Twisted fairy tales

There is probably nothing that I like to read - and write - more than a twisted up fairy tale. I say "probably" just in case there is something else I like more that I just can't think of at the moment. I'm tired right now and liable to forget things, so if I later say something that is contrary to this, there can be two somethings. Oops.

Anyway, back to fairy tales. It's brilliant when someone can take a story everybody knows, throw a few quirks in it, give it a new perspective, and somehow make it different enough that it feels like you're reading something completely new. I've read some stories where it was told from the viewpoint of the villain, stories that took place in modern times, stories that made things that were completely unbelievable into something strangely rational and sensible.

One author I love, Juliet Marillier, has done this at least a few times, and I'm always impressed by her reimagining of classic tales. In fact the first book I read by her was exactly that. Daughter of the Forest is essentially a retelling of "The Six Swans" set in ancient Ireland, and is the first in a trilogy. It was beautifully done, and is one of the few books I still reread regularly.

I recently read a Kindle book that was an interesting take on the Snow White story. I've written a few of my own stories that try to change well-known tales and ideas into something new. I'm falling in love with a handful of comics that do the same. I think it's fair to say this is a theme that is going to continue to be on my favourites list for a long, long time.