New Queer Fairy Tales
5 stars
Absolutely fantastic! I’ve read this book three times now and I still want to dive back in. I made my husband and sister-in-law read this, because I enjoyed it so much.
Enter a world of fairy tales like you’ve never seen. Fantastic twists and wordplay. Loved the queer storylines and romances.
Each story packs a punch. I really couldn’t say which is my favorite. The first story, “The King’s Forest”, was a beautiful opening tale. The angle of that arrow at the end was like a stab to the heart. Beautifully executed. What a great twist.
I loved the interconnection between “The Goose Girl” and “The People’s Forest”. A lovely example of a collectivist society. The haunting “New Name” shows the power of names and the healing of living as your true self. “Sweet Rock” is a heartwarming story of making your own place in the world and the love you find along the way. “Hsthete” was truly adorable and I loved the little twist of wording. “The Fish Wife” was also a sweet story with an ominous tone.
Gillman’s artwork is lovely, haunting, heartbreaking, and breathtaking. The colored-pencil art gave wonderful texture to the stories.
While the book as a whole leans dark, there are some truly sweet moments sprinkled in. Each story has it’s own happily-ever-after of sorts, even if it’s not the one you first expect. This book will have you wondering who the real beast is, what makes a villain, the power of mishaps, and what constitutes happy ever after.
A wonderful read to revisit again and again.