Cursed Edited by Marie O’Regan
You know these fairy tales. You have definitely never heard them like this.
I picked this up on a whim, and I’m so glad I did. Cursed is a collection of very dark retellings of some recognizable fairy tales and fables. Edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane, it includes mash up tales of Snow White and Bluebeard, an unforgettable take on Peter Pan, and Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie. It will truly have something for everyone. Some modern, some period, some just absolutely out there. The story that got a visceral response from me was 'Skin' by M.R. Carey. A woman curses a man that treats her minor skin complaint like she has the plague and gets a large dose of his own medicine. It is a comeuppance like you’ve never read about. So many talented authors make a contribution, you are bound to know someone in the collection that is an old favorite and you may find a new favorite.
If you like your fairy tales familiar enough to recognize and strange enough to surprise you, read our review of The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch next. Melinda Taub also takes a story you think you know and gleefully adds magic, darkness, and some very unexpected turns. Read the review →
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