Description
Product Description
You think you know these stories, don’t you?
You are wrong.
You don’t know them at all.
Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept tame, truths that explore life . . . and death.
A prince has a surprising awakening . . .
A beauty fights like a beast . . .
A boy refuses to become prey . . .
A path to happiness is lost. . . . then found again.
New York Times bestselling author Soman Chainani respins old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other. These stories know you. They understand you. They reflect you. They are tales for our times. So read on, if you dare.
From School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-An exhausted prince beset by a vampiric thief he comes to love; a merchant's "dutiful" daughter who secretly longs for freedom; a mermaid who begs a sea witch to make her human; a sea witch once rejected by the merking himself-these are just a few of the characters, familiar and yet new, that readers will meet in Chainani's latest title. Here, 12 well-known European tales are retold through a racially, ethnically, and sexually diverse lens for a modern audience. Stories tackle such issues as consent, racism, abuse, and neglect, yet all harken back to a central theme: love. This is not the love readers have come to expect from fairy tales, however; Chainani's yarns question every aspect of the classic happily ever after. Still, older readers who enjoy a well-crafted reimagining-and don't mind an ambiguous, occasionally depressing ending-are sure to devour this collection. Most characters present as BIPOC, and some are LGBTQ. VERDICT A brilliant, bloodthirsty fairy-tale collection that would better suit an older audience. Share with fans of compelling myth and folklore anthologies like A Thousand Beginnings and Endings or Daniel M. Lavery's The Merry Spinster. Recommended for YA and adult collections.-Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CTα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
“Haunting, funny, suspenseful, sweet. Fresh and modern with plenty of plot twists. . . All readers will have something with which to identify. Iredale’s illustrations are gorgeous, bloody, and magical.
” -- Horn Book
(starred review)
“A brilliant, bloodthirsty fairy-tale collection. Twelve well-known tales are retold through a racially, ethnically, and sexually diverse lens for a modern audience.” -- School Library Journal
"A volume that transports readers to a place where the lines between beastly natures and beautiful appearances can be difficult to discern. Expertly crafted . . . Chainani’s writing is raw in what it lays bare on the page, perfectly appropriate to revisiting these beloved, ubiquitous stories that may have left readers with naïve expectations or dissatisfied conclusions. For any lover of fairy tales who seeks alternative endings." --
Kirkus Reviews
“Chainani takes 12 time-honored tales and overhauls their traditional tellings, adding an astonishing amount of depth and beauty in the process. Lush, transporting, and occasionally eerie, easily conjuring fantastical worlds. . . An intriguing and inclusive update for modern audiences.” --
Booklist
“Terrifying, chilling, unexpected, and glorious. A must-read for any fairy tale devotee who wants to view classic stories through a new lens.” -- Medium
Beasts and Beauty puts a fresh spin on everyone’s favorite fairytales. -- Culturess
“Vigorous, chilling. Chainani is a terrific storyteller." --
Wall Street Journal?
About the Author
Soman Chainani is the New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series. The fairy-tale saga has sold over 3 million copies, been translated into 30 languages, and will soon be a major motion picture from