3.5/5 ⭐️

My initial impulse was to give it 3 stars flat for the incredibly dark tone most of these stories take, something I was expecting (that’s probably on me). However, given the heebie jeebies and emotional reactions I got in a couple of these that really isn’t fair. We read to feel, even if I didn’t want those feelings this book made me feel them. If you’re searching for dark fairy tails and short stories this may just be for you.

I love a good retelling, especially ones that incorporate inclusivity. However, while there are inclusive characters, there is not inclusive descriptive language Especially when there are lines to the effect of 'he screamed high like a girl' and fat-phobic dialogue. The prose may be written like a YA story, the content is definitely not. I could totally be missing something here, but while the characters and situation have been made contemporary, the sentiments don't seem to be as progressive (like blaming kids for the death of their sister while the mom is the one that left the kids alone at the house).

DNF @ the second story - I might come back and give the rest of the stories another go, but at this point I'm having a hard time wanting to continue.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This collection is marketed as a fairy tale-adjacent anthology, but it read more like a blend of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. I normally enjoy speculative and weird stories but these didn’t land.
The audiobook narration didn’t work for me. It felt more like a flat reading, which made it hard to stay engaged.

💭 Final Thoughts
Some stories stood out more than others, but overall, fell flat. The narration unfortunately pulled the experience down even more. This isn’t a collection I’d revisit.

📖 Book Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audiobook Score: ⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5)
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo

ARC Note: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy for review. All thoughts are my own.