Tag Archives: Red as Blood

Red as Blood Collection by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
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Title: Red as Blood Collection
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fairy tales, Feminism, Retellings, Short story collections
Dates read: 23rd October – 17th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: There were carvings in the sides of the tower, the magic symbols from the chamber as it had been, the zodiac, the Crown, the Sword, the Chalice – she knew such seals must hold the spire safely.

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Synopsis

Here are ten devilishly twisted fairy tales as the Brothers Grimm never dared to tell them. With her brilliantly macabre pen, Tanith Lee retells some familiar tales, and concocts some new and unusual ones, as she asks us to consider the possibility that things may not work as our fairy tales have them… In the title story, Lee shows us a perfectly good stepmother, whose Princess stepdaughter reeks of evil. Then there is Ashella, the Cinderella-like girl who, “When the Clock Strikes”, intends to give her Prince Charming a deadly surprise. In “Wolfland”, Lisel takes a trip through the woods to visit her grandmother – who bears little resemblance to the loving old woman we expect. And in “Thorns” you’ll find the haunting answer to the question, “What if awakening the Sleeping Beauty turns out to be the mistake of a lifetime – of several lifetimes, in fact?”

Populated with demons and devils, vengeful gods and not-so-innocent young girls, the ten tales of Red as Blood weave a tapestry of chilling visions, spun by the incomparably fiendish imagination of Tanith Lee!

Thoughts

This is the second feminist collection of fairy tales I’ve ever read. And I don’t know if I like this or Angela Carter’s version better. What I do know is that I love both of them and I will read them again and again. They’re fun, kind of brilliant and super dark. Much more likely in our lives than the pretty Disney-versions that I grew up with.

There wasn’t one story in this collection that I didn’t absolutely adore. Normally I’ll find one or two that just aren’t as good… but that most certainly wasn’t the case. This was brilliant! Honestly, as I turned the last page, I could have quite happily turned around and just started this all over again. I didn’t, because I have a whole stack of other books I want to read by the end of the year… but I don’t often have that desire in the first place.

Now I need to find some more Tanith Lee books. I have one other sitting in my shelf, but I want so much more now! There is no way that I won’t love it after this. Especially when you’re looking at a story which has a beautiful wordplay on the Brothers Grimm… equally dark versions, but with a focus on the women and the battles that they face.

 <- The Waters of Sorrow ReviewPaid Piper Review ->
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The Waters of Sorrow by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Waters of Sorrow
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Fantasy, Ghosts
Dates read: 17th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: Without some attention it must have been easy to miss the spot.

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Synopsis

Along the river there are the women who were destroyed by love. The women who find men on a long, dark night and dance him to death. But there is another story at the water of sorrows that needs to be told.

Thoughts

As an ending to the Red as Blood collection, this short story was completely on point. It was, interestingly enough, also the only romantic story in the whole collection. So, I kind of liked that it ended on this note. Don’t get me wrong, it was still super and dark like all of the other fairy tale retellings in the collection, but the romantic aspect made it a little more bittersweet and somehow nostalgic… I slightly (but only slightly) softer note to end on.

This was the last story I read before going to bed. And it was kind of perfect. Something about the surreal nature of the storyline and the atmosphere that sweeps you along actually worked really well when I was home alone late at night. The betrayed women late at night, dancing their deathly dance. The mystery of the young girls death… everything combined in such a brilliant way to create an unforgettable tapestry. One which worked in with the dark of outside and the time of the night.

I’m normally fairly good at predicting what is going to happen in the future… not so much in this story. There were enough hints throughout that you’re curiosity was peeked, but I never actually did predict the ending. There were just so many misleading moments throughout. Which of course, moves this to the top of my short story favourites pile… I love being drastically mislead throughout a story!

 <- Beauty ReviewRed as Blood Collection Review ->
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Beauty by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
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Title: Beauty
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Fairy tales, Retellings, Science fiction
Dates read: 17th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: There were no words at all.

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Synopsis

When the rose arrives, the family must give up one of their own. When her time comes, she finds that maybe this new home with an alien being could be exactly what she was missing in her life. A beautiful, science fiction retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Thoughts

I’ve been enjoying Beauty and the Beast retellings lately. I have never read one which is this intense though. And a SciFi version to boot. And it was just a short story! Beauty is brilliant, fun and gives an entirely new take on an old classic. Unlike most short stories that I fall this in love with though, I actually was happy with the length. I didn’t feel like it had to be expanded and added to. I didn’t think that it actually needed to be longer, it was kind of perfect all on its own.

I love that the “beast” in this story is an alien. Part of a race that is giving, helpful and constantly providing for humanity. But, the cost is that eventually some families have to give up their own child. There is so much mystery to this practice that you spend most of the tale just wondering why this is the case. And when the face of the beast is finally revealed to the young woman, what you believe is entirely wrong. It’s a great mislead and just makes it all that much more impossible to put the story down. This might be why I was happy for it to be short… I don’t know if I could sustain that kind of intensity.

As much as I’ve tried to convey the pure amazingness of this story, I don’t actually think I have the right words. Anywhere. In anyway, shape or form. Which is completely new for me. There is just something about this retelling that left me feeling in awe as the final page was closed. Happy, in awe and just fascinated.

 <- Black as Ink ReviewThe Waters of Sorrow Review ->
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Black as Ink by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Black as Ink
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves:  Easy reading, Fairy tales
Dates read: 14th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: You hear me?

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Synopsis

When Victor sees the woman of his dreams across the lake, he becomes infatuated. That is, until he meets the uncle. Years later, he runs across the same girl. And discovers that she has become black as ink.

Thoughts

Unlike the rest of the short stories in the Red as Blood collection, this is not a retelling of any fairy tale that I recognise. Yet, there was still that lilting, fairy tale feel to the tale that made me feel like almost, almost this could be a story which I’ve read before. If I could just remember it… that’s how it felt anyway.

As with many of the stories in this collection, the ending to this was a little tragic. Actually, something about the poetic sweetness of the ending made it all that much more unfortunate. Especially since at the beginning you kind of believe that this could be a love story… hint. It’s not. It’s something… darker about our hidden instincts and desires. The ones that are black as ink.

Like the rest of the short stories in this collection, Black as Ink is kind of dark. A little bit twisted. And a really, really enjoyable read. One that I will probably pick up again in the future when I don’t want / need all those happily ever afters that tend to fill my shelves.

 <- Wolfland ReviewBeauty Review ->
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Wolfland by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: Wolfland
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Horror, Retellings
Dates read: 8th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: Gradually, then, the voices of the other wolves began to dull, eventually falling quiet.

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Synopsis

In “Wolfland”, Lisel takes a trip through the woods to visit her grandmother – who bears little resemblance to the loving old woman we expect.

Thoughts

This was a really cool Red Riding Hood retelling. Not the kind I was expecting, but certainly an enjoyable one. I kind of totally adored this and was really sad that it was over so soon. I could imagine an entire saga created about this version of Red Riding Hood. And I would most definitely read it.

A bit of a spoiler here… but I loved the fact that Grandma was actually the big bad wolf… of a sorts. And her reasons for becoming such a scary beast were absolutely on point!!! Even though it was a little bit scary…

Although I seriously loved this short story, I was still completely horrified by it. Particularly the ending. Which is probably why I keep wishing that this was a bigger series.

 <- The Princess and her Future ReviewBlack as Ink Review ->
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The Princess and her Future by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: The Princess and her Future
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fairy tales
Dates read: 1st December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: But such an idea was foolish.

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Synopsis

All she wants is to know what her future holds… but it’s not the shiney, happy ending that she’s hoping for.

Thoughts

One of the things about the more traditional fairy tales that I don’t love is the fact that the women always want a husband, and that husband always ends up being the one rescuing her. Not so in this story. She gets in trouble because she’s trying to find out who it is that she’s going to marry in the future. The answer is certainly not one that she wanted… and there’s a certain level of trickery which leads to quite a tragic ending.

This is a seriously creepy and dark little fairy tale. I’m not entirely sure if it’s based on an original that I haven’t read before. But mostly, it was just a really creepy fairy tale which makes me want to lock all the windows and doors… there was just something particularly dark about this story.

I did thoroughly enjoy the fact that a lot of this story is built of webs of trickery, lies and deceit. Yet, in the end, the villain doesn’t actually lie – he just spins the truth to suit a certain view of the world.

 <- The Golden Rope ReviewWolfland Review ->
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The Golden Rope by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Golden Rope
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fairy tales, Retellings
Dates read: 9th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: The moon rose late upon the walled garden.

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Synopsis

Jaspre was bought before she was born. But her childhood has been idealistic and pure. Until the true purpose of her life is revealed and a more sinister tie is shown.

Thoughts

This short story is a creepy, dark and kind of devilish version of Rapunzel. The prince doesn’t climb up the tower to reach her. In fact, there isn’t really any prince. But there is still a seduction of a form and a woman who keeps a foundling child trapped for some nefarious reason. The nefarious reason in this story is just far more intense and dark than other versions I’ve read of this tale.

As with many of the fairy tales that I’ve read, virginity and purity are major themes. Normally it’s a lot more subtle than in this story. After all, in this version, she is raised purposely sweet and pure so that she will lovingly sacrifice herself to the prince of darkness. Which just seems all the darker and more twisted than a normal virginal sacrifice… maybe because she’s raised to go to it willingly. With no true concept of pain.

There is a bit of a happily ever after in this story. It wasn’t even remotely what I expected. But, apparently it was kind of everything that I wanted. Definitely enjoyable and almost impossible to forget. I look forward to rereading this in the future when I want my fairy tales with just a dash of darkness.

 <- When the Clock Strikes ReviewThe Princess and her Future Review ->
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When the Clock Strikes by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: When the Clock Strikes
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fairy tales, Retellings
Dates read: 3rd November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: It might be the night of their lives.

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Synopsis

Then there is Ashella, the Cinderella-like girl who, “When the Clock Strikes”, intends to give her Prince Charming a deadly surprise.

Thoughts

This is a super, super dark retelling of Cinderella. One that made me question my own beautifully well known Disney version (and other happily-ever-after retellings). Not necessarily the version I would be telling my children, but definitely one that I seriously enjoyed and look forward to picking up again and again.

Not many witch stories I read lately feature Satan worship as an aspect of the storyline. Which made it quite enjoyable to read such a tale. This short story took many of the aspects of witchcraft and Satan worship that aren’t often found in my shelves generally. It made a completely plausible and fun retelling.

The symbolism of when the clock strikes was powerful. From the beginning, we are told that 12 means death. So as you get closer and closer to her journey to midnight… you wait for death to overtake the world. Or at least the poor, naïve prince.

 <- Thorns ReviewThe Golden Rope Review ->
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Thorns by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Thorns
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Retellings
Dates read: 29th October 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: He hesitated a moment.

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Synopsis

And in “Thorns” you’ll find the haunting answer to the question, “What if awakening the Sleeping Beauty turns out to be the mistake of a lifetime – of several lifetimes, in fact?”

Thoughts

At the beginning of this short story retelling, I thought that it was going to be super dark and twisted. Something that I wouldn’t quite be able to get out of my head. And would certainly make me look at Sleeping Beauty in a whole new light. And in some ways, it really was. It was dark, sad and incredibly bittersweet. But it was nowhere near as twisty as I was expecting it to be.

Actually, this story was mostly what I would call melancholy. It wasn’t actually sad. It wasn’t something that made me question my fairy tales from childhood in a new and really uncomfortable way (I’ve been reading a lot of stories like that lately). But it was quite melancholy, and made you sit there with that feeling in your chest when you’d turned the last page. Not quite sad, not quite happy… just there.

This is the first ever retelling of Sleeping Beauty that I’ve approached which addresses the 100-year gap. After all, a woman might be woken by the prince… but what happens when the entire castle has now lost everything that they had? Their entire world died out long ago and things do change quite drastically in a 100-year time period… so what do you do then?

 <- Red as Blood ReviewWhen the Clock Strikes Review ->
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Red as Blood by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: Red as Blood
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee) & Forests of the Night (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fairy tales, Retellings
Dates read: 24th October 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Wildside
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: Bianca laughed.

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Synopsis

Lee shows us a perfectly good stepmother, whose Princess stepdaughter reeks of evil.

Thoughts

I love villain retellings of stories. This is one of those perfect ones in which the “good guy” is actually a terrifying villain and the villain is the “right” kind of woman. This short story was a fantastically unique take on Snow White. I’ve read a few retellings of this story. But none have an evil Snow White, they’re just misunderstood queens generally.

This is the first retelling of a fairy tale that features Christianity. Unlike many stories which have the Christian faith and the transfer into this faith, it wasn’t done in an overpowering way. Just a mention of a cross or two and the devil’s allergy to the cross. Or at least, that’s how I read it. I liked that it used something that frequently happened, but in a positive light, instead of a good Christian women taking over, she saved her step-daughter from a horrible fate, and stopped her from ruining their kingdom.

I loved the way that this story went full circle. It began in the same place as the beginning, but with a more positive outcome, a better, more congenial relationship. It’s always nice when stories go full circle, but with a far more positive outcome. One that hints at a happily ever after.

 <- Paid Piper ReviewThorns Review ->
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