17 Dark Faerie Tales (Once Upon Series) - Once Upon A Curse

The quality of stories in this collection varies. Many of the shorts lacked background about the lands they were set in, and a few felt scattered. Some of these were enjoyable, but some just wasted time.

Wow, I am IMPRESSED! Faescorned is an exhilarating read from the first page to the last. I was thrilled when I realized it takes place during one of my many favorite scenes in the Otherworld series. It not only made me homesick for the Otherworld, but the direction of the plot stunned my senses as I realized my perspective of the Otherworld is forever changed. The revelations written from the Morrigan’s POV is conflicting mentally and emotionally. Faescorned is a plot twist all on its own for this series and anyone who has read the Otherworld MUST READ IT!!! If you haven't read the Otherworld Series by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson then get to it! Who doesn't love castles, kilts, and magic? 5 well deserved stars!
 
I look forward to reading the rest of the stories and may update my review upon completion!

The potential is there , but the spelling and grammar errors are too many and too distracting. As the book goes on the stories get much less interesting and to be honest, I couldn't finish it. I rarely don't finish a book.

Judging by the description, I was expecting normal fairy tales such as on the order of Grimm's stories. Many of these are about ancient places and kingdoms which are not easily understood. Many of the terms are used assuming the reader knows all about such strange things. I don't. As a result I don't like the book.

I chose this book because of the tales it promised. As I expected the first tale was satisfying. Plowing through the book, I found other tales I enjoyed and a few that disappointed. I enjoyed the last tale and happy that I read to the end.

Very disappointed. This book claims to have 'dark' inspired fairy tales but they're anything but that. Didn't enjoy any of the stories. Most of them were poorly told. It was a complete waste of my money.

While some of the stories in this collection are decent -- generally the shorter ones -- many of them are tedious, meandering, and work to form no connection with the reader. 'i don't care about these people' was something I thought often as I read these stories. Evn the ones that id interest me ended abruptly, or to easily. The worst were a few which dropped me into a world that exists in another series, but does absolutely nothing to explain it -- making the text incomprehensible and flat out irritating. If you're looking for a better collection of fairy tales, I recommend 'Toad Words', and actually any of the books you can find written by T. Kingfisher. Also 'Mira Mirror', Howls Moving Castle, & Uprooted.

This anthology was a real pleasure, I liked most of the stories and the variety was awesome. No story was like another, all of them were special and I couldn't say which one was my favorite. I will write a short review for every story in time but all in all the book was more than worth the price I paid and not only did I enjoy the authors I already knew but found some more to put on my favorite list!

The first story, YARROW, STURDY AND BRIGHT by Devon Monk, sucked me right in. A girl who needs to save her sweetheart by killing the villain who threatens her village. Who wouldn't want to read how she succeeds? Quite some fairytales are woven in the suspenseful story, a quick but intense read.

FAE HORSE by Anthea Sharp, shows again a woman who is ready to sacrifice everything for her love. On the run for her own life all she thinks about is him. But will there be a HEA?

THE QUEEN OF FROST AND DARKNESS by Christine Pope wasn't quite my taste. To sophisticated, to offish somehow, I didn't really feel with the characters but in itself this was very well written.

BONES by Yasmine Galenorn is a very dark and tragic story about death who is drawn to life, so much so that it overrules everything. The ending was such a tearjerker but still somehow beautiful.

MAGIC AFTER MIDNIGHT by C. Gockel made me laugh out loud (Cindy is such a brat!) and cry a bit and all in all enjoy the story very much. Such a special spin and such a beautiful tale!

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Donna Augustine shows us that even the devil can't plan how things go. I adored the end, not wanting to say too much I'll leave it at that.

NO GIFT OF WORDS by Annie Bellet is about a young woman who would do anything to be beautiful and then finds that beauty is nothing if you are cursed because of it. I liked the lemure especially, very nice touch!

THE GRIM BROTHER by Audrey Faye is a very special take on Hansel and Gretel, one I very much enjoyed even if (or because of) it's dark and tragic plot.

BEAST INSIDE BEAUTY by Danielle Monsch throws us right into the exciting world of Kenna, a detective who doesn't want to be known only for her beauty and who has connections that make life difficult for her. Reading it felt a bit like starting (and ending) a book in the middle, interesting but confusing too.

FAESCORNED by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson made me cry for The Morrigan, one of my favorite Goddesses. Men can be so very cruel - and her curse makes her even crueler but still I feel for her. Tragic, very tragic!

DRAWN TO THE BRINK by Tara Maya astonished me, the idea is very cool, the story exciting and thrilling and the end near heartbreaking. I liked it very much!

THE VARIANCE COURT by Alexia Purdy is about a student like so many others whose life gets turned upside down by a ring. Very interesting if a bit unconvincing at the end.

THE MORRIGAN by Phaedra Weldon is about a creature who seldom stars in fantasy books: Leprechauns. And I love them and she told them so compellingly (and their weapon of choice too) that I'd love to read more about them and their world.

ALICE by Julia Crane was a bit short - the end came very abruptly and since the story was very interesting I need to know what happens next. So one more newsletter for me!

STILL RED by Sabrina Locke brought me to tears. The poor girl! I felt for her so deeply and devoured her story in the hopes of a happy ending. Really well written.

THE FINAL STRAW by Jennifer Blackstream took one of my favorite fairytales and once again Rumple is so very hot and rawr! That he isn't the villain this time made the story so much more enjoyable and I hope to read more about this pair in the Blood Realm series (I lovelovelove!).

THE UNICORN HUNTER by Alethea Kontis nearly broke my heart. The princess is so very Disney and witty and pretty and (not very) bright at the beginning but the demon she meets gave me the shivers (in a good way!). Their story is beautifully spun - this author never disappoints me!