Seven familiar tales, told with just the slightest of twists. They often touch on one another, but they generally end up just as you’d expect. In the author’s note, Jenkins offers as explanation that she is contributing to the spirit of the oral tradition, retelling these stories and putting her own touches on them, but not with any particular didactic intent or ideological bent. The book as an object is lovely, and reading the stories was pleasant, but I was left with a bit of a “So what?” feeling. If you love fairy tales, it’s a pleasant way to while away an evening, but don’t expect new revelations. ( )

A collection of tales we know and love through new eyes...and with the interconnecting piece added, it certainly makes you wonder why ANYONE would EVER venture into or near a frozen forest at ANY time. Seriously...NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS THERE...well, for the most part anyway. A great pick for Children's Fiction fans of the middle grade set and beyond...the beyond will especially enjoy the frankness in the telling of the stories as well as the snark that is imparted. ( )

I've always loved fairytales, including fractured fairytales and retellings. This book is a collection of seven tales, some very familiar (i.e. Red Riding Hood) and some you may not have heard of (i.e. The Three Great Noodles). The author stuck with the basic plot or premise of each tale, but added a few details that may have sent the story in a different direction. They also were not as dark as the originals. The other thing I liked is that even though each was a separate story, there was something to connect them, either the setting or a character. They were not very long and could easily be read as a bedtime story over a weekly period. The one thing I did not like was the fact that there was only one illustration per story and that was at the beginning of each. The style of the illustrations reminded me of an old fairytale book I had as a child. Overall, I could see this book becoming a staple in a family library. If you read the author's note at the back she mentions the art of oral storytelling. I could see a classroom teacher using this book as a mentor text when dealing with that theme. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

A collection of some of the more well-known fairy tales, with beautiful illustrations and a rather stilted writing style. I think these stories would be OK for younger middle grade readers, but they lack a lyrical quality that I look for in fairy tales.

Upon reading the Author's note, it appears the stories were intentionally written simply, in a way the author feels is more akin to the tales' oral tradition.

*eARC Netgalley* ( )