Not to my taste at all. The tales were spoiled by these retellings - the magic of the traditional themes washed out. And if you ask me, [a:Hans Christian Andersen|6378|Hans Christian Andersen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1183230200p2/6378.jpg]'s tales shouldn't be retold at all. Or at least they should be credited! The jacket flap mentions including two by [HCA]" but doesn't say which, and inside the book, even the copyright page, nothing about any sources. And in the illustrations - um - Beauty is ugly. Not traditionally beautiful, not exotically beautiful, but deformed.

So here's my message to Geras and Brierley: If you can't improve a tale, don't mess with it. If you feel the need to sell a book with your name on it, create something original." ( )