the other ugly conclusion - incest would be difficult since both brother and sister are gay. (A warning to my staunch M/M reader friends - there are girlie bits in this one - easily skimmed if you can't stand the thought so you don't miss the rest of this uproarious story.)
Couple of my other favorites - the hauntingly beautiful Swan Made, the lovely reworking of folklore in feudal Japan in Kintaro, and the well-crafted, heart wrenching last story The Merman's Tale.
All in all, a fun collection for any fan of M/M fantasy or any aficionado of folk and fairytales.
EM doesn't have an entry herself in this set but she does a fabulous job as editor, a harder prospect than one might imagine. Themed anthologies can be deadly boring, with too many of the stories sounding the same. EM has managed to find a perfect balance of mood, style and theme. Each story is a reworking of a different folk/fairytale (with one for which I couldn't come up with a predecessor at all.)
There are a couple that didn't quite measure up but perhaps that's not fair, since the writing in many of them is exceptional. Sort of like breaking the curve on the Physics exam.
Two are hilarious - Jack and the Peenstalk, a retelling of, well, you know, with some biting social commentary and a magic cock ring. Come on now, how can you not read a story with a magic cock ring? Then there's Kilt Kilpatrick's retelling of Hansel and Gretel, Handsome and Grateful. As usual, Kilt has his fingers all in the pie of pop culture, with references to John Waters and Andy Warhol. Please, before anyone gets huffy, Kilt's characters are young but definitely adult. And before anyone can jump to the other ugly conclusion - incest would be difficult since both brother and sister are gay. (A warning to my staunch M/M reader friends - there are girlie bits in this one - easily skimmed if you can't stand the thought so you don't miss the rest of this uproarious story.)
Couple of my other favorites - the hauntingly beautiful Swan Made, the lovely reworking of folklore in feudal Japan in Kintaro, and the well-crafted, heart wrenching last story The Merman's Tale.
All in all, a fun collection for any fan of M/M fantasy or any aficionado of folk and fairytales.
October 26, 2009
It's always hard to rate an anthology because the writing skill and enjoyment potential is different for each story, but here the stories are of uniformly high quality. All of the stories are cleverly fleshed out, using the original tale as a skeleton and branching out into new and imaginative territory. My favorite story has to be Ashes and Crystal, because who would have thought of the poor prince with a really large slipper because the disappearing beauty is really a guy. I also loved Jack and the Peenstalk, because just the thought of the reaction of the neighborhood association to a giant penis growing in the backyard makes me laugh out loud. And of course, who can resist Handsome and Grateful (as in Hansel and Gretel), where the wicked parents really do get their comeuppance.
July 3, 2010
The first story is titled "Peenstalk"
5 stars.
5 stars.
October 2, 2011
Some of these tales are wicked and laugh at loud funny. To be honest though, I was expecting something darker and edgier from the description, but really most of these tales are more of Disney-style sweet fairytales with sex scenes thrown in. There's a lot of true love (always instantaneous) and a lot of rejecting the princess you're supposed to marry for the handsome woodcutter ... not really my thing.
But it was worth it for the Hansel and Gretel parody (and Jack and the Beanstalk was brilliant as well): incredibly clever, hot, no true love melodrama
But it was worth it for the Hansel and Gretel parody (and Jack and the Beanstalk was brilliant as well): incredibly clever, hot, no true love melodrama
February 7, 2018
Way too campy for my taste
These stories focus more on telling--that is, moving the plot along--than showing. So they’re accurate reproductions of fairytales, sure, but not great stories in their own right, at least in my opinion.
Each one has a plot that closely follows a fairy tale and at least one sex scene, usually with very little emotional or character buildup. I think some people will love them, but they’re not my cup of tea at all. I DNFed a few of them and skimmed most of the others.
These stories focus more on telling--that is, moving the plot along--than showing. So they’re accurate reproductions of fairytales, sure, but not great stories in their own right, at least in my opinion.
Each one has a plot that closely follows a fairy tale and at least one sex scene, usually with very little emotional or character buildup. I think some people will love them, but they’re not my cup of tea at all. I DNFed a few of them and skimmed most of the others.
December 9, 2015
I really enjoyed every story in this anthology, but my favorites were the Merman story, the Cinderella story, and Hansel & Gretel. Overall, this collection was fantastic. Some of the stories were humorous, some very sexy, and all had wonderful happy endings. I've read a lot of anthologies, and usually there are at least a couple stories within that are not so great, but I can honestly say that I loved all of these.
January 12, 2025
He wondered absently if he was going to fall all the way back to Earth and come to a very messy end. All in all, he would've called his adventure worthwhile.
-Clancy Nacht
Jack and the Peenstalk - Clancy Nacht
4/5 -- Tropes:
This was sooo OTT and it worked perfectly for its length!
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black
3.5/5 -- Tropes:
This was very cute and fluffy, it really gave the fairy tale feel I'm looking for with this anthology!
Cry Wolf - Mercy Loomis
2.5/5 -- Tropes:
It would've been nice to see a more solid ending to this story! I did like how sweet it was despite the 'drama'.
Kintaro - S.J. Frost
4.5/5 -- Tropes:
I really enjoyed this tale! It was really well paced and told a lot of story in a short amount of time!
Find the foot, find the slipper's owner. It was appealing in its simplicity.
-Jason Rubis
Ashes and Crystal - Jason Rubis
3/5 -- Tropes:
I liked that this started up after the ball from the traditional tale - though the ending got a little flighty for me
Handsome and Grateful - Kilt Kilpatrick
DNF/5 -- Tropes:
Umm... how old are these children? NTY. Firm pass.
King's Honor - JL Merrow
3.5/5 -- Tropes:
This story was nice in its simplicity, it flowed well. I preferred the plot to the romance TBH!
"Help me. Take me to shore. Please."
Tir gave a nod. "I will. If you pay my price."
- Jay Di Meo
Swan Made - Mina Kelly
2.5/5 -- Tropes:
Some of the language was a littler flowery for me.
The Merman's Tail - Jay Di Meo
4.5/5 -- Tropes:
A strong finish to the anthology! Tir was lovely - I liked this take on mermen. :D
March 28, 2012
As soon as I discovered there was an anthology of m/m fairy tale stories I knew I would love it. And I did! Some of the stories seemed more successful than others, which is to be expected with anthologies, but overall they came together to make a wonderfully cohesive book.
Lots of fun, and I'm sure I'll re-read several of the stories in the future. I loved, LOVED Ashes and Crystal and The Merman's Tail. Jack and the Peenstalk cracked me up. The rest were okay. The swan one was just weird.
Lots of fun, and I'm sure I'll re-read several of the stories in the future. I loved, LOVED Ashes and Crystal and The Merman's Tail. Jack and the Peenstalk cracked me up. The rest were okay. The swan one was just weird.
January 12, 2010
This is an anthology of reworked fairy tales which I generally enjoy. There are nine fairy tales by nine authors. Maybe I’ll quickly go through them. Time killer here.
1) Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht – Jack is a size queen who finally gets his wish. It was quite humourous and set in current times with reference to the US mortgage crisis, the crappy economy and Jack having a degree in Philosophy which entitled him to work at Starbucks.
2) The Rebelliously Single Prince by Leonore Black – I have no clue which fairy tale this is exactly. Prince Keiran refuses to marry someone he doesn’t love and spends more time screwing the stable boys. After failed attempts to find a wife the king locks him in the tower at night until he agrees, but every morning he looks freshly fucked anyway. The king sends his minion to find out why, but the minion touched by true love refuses to give away Kieran’s secret. A cute story.
3) Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis – A take on the obvious here with a fae wolf shifter called a pookha. I am unfamiliar with pookhas so it was a good little story that taught me something. Kind of an unclear HFN ending.
4) Kintaro: The Golden Boy by S.J. Frost – This is based on a Japanese tale but I have no clue about what. Kintaro’s mother escapes with him into the forest to protect him from the men who killed her husband. When he’s grown he’s discovered by a samurai that takes him back to his lord to train him where he is partnered with another samurai who’s mate was killed. I really liked the story, but again, was lost on the fairy tale part.
5) Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis – This is the Cinderella tale retold with a cross-dressing Ashes hoping to get the chance to try on the glass slipper. A cute little story with more about Ashes familial relationship than his relationship with the prince.
6) Handsome and Grateful as told to Kilt Kirkpatric – This was done as if someone was telling the story and was quite humourously done. Some pop culture references thrown in, lots of German words for food and Hansel and Gretal are much older. This also includes f/f but I didn’t mind. It was an interesting style which perhaps caught my attention.
7) The King’s Honor by JL Merrow – This is the fairy tale of the princesses who danced their slippers into holes or something like that. I had an OLD fairy tale book as a kid and it was the only place I’d ever seen this story so it really made me sit up and take note. Every night the king’s 12 daughters disappear and dance their slippers into holes. Any young man who can solve the mystery gets a wife and kingship or gets their head chopped off. A young man on his way to try runs into a woodcutter in the forest and they hit it off. *wink* *wink* With the help of the woodcutter’s grandmother he is able to solve the mystery, but will he become king? Hmmm. I quite enjoyed and it was a rarely told story that took me back.
8) Swan Made by Mina Kelly – I’m not sure the exact tale but a man finds a cloak of swan feathers and hides it in his house. Suddenly a naked guy breaks in looking for “something” and they have sex and start living together. One day the man disappears and with it the hidden cloak which he had been searcing for. Joseph goes looking for him and finds him and offers to let him live with him for as long as he wants. Good writing but I think the Joseph was kind of dense.
9) Merman’s Tale by Jay Di Meo – Karan is a fisherman on a lake known for it’s mermen and other creatures but he needs the fish which are plentiful there to help his sick mother. He is attacked by the mermen but saved by Tir who makes him promise to keep him in his hut for 3 days. While Karan is attracted he’s a bit freaked by the tail but he falls in love thus breaking the evil spell. It was okay and interesting that the merman had no parts, if you know what I mean.
So on the whole I quite enjoy Jack, Kintaro and the King’s Honor although I have to say they were all good stories and none that made me go “ewww”. The only thing I can see is that people who really want to avoid f/f might find the Hansel and Gretal one off-putting but as I said, the manner in which it’s written made it a non-issue and truth be told it was kind of hot.
1) Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht – Jack is a size queen who finally gets his wish. It was quite humourous and set in current times with reference to the US mortgage crisis, the crappy economy and Jack having a degree in Philosophy which entitled him to work at Starbucks.
2) The Rebelliously Single Prince by Leonore Black – I have no clue which fairy tale this is exactly. Prince Keiran refuses to marry someone he doesn’t love and spends more time screwing the stable boys. After failed attempts to find a wife the king locks him in the tower at night until he agrees, but every morning he looks freshly fucked anyway. The king sends his minion to find out why, but the minion touched by true love refuses to give away Kieran’s secret. A cute story.
3) Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis – A take on the obvious here with a fae wolf shifter called a pookha. I am unfamiliar with pookhas so it was a good little story that taught me something. Kind of an unclear HFN ending.
4) Kintaro: The Golden Boy by S.J. Frost – This is based on a Japanese tale but I have no clue about what. Kintaro’s mother escapes with him into the forest to protect him from the men who killed her husband. When he’s grown he’s discovered by a samurai that takes him back to his lord to train him where he is partnered with another samurai who’s mate was killed. I really liked the story, but again, was lost on the fairy tale part.
5) Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis – This is the Cinderella tale retold with a cross-dressing Ashes hoping to get the chance to try on the glass slipper. A cute little story with more about Ashes familial relationship than his relationship with the prince.
6) Handsome and Grateful as told to Kilt Kirkpatric – This was done as if someone was telling the story and was quite humourously done. Some pop culture references thrown in, lots of German words for food and Hansel and Gretal are much older. This also includes f/f but I didn’t mind. It was an interesting style which perhaps caught my attention.
7) The King’s Honor by JL Merrow – This is the fairy tale of the princesses who danced their slippers into holes or something like that. I had an OLD fairy tale book as a kid and it was the only place I’d ever seen this story so it really made me sit up and take note. Every night the king’s 12 daughters disappear and dance their slippers into holes. Any young man who can solve the mystery gets a wife and kingship or gets their head chopped off. A young man on his way to try runs into a woodcutter in the forest and they hit it off. *wink* *wink* With the help of the woodcutter’s grandmother he is able to solve the mystery, but will he become king? Hmmm. I quite enjoyed and it was a rarely told story that took me back.
8) Swan Made by Mina Kelly – I’m not sure the exact tale but a man finds a cloak of swan feathers and hides it in his house. Suddenly a naked guy breaks in looking for “something” and they have sex and start living together. One day the man disappears and with it the hidden cloak which he had been searcing for. Joseph goes looking for him and finds him and offers to let him live with him for as long as he wants. Good writing but I think the Joseph was kind of dense.
9) Merman’s Tale by Jay Di Meo – Karan is a fisherman on a lake known for it’s mermen and other creatures but he needs the fish which are plentiful there to help his sick mother. He is attacked by the mermen but saved by Tir who makes him promise to keep him in his hut for 3 days. While Karan is attracted he’s a bit freaked by the tail but he falls in love thus breaking the evil spell. It was okay and interesting that the merman had no parts, if you know what I mean.
So on the whole I quite enjoy Jack, Kintaro and the King’s Honor although I have to say they were all good stories and none that made me go “ewww”. The only thing I can see is that people who really want to avoid f/f might find the Hansel and Gretal one off-putting but as I said, the manner in which it’s written made it a non-issue and truth be told it was kind of hot.
May 19, 2012
Won't go into a great deal of detail about this, except to say that for a fairy-tale anthology it didn't quite live up to my hopes.
The stories and my ratings:
Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht - 1 star
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black - 3 stars
Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis - 4 stars
Kintaro by S.J. Frost - 3 stars
Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis - 2 stars
Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick - 1 star
Swan Made by Mina Kelly - 2 stars
King’s Honor by JL Merrow - 4 stars
The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo - 3 stars.
So I've rounded the book up to 3 stars, but I wish I could give it 2.5 which is nearer the mark.
For me the two stand-outs were Mercy Loomis' Cry Wolf, a good rendition of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', which was a nice escapist piece that really felt other-worldly and took me away from reality, and JL Merrow's King's Honor, which not only retold a fairy tale I've not seen done before, 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses', but had deeper, underlying meaning about power and corruption, and the lack of honor of many princes/governments/corporations. JL is one of my favourite authors and handled it very well, as I could have trusted her to. I hadn't encountered Mercy Loomis before, but would happily read a longer book of hers.
The anthology as an edition was well crafted and edited on the whole, but most of the stories just didn't live with me or compare with some other fairy tale m/m romances I've read - I'm thinking of Megan Derr here particularly, and Amy Lane.
Maybe this collection just couldn't stand comparison with these favourite authors of mine, but I usually expect more from anthologies and this one didn't live up to the type.
So if you fancy a fairytale fix, try Amy's Truth in the Dark or Megan's Fairytales Slashed.
The stories and my ratings:
Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht - 1 star
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black - 3 stars
Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis - 4 stars
Kintaro by S.J. Frost - 3 stars
Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis - 2 stars
Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick - 1 star
Swan Made by Mina Kelly - 2 stars
King’s Honor by JL Merrow - 4 stars
The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo - 3 stars.
So I've rounded the book up to 3 stars, but I wish I could give it 2.5 which is nearer the mark.
For me the two stand-outs were Mercy Loomis' Cry Wolf, a good rendition of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', which was a nice escapist piece that really felt other-worldly and took me away from reality, and JL Merrow's King's Honor, which not only retold a fairy tale I've not seen done before, 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses', but had deeper, underlying meaning about power and corruption, and the lack of honor of many princes/governments/corporations. JL is one of my favourite authors and handled it very well, as I could have trusted her to. I hadn't encountered Mercy Loomis before, but would happily read a longer book of hers.
The anthology as an edition was well crafted and edited on the whole, but most of the stories just didn't live with me or compare with some other fairy tale m/m romances I've read - I'm thinking of Megan Derr here particularly, and Amy Lane.
Maybe this collection just couldn't stand comparison with these favourite authors of mine, but I usually expect more from anthologies and this one didn't live up to the type.
So if you fancy a fairytale fix, try Amy's Truth in the Dark or Megan's Fairytales Slashed.
May 31, 2011
I actually read part of this when it came out, since long-time writing pal (what's the right word for that, anyhow?) Mina Kelly is in it. I loved what I read, so I don't know why I stopped--I actually went back and read it all over again this weekend so I could see how it all worked together and was very pleased. It's got something for everyone--funny, sad, intense, absurd, and all the places in between, and has some of the most imaginative tellings of these particular tales I think you're likely to find anywhere. Which is putting it lightly.
It's great fun, definitely worth picking up. If you don't grin the whole way through, you're just not paying attention. I'll pick favorites because it's what we do, but I'm leaving Mina Kelly out of it, because of course I love hers because I love everything she writes, and it wouldn't be fair:
Jack and the Peenstalk. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes and had to retell the premise to everyone I saw that day. (All of whom thought it was awesome. Even the ones who were appalled.)
Cry Wolf. I just love Pooka, what can I say? I do sort of object to the meddling woman plot device on principle, but it was a cute story, man.
Handsome and Grateful. Again, I laughed so hard I can't NOT pick this one. Great stuff--and it had the f/f bonus in it, which is extra yay. (I know, I know, it's supposed to be an m/m book. What can I say, I like it both ways.)
That said, they're all four star stories at the least, in my opinion.
It's great fun, definitely worth picking up. If you don't grin the whole way through, you're just not paying attention. I'll pick favorites because it's what we do, but I'm leaving Mina Kelly out of it, because of course I love hers because I love everything she writes, and it wouldn't be fair:
Jack and the Peenstalk. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes and had to retell the premise to everyone I saw that day. (All of whom thought it was awesome. Even the ones who were appalled.)
Cry Wolf. I just love Pooka, what can I say? I do sort of object to the meddling woman plot device on principle, but it was a cute story, man.
Handsome and Grateful. Again, I laughed so hard I can't NOT pick this one. Great stuff--and it had the f/f bonus in it, which is extra yay. (I know, I know, it's supposed to be an m/m book. What can I say, I like it both ways.)
That said, they're all four star stories at the least, in my opinion.
November 5, 2009
This is a fantastic book in every sense of the word, edited by the renowned author E.M. Lynley. Clancy Nacht tells of a giant peenstalk which leads into the sky and the land of a lonely giant. Will Jack give up everything to return to him? Lenore Black talks of a prince in love with a swan who comes as a handsome man into his room at night. Mercy Loomis weaves the tale of a pukha, a werewolf who seduces a shepherd boy. S. J. Frost tells of a young Japanese warrior who bows to beauty. Jason Rubis gives us the tale of a male cinderella whose slipper doesn't fit any girl's foot. Kilt Kilpatrick creates a new, naughty version of Hansel and Gretel. Mina Kelly creates an unearthly tale of the love between a man and a swan who is an enchanted mortal. JL Merrow tells of a young man who solves the riddle of the disappearing princesses at night, and is in love with his beautiful male servant. Jay Di Meo talks of a fisherman who struggles with his attraction for a merman.
Very diverse stories, some funny and some sad, but all spellbinding. I highly recommend this anthology to all lovers of fairy tales, handsome men and happy endings.
Very diverse stories, some funny and some sad, but all spellbinding. I highly recommend this anthology to all lovers of fairy tales, handsome men and happy endings.
September 9, 2016
3.5 stars
Nine short stories, most of them a retelling of a classic fairy tale, all written by new-to-me authors. I enjoyed them all, some more than the others.
My favorite was Swan made by Mina Kelly, which was a bit darker than the rest.
Kintaro by S.J. Frost was also different, I don't know whether is based in some specific tale since I'm not familiar with Japanese culture but it had Samurais.
Jack and the peenstalk by Clancy Nacht was really funny and Handsome and Grateful was very sexy and had both m/m and f/f sex scenes.
Cry wolf by Mercy Loomis was a shifter story and my second favorite.
Nine short stories, most of them a retelling of a classic fairy tale, all written by new-to-me authors. I enjoyed them all, some more than the others.
My favorite was Swan made by Mina Kelly, which was a bit darker than the rest.
Kintaro by S.J. Frost was also different, I don't know whether is based in some specific tale since I'm not familiar with Japanese culture but it had Samurais.
Jack and the peenstalk by Clancy Nacht was really funny and Handsome and Grateful was very sexy and had both m/m and f/f sex scenes.
Cry wolf by Mercy Loomis was a shifter story and my second favorite.
January 8, 2011
I would have to give this at least a four just for the first story, Jack and the Peenstalk, which made me laugh out loud. It was ridiculous, sarcastic and so funny, and I drove people (sorry, MM) crazy repeating it. The rest of the anthology was hit or miss. I did love the story of Ashes, a Cinderfella tale, but others really didn't like. The Handsome and Grateful (Hansel and Gretel) left me cold, as did the Japanese samuri. Others, such as the Merman, were okay, but slow. Cry Wolf, a shifter tale, was probably my second favorite. I love fairy tales with a twist.
March 6, 2015
Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht - 3 stars
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black - 3 stars
Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis - 3 stars
Kintaro by S.J. Frost - 3 stars
Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis - 3 stars
Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick - 2.5 stars
Swan Made by Mina Kelly - 4 stars
King’s Honor by JL Merrow - 4 stars
The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo - 5 stars
The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black - 3 stars
Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis - 3 stars
Kintaro by S.J. Frost - 3 stars
Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis - 3 stars
Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick - 2.5 stars
Swan Made by Mina Kelly - 4 stars
King’s Honor by JL Merrow - 4 stars
The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo - 5 stars
December 5, 2010
I enjoyed the collection of stories. Some more than others, as is usually the case with anthologies, but the mixture was very well chosen and I didn't have trouble finishing any of the stories.
April 23, 2011
I found this Japanese fairy tale interesting and unique. I like how we see how things end up in the future.
February 19, 2013
Most of these sexy little gay fairy tales are quite nicely written, actually.
Want to read
December 20, 2013Anyone know where I can get a copy of this? Looks like it's no longer available.
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