'It's a 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 they can happen to anyone, not just those of us with unpopular stepparents...
'Here you'll find unique twists on curses, from fairy tale classics to brand-new hexes of the modern world - expect new monsters and mythologies as well as twists on well-loved fables. Stories to shock and stories of warning, stories of monsters and stories of magic.'
Anthology books can be a gamble. The very nature of compiling a book with a dozen or more different authors, with varying styles and takes on a certain subject means that there could very easily be some parts of a book, perhaps even a majority, that won't quite be to your taste. Luckily, readers seemed to have dodged this curse (see what I did there?) with Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales.
The brilliant duo of Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane have once again produced a collection of short stories and poems that not just manage to entertain, but make some bold choices. As the name of the book suggests, there are some stories in this collection that have their roots in the world of fairy tales, and are intriguing reinterpretations of classic stories, whilst some others do something completely different and bring the magic and horror of curses into the modern world.
'As Red As Blood, As White As Snow' by Christina Henry is the first story in the anthology, and draws upon the tale of Snow White as inspiration. If you're at all familiar with Henry's work you'll know that she has a history of taking stories that you know and twisting them into new and interesting tales, such as Red Queen, Alice, and Lost Boys, and this story is no exception. It completely flips two of the central characters, making Prince Charming into a truly frightening villain, whilst the character of the 'wicked' stepmother is actually a caring figure out to help the heroine.
'Haza and Ghani' by Lilith Saintcrow takes the well known Hansel and Gretel and gives it an Indian twist, having the twins run away from home instead of being abandoned, and finding refuge a temple to the Flayed God rather than a witch's home. Despite these differences the story manages to stay true to the themes of the original whilst giving readers something new. Similarly, 'Wendy, Darling' by Christopher Golden uses the character of Wendy Darling from Peter Pan as the basis for what proves to be an incredibly dark and haunting story that also seems to draw upon imagery from the legend of la llorona.
It's not just re-imagined fairy tales on offer here, however, as some of the stories in the collection are completely original and set in more recognisable, modern worlds.
'Hated' by Christopher Fowler takes a very modern look at what a curse could be in the modern world, and how it could affect someone and change their life. It's probably one of the most subtle stories in the book, and doesn't push magic or mysticism in your face. It shows how one tiny thing could go on to alter your life in huge ways.
'Henry and the Snakewood Box' by M.R, Carey takes a somewhat lighthearted approach to the idea of curses, and mixes in some interesting notions about the inner workings of the universe and how time can change. 'Faith and Fred', on the other hand, is a much more haunting story, and would fit right at home in an anthology about ghosts and hauntings, packing in some seriously creepy moments.
These aren't the only stories in Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales by a long shot, and there are some others that I haven't even mentioned that stand out too. The book is packed with great tales, and some amazing authors. Whatever style that you enjoy, or writers that you like, is sure to be met here. The book has something for everyone, and continues the tradition of Titan producing some of the best anthology books around.
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