Galatea is the wife of a sculptor, he made her from stone and then she was brought to life by the goddess. However hA short story that packs a lot in!
Galatea is the wife of a sculptor, he made her from stone and then she was brought to life by the goddess. However her husband doesn’t anticipate her coming to life with feelings and opinions - how inconvenient.
So he sticks her in what is effectively an asylum - where she is drugged and kept by doctors and nurses.
But Galatea isn’t willing to give up, so she hatches a plan to escape and exact revenge on her despicable husband.
I loved the authors note at the end which explained her inspiration from Pygmalion - a story referred to by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. In the original, Galatea isn’t even named. So Miller flips the tale on its head and portrays it for what it truly is - a misogynistic’s man’s attempt to control a woman for his own means.
So much covered in such a short story, I was blown away. ...more
A short poem. from what I could gather it was Alice using Wonderland to escape an abuser then returning to wreakReview as I go.
Alice in Armour - 3 ⭐️
A short poem. from what I could gather it was Alice using Wonderland to escape an abuser then returning to wreak revenge.
Wonders never cease - 3 ⭐️
Odd. Didn’t really get this one. It kept telling us something and then in the next paragraph saying “the story didn’t go like that”. Alice seemed to just be living life over and over with seemingly no end as she was forever falling down the rabbit hole and never landing anywhere.
There were no birds to fly - 2 ⭐️
Even weirder. Post apocalyptic, aliens have reached earth and after being treated badly by humans, they are punishing them. Cannot see any link to Wonderland or Alice at all.
The White Queens Pawn - 3.5 ⭐️
This was better. A unique twist on a woman who worked as a spy, but is actually working for the white queen. I liked it.
Dream Girl - 4 ⭐️
Wonderland goes Sci fi and I was here for it! Don’t want to give much away, our characters are in Wonderland but characters are disappearing? The Mad Hatter is the last to disappear and find out what has happened. Really enjoyed this one!
Good Dog, Alice! - 5 ⭐️
Loved this one! Dorothea lives with her Uncle Bart and receives a puppy as an 11th birthday present from her cousin. Her Uncle’s only rule - do not go through the blue door. But why? What is behind it? And is there something there that can help Dorothea with the horrible Master Frederick.
The Hunting of the Jabberwock - 4 ⭐️
A man called Nobody visits a town planning to slay the Jabberwock that is causing havoc, and to claim the reward money. When he teams up with an old knight they uncover something much more than just one monster. Really enjoyed!
About Time - 4 ⭐️
Lucy loves going to her grandmothers house. Ever since she found the entrance to Wonderland in her back garden. But Lucy is older now, too old for all those childish things right? But maybe she should go back for old times sake? When she does she sees Wonderland has been overrun by a tyrant. Why has this happened, and is there anything Lucy can do. I liked this one a lot.
Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em - 3 ⭐️
A kind of Wild West vibe. Wonderland is not the safe haven we think it is. Children we stolen, and now a man calling himself Jack Hart has taken his children stealing business to our world. Alice has managed to escape Wonderland and is determined to bring him to justice. Would have liked more on this one.
Vanished Summer Glory - 3 ⭐️
Told through a series of letters. A woman described the deteriorating of her husbands mind after meeting a man called Mr Rabbit. Rosemarie’s husband David has never been the same since his sister Alice’s passing. He was a psychologist, and his regular meetings with a Mr Rabbit who Rosemarie has never met. Again, not much in here really - would have liked a bit more.
Black Kitty by Catriona Ward - 3.5 ⭐️
I liked the premise but I needed more. Kitty and her twin sister Snowdrop live in a world controlled by the game. Where people die and then come back only to be killed again. To avoid a forced marriage Snowdrop plans for them to escape through their mothers old mirror.
The Night Parade - 3.5 ⭐️
Was going along really well, a woman sees a young child walk into a park but not come out. She follows and end up in another world of monsters. She must save the child and take her back to her family, but how? Great premise and started well but the ending was rather abrupt and not clear.
What Makes a Monster - 2 ⭐️
Not clear. I didn’t really understand who the two main characters were and what the ‘nightmare’ they ended up fighting was.
The White Queen’s Dictum - 3.5 ⭐️
A great short story but I cannot see any link within it to Wonderland or it’s characters. A man visits the motorway service station where his wife and daughter were previously killed in a car crash and strikes up a conversation with a man running a YouTube channel on ghostly hauntings.
Temp Work - 3 ⭐️
Another Sci fi one but more confusing than the other one. A lot of words that didn’t mean anything to me. Alise disguised herself as a maid to get into a corporate tea party where she plans to bring down the rich.
Eat Me, Drink Me - 3 ⭐️
A kind of fever dream. Most likely the closest of all the stories to the original tale.
How I comes to be the Treacle Queen - 3 ⭐️
Women working down a treacle mine, Alice appears and changes things. Might be losing interest in these now…
Six Impossible Things - 4 ⭐️
Ah this was better! Alice and the Cheshire Cat open several different doors leading to different times in Alice’s life. I enjoyed reading this one. ...more
Loved this one! Started as a quiet tale about a young boy who is offered a job byReviewing each story as I go.
Mr Harrigan’s Phone 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved this one! Started as a quiet tale about a young boy who is offered a job by his neighbour Mr Harrigan. Craig reads to him, waters his plants and generally keeps him company. Mr Harrigan is wealthy, and knew a lot about the stock market in his time, but now retired, the world is moving on without him. When Craig wins some money on a scratch card he treats Mr Harrigan to a smart phone and he soon cannot live without it. When Mr Harrigan passes away, he is buried with his smart phone and one day when Craig misses him he calls the phone to hear his voicemail - but what he hears on the other line is something very unexpected. I won’t give away any more than that, but I loved the ambiguity and moral questions in this tale and it was a great start to the book!
Life of Chuck 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great start and concept, but sadly didn’t live up to it by the end. Told in three parts in reverse order. A man’s face appears on a billboard just as the apocalypse arrives. Working backwards we learn who Chuck is and more about his childhood. But ultimately I was left disappointed. (view spoiler)[ we never find out why his name and picture was on the billboards. He saw his own death as a child by I didn’t understand how it connected. (hide spoiler)]
If it Bleeds 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved being back with Holly Gibney! I love her character. This novella is a sequel to The Outsider, when Holly starts to spot similarities between news readers from different time periods she becomes suspicious. Surely there can’t be another creature like the one she previously faced? Fast paced and gripping, I was on the edge of my seat by the end and really enjoyed this one.
Rat 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This could have been too weird, but I found it was just the right level for me. A writer known only for his short stories is determined to write a novel. Despite the drastic end to his last attempt, he is determined to try again. He goes to his fathers old cabin in the woods for some solitude to get some serious writing done. But when he falls ill he starts to hallucinate (or does he). A rat appears offering him his life’s dream - but at a price. I liked that we aren’t really sure what is or isn’t real. Whether the rat was the cause or whether he finished the book himself and the other events are sheer bad timing. Very interesting idea....more
A Study in Black and White by Bridget Collins - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A creepy story about a man who rents a large old house. A chessI’ll review each story as I go:
A Study in Black and White by Bridget Collins - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A creepy story about a man who rents a large old house. A chess set inside seems to move by itself, and he feels like there is something or someone watching him. Full of foreboding, this story covered a lot in a short space of time.
Thwaite’s Tenant by Imogen Hermes Gowar - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved this one! Wasn’t sure about the main character to begin with but she found her strength. Lucinda and her son Stanley move into the old Thwaite house, fleeing her abusive husband. The Thwaite house has its own history. Emily Thwaite apparently fled her own husband, and the house is haunted by him. But maybe Emily hasn’t left either. Another spooky one with a great story.
The Eel Singers by Natasha Pulley - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thaniel, Mori and Six decide to take a trip away from London. Mori is clairvoyant, and he only knows of one place where his mind is quieted. Once they arrive though, Thaniel feels an awful sense of foreboding. The locals seem creepy, always staring and singing or humming this strange song. Again, a lot packed into a short story and I enjoyed how it panned out and how it ended.
Lily Wilt by Jess Kidd - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one was just weird. A photographer called Pemble is asked to photograph a dead girl by her family to preserve her beauty. He becomes obsessed with this ethereal and almost supernatural beauty. He starts to see her ghost in his own home, she asks him to bring her back to life by any means necessary. We don’t really know how, only that he manages it but she isn’t quite the way he pictured her. (view spoiler)[ so he gives her back and she is buried, but he hands himself into the police as having stolen the body in the first place and having killed his landlady for finding out, so is hanged?! (hide spoiler)] I guess they weren’t all going to be my cup of tea ...more
An interesting collection of dark fairy tales, but ultimately I don’t think I’ll remember most of them.
I found a lot of them made little sense (equalAn interesting collection of dark fairy tales, but ultimately I don’t think I’ll remember most of them.
I found a lot of them made little sense (equally I did find this with the original duology so I’m not overly surprised) things just seemed to happen with no real explanation of the lore.
Like I said, they were ok, but nothing overly memorable. ...more
“You’re sensitive…deep in your angst filled soul. Your stony face and cold voice don’t deceive me. You are sensitive, and your sensitivity makes yo⚔️
“You’re sensitive…deep in your angst filled soul. Your stony face and cold voice don’t deceive me. You are sensitive, and your sensitivity makes you fear that whatever you are going to face with sword in hand may have it’s own arguments, may have the moral advantage over you.”
Really enjoyed these short stories set in the Witcher universe. We get some stories that are related to the bigger picture overall and some that I think are just thrown in for fun.
Lots of imaginative monsters and creatures, there is humour and even some racy scenes between Geralt and Yennefer ...more
“You protect us not only from the evil lurking in the darkness, but also from that which lies within ourselves.”
3.5 ⭐️
I’m glad I watched the series “You protect us not only from the evil lurking in the darkness, but also from that which lies within ourselves.”
3.5 ⭐️
I’m glad I watched the series before picking up this book. I loved the characters, the imagination and the wit. But they are short stories and there are a lot of different characters so it would have been easy to get lost if I didn’t already know who was who and what was what.
I love Geralt and the bard Dandilion, the different monsters he fights (which sometimes bore similarities to fairytales).
Overall I enjoyed this one and I will pick up the next one when I can.
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So I’ve just seen they’re making a Netflix show out of this series. I can’t believe I’d never heard of it before, this sounds awesome!...more
copy provided by author in exchange for honest review
This was an enjoyable short story - cute, Wintry and with some supernatural elements thrown in! copy provided by author in exchange for honest review
This was an enjoyable short story - cute, Wintry and with some supernatural elements thrown in!
Mark lives in Yorkshire, in the UK. His Nana is a known witch, and is keen to start teaching him all she knows. Mark is one of two openly gay students in his school, and when a new guy arrives who happens to be insanely hot - Mark thinks things might be looking up.
As he begins practicing spells and magic, he discovers someone is in serious danger while off school for a snow day. I won't give away the story line but what follows is an exciting rescue, and a lot of supernatural activity afterwards. A short read (around 80 pages) K.S Marsden did a great job with this novella and I can't wait to read another of her books....more
“So shut the window tight and make sure the latch is fastened. Dark things have a way of slipping in through narrow spaces.”
Review per story:
Ayama “So shut the window tight and make sure the latch is fastened. Dark things have a way of slipping in through narrow spaces.”
Review per story:
Ayama and the Thorn Wood - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A unique spin on Cinderella and also on the monster in the labyrinth.
The Too Clever Fox - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really liked this one. Woodland creatures being attacked by a hunter. Koja the clever Fox decides to find out who it is and how they are targeting them. A good twist.
The Witch of Duva - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one was a bit grim even for me. Interesting take on the Gingerbread house in the woods, and on witches. The twist at the end made me feel a bit ill though.
Little Knife - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautiful girl’s father is trying to marry her off to the best candidate. He sets 3 tasks to show their worth. A Grisha man is determined he will win her heart with the help of his friend the river. But the river has its own secrets.
The Soldier Prince - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A really good take on The Nutcracker. A clockmaker designs a nutcracker for a girl he wishes to woo, but unfortunately his greed comes back to bite him. The nutcracker discovers his own personality and wants.
When Water Sang Fire - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maybe my favourite. Ulla lives beneath the sea but she has always been treated differently. When she and her best friend Signy are invited to spend Summer on shore with the Prince they cannot wait. But what awaits them in the human world and what is the prince’s real aim?
These were a vivid collection of stories that I enjoyed. I loved the illustrations and some of them were truly breathtaking.
************************* So my original library copy went uncollected. I genuinely can’t remember why. But it’s available again now and I will not be missing out this time!!
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This one is finally available for me to pick up from the library! Can't wait to read these stories :)...more
I thoroughly enjoyed these three novellas. It was great to return to Westeros, one hundred years before the “Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall.”
I thoroughly enjoyed these three novellas. It was great to return to Westeros, one hundred years before the events of ASoIaF. We follow Dunk, a hedge knight risen up by an old knight with no heirs. He gets himself a squire named Egg, who unbeknownst to him is Prince Aegon - one of the Targaryen Princes.
“Oak and iron guard me well, or else I’m dead and doomed to hell.”
We see Dunk get himself into all kinds of scrapes, including a trial of seven as well as numerous other fights. He is a great hero to follow and I loved recognising the names of houses from A Song of Ice and Fire.
But what really stood out in this book were the illustrations. They were amazing and really brought the stories and characters to life.
“A head’s a head. They all look the same after a few days on a spike.”
With much of the gruesomeness and swearing included in A Song of Ice and Fire; this book helped in my suffering wait for the Winds of Winter. Highly recommend.
The summers have been shorter since the last dragon died, and the winters longer and crueler.” ...more
This cosy mystery was a breath of fresh air. 6 short stories centred around Canon Sidney Chambers, a Cambridge “Even the faithful can be frightened.”
This cosy mystery was a breath of fresh air. 6 short stories centred around Canon Sidney Chambers, a Cambridge vicar. I loved Sidney as a character - he stomps over so many of the stereotypes most people associate with the religious. He doesn’t judge people and a lot of his views are quite liberal for the time in which this is set (1950s) plus he is partial to a whisky now and then. Something this book taught me - the difference between Whisky and Whiskey! The former applies when referring to Scotch Whisky, the latter to Irish and Bourbon. Fun fact for you there!
“The grass and fields were damp after the morning rain...Sidney ate his sandwich and drank his tea...he looked out over the surrounding countryside and thought that this was home; this was England.”
The countryside being my favourite part of living in the UK, I connected to all the descriptions of the tranquility he found in his home.
“This is what he wanted, he decided: moments of clarity and silence.”
The stories covered 3 murders, a kidnapping, theft and a case of a possible compassionate killing by a doctor. The stories were short enough to read in bite sized chunks but long enough that I was invested, and wanted to find out whodunnit.
Overall I loved following Sidney’s detective ways and I will be looking to continue this series.
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