This was a decent collection of fairy tales inspired love stories. I liked "After the Stroke of Midnight" and "Loving a Fairy Godmother" in particular. Bot these stories were written beautifully with good endings.

Rest of the stories didn't stand out for me. Some were good while some just okay. I would recommend this to someone who like fairy tales and want some light reading.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R37VFB2S1WJV14?ref_=glimp_1rv_cl

A compilation of short story fairy tales with charming characters a nice sprinkling of romance. Easy to read and easy to enjoy, the stories take you back to the happiness you felt as a child when the princess and prince charming found their happily ever after in bedtime stories.

This was a long book.
11 short stories compiled together, each a fairytale retelling.
Some highlighted ones for me were After the Stroke of Midnight, Loving a Fairy Godmother and Firebird Sweet.
I found a lot of the retellings began much too slowly for a compilation, and so would find this book put aside until I could find the will to pick it up again and push through to the good bits. Some stories I wished were longer, though thinking back in comparison to the longer stories of the compilation, were actually the perfect length.
A lot of the stories had a pretty average pace, but some lacked an interesting plot line overall despite the writing talent being incredible with each of these short stories (some more than others.)
Worldbuilding is important in a fairytale retelling, particularly if there's a certain modern twist to the fairytale, so it was interesting to see each author tackle the way they built their world. Some were successful, some were not as successful, but the order in which these stories are ordered, there was a good balance between the good and bad in my opinion.
I'm a sucker for romance stories as well and can say with certainty that there was plenty of range within this compilation with romance – it was good to see the balance in all of the stories didn't mean that I was reading erotica the entire time, but also not reading a cliched/mushy romance all the time either. I repeat, there was a balance with this.
I can see myself going back to reread some of my favourite retellings, and reading more stories by the same authors, but to read all 11 stories again would not be my first choice.

I received a copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I guess it's fitting that I'm writing this review on National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. This is a nice, eclectic anthology of reimagined fairy tales. The short stories offer a variety of spins on the classic fairy tales-- from a steampunk ancient Japan-esque land to contemporary re-tellings to more traditional fantasy landscapes. Definitely a story or two or more for everyone. #NetGalley

I tried several stories in this book and despite normally loving fairy tale retellings, these ones just didn't work for me.

My average rating for the stories I've read so far, would be 3.5 Stars.

While some stories are more enjoyable than others, for the small cost, you're sure to find at least 50% of these novellas to your liking. There are also a couple of full length stories included, so it's definitely value for money.

And we all need an escape fro time to time.

Not a bad collection at all!

Kiss That Frog was my fave and the best in the collection - The beginning was a bit iffy but I liked the rest of it and found it quite cute. I liked the idea a lot but I think some more humour could have been inserted considering the circumstances. Regardless, a cute and short read.
These stories like I sad are not bad but I did find some of them a bit repetitive and some a bit far fetched!

It started off well. I really enjoyed the first twist with The Warlord and the Nightengale. I thought it was setting the tone. How wrong I was. Most stories quickly escalated into smut ... and not even good smut. It was average fan-fiction level. It really needs some trigger warnings for that Rupunzel story which had a few rape elements. Stuff like that really doesn't need to be published. The majority of the other stories were boring and as dull as a box of hair.

.I did not review this online anywhere. I am not a fan of this group of books.

<b>The Warlord and the Nightingale</b> by Jeannie Lin

I wasn't impressed...I wasn't anything, really, except feeling disconnected from the story and the characters.



<b>A Happily Ever After of Her Own</b> by Nadia Lee

This one was a hoot to read with Edward (Beast) experiencing cultural shock as he accompanied Melinda to the real world.

I liked both protagonists, though I wish the romance would've been developed a little bit better, but I guess the author was pressed for time.
The final resolution also felt a bit rushed, but <i>"they all lived happily ever after"</i>.



<b>Kiss That Frog</b> by Cate Rowan

This story made me smile. It was super short, resulting in a feeling everything was resolved in quite a rush (they only knew each other&mdash;as humans&mdash;one afternoon), but it was super cute, and it didn't turn to the cultural-shock, time-travelling-hero-too-out-of-his-depth trope to keep things going.



<b>Runespell</b> by Sela Carsen

The premise was interesting, and the beginning of the story intriguing. Unfortunately, it was too short for the plot to be developed properly, for the characters to shine, and for the romance to blossom gradually.


<b>After the Stroke of Midnight</b> by Jennifer Lewis

It would've worked better shorter and with a less self-absorbed, self-pitying heroine. The conflict dragged on for too long.



<b>Braided Silk</b> by Ella Drake

The premise was interesting and intriguing, so it's a pity the story wasn't executed better. I felt no connection to (and between) the two protagonists, the beginning read more like PWP than a real story, and the world-building had much to be desired. I know it's the second installment in a series, but I was rather lost at times.



<b>Loving a Fairy Godmother</b> by Danielle Monsch

A gem of a story and the absolute best this collection has to offer. Nicely developed characters, some drama, some conflict (resolved in a rather timely manner), and a wonderful (dual) romance.

I'll definitely read more by this author.



<b>Love After Midnight</b> by Dee Carney

An interesting premise with a twist on the Cinderella fairy tale, but I didn't particularly like the heroine and how she turned into something she wasn't to "please" those around her.
Yet the lack of a "proper" ending and a lengthier resolution (pages that were spent on the sex scene could've been used to actually build the story) made it appear PWP-ish.



<b>Firebird Sweet</b> by ELise Logan

DNF@63%

I just couldn't finish this one. It took too bloody long, the pace was plodding, the quests, tasks etc. etc. etc. kept coming, the story kept circling while nothing significant happened. I got bored.



<b>What Big Teeth You Have</b> by Jennifer Blackstream

I weird twist on the Red Riding Hood story that could've worked if it didn't involve already established characters (I'm not familiar with the series, so I was lost), and was a bit longer to establish a decent storyline.



<b>Snow's Salvation</b> by Cate Dean

Yet another slight twist on the known fairy tale with the role reversal, yet nothing new, really, with characters feeling rather disconnected.

I usually enjoy reading retellings of fairy tales, but most of these stories did not capture my interest. The one I tried to read completely through, the retelling of Cinderella, was too racy. I did not finish reading the selection, and cannot recommend it to anyone else. The only reason I gave the collection 1 star was because the idea of retelling fairy tales is usually a good one, but these were not appealing.

This is a decent collection of tales. My favorite story was "After the Stroke of Midnight" by Jennifer Lewis. That was easily a four-star read for me. It grabbed my attention immediately and held it for the duration of the story. I'd buy that book if it wasn't part of any collection.

The other stories didn't intrigue me as much. Some were better written than others. Vampires, witches, and faes really aren't my thing.

The only one I fully through was the Beauty and the Beast retelling since I love BATB. I really wasn't interested in reading the other ones.

The Warlord and the Nightingale
In start was little difficult to follow in the start and feel likes too many details. It could be better if the pace was quick. I want Lord Mizunaga to be dead but not with hands of both Yura or Hanzo. It was an unexpected end for me.
I’ll give it 2.5 stars

A Happily ever after of her own
It was kind of modern fairy-tale with some twists. Although I liked to read different versions of fairy tales this one’s story couldn’t grab me with all my interest.
I’ll give it 3 stars.

Kiss That Frog
It was also a combination of modern life and fairy-tale. One of the best version of frog and princess. It was a sweet love story of Sophia and Alex, easy to read, exact length for a short story.
I’ll give it 4 stars.

P.s. Yeah there is magic in little things

Runespell
I don’t know the real fairy-tale of this one. It was interesting to Norse myth and shapeshifter bear. Although ending left me somehow unclear.

I’ll give it 3 stars.
There was too much physical contact so I don't think they are inspired by fairy tales

Overall the stories were really cute, I enjoyed their take on each take, but it just wasn't watch had expected. It was good, don't get me wrong, just not as good as I hoped we'll say.

Some highs and some lows. Unfortunately not my cup of tea. Romance is not my genre.

Like with most collections, it has some stories that are easier to get into or like than others. However, the stories in this collection aren't exactly bad. It probably wouldn't be someone's cup of tea if they aren't interested in romance or fairy tales or both. For me, I liked the stories, though some are definitely better than others. I didn't find one that I flat out hated so I can say that, for me, some of the stories in the collection are just average.

I love fairytales and I likes these ones very much.
They're very well written and perfect for a little brak because they're not to long.

I loved every one of these stories!! I love Fairy tales, so reading these stories made it better!!

A fantastic boxset with such wonderful stories by brilliant authors. There is a story in there for everyone in this amazing boxset that you will come to love even more than one, like me 😊 there was the whole 11. Would tell everyone to get this boxset as it will give you loads of enjoyable hours of reading pleasure