Review: Two and Twenty Dark Tales

edited by Georgia McBride & Michelle Zink
written by various authors
publisher: Month9Books
date of publication: October 16, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 340
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

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.

You may recall hearing all about Old Mother Hubbard and Humpty Dumpty as a child.  What if that wasn't the entire story?  Two and Twenty Dark Tales is here to give you a glimpse of the possibilities behind these classic rhymes with new interpretations and fresh story-telling from a variety of authors.  Ranging from eerie to moving, there is something for everyone in this fantastic collection of short stories.

Each story on offer in this anthology takes on a particular Mother Goose rhyme and spins it in an entirely new way.  My personal favorite was "Sing a Song of Six-Pence" by Sarwat Chadda, a dark and foreboding take on the rhyme of the same title.  With an unusual yet intriguing narrator and a forlorn setting, the tale Chadda tells is barely recognizable yet amazingly inventive.  That's only the beginning.  From front to back, this book is chock full of some truly wonderful stories.  

If you're a particular fan of short story anthologies, Two and Twenty Dark Tales is a must.  With such a fantastic selection of stories, you just can't go wrong.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every adaptation the book has to offer.  It made me think about all of the possibilities in interpretations of such time-honored, traditional rhymes.  I can promise you one thing in particular, as well: You'll never look at Mother Goose the same way.

Buy Two and Twenty Dark Tales at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.