It is pretty clear from the very beginning of this story that there was not going to be a happy ending. I mean, it starts with an ivory skull that was made into a ring. There is no reality in which that is going to not have some kind of creep at the helm. Yet, it was still a fantastic story to read. One that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if it did make me feel the creeps. And have some sort of flashbacks to the Thumbelina movie I watched as a kid.
I love that this is a Thumbelina story retold from the point of view of the villain. He is no less villainous, but there is that somewhat horrifying justification for his actions. The treating of a beautiful woman / girl as an object and the reasons why he bought and trapped her. Again, it’s not pleasant, but wow was it wonderfully powerful.
This short story was incredibly beautiful and creepy. Wade has such a way with words that made me absolutely adore this story, even while I finished it feeling somewhat unsettled and, well, icky. I mean, this might be a fairy tale retelling. But, for me, ultimately, it highlighted the horrors that humans are capable of.
The award-winning editors of II Snow White, Blood Red II return us to distinctly adult realms of myth and the fantastic with eighteen wondrous works. From Roger Zelazny’s delightful tale of Death’s disobedient godson to Peter Straub’s blood-chilling look at a gargantuan Cinderella, here are stories strange and miraculous that remold our most cherished childhood fables into things sexier, more sinister… and more appealing to grown-up tastes and sensibilities.
After reading Snow White, Blood Red, I knew that I needed the other books which were edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling featuring fairy tale retellings. Because these aren’t the retellings that you would expect. And they’re not the kinds of retellings that make you feel all nice and fluffy on the inside. They’re dark and twisted in places. Sexual in others. And just downright make you think most of the time.
Many of the authors in this collection are ones that I have already come across. Which is something I most certainly enjoyed. A few were totally new to me. Enough to make me wonder who I would be coming across next, but not so much that I felt like I had a whole slew of new people to add to my shelves. Rather, it was a fair few authors who are already in my wishlist…
I love the constant returning to fairy tales that were reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers. It’s a nice little departure from the more common fairy tales that I find. And other than Rumpelstiltskin and Red Riding Hood, the vast majority of these fairy tales were of the lesser known variety. Which suited me perfectly. I like those more abstract stories at times.
Title: The Black Swan Author: Susan Wade In: Black Thorn, White Rose (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Retellings Dates read: 25th May 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Prime Books Year: 1994 5th sentence, 74th page: One night she was so late returning that alll the stable lads had gone and I had been excused from my duties at table – I had progressed to such responsibilities only that summer – and gone to my loft for the night.
All he ever wanted to do was help her win her heart’s desire. But even once she accomplishes that, things don’t go quite as planned. The unveiling of the beautiful Black Swan.
One of the suckiest things about being a woman is this whole idea around beauty – what makes a woman beautiful. What the expectations of beauty are. So on and so forth. It’s kind of horrible and seriously annoying. And this story is a great example of just how wrong things can go when we are constantly told that what and who we are just isn’t good enough.
I love that this short story / retelling of a classic fairy tale has the more traditional tragic ending. There is no joy and happiness in this story. There is nothing like and fluffy. Rather, it is just a whole heap of tragedy all bundled up into one tale. It really makes your heart bleed. And, the very final scene makes an amazing final scene for the ending of this collection…
The Black Swan is a gorgeous little short story. It also has a fantastic voice as a narrator. I love that there is so much foreshadowing for future tragedy throughout. And there’s this constant commentary on what a beauty the woman is, before she undergoes her transformation. And just a genuine wonder and concern as to why she would go through such a horrible thing when she is already wonderful and perfect as she is. Something I think we all need to remember.
Snow White, Blood Red is a brand new collection of fairy tales. But be warned. It is not a collection for the faint-hearted. Or even one to lull the innocent towards the sleeping realms of dreams. For Snow White, Blood Red is a modern book of wonders: a boundless expanse of nightmares, lusts and fables for the grown-up child in us all.
Through richly imaginative retellings of existing fairy tales, twenty-one of the world’s top fantasy authors recreate the full mythical, magical, mind-bending power of humankind’s oldest fables. Prepare to be seduced by stories that bite – stories that are frightening, erotic, dark and compelling. Because as Terri Windling reminds us in the introduction: ‘Something still stirs inside us when we hear those old, evocative words: Once upon a time.’ Only this time, in this world, there is no happy ending…
I’ve had this book on my wish list for a very, very long
time. So, when I finally managed to find a second hand copy and get it
delivered to my door, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it. After all, I
love fairy tales, I like stories with a dark twist, and I’m fascinated by
retellings and the ways in which people are able to twist and turn classic
themes to fit a more contemporary or recognisable setting. Which makes this
kind of the perfect short story collection to sit on my shelves.
Some of the stories in this collection are kind of dark and
twisted. Some are incredibly sexual. And some are just a great, contemporary
retelling that makes childish fairy tales far more relatable. I got goosebumps reading
some of these stories. While others left a smile on my face. You know it’s a
fantastic collection when it takes you through the rollercoaster of emotions
and leaves you feeling incredibly happy at the close of the last page.
Anybody who loves fantasy, horror or fairy tales, this is a
great collection to add to your shelves. It is one that I won’t be getting out
of my head anytime soon, that’s for sure…
Title: Like a Red, Red Rose Author: Susan Wade In: Snow White, Blood Red (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Romance Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Signet Year: 1993 5th sentence, 74th page: Only now the roses blushed, their petals a rich, true pink.
Blanche and her mother live on the outskirts of the local village, but when Blanche begins to fall in love, everything quickly starts to unravel and secrets will be revealed.
There’s something about fairy tales that I love. Have honestly always loved. Probably because they were what I grew up on. But there is also this lyricality and sense of surrealism that I just don’t get from any other type of writing. Recently, I read a series of fairy tales from The Grimm Brothers, and Like a Red, Red Rose worked in exactly the same way for me. It had that sense of darkness (which I always love) and the surrealistic lyricism that I know and love.
Because there is a dark twist in this fairy tale, these
don’t necessarily make the best of bedtime tales. For a normal person. I’m not
normal, and I freaking love dark twists to in any and all stories that I sink
my teeth into. When this is partnered with a story of roses, love and tragedy… be
still my beating heart.
In the introduction to this, it says that Wade wanted to write a Rapunzel / Beauty and the Beast style story. One which had a heavy emphasis on the roses that feature prominently in both (or at least the earlier versions). What she got was something completely different. And far more grimm-ly in its telling and creation. Now I can’t wait to see what else is in store in this collection!
Earth and Skye 