Review: Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes - Anthology

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes by Nina Berry (Editor), Sarwat Chadda, Shannon Delany, Max Scialdone, Karen Mahoney, Lisa Mantchev, Georgia McBride, C. Lee McKenzie, more...Gretchen McNeil, Francisco X. Stork (Foreword), K.M. Walton, Suzanne Young, Michelle Zink, Leigh Fallon, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Nancy Holder, Heidi R. Kling, Suzanne Lazear, Pam van Hylckama Vlieg

Paperback, 340 pages

Expected publication: October 16th 2012 by Month9Books

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In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

There was a whole lot of stuff going on in this book. Lots of authors obviously means lots of different writing styles. Not everyone likes every authors writing style which meant that there were some stories that I liked better than others.

I liked this book overall but I thought I would like it better. Since there are so many I am not going to go into detail for every one but I will talk about a few.

My favorite one would have to be The Well by K. M. Walton which was a retelling of Jack and Jill. This story was dark and creepy and I loved it. I did not see it being told the way it was and I think that is why I liked it so much. It was the perfect length for a short story, about 23 pages on my tablet. I have never read anything by K. M. Walton but I am interested to pick something up now if the writing is anything like this.

Clockwork by Leah Cypess, a retelling of Hickory, Dickory, Dock, was another one I liked. It had a beginning, middle, and end just like a short story, or obviously any story, should. The overall story was good and again I’m surprised by the route some of these stories took. Some in a good way some not. This one I liked.

The first story was rather weird and had me questioning the book from the start. Sing a Song of Six-Pence by Sarwat Chadda a retelling of the rhyme by the same name was an ok one too. I liked the ending to that one.

Pieces of Eight by Shannon Delany w/ Max Scialdone was a little long for me.

Anyway, I think this is a book that each person would definitely have to read and decide on their own. It might also help to have heard the original nursery rhymes beforehand even though they do have them at the beginning of each story.  I also don’t think this is technically a book you just sit down and read. I would recommend reading a couple stories at a time in-between books.

My Rating:

Let me know if have read this and what your thoughts are!

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*This book was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.