Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Berkley (2013), 416 pages
Description
Presents five romantic suspense novellas based on fairy tales, including J.D. Robb's "Taken in Death," a twist on the Hansel and Gretel story in which Eve Dallas searches for a pair of missing twins.
User reviews
LibraryThing member silentq
This is a collection of modern reinterpretations of fairy tales (which I found in an airport book shop after finishing my other book). I found it a bit uneven, and it took me a while to figure out that one story was doing "The Little Match Girl". "Taken in Death" about an insane twin who steals her
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sister's children was a dark take on "Hansel and Gretel". "If Wishes Were Horses" was a period romance about a wish granting coin that I quite liked (and it had shades of Goldilocks as the maid candelstinely checked out beds for one that was just right), the returning soldiers from WWI were re-learning how to live in society. The gender reversed "Sleepy Beauty" was a bit creepy, with an inexplicable romance between a young woman who wins a lottery and buys a house with a ghost. The "Cinderella" retelling also suffered from instance romance, a young woman falling for the Irish guy sitting beside her on the plane as she goes to visit the town where her dad grew up. Maybe it was the short story format, but almost all the romances felt rushed, and the intrigue was light on all but the police procedural (which had no romance in it). An uneven collection. Show Less
LibraryThing member Coltfan18
I was expecting a book like "Wicked" and not short stories based on fairy tales. My favorite was based on Hansel and Gretel as it was a mystery. My least favorite was based on Cinderella. I don't like short stories and this is probably why I don't like this book, but if you do, you will probably
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like this book more. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
I liked this set of stories based on fairy tales.
J D Robb takes on Hansel and Gretel in Taken in Death. Twins are stolen by a woman who looks like their mother and they try to leave some breadcrumbs for someone to find them.
If Wishes were horses tells the tale of a servant who finds true love when
Beauty, Sleeping by Elaine Fox is a story of Faerie and a man who disappears who finds love is the answer to his problem of incorporeality.
The Christmas Comet by Mary Kay McComas is a story of a woman who tries to do good who finds that there's love under her nose.
Stroke of Midnight by R C Ryan, takes a twist on the tale of Cinderella. Dear Author, Shannon is in the WEST of Ireland, it's an Airport, Dublin Airport is in the EAST, both have routes to the US. Asking to go to "Dublin, please. Shannon Airport" (p 397) is going to incur one hell of a taxi fare from everywhere in the country, it broke the suspension of disbelief for me just before the end. A little research goes a long way. Though the Ireland was thankfully not as twee as many other authors would have it, plaudits due for that.
Overall not a bad set of stories and well done. I want to read more by several of the authors, J D Robb is already on my must-read list.
J D Robb takes on Hansel and Gretel in Taken in Death. Twins are stolen by a woman who looks like their mother and they try to leave some breadcrumbs for someone to find them.
If Wishes were horses tells the tale of a servant who finds true love when
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she embraces a chance she gets. Nice story by Mary Blayney, a little supernatural stuff and I'd like to see more of these characters.Beauty, Sleeping by Elaine Fox is a story of Faerie and a man who disappears who finds love is the answer to his problem of incorporeality.
The Christmas Comet by Mary Kay McComas is a story of a woman who tries to do good who finds that there's love under her nose.
Stroke of Midnight by R C Ryan, takes a twist on the tale of Cinderella. Dear Author, Shannon is in the WEST of Ireland, it's an Airport, Dublin Airport is in the EAST, both have routes to the US. Asking to go to "Dublin, please. Shannon Airport" (p 397) is going to incur one hell of a taxi fare from everywhere in the country, it broke the suspension of disbelief for me just before the end. A little research goes a long way. Though the Ireland was thankfully not as twee as many other authors would have it, plaudits due for that.
Overall not a bad set of stories and well done. I want to read more by several of the authors, J D Robb is already on my must-read list.
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LibraryThing member ChristineEllei
Whenever a new “In Death” book is released can a short story compilation be very far behind? In this newest entry the various authors put their talents to the test reinventing fairy tales for a modern audience while maintaining their own writing genre. Eve Dallas and Rourke are on the trail of
As with any book of short stories, whether one author or several write them, different stories will appeal to different readers. Keeping in line with the theme of the book, like fairy tales, these were all easy to read “happily-ever-after” stories. My favorites? The stories by Robb and Ryan.
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a “wicked witch” in a Hansel and Gretel like kidnapping case. (J.D. Robb) A servant girl with an unusual coin and a retired army sergeant with a few hidden talents of his own become unlikely lovers in a story with strong nods to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. (Mary Blaney) In the story reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty, the tables are turned and it’s the prince who is charmed by the jealous fairy. (Elaine Fox) In this updated version of The Little Match Girl an activist for the homeless spreads her generosity a little too far and is about to find herself among the ranks of the people she helps. Her handsome friend steps in to try and save her -- from herself. (Mary Kay McComas) A very Cinderella like schoolteacher receives an unexpected windfall and uses it to travel to Ireland to visit her father’s hometown. When she meets a mysterious and handsome stranger she wonders if she could fall in love so quickly or if it’s the town’s enchantment working its wonders. (R.C. Ryan)As with any book of short stories, whether one author or several write them, different stories will appeal to different readers. Keeping in line with the theme of the book, like fairy tales, these were all easy to read “happily-ever-after” stories. My favorites? The stories by Robb and Ryan.
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LibraryThing member Barb_H
I only read Taken in Death. I enjoyed it, as usual. Haven't disliked a book in this series after almost 40 books!
LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
Modern day twists on classic fairy tales like Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, Cinderella and the Little Matchbox Girl. Well written by well established authors. A fun read.
LibraryThing member Carol420
Mirror, Mirror features five very talented author's takes on the classic stories Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Little Match Girl.
With each author giving their dramatically unique spin on their chosen fairy tale Mirror, Mirror becomes more than
I enjoyed each and every author's story and the fact thatMirror, Mirror wasn't just contemporary takes on fairy tales made it all the more enjoyable. My favorite though of course was J.D. Robb's dark, suspense filled take on Hansel & Gretel. With the much loved Eve Dallas & Roarke and the "In Death" crew. Told in a very convincing manner, it will give you chills just thinking that there are actually people in the world like the antagonist. Whoa, what does that say about me that I liked that story the best?
With each author giving their dramatically unique spin on their chosen fairy tale Mirror, Mirror becomes more than
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your average anthology. It almost becomes an event.J.D. Robb, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas and R.C. Ryan bring in the contemporary while Mary Blayney adds a dash of historical. I enjoyed each and every author's story and the fact thatMirror, Mirror wasn't just contemporary takes on fairy tales made it all the more enjoyable. My favorite though of course was J.D. Robb's dark, suspense filled take on Hansel & Gretel. With the much loved Eve Dallas & Roarke and the "In Death" crew. Told in a very convincing manner, it will give you chills just thinking that there are actually people in the world like the antagonist. Whoa, what does that say about me that I liked that story the best?
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013-09
Physical description
416 p.; 4.1 inches
ISBN
9780515154078