A review by gerd_d
Once Upon a Happy Ending: An Anthology of Reimagined Fairy Tales by K.M. Shea, RaShelle Workman, T. Rae Mitchell, Brittany Fichter, Conner Kressley, Aya Ling, A.W. Exley, Rachel Morgan, Melanie Cellier, Rebecca Hamilton, Shari L. Tapscott, Jamie Campbell, Ella Summers, May Sage, Cameron Jace, Casey Lane
3.0
A few enjoyable stories mixed in an otherwise haphazardly thrown together collection of mideocre storytelling.
Didn't like the opener, which stereoptypically plays out like every other Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance out there.
Most disappointing reading experience was "Ellora's Tail" which is actually only a preview for a (then) upcoming novel, just there to set the stage and then leaving everything open ended.
"A Fistful of Stars" however was a down right disgusting annoyance, IMO.
Going from an overlong prologue, which takes up twice as much space as any of the following chapters, it went straight into rape and victim fetishization - just what you expect to find in an anthology called "Once Upon a Happy Ending", not!
However there are some stories included I really enjoyed reading.
Following the weak opener we have some truly fun fairy tale retellings, like
"The Goose Girl" by Brittany Fitcher
"The Princess who chased Sheep" by K.M. Shea
"Chains of Gold" by Shari L. Tapscott
and most noteable
"Rapunzel's Beauty" by Casey Lane.
A most charming adventure tale mixing classic sword and sorcery elements with disneyesque characters to create the most original and witty entry in the set.
With Aya Ling's version of "Cinderella" the collection left on a high enough note to redeem the inclusion of a "Fistful of Stars" somewhat.
Therefore it manages a bare three Star rating in all from me.
Didn't like the opener, which stereoptypically plays out like every other Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance out there.
Most disappointing reading experience was "Ellora's Tail" which is actually only a preview for a (then) upcoming novel, just there to set the stage and then leaving everything open ended.
"A Fistful of Stars" however was a down right disgusting annoyance, IMO.
Going from an overlong prologue, which takes up twice as much space as any of the following chapters, it went straight into rape and victim fetishization - just what you expect to find in an anthology called "Once Upon a Happy Ending", not!
However there are some stories included I really enjoyed reading.
Following the weak opener we have some truly fun fairy tale retellings, like
"The Goose Girl" by Brittany Fitcher
"The Princess who chased Sheep" by K.M. Shea
"Chains of Gold" by Shari L. Tapscott
and most noteable
"Rapunzel's Beauty" by Casey Lane.
A most charming adventure tale mixing classic sword and sorcery elements with disneyesque characters to create the most original and witty entry in the set.
With Aya Ling's version of "Cinderella" the collection left on a high enough note to redeem the inclusion of a "Fistful of Stars" somewhat.
Therefore it manages a bare three Star rating in all from me.