kevink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
felinity's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best laid-out book - which made it harder to read - and it seems like a strange collection because it includes two versions of the same tale, commonly known as Thumbelina and Tom Thumb. It was interesting to read alternate versions of some, and to see which ones I knew as-is.
ghostmuppet's review against another edition
4.0
Some great stories that form the basis for a number of modern fairy tales. Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Tom Thumb - they are all here - but not as you would know them.
I loved the no nonsense approach - the princes tried to rescue the princess, but died. Short, and direct - love it.
Some common elements:
Step mother and witches are basically the same - evil.
Step mothers have an uncommon need to kill their step children (mainly because their own children are ugly and lazy).
Princesses are a commodity and generally get married off on a whim from their king.
Stealing from the King seems acceptable.
Some stories are a little gruesome, but not graphic. This was a nice refreshing change in reading (and better due to the fact it was for free from Amazon).
I loved the no nonsense approach - the princes tried to rescue the princess, but died. Short, and direct - love it.
Some common elements:
Step mother and witches are basically the same - evil.
Step mothers have an uncommon need to kill their step children (mainly because their own children are ugly and lazy).
Princesses are a commodity and generally get married off on a whim from their king.
Stealing from the King seems acceptable.
Some stories are a little gruesome, but not graphic. This was a nice refreshing change in reading (and better due to the fact it was for free from Amazon).
sherrisue76's review against another edition
2.0
As with this kind of book, I enjoyed some of the stories while others I didn't get. It was fun to see how different the stories are from the versions that I remember. Usually the Disney version which they always change. Yay, one book down and hopefully a few more to go! I love the #readathon!
katiejreads's review against another edition
I read quite a few tales from this book for my myth, epic and folktale class, and I was a bit weirded out at how different these stories are from the ones I remember. There was also a few, such as Foundling, that I had never heard of before. I hope to read them all one day, but for now I am content just reading those assigned.
the_bookworm's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kaseii's review against another edition
it was interesting in the beginning. But it was not immersive. Perhaps because I’m not the intended audience. I still did like the stories such as the goose girl, hansel and grethel, oh if i could but shiver and the little brother and sister. Basically the first five.
Very boring. 2 stars
Very boring. 2 stars
debanjana_haldar's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0