AD – GIFTED | Fairy tales have always held a fascination for me. They were originally written as warnings and morality lessons rather than sweet and magical bedtime stories for children. And I’m always up for a good re-telling with a twist, especially if some of my favourite authors are involved. So Cursed was a book I was never going to pass up the chance to get my paws on 🙂
Cursed – an anthology of dark fairy tales
“It’s the prick of blood, the bite of an apple, the evil eye, a wedding ring or a pair of red shoes. Curses come in all shapes and sizes, and when you least expect them…”
Editors Marie O’ Regan and Paul Kane present an anthology of unique twists on the fairy tale conceit of the curse from an exciting line-up of bestselling and award-winning authors. From the traditional to the modern, Cursed gives us a selection of 20 brand-new stories, folk-horror poetry and modern classic tales. Some might shock you, some might make you laugh, and they will all impress you with their originality. But take caution as you read them, and be careful what you wish for.
Featuring stories from Neil Gaiman, Christina Henry, M.R. Carey, Charlie Jane Anders, Karen Joy Fowler, Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple, Catriona Ward, Jen Williams, James Brogden, Maura McHugh, Christopher Golden, Michael Marshall Smith, Angela Slatter, Lilith Saintcrow, Christopher Fowler, Alison Littlewood, Tim Lebbon and Margo Lanagan.
Cursed is available in paperback from Waterstones and Amazon UK.
Meet the Cursed editors
Marie O’Regan is a British Fantasy Award-nominated writer and editor of horror and dark fantasy fiction. She is the author of four collections, Mirror Mere, Bury Them Deep, In Times of Want and Other Stories, The Last Ghost and Other Stories, and various anthologies. Marie is also Co-Chair of the UK chapter of the Horror Writers’ Association and lives in Derbyshire, UK, and tweets @Marie_O_Regan
Paul Kane is the award-winning and bestselling author/editor of over 90 books, including the Arrowhead trilogy (gathered together in the sellout Hooded Man omnibus, revolving around a post-apocalyptic version of Robin Hood), The Butterfly Man and Other Stories, Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell, Before, Arcana and Pain Cages (an Amazon #1 bestseller). He tweets @PaulKaneShadow.
First impressions
“Sometimes, having your dearest wish put into your hands is the biggest curse of all.” Firstly, I have to say that I was quite blown away by the sheer range of stories. How on earth the editors narrowed it down to these 20 fairy tales is beyond me. There were some that I wasn’t as keen on, and others that I re-read several times because they are just so inventive. I can’t really review all 20 so here are the ones that I loved most:
- As Red as Blood, as White as Snow – featuring a real kick-ass Snow White, a good stepmother, and a monstrous Prince Charming (step forward Rupert Everett, if you please)
- Listen – as a lover of all things Norse and Asgard (and not just because of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston), I adored this twist on Ragnarök
- The Black Fairy’s Curse – “Why was he kissing her when she was asleep and had never seen him before? What was he doing in her bedroom?” This was startlingly topical and really made me look at the Sleeping Beauty tale in a new light
- Wendy, Darling – I stopped being a fan of Peter Pan after I read Lost Boy and this tale only reinforced my opinion. For me, this was the saddest story in the anthology
- Little Red – what’s real and what’s fantasy? This tale made me question what I thought I knew about the original players in the Red Riding Hood legend
- The Merrie Dancers – because this was a great coda to the story as told in one of my favourite films, the 1948 version of The Red Shoes.
Other thoughts
On the subject of films, does anyone remember the BBC’s Tales of the Unexpected series in the 1980’s? Some of the twisted fairy tales in Cursed’s anthology reminded me of Roald Dahl’s inventive and slightly sinister collection of short stories. His adult books were very definitely not for children, and neither is this anthology. Some of the tales I didn’t recognise, but I guess they might be folk or urban legends that I haven’t come across, as not all the authors are British. Not that this in any way diminished my enjoyment of the collection.
At just over 350 pages long, Cursed is one of those books that you can dip in and out of whenever the mood takes you, or you have only a little time. Because each story is stand-alone, you’re not running the risk of losing your thread if you don’t return to the book for a day or so. Some fairy tales might not be to your taste (I found Skin a little gory) but others completely enthralled me and, as I said earlier, I’ve found myself re-reading them.
Would I recommend Cursed?
If, like me, you’re into fairy stories with a modern-day vibe and a twist in the tale, then Cursed should definitely go on your TBR pile. I found each author’s reimagining of stories I thought I knew very well quite refreshing and thought-provoking. A few of the tales have stayed with me and I find myself thinking about them at random moments during the day – always a good sign when a book stays with you like that! So thank you very much to Titan Books for my copy of Cursed, it’s a book I’m happy to recommend but unwilling to lend out because I know I’ll be returning to it too much to let it leave the house 😉
Are any of your favourite authors in here too? Are you a fan of fantasy and alternative takes on a well-known tale? Is this the sort of anthology you’d pick up too?
* This post features affiliate links and a gifted item but all opinions are my own (see my disclaimer). Please do feel free to check out my other book reviews too.
Ooh this sounds awesome! I’ve not read many twists on fairytales but they always intrigue me when I’ve heard of them. This sounds like a fantastic read – and I love the way it’s made you look at some of them in a new light as well. That Sleeping Beauty one sounds really good. Great review!
Thank you – and yes, this was such a brilliant read, so many different writing styles and stories, really something for everyone!
This sounds right up my street. The type of thing I’d like to read, and also write. It’s going on my books to buy list.
Yay, that’s great to hear – and I wish I could write like this too!
This book sounds like such a great read. I loved watching the tv series Once Upon A Time which sounds very similar. I’ll definitely be reading this book.
Oh, I’d forgotten about that series, you’re right, there are similarities. I hope you enjoy this one if you read it 🙂
It sounds like a very interesting read. I’m usually not into dark stories, but this seems worth a try. Thanks for sharing! 😉💕
They’re not what I was expecting, there were a few surprises in there too! 🙂
THese sound very intriguing – I can’t wait to get my hands on them!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy them 🙂
Oh cool, this sounds really interesting! You’re very like me in that sense. I absolutely love a scary twist to anything like that. I am currently reading all the Disney stories with their twists and LOVING them! I am also a very big fan of Alice in Wonderland but the dark version 😀
Thanks for sharing Lisa, I’ll have to check it out!
Ashleigh x
It’s such a good anthology – and I ADORE Alice in Wonderland, but like you I prefer the darker versions too – I mean the whole idea is pretty dark to start with but some of the twists I’ve read really elevate things to a whole new level 🙂 x
I absolutely love the idea of classic fairy tales with a refreshing modern-day twist. I haven’t ever read one before, but this collection sounds like the perfect place to start, especially as you can dip in and out and find the stories you like best! It’s great that there is such a big range so there is going to be something to suit everyone’s taste. I’m always looking for new books to read, and this has certainly intrigued me! Thank you for sharing your review Lisa, brilliantly written! <3 xxx
Oh that’s great to hear, Bexa, I’m sure you’d love this collection. It’s so varied, you’re right, there’s definitely something for everyone. Let me know what you think if you do read it, we can compare notes! xxx
This sounds like such an interesting book and it’s totally different to anything else I’ve read before. I like that it takes a fist on the normal fairy tales. I definitely need to give. This book a try! X
Oh, they are definitely dark and twisted, you’ll see fairy tales in a whole new light! I hope you enjoy them if you do try it 🙂 x
This sounds like such a great collection of stories and reworkings of traditional stories and fairytales – I love reading a new take on a classic such as sleeping beauty, snow white etc so this sounds like a great addition to my tbr. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and including some of your favourites – I’ll definitely keep those in mind! x
They’re a brilliant collection – some are old favourites but others were completely new to me. Well worth reading! x
This sounds incredible and right up my street! I love the idea of an edgy twist on something as innocent and lovely as fairy tails. I need this in my book collection ASAP x
Yay, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did – keep me posted! x
YES! This is definitely going on my wish list! I love fairy-tales and dark, twisted takes on fairytales so I think I’d love this. It’s obviously my love for the story of Peter Pan so I’d be really interested to read Wendy, Darling! xxx
Oh, I’m sure you’d love this, but I must warn you that Wendy Darling really is very dark! xxx
This sounds like a really good book! I’ll have to add it to my to-read list.
It is, I hope you enjoy it too 🙂
Wasn’t there a tv series that was similar to these. The fairytales but with a twist. They sound really interesting and sounds like something I would like to give a go, even though it is so different to what I usually reach for! Thank you for sharing such a great review Lisa xxxx
Yes,the tv show was called Once Upon A Time, it was great! But these tales are even darker, so I hope you like them if you do read it! xxx
We have volumes of fairytales, both long and short, and I have been read and told so many tales, I love seeing how books draw on one of the oldest forms of storytelling to enhance their plots. Creative and dark spins on the original tales full of love and danger and romance fascinate me!
We do too, I’ve always adored myths, legends, and fairy tales, something which stood me in great stead when I came to study English & Drama at university. I agree, it’s fascinating to see how they are interpreted by different writers, and as a source for new tales!
I haven’t read this book, but from the authors because I’ve read some of their works, it seems this would be good to give it a read. This is great review!
Oh thank you, that’s very kind – I hope you enjoy it if you do dip in!
ohh this books sounds great! I haven’t heard about this one before. Thank you for your review on this!
You’re welcome, it’s a great book 🙂
Oooo this is right up my alley! I deff will have to add this to my list! Thank you for the review!
That’s great to hear, I hope you enjoy it if you do read it!
Thanks for this review. I had no idea this existed. I also had no idea I wanted it to exist.
You’re welcome – and that made me chuckle!
This is right up my alley! I love a twist on classic tales and it’s even better when the story gets dark! Thanks for sharing! I’ll pin this as well!
Yay, that’s great, I hope you get to read it, sounds perfect for you – and thank you for pinning too!
I love books like this! It sounds exactly the sort of thing I would read – thank you for a great review!
Thank you, you’re welcome, it’s a great book!
With all this free time we’ll have on our hands it might be a good time to get into reading again!
Yes, that’s an excellent point!
Oh definatly sounds like something I would read, glad they are a few stories in this! I need to add this to my book list!
Mel 🌙
There are plenty to choose from, I’m sure you’d find something you’ll love!
This sounds wonderfully dark and twisted! Adding to my TBR! Thanks for the review!
You’re welcome – I hope you love them as much as me!
Fabulous review! I definitely need to check this book out, dark fairytales? With twists? Love it! Excited to see that Neil Gaiman also wrote a story for this book, curious what kind of story he wrote.
Thank you so much! If you love Neil Gaiman then this is definitely the book for you – I’m sorry, but I’m not going to give away any spoilers, haha!
This sounds like something right up my alley! I love anything with a darker twist lol I’m going to have to get my hands on it and give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
Well a lot of these are really very dark so it sounds perfect – let me know what you think if you do read it, we can compare notes!
This looks SO GOOD! I’m definitely adding it to my “things to read during isolation,” book list (ugh). I love all things dark and twisted (I really like true-crime and horror), and I absolutely love narratives that take familiar stories and twist them around. This collection looks right up my alley, and I look forward to being exposed to new writers (the only one I recognize out of the whole group is Neil Gaiman). Thanks!
It’s a brilliant read, and right now a real hit of escapism. As I said, some of the tales I didn’t recognise but they are all so inventive, I found it hard to put down at night. Hope you enjoy it too – and stay safe! x
I adore fairy tales! This book sounds amazing. I think I would enjoy the Little Red story a lot.
They’re great, aren’t they? I hope you do enjoy this reworking 🙂
Looks like an interesting read!
It sure is 🙂
Aaah this sounds right up my street! I’ve read the Grimm fairytales and they were gripping, so I’m quite intrigued to see what these tales are like! Thanks so much for sharing.
The Grimm fairytales are fab, I loved them too, they don’t sugar coat anything – I’m sure you’d love Cursed too!
I haven’t read a ton of fairy tales or retellings but it’s something I have been meaning to do. This book sounds like it would be something I would enjoy. I love it when older stories are revisited with modern and dark twists. I will have to add this one to my TBR.
Fairy tales are often the wellspring for other books so I found it really fascinating to get a modern take on some of the old classics – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Just gotta say I love the pictures with the little red shoes!
Fairy tale retellings are a bit of a gamble in my world. I have lots of good memories of listening to my CD set with just about every fairy tale ever on it, so I often find myself disliking the retellings as they don’t live up to the nostalgia I feel for the originals.
x Envy
Ha, that’s the benefit of having a daughter, I get to raid her stuff for flatlays! I know what you mean about memories but way back in the mists of time fairy tales were very dark, so these re-tellings are kind of reverting to the original concepts 🙂 xx
Oooh I’ve added this to my list of books! I always love your recommendations!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Ah, thank you, Amie, that’s so lovely to hear!
Oh this sounds like such a cool and interesting read. Definitely sounds like something I would enjoy. I will have to check this out. Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did if you do read it!
It is great that you got to do a review of Cursed! Sounds like a very interesting story. I love the fairy-tale types. Oooh I like that you included your first impressions as well. It is pretty cool that there are little stories within the book. All of these sounds like some nice classics! Glad you enjoyed the read overall! Thanks for sharing and stay safe!
Nancy ♥
It was such a good book to read, I loved all the different takes on the classics, highly recommended. Thank you, Nancy, and the same to you x
This book seems really interesting. There are definitely some great authors in there! I’m always looking for book recommendations but even more so now I’m isolating. I’ll need an abundance of reading material to keep me entertained!
There are some fab authors here, including some new ones that I hadn’t heard of before, it’s a really great collection!
I adore fairy tale stories and in these unprecedented times I think that books will have a large rise.
Thank you for the recommendation I will be checking it out and look for a pre-owned version to minimize
the climate impact as well:)
https://www.ecoislogical.com
Nathalie
Yes, I think that’s very true, books will be in demand more than ever now. And if you love fairy tales you’ll love Cursed for sure 🙂
I love dark tales so would probably enjoy reading this a lot! Thank you for recommending xx
If you do then you definitely will, thank you! x
This sounds very different to something I’d normally read but I definitely would like to read it based on what you’ve said. It’s good to try new things out.
It’s quite a varied collection so I’m sure you’d find something you’d like 🙂
This sounds like a fantastic read, very enjoyable reading this post. Thanks for sharing 😁
It really is – and thank you so much, very kind!
This is another book on my “to-read” list. I like Neil Gaiman so am mostly curious about his short story.
Helen
Most of the stories are really good – a brilliant twist on the classics – and yes, Neil Gaiman’s is fab!