Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales
Editors: Marie O' Regan /Paul Kane
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781789091502
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes
The premise of this new Anthology is cursed and what our heroines do to try and break them, all with a fresh and unique twist on the original fairy tale concepts such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood.
The idea of the Anthology is the curse is the basis for the story and each one is a rework of the original fairy tale; some are a modern take on it such as Neil Gaiman's Troll Bridge or a story set in the same time period as the classic tale such as As Red as Blood, As White as Snow by Christina Henry. Like Aesop's fables, they act as cautionary tales for the young about being reckless in a dangerous adult world; beware of going into the woods by night, be careful of accepting gifts from strangers and be wary of those we think we know.
Not all in this Anthology are stories, there is Castle Cursed by Jane Yolen, while As Red as Blood, As White as Snow is a take on the Snow White tale with a difference, her Prince Charming isn't the Charming we have come to know but an evil ruler who uses magic to tether Snow in a loveless marriage.
One story in here surprised me as I had previously read it in one of Neil Gaiman's anthologies of his own work, Troll Bridge, though a great read is not one of his newer works and I had hoped for that.
Both Marie O' Regan and Paul Kane have gathered a number of authors who showcase their talent in the sort of Anthology that will get dark fantasy fans talking about how inventive they have been with their subject matter.
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