kerridwen's review against another edition
4.0
I love re-imagined fairy tales and this is a particularly good collection. It’s not saccharine or babyish, but it’s also not so horrific that I feel like I need to vomit or rush to a therapy session. (Some other fairy tale collections are beyond dark)
All of these stories take place after “happily ever after”. My favorites were the stories based on Tatterhood, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White.
All of these stories take place after “happily ever after”. My favorites were the stories based on Tatterhood, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White.
stephaniemalthorne's review against another edition
4.0
I love fairy tale retellings and I hate to be sorely disappointed by lacklustre plots. Unspun: A Collection of Tattered Fairy Tales is a solid 4/5 with the brilliantly written stories pulling up the rating for some rather forgettable ones.
I admit I thought of shelving this into my did-not-finish shelf while I trudged on with the first half of Heart of a Thief. I don't understand why this was chosen as the introductory story since it doesn't have a very good hook. But the pace picks up consistently after this, with Ásthildur and the Yule Cat giving a short and sweet respite from the dark and gritty stories with imprisoned little men, trolls and ghosts. The lukewarm and falsely advertised as funny Pied Piper's Revenge was thankfully followed by an unconventional retelling of the Nutcracker in Ethical Will, which I would love to see expounded on as a standalone novel.
I admit I thought of shelving this into my did-not-finish shelf while I trudged on with the first half of Heart of a Thief. I don't understand why this was chosen as the introductory story since it doesn't have a very good hook. But the pace picks up consistently after this, with Ásthildur and the Yule Cat giving a short and sweet respite from the dark and gritty stories with imprisoned little men, trolls and ghosts. The lukewarm and falsely advertised as funny Pied Piper's Revenge was thankfully followed by an unconventional retelling of the Nutcracker in Ethical Will, which I would love to see expounded on as a standalone novel.
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