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Wink: Young Adult Tales that Wink at Classic Children's Books
Fifteen young adult contemporary fantasy and science fiction tales that wink at classic works of children's literature.Featuring stories AquiloneKendare BlakeLeah CypessStacia DeutschDavid GerroldTara GilboyHenry HerzNancy HolderAlethea KontisJonathan MaberrySeanan McGuireWulf MoonHenry NeffAlex ShvartsmanMaggie Stiefvater
232 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 24, 2024
It’s rare for me to like all of the stories in an anthology, but that’s the case here. Sure, there were a few that stood out to me, but all of the tales in here are clever and worth a read. Fair warning, though…Seanan McGuire’s entry is a little different, shall we say.
There are a lot of big names in here, and they all did a good job at reimagining classic tales that most everyone already knows. I had fun trying to guess the original story as I read, and some of them stumped me until I read the answer at the end.
Please note: trigger warnings are located at the back of the book (although most of the short stories are pretty tame).
All in all, this was quite fun, and I hope they do a volume two!
My thanks to NetGalley, and Brigids Gate Press for the eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
There are a lot of big names in here, and they all did a good job at reimagining classic tales that most everyone already knows. I had fun trying to guess the original story as I read, and some of them stumped me until I read the answer at the end.
Please note: trigger warnings are located at the back of the book (although most of the short stories are pretty tame).
All in all, this was quite fun, and I hope they do a volume two!
My thanks to NetGalley, and Brigids Gate Press for the eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
June 30, 2024
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
Wink: Young Adult Tales that Wink at Classic Children's Books is a fantastic YA book containing fifteen short stories by well loved authors:
James Aquilone
Kendare Blake
Leah Cypess
Stacia Deutsch
David Gerrold
Tara Gilboy
Henry Herz
Nancy Holder
Alethea Kontis
Jonathan Maberry
Seanan McGuire
Wulf Moon
Henry Neff
Alex Shvartsman
Maggie Stiefvater
Each story is unique and individual, just like the authors who wrote them. The genres all differ, too, from fantasy and horror to sci-fi and romance. The stories each one gives a 'wink' too are easily recognised and many have a moral woven into them for the reader too. The cover is what drew me to this book to begin with, and it's a real gem of a book for anyone who loves old fairytales with a fresh vibe.
Wink: Young Adult Tales that Wink at Classic Children's Books is a fantastic YA book containing fifteen short stories by well loved authors:
James Aquilone
Kendare Blake
Leah Cypess
Stacia Deutsch
David Gerrold
Tara Gilboy
Henry Herz
Nancy Holder
Alethea Kontis
Jonathan Maberry
Seanan McGuire
Wulf Moon
Henry Neff
Alex Shvartsman
Maggie Stiefvater
Each story is unique and individual, just like the authors who wrote them. The genres all differ, too, from fantasy and horror to sci-fi and romance. The stories each one gives a 'wink' too are easily recognised and many have a moral woven into them for the reader too. The cover is what drew me to this book to begin with, and it's a real gem of a book for anyone who loves old fairytales with a fresh vibe.
April 4, 2024
Fun collection of short stories that “wink” at classics. Aimed towards young adults. A couple stories gave me feelings of Black Mirror vibes.
June 25, 2024
I should say that so far I have not found a book by Brigid’s Gate Press I didn’t like and that is continued in this anthology. While anthologies can sometimes have a mixture of stories in sense of some being great, some good and some not so great. I can honestly say that, for me, this is not the case with Wink. I adored all the reimagining tales and ‘winks’ back to classics. Of course I had some ultimate favourites, particularly Precious Treasures by wulf Moon and Waii-Chan and Sparklepony by Nancy Holder. That said everyone of the stories left their mark and I most definitely will be re-reading and getting a physical copy.
Each author’s style and choice of story are perfect for them. I loved the difference in voices and pace but the overarching theme of seeing classic children’s and fairy tales reimagined. Some were a little darker some lighter and all in all it’s a perfect balance.
I want go into great detail of each story since I don’t like spoilers. I will say if you love fairytales and classics reimagined this is for you. You honestly won’t be disappointed.
Each author’s style and choice of story are perfect for them. I loved the difference in voices and pace but the overarching theme of seeing classic children’s and fairy tales reimagined. Some were a little darker some lighter and all in all it’s a perfect balance.
I want go into great detail of each story since I don’t like spoilers. I will say if you love fairytales and classics reimagined this is for you. You honestly won’t be disappointed.
May 28, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up
Like all anthologies, this is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some stand-outs (Seanan McGuire's absolutely terrifying entry in particular, but I also loved "The Fastest Horse in the World", "The Scent of Cotton Candy" and "Waii-Chan and Sparklepony") some duds (particularly "Other Earth", which was extremely simplistic and featured a rushed enemies-to-lovers romance starring the Lorax and the Onceler as human teenagers, "My Science Project", which was just trying to do too much all at once and "Precious Treasure" which read younger and less sophisticated than its source material) and a lot of pleasant, middle-of-the-road stuff.
There will definitely be something in there for every reader, and it's a pleasant, quick read. Definitely recommended if you enjoy retellings, or if you need a palate cleanser between longer works!
I received an advance copy of this books from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Like all anthologies, this is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some stand-outs (Seanan McGuire's absolutely terrifying entry in particular, but I also loved "The Fastest Horse in the World", "The Scent of Cotton Candy" and "Waii-Chan and Sparklepony") some duds (particularly "Other Earth", which was extremely simplistic and featured a rushed enemies-to-lovers romance starring the Lorax and the Onceler as human teenagers, "My Science Project", which was just trying to do too much all at once and "Precious Treasure" which read younger and less sophisticated than its source material) and a lot of pleasant, middle-of-the-road stuff.
There will definitely be something in there for every reader, and it's a pleasant, quick read. Definitely recommended if you enjoy retellings, or if you need a palate cleanser between longer works!
I received an advance copy of this books from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 23, 2024
Mini blurb: Fifteen tales drawing inspiration from/reimagining/subverting a selection of classic tales for children (mostly upgrading them to YA) and offering some unexpected twists.
***
Rated 2.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Brigids Gate press for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
When I saw Seanan McGuire's name in this anthology's line-up, I did what I always do...I clicked on the "request" button - despite not being familiar with a number of the tales that inspired these ones (keep in mind I'm from Italy). Then I got afraid this would dampen my appreciation of these stories, so when the publisher approved my request, I went and looked up the originals online. It turned out that, regardless of my familiarity with the source material, I might not be the best fit for this book. (Also, please note: I didn't read Wulf Moon's story because high fantasy is not my jam, and that include the tale it winks at...The Hobbit, that I've never read nor I have any desire to).
Most of these stories are on the shorter side and some feel a bit incomplete, or end a tad too abruptly for my taste. Some of them I found to be a tad simplistic in style (Follow the Shattered-Brick Road - though it's a nice exploration of grief), scope (My Science Project - though it's amusing) or resolution (Other Earth - though I appreciated the environmental sensibility). My favourite ones include The Scent of Cotton Candy (a darker rendition of Mary Poppins with an interesting sibling dynamic), Waii-Chan and Sparklepony (a tale of toys becoming alive out of love on the backdrop of innocence lost, with a vein of philosophy) and of course Specials by Seanan McGuire (unsurprisingly, the darkest- and most satirical - of the bunch, taking a jab at the adults' hypocrisy and their counterintuitive capacity to create monsters). All in all, these stories were a mixed bag for me, but my bar for anthologies is especially high, so I recommend that you read a range of reviews before you decide if this collection is for you.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book; also, due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series).
***
Rated 2.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Brigids Gate press for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
When I saw Seanan McGuire's name in this anthology's line-up, I did what I always do...I clicked on the "request" button - despite not being familiar with a number of the tales that inspired these ones (keep in mind I'm from Italy). Then I got afraid this would dampen my appreciation of these stories, so when the publisher approved my request, I went and looked up the originals online. It turned out that, regardless of my familiarity with the source material, I might not be the best fit for this book. (Also, please note: I didn't read Wulf Moon's story because high fantasy is not my jam, and that include the tale it winks at...The Hobbit, that I've never read nor I have any desire to).
Most of these stories are on the shorter side and some feel a bit incomplete, or end a tad too abruptly for my taste. Some of them I found to be a tad simplistic in style (Follow the Shattered-Brick Road - though it's a nice exploration of grief), scope (My Science Project - though it's amusing) or resolution (Other Earth - though I appreciated the environmental sensibility). My favourite ones include The Scent of Cotton Candy (a darker rendition of Mary Poppins with an interesting sibling dynamic), Waii-Chan and Sparklepony (a tale of toys becoming alive out of love on the backdrop of innocence lost, with a vein of philosophy) and of course Specials by Seanan McGuire (unsurprisingly, the darkest- and most satirical - of the bunch, taking a jab at the adults' hypocrisy and their counterintuitive capacity to create monsters). All in all, these stories were a mixed bag for me, but my bar for anthologies is especially high, so I recommend that you read a range of reviews before you decide if this collection is for you.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book; also, due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series).
April 13, 2024
Anthologies are always difficult to rate given they typically vary wildly in both quality of stories and ability for the reader to connect to all/most of the stories. With that said, Wink may be the best anthology I’ve ever read.
This wonderful collection of stories is a trippy wander down memory lane full of science fiction and fantasy goodies, nods to feminism, shocking twists, and feel-good moments. The illustrations were also incredibly fun and entertaining.
The Fastest Horse in the World by Kendare Blake
Tale it winks at: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Premise: AI is taking over jockeys and horses.
Thoughts: Honestly, I’ve never read Black Beauty, but I do know the basics. Written from the main horse’s point of view, we first see horses being raced using AI jockeys and at the end seeing AI horses being introduced. While the concept was interesting, the story did not grip me as I believe it was intended to. It was fine, but not really my speed. I probably wouldn’t read a full story about this.
Rating: 3 stars
Precious Treasure by Wulf Moon
Tale it winks at: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Premise: N/A
Thoughts: At the time of reading, I was not in the right headspace for a Tolkien-esque tribute. As such, this story will be exempt from my rating.
Rating: N/A
The Scent of Cotton Candy by Leah Cypess
Tale it winks at: Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Premise: Now older, Julia is begrudgingly brought in to help her brother, Matt, track down Nanny Margaret. Why are they tracking her? Because she is snatching children of course! They just happened to get away…
Thoughts: This was absolutely hilarious! I loved Julia’s internal monologues that left me in stitches, as well as Matt’s craziness driving him to find Nanny Margaret. The idea of someone with Mary Poppins’s abilities caring for and then snatching children away is entirely eerie and something I was definitely sucked into. Where can I read more of this?!?!?
Rating: 5 stars
Waii-Chan and Sparklepony by Nancy Holder
Tale it winks at: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Premise: Toys having existential crises about if they are part of a video game their owner designed or if they are “real” toys. No scarlet fever like in The Velveteen Rabbit, but there is espionage for a competition for a technology-based internship.
Thoughts: This was enjoyable, but it was definitely closer to the tale it winked at than others in the collection. The ending was a little confusing to me as I tried to piece together what caused the transformation, much like the fairy in the original. Was it being put in the video game that did it? I think so, but the story was a bit fuzzy about this causation.
Rating: 4 stars
The Monster at the End of this Story by Althea Kontis
Tale it winks at: The Monster at the End of this Book: Starring Loveable, Furry Old Grover by Jon Stone
Premise: Monster children go to a summer camp, in which they beg the counselor to tell them scary stories about “the monster” at the campsite. While being told many stories throughout their stay, while all the while creating memories of their own, each story has a resolution except the last. The overall theme of the story is that memories fade with time as we all get older.
Thoughts: I very much enjoyed this. I haven’t read the book about Grover, but my son plays this game quite often on the PBS Kids app, so I kept thinking about him while I read it, which was fun. This reminded me of Lumberjanes meets the summer camp from Addams Family Values meets monsters, which are all things I love! The pacing was also great. I would definitely read a longer version of this.
Rating: 5 stars
My Science Project by Henry Herz
Tale it winks at: Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Premise: A high school science nerd obsessed with aliens and space is contacted by actual aliens because they ran the data and he has the lowest chance of spilling the beans on their existence. They want him to answer questions they don’t understand about humans, like why they resist sleep in favor of social media, why they “use idioms when they make communication more confusing”, etc. In exchange for this, they offer him help with his science fair project. Of course, these frogs are Frog and Toad from their self-titled books!
Thoughts: I absolutely adored this story!!! It was cute, it was quirky, and it was a super enjoyable read for someone like myself who is a sarcastic science fiction and pop culture lover.
Rating: 5 stars
Tabula by Henry Neff
Tale it winks at: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Premise: A high schooler finds that there is the existence of another plane/dimension running alongside the current Earth/time plane and tells her teacher about it. While dismissing her ideas as ludicrous, he is also stealing them to present as his own.
Thoughts: I liked this take on Harold and the Purple Crayon, especially with its feminist take by making the MC female whose findings were being claimed by a man (sound historically familiar?). It did seem to drag a bit at parts, thus I’ve reduced my rating a bit.
Rating: 4 stars
Special by Seanan McGuire
Tale it winks at: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Premise: A child walks us through their thought process of what adults say is “bad”, how “bad” can be excused for various reasons (for example, if you are a musical prodigy), and why adults live up to the “Do as I say, not as I do” adage.
Thoughts: Oh boy, this one was intense! I believe our MC was neurodivergent, which I applaud the representation. I also liked the overall thinking the character had about how adults tell kids to do one thing and then do another, what constitutes as “bad” behavior, and how the more special you are or more desirable traits you have, the more you can be “bad” and no one cares. This hits on so many levels and is brilliantly executed through the mind of a neurodivergent child.
The twist that the story takes from a child’s internal ramblings to an all-out horror story was fantastically done and utterly shocking. I loved every minute of it!
Rating: 5 stars
Final Ella by James Aquilone
Tale it winks at: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Premise: Alice in Wonderland with a kidnapping Mad Hatter who traps girls in another dimension (aka, Wonderland)
Thoughts: This was an interesting take on the story, but I’ve read a lot of Alice in Wonderland-inspired tales and this was not my favorite. Still well written and an interesting plot.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Other Earth by Stacia Deutsch
Tale it winks at: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Premise: A group of individuals (scientists, doctors, etc.) live in an environmentally sensitive bubble with others being evacuated from Earth, since Earth is expected to die and not sustain life at some point soon due to pollution and other environmentally unsafe practices. Larissa is a Botany lab tech who is in charge is creating a new sustainable ecosystem of trees, streams, etc., while Oliver (her friend’s brother) is in charge of getting more people evacuated and set up in their bubble. Oliver proposes chopping down her trees to make room for more people, but she shows him how much trees can offer, helping him to hatch a new plan.
Thoughts: Oh my gods! Oh my gods! Oh my gods! This was not only a women in STEM story, but it had everything to make it an enemies-to-lovers, friend’s older brother romance!!! Fans of Ali Hazelwood would completely adore this one. I would totally read this as a full book, and I need it STAT!
Rating: 5 stars
Chloe’s Cabin by Tara Gilboy
Tale it winks at: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Premise: Aliens have come to Earth but aren’t doing anything but hovering in spacecrafts. People are freaking out and starting to blame NASA, the government, and each other. Looting is starting, cities are burning, and none of it is the aliens’ doing.
During this time, a family evacuates to a cabin off the grid where the FMC learns how to do things like shoot a gun for self-defense, hunt, etc. Eventually the aliens leave because humans are acting so terribly, and the family is able to move back to the city, but she’ll never forget what she learned.
Thoughts: I have never read or watched anything to do with Little House on the Prairie, but from online summaries I found the premise seems similar enough to the original. I liked how the FMC embraced the new life her stepfather had created for their family and how she didn’t take what he offered them for granted. I also enjoyed that she wanted to get out and learn how to do all the things he was doing and that he taught her. Definitely had a touch of feminism I enjoyed.
Rating: 4 stars
Doc’s Lucky Day at the Dump by Alex Shvartsman
Tale it winks at: Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting
Premise: Doctor Doolittle but with AI “mods”. The Doc finds mods, fixes them up, and places them with new owners, on a typical day. However, our story leads the Doctor to find a most peculiar mod, more reminiscent of a real boy.
Thoughts: This is the only time in my life I’ve thanked the gods for Eddie Murphy, as I actually knew the story this was based on because of that terrible movie he was in. On another note, I knew I was going to love this from the beginning since it was by the amazing Alex Shvartsman!!
Doc was an incredibly loveable character, always acting in the best interest of others, sometimes to his own detriment. He was incredibly smart and a character I openly rooted for. I also adored his sidekick. I found this story completely heartwarming and I actually awwww’d at the ending.
Rating: 5 stars
Follow the Shattered-Brick Road by Jonathan Maberry
Tale it winks at: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum*
*(fun fact: the L is short for Lyman!)
Premise: Ethan is knocked unconscious during a hurricane by a tree and “wakes up” in an oz like land. He is told several times that he is not dead yet, but he must make his way to the other side of the land.
Thoughts: I believe the entire story was an allegory for grief and finding your way through it. Well written, but not my favorite.
Rating: 3 stars
State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater
Tale it winks at: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Premise: This story is really a reversal of The Cat in the Hat. The babysitter wants to straighten everything up and judges everything the parents have taught and done, chalking everything up to rich people having no common sense.
Thoughts: For this story and the last, I feel like if you’re going to take a classic, you have to knock it out of the park; these were just meh. I did enjoy the grim twist at the end of this one though.
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press, and the authors for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own
4.25 stars
This wonderful collection of stories is a trippy wander down memory lane full of science fiction and fantasy goodies, nods to feminism, shocking twists, and feel-good moments. The illustrations were also incredibly fun and entertaining.
The Fastest Horse in the World by Kendare Blake
Tale it winks at: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Premise: AI is taking over jockeys and horses.
Thoughts: Honestly, I’ve never read Black Beauty, but I do know the basics. Written from the main horse’s point of view, we first see horses being raced using AI jockeys and at the end seeing AI horses being introduced. While the concept was interesting, the story did not grip me as I believe it was intended to. It was fine, but not really my speed. I probably wouldn’t read a full story about this.
Rating: 3 stars
Precious Treasure by Wulf Moon
Tale it winks at: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Premise: N/A
Thoughts: At the time of reading, I was not in the right headspace for a Tolkien-esque tribute. As such, this story will be exempt from my rating.
Rating: N/A
The Scent of Cotton Candy by Leah Cypess
Tale it winks at: Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Premise: Now older, Julia is begrudgingly brought in to help her brother, Matt, track down Nanny Margaret. Why are they tracking her? Because she is snatching children of course! They just happened to get away…
Thoughts: This was absolutely hilarious! I loved Julia’s internal monologues that left me in stitches, as well as Matt’s craziness driving him to find Nanny Margaret. The idea of someone with Mary Poppins’s abilities caring for and then snatching children away is entirely eerie and something I was definitely sucked into. Where can I read more of this?!?!?
Rating: 5 stars
Waii-Chan and Sparklepony by Nancy Holder
Tale it winks at: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Premise: Toys having existential crises about if they are part of a video game their owner designed or if they are “real” toys. No scarlet fever like in The Velveteen Rabbit, but there is espionage for a competition for a technology-based internship.
Thoughts: This was enjoyable, but it was definitely closer to the tale it winked at than others in the collection. The ending was a little confusing to me as I tried to piece together what caused the transformation, much like the fairy in the original. Was it being put in the video game that did it? I think so, but the story was a bit fuzzy about this causation.
Rating: 4 stars
The Monster at the End of this Story by Althea Kontis
Tale it winks at: The Monster at the End of this Book: Starring Loveable, Furry Old Grover by Jon Stone
Premise: Monster children go to a summer camp, in which they beg the counselor to tell them scary stories about “the monster” at the campsite. While being told many stories throughout their stay, while all the while creating memories of their own, each story has a resolution except the last. The overall theme of the story is that memories fade with time as we all get older.
Thoughts: I very much enjoyed this. I haven’t read the book about Grover, but my son plays this game quite often on the PBS Kids app, so I kept thinking about him while I read it, which was fun. This reminded me of Lumberjanes meets the summer camp from Addams Family Values meets monsters, which are all things I love! The pacing was also great. I would definitely read a longer version of this.
Rating: 5 stars
My Science Project by Henry Herz
Tale it winks at: Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Premise: A high school science nerd obsessed with aliens and space is contacted by actual aliens because they ran the data and he has the lowest chance of spilling the beans on their existence. They want him to answer questions they don’t understand about humans, like why they resist sleep in favor of social media, why they “use idioms when they make communication more confusing”, etc. In exchange for this, they offer him help with his science fair project. Of course, these frogs are Frog and Toad from their self-titled books!
Thoughts: I absolutely adored this story!!! It was cute, it was quirky, and it was a super enjoyable read for someone like myself who is a sarcastic science fiction and pop culture lover.
Rating: 5 stars
Tabula by Henry Neff
Tale it winks at: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Premise: A high schooler finds that there is the existence of another plane/dimension running alongside the current Earth/time plane and tells her teacher about it. While dismissing her ideas as ludicrous, he is also stealing them to present as his own.
Thoughts: I liked this take on Harold and the Purple Crayon, especially with its feminist take by making the MC female whose findings were being claimed by a man (sound historically familiar?). It did seem to drag a bit at parts, thus I’ve reduced my rating a bit.
Rating: 4 stars
Special by Seanan McGuire
Tale it winks at: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Premise: A child walks us through their thought process of what adults say is “bad”, how “bad” can be excused for various reasons (for example, if you are a musical prodigy), and why adults live up to the “Do as I say, not as I do” adage.
Thoughts: Oh boy, this one was intense! I believe our MC was neurodivergent, which I applaud the representation. I also liked the overall thinking the character had about how adults tell kids to do one thing and then do another, what constitutes as “bad” behavior, and how the more special you are or more desirable traits you have, the more you can be “bad” and no one cares. This hits on so many levels and is brilliantly executed through the mind of a neurodivergent child.
The twist that the story takes from a child’s internal ramblings to an all-out horror story was fantastically done and utterly shocking. I loved every minute of it!
Rating: 5 stars
Final Ella by James Aquilone
Tale it winks at: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Premise: Alice in Wonderland with a kidnapping Mad Hatter who traps girls in another dimension (aka, Wonderland)
Thoughts: This was an interesting take on the story, but I’ve read a lot of Alice in Wonderland-inspired tales and this was not my favorite. Still well written and an interesting plot.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Other Earth by Stacia Deutsch
Tale it winks at: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Premise: A group of individuals (scientists, doctors, etc.) live in an environmentally sensitive bubble with others being evacuated from Earth, since Earth is expected to die and not sustain life at some point soon due to pollution and other environmentally unsafe practices. Larissa is a Botany lab tech who is in charge is creating a new sustainable ecosystem of trees, streams, etc., while Oliver (her friend’s brother) is in charge of getting more people evacuated and set up in their bubble. Oliver proposes chopping down her trees to make room for more people, but she shows him how much trees can offer, helping him to hatch a new plan.
Thoughts: Oh my gods! Oh my gods! Oh my gods! This was not only a women in STEM story, but it had everything to make it an enemies-to-lovers, friend’s older brother romance!!! Fans of Ali Hazelwood would completely adore this one. I would totally read this as a full book, and I need it STAT!
Rating: 5 stars
Chloe’s Cabin by Tara Gilboy
Tale it winks at: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Premise: Aliens have come to Earth but aren’t doing anything but hovering in spacecrafts. People are freaking out and starting to blame NASA, the government, and each other. Looting is starting, cities are burning, and none of it is the aliens’ doing.
During this time, a family evacuates to a cabin off the grid where the FMC learns how to do things like shoot a gun for self-defense, hunt, etc. Eventually the aliens leave because humans are acting so terribly, and the family is able to move back to the city, but she’ll never forget what she learned.
Thoughts: I have never read or watched anything to do with Little House on the Prairie, but from online summaries I found the premise seems similar enough to the original. I liked how the FMC embraced the new life her stepfather had created for their family and how she didn’t take what he offered them for granted. I also enjoyed that she wanted to get out and learn how to do all the things he was doing and that he taught her. Definitely had a touch of feminism I enjoyed.
Rating: 4 stars
Doc’s Lucky Day at the Dump by Alex Shvartsman
Tale it winks at: Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting
Premise: Doctor Doolittle but with AI “mods”. The Doc finds mods, fixes them up, and places them with new owners, on a typical day. However, our story leads the Doctor to find a most peculiar mod, more reminiscent of a real boy.
Thoughts: This is the only time in my life I’ve thanked the gods for Eddie Murphy, as I actually knew the story this was based on because of that terrible movie he was in. On another note, I knew I was going to love this from the beginning since it was by the amazing Alex Shvartsman!!
Doc was an incredibly loveable character, always acting in the best interest of others, sometimes to his own detriment. He was incredibly smart and a character I openly rooted for. I also adored his sidekick. I found this story completely heartwarming and I actually awwww’d at the ending.
Rating: 5 stars
Follow the Shattered-Brick Road by Jonathan Maberry
Tale it winks at: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum*
*(fun fact: the L is short for Lyman!)
Premise: Ethan is knocked unconscious during a hurricane by a tree and “wakes up” in an oz like land. He is told several times that he is not dead yet, but he must make his way to the other side of the land.
Thoughts: I believe the entire story was an allegory for grief and finding your way through it. Well written, but not my favorite.
Rating: 3 stars
State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater
Tale it winks at: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Premise: This story is really a reversal of The Cat in the Hat. The babysitter wants to straighten everything up and judges everything the parents have taught and done, chalking everything up to rich people having no common sense.
Thoughts: For this story and the last, I feel like if you’re going to take a classic, you have to knock it out of the park; these were just meh. I did enjoy the grim twist at the end of this one though.
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press, and the authors for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own
4.25 stars
March 18, 2024
It’s always a challenge to review a collection of short stories, especially when they’re so very different from each other, as these are. The theme of the collection is like fractured fairy tales - but based on modern children’s fiction instead.
The collection includes fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and fairy tale style short stories inspired by tales like The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, and Black Beauty, among many others.
I certainly had favorites among them, like all collected works some just hit me more than others, and my favorites will likely not be yours. That’s the joy of short stories!
I laughed, I teared up, I was horrified - this collection is a pleasant way to pass an afternoon. I can imagine they’d be fun to read aloud as well, should you have the opportunity to share stories with others.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Street Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
The collection includes fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and fairy tale style short stories inspired by tales like The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, and Black Beauty, among many others.
I certainly had favorites among them, like all collected works some just hit me more than others, and my favorites will likely not be yours. That’s the joy of short stories!
I laughed, I teared up, I was horrified - this collection is a pleasant way to pass an afternoon. I can imagine they’d be fun to read aloud as well, should you have the opportunity to share stories with others.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Street Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
May 27, 2024
The theme of this anthology is what drew me to it in the first place, as I was intrigued by the concept of taking fairytale twists and modernizing a bit by instead drawing from more contemporary stories that have also made their homes in the general cultural zeitgeist. Some stories were definitely stronger than others, as is generally common with the format, and some definitely felt like they could have kept going but had to hold back due to the short story format. It's definitely fun to try and figure out what story is being drawn from before you reach its end!
Thanks to BookSirens, the publisher, and the authors for my obligation-free review copy.
Thanks to BookSirens, the publisher, and the authors for my obligation-free review copy.
July 29, 2024
What a fantastic little book of reimagined childhood classics tales that have been rewritten for Young Adult audiences.
While they are brand new stories in themselves, each 'wink' at a classic, with the first being an acknowledgement of the famous Black Beauty.
We have alsorts of classic, well-known children's classics in here from The Hobbit to The Snow Queen there is literally a wink for everyone here.
Each short story is very well-written, and not one lets the book down, in my opinion. They are creative, sometimes dark, and many are emotive to keep their readers engaged and interested.
I though the Introduction to the book was brilliant as it explained the concept of 'winking' where this book was concerned so I was able to exactly what the authors and Henry were attempting to do and they do it very, very well.
A highly enjoyable collection of short stories that are fantastic for all!
While they are brand new stories in themselves, each 'wink' at a classic, with the first being an acknowledgement of the famous Black Beauty.
We have alsorts of classic, well-known children's classics in here from The Hobbit to The Snow Queen there is literally a wink for everyone here.
Each short story is very well-written, and not one lets the book down, in my opinion. They are creative, sometimes dark, and many are emotive to keep their readers engaged and interested.
I though the Introduction to the book was brilliant as it explained the concept of 'winking' where this book was concerned so I was able to exactly what the authors and Henry were attempting to do and they do it very, very well.
A highly enjoyable collection of short stories that are fantastic for all!
June 28, 2024
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Brigids Gate Press and Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This anthology has an absolutely brilliant hook! Fifteen young adult stories that are inspired by and/or pay homage to works of classic children’s literature, ranging from Black Beauty and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to The Velveteen Rabbit and The Rainbow Fish.
There is a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy and even a little horror and romance, as each story has its own unique style and voice. Not a single one simply replicates the source material, instead each shaping something new with just a wink to the familiar.
My personal favourite story was Special by Seanan McGuire which is a gruesome exploration of the mental gymnastics someone can achieve when they need to justify their desired actions and a reminder of why the ‘share everything’ ethos as presented in The Rainbow Fish has something of a fatal flaw. And I also particularly enjoyed State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater and Interloper by Henry Herz – two different perspectives on the tale of a pushy ‘House Sitter’ who gets a hard lesson in boundaries.
Honestly, though, there isn’t a single story in this collection that I didn’t enjoy reading. Some are creepy, some are sweet or surreal, but all of them are clever and compelling. And while they are definitely too dark in tone and content to be children’s stories any more, they form a Treasury of Fairytales for Young and Not-So-Young Adults that I could read over and over again!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
This anthology has an absolutely brilliant hook! Fifteen young adult stories that are inspired by and/or pay homage to works of classic children’s literature, ranging from Black Beauty and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to The Velveteen Rabbit and The Rainbow Fish.
There is a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy and even a little horror and romance, as each story has its own unique style and voice. Not a single one simply replicates the source material, instead each shaping something new with just a wink to the familiar.
My personal favourite story was Special by Seanan McGuire which is a gruesome exploration of the mental gymnastics someone can achieve when they need to justify their desired actions and a reminder of why the ‘share everything’ ethos as presented in The Rainbow Fish has something of a fatal flaw. And I also particularly enjoyed State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater and Interloper by Henry Herz – two different perspectives on the tale of a pushy ‘House Sitter’ who gets a hard lesson in boundaries.
Honestly, though, there isn’t a single story in this collection that I didn’t enjoy reading. Some are creepy, some are sweet or surreal, but all of them are clever and compelling. And while they are definitely too dark in tone and content to be children’s stories any more, they form a Treasury of Fairytales for Young and Not-So-Young Adults that I could read over and over again!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
June 27, 2024
Thanks to Brigids Gate Press for a copy of this collection to review. It's available now!
This was a mixed bag for me; I was lured in by the cover, but with some exceptions, I don't typically enjoy revisiting mainstream "children's" stories or movies. These retellings at least put their inspirations through a modern or more magical lens, improving some of them. The tones range from eerie to quirky, and the voices range from a Goosebumps-level, middle grade vibe, to higher YA. I think the inconsistency in these aspects kind of put me off more; the cover kind of makes you think they'll all be dark and creepy.
My favorite was "The Scent of Cotton Candy", the Mary Poppins retelling by Leah Cypess, who has written some good YA fantasy I also enjoyed. Its eerie, unsettling mood evoked almost a Turn of the Screw vibe, but it also enunciated the Brownie, fae-like aspects of Mary Poppins that I never realized until now. It was one of the more grave, eerie stories so I definitely gravitated towards it.
The Velveteen Rabbit-inspired "Waii-Chan and Sparklepony" by Nancy Holder was a strange tale that you'll probably enjoy if, like me, you assigned feelings and sentience to your stuffed animals and toys.
The final story, "Best Served Cold" by David Gerold, was an excellent, vengefully feminist take on "The Snow Queen", definitely on the more adult and dark end of these stories.
I really enjoyed some of these stories, and my rating is about three and a half, rounded down for what I didn't.
This was a mixed bag for me; I was lured in by the cover, but with some exceptions, I don't typically enjoy revisiting mainstream "children's" stories or movies. These retellings at least put their inspirations through a modern or more magical lens, improving some of them. The tones range from eerie to quirky, and the voices range from a Goosebumps-level, middle grade vibe, to higher YA. I think the inconsistency in these aspects kind of put me off more; the cover kind of makes you think they'll all be dark and creepy.
My favorite was "The Scent of Cotton Candy", the Mary Poppins retelling by Leah Cypess, who has written some good YA fantasy I also enjoyed. Its eerie, unsettling mood evoked almost a Turn of the Screw vibe, but it also enunciated the Brownie, fae-like aspects of Mary Poppins that I never realized until now. It was one of the more grave, eerie stories so I definitely gravitated towards it.
The Velveteen Rabbit-inspired "Waii-Chan and Sparklepony" by Nancy Holder was a strange tale that you'll probably enjoy if, like me, you assigned feelings and sentience to your stuffed animals and toys.
The final story, "Best Served Cold" by David Gerold, was an excellent, vengefully feminist take on "The Snow Queen", definitely on the more adult and dark end of these stories.
I really enjoyed some of these stories, and my rating is about three and a half, rounded down for what I didn't.
April 1, 2024
This was a fun collection - and what a clever idea! I love re-imaginings, and there are so many books devoted to classic fairy tales in this manner, but this is the first (and hopefully not the last) to take more contemporary children's/young adult's stories and spin them out as well! I was really pleased with the unique nature of so many of the stories, and how they managed to stay true to their origins conceptually while also moving in truly original directions (I'm particularly calling out the Seanan McGuire tale here!). There's a motley collection of authors and styles represented, with something for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
October 18, 2024
*An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Another anthology that was forgettable and mostly unlikable, for me anyways. Most of the stories were very strange, but mostly they felt like they had no purpose, no meaning, no new take on the story it was inspired by and, worst of all, no entertainment value.
The stories worth mentioning as being better than the rest were "The Fastest Horse in the World" "Other Earth", "Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump", and "Best Served Cold".
Another anthology that was forgettable and mostly unlikable, for me anyways. Most of the stories were very strange, but mostly they felt like they had no purpose, no meaning, no new take on the story it was inspired by and, worst of all, no entertainment value.
The stories worth mentioning as being better than the rest were "The Fastest Horse in the World" "Other Earth", "Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump", and "Best Served Cold".
September 20, 2024
stiefvater you’re insane and i’m obsessed with you
July 3, 2024
I loved the whole concept of this great new anthology of short stories that are based on - or wink at - the great children's classics that we all know and love.
I would say though, that these are more based at the YA audience who remember the classics, rather than for children's reading.
Here we have a treat of fifteen refreshing fantasy and science fiction tales, each giving us something a little bit different.
There's a great range and diversity in each story and a good mix of genres.
I actually have re-read some classics with my children and find that they can often be pretty dark - but not so obviously so. Here, we see some quite dark themes and a couple just touching on being horror - which I loved!
Some of the stories I enjoyed more than others, which is to be expected - but each one had their merits and were well presented and written.
I love short stories like this as each one can be read pretty quickly and enjoyed over a lunch break or whilst waiting for the kids - perfect for fitting in-between or alongside other larger novels.
I don't often gravitate to short stories - but this has definitely tempted me to make sure I read more in the future.
I would say though, that these are more based at the YA audience who remember the classics, rather than for children's reading.
Here we have a treat of fifteen refreshing fantasy and science fiction tales, each giving us something a little bit different.
There's a great range and diversity in each story and a good mix of genres.
I actually have re-read some classics with my children and find that they can often be pretty dark - but not so obviously so. Here, we see some quite dark themes and a couple just touching on being horror - which I loved!
Some of the stories I enjoyed more than others, which is to be expected - but each one had their merits and were well presented and written.
I love short stories like this as each one can be read pretty quickly and enjoyed over a lunch break or whilst waiting for the kids - perfect for fitting in-between or alongside other larger novels.
I don't often gravitate to short stories - but this has definitely tempted me to make sure I read more in the future.
July 4, 2024
I loved all the stories in this anthology. It was quite fun to read this book. There are fifteen short stories by well-loved authors. There are stories from different genres, from horror to fantasy. Every story is unique. The cover is adorable, which lured me in. I loved the illustrations, it was fun and enjoyable. Overall, I loved and enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it to all.
June 27, 2024
I loved the idea of childhood stories taking on a sinister twist so I was instantly drawn to this book. Also, how intriguing is the cover!
Some of the classic stories I was familiar with and others I wasn’t but still enjoyed the “winked” version all the same. I enjoyed some stories more than others and there are some I would definitely reread. I particularly enjoyed Precious Treasures! The stories were nice and short and I really enjoyed the change up and diversity of the stories. Some were definitely darker than others.
Overall, a great book to pick up if you are looking for a nice little short story read and a palette cleanser.
Some of the classic stories I was familiar with and others I wasn’t but still enjoyed the “winked” version all the same. I enjoyed some stories more than others and there are some I would definitely reread. I particularly enjoyed Precious Treasures! The stories were nice and short and I really enjoyed the change up and diversity of the stories. Some were definitely darker than others.
Overall, a great book to pick up if you are looking for a nice little short story read and a palette cleanser.
June 26, 2024
This book is a collection of tales that we know from our childhood which have been adapted and made darker. Some of the stories I knew what they were based on, some I had never heard of. The book was a nice collection of stories, although there were a couple that were not enjoyable to read. If you want a darker, warped version of childhood stories then this book is for you.
March 14, 2024
This book is compiled of short stories that are not merely tales, but retellings of classics such as Black Beauty, The Hobbit, Mary Poppins, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and more. The multiple points of view vary, allowing readers to experience the perspective of a horse one moment and a child the next, enriching the book's depth and appeal.
Every author gives their unique view to the world of each tale and an advantage is that the context of each story is already made, so the reader doesn’t have to struggle with getting adjusted to the world if they’re already familiarized with it. Therefore, this anthology can serve as a scavenger hunt for classic books.
This anthology is intended for readers who enjoy short stories and are aware of the format. Those who prefer long stories with extensive world-building may find the individual books of each tale more appealing than this work.
Wink is a compelling book based on the ambiance of each tale, however not every story is exceptional. The writing style remains neutral for most of the stories and there’s nothing remarkable about it. This book won’t change lives, but it does make you want to read more fairy tales.
I’m grateful with NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity of letting me read this before its publication.
Actual rating: 2.5-2.75*
Every author gives their unique view to the world of each tale and an advantage is that the context of each story is already made, so the reader doesn’t have to struggle with getting adjusted to the world if they’re already familiarized with it. Therefore, this anthology can serve as a scavenger hunt for classic books.
This anthology is intended for readers who enjoy short stories and are aware of the format. Those who prefer long stories with extensive world-building may find the individual books of each tale more appealing than this work.
Wink is a compelling book based on the ambiance of each tale, however not every story is exceptional. The writing style remains neutral for most of the stories and there’s nothing remarkable about it. This book won’t change lives, but it does make you want to read more fairy tales.
I’m grateful with NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity of letting me read this before its publication.
Actual rating: 2.5-2.75*
July 7, 2024
Maggie Stiefvater has a short story out and the library didn't have this book!! In desperation, I was googling this book and saw a listing for NetGalley. Lo and behold, it was still available for request. So THANK YOU, NetGalley and publishers, for a copy for review. All opinions are my own.
I was actually surprised to see bigger names like Seanan McGuire and Maggie Stiefvater attached to this, since the cover looks amateurish. In general, YA short stories don't work for me - I feel like a lot of authors don't include enough depth and instead focus on hitting the typical YA beats. This, however, was a cool concept with the 'wink' at popular kids stories. Some stories are better than others, of course, but there are certain stories I'd highly recommend.
It was fun to try to guess what they were based on! I list them in my review so if you want to be surprised, maybe skip the individual reviews.
(Question: why is Jane Yolen listed in the about the author section tho??)
The Fastest Horse in the World by Kendare Blake - 3 stars
Based on Black Beauty
I generally dislike horse stories, because I don’t like reading about horses being sad. From a technical standpoint, I think this could have been longer with more try/fail cycles, and the way it ended felt too soon - it seemed to undercut the point by not resolving the new element introduced.
But, griping aside, it was a sweet story about a girl and her horse.
Precious Treasure by Wulf Moon - 2 stars
Based on The Hobbit
This feels younger, which makes sense for the source material. Very moralistic: friendship is important! I think a short story was the wrong way to get this across - there wasn’t space for anything to make this more complex or subtle.
The Scent of Cotton Candy by Leah Cypess - 4 stars
Based on Mary Poppins
Oh HO now this is what I wanted from this book!
It shows how what other people say about people can become your own impression of that person (what with Julia thinking Matt is lazy, just like the nanny and parents said), it's what happens to kids who have a magical experience and return to real life, it's creepiness hidden as something sweet as cotton candy. It also adds and twists the mythology of a magical nanny into something fae, and it's very YA in its themes of not leaning on other people's perceptions of people.
Waii-Chan and Sparklepony by Nancy Holder - 3 stars
Based on The Velveteen Rabbit
This was fine. I liked the twist of how the animals had to love, instead of be loved, to be real, but also, they left right when Rocio needed them for comfort? I liked Rocio's storyline, but it didn't actually matter to the toys' storyline/arc.
The Monster at the End of this Story by Alethea Kontis - 2.5
Inspired by The Monster At the End of this Book (with Grover)
This was fine. It was very much a Wink instead of Inspired By, which was kinda fun (I was thinking of the right story because of the similar titles, but I didn’t really see many similarities). Maybe I'm too old to just enjoy this type of story for what it is, but it didn’t stand out to me.
My Science Project by Henry Herz - 2.5 stars
Inspired by Frog and Toad
Hahaha I did NOT catch that wink! Okay I'm kinda obsessed with the idea of setting up a zoom call with aliens as first contact. This was fun, if nothing else.
Tabula by Henry Neff - 3.5 stars
Inspired by Harold and the Purple Crayon
Oo this was really cool. I liked the idea a LOT.
Special by Seanan McGuire - 4 stars
Inspired by The Rainbow Fish
HAHAHAHAHA YESS. My absolute DELIGHT when I realized halfway through what this was based on. This is about a slightly younger child, but definitely is for an older audience. I loved the thought process, the repetative arguments throughout. I guess I just like the creepy stories :)
Final Ella by James Aquilone - 4 stars
Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Damn this was cool. I liked how it leaned into the Alice theme, and put a really creepy spin on it. I do think this would be an EXCELLENT novella to give it room to breath!
Other Earth by Stacia Deutsch - 3 stars
Inspired by The Lorax
Oh my goodness when I realized the inspiration...
Chloe's Cabin by Tara Gilboy - 3.5 stars
Inspired by Little House on the Prairie
I don't really see the connection but oh well. This was cute, with a decent character arc.
Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump by Alex Shvartman - 2.5 stars
Inspired by Pinocchio - apparently it was inspired by Doctor Dolittle, which I don't know, but I def got Pinocchio vibes
This was interesting - it covers the very very basic questions of "what is humanity" that cyborgs/ai/synthesized life raises, and it's surprisingly short. It works well as baby's first intro to the topic. As a YA story, that's good enough.
Follow the Shattered-Brick Road by Jonathan Maberry - 3 stars
Inspired by The Wizard of Oz
This at least has a bit more heart than some of the other stories, but this sort of theme of grief and loss and moving on fits better in a larger story.
State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater - 4 stars
Inspired by The Cat in the Hat
Ah, the reason I read this book! It was funny in a way that really worked for me, and is SUCH a great spin on the cat in the hat. Not as meaningful as some of her other short stories, but plenty fun and perfect for this type of collection.
Interloper by Henry Herz
Hahaha this was State of Mind told in Dr. Seuss style - only like a page long and quite delightful.
Best Served Cold by David Gerrold -4 stars
Inspired by The Snow Queen
Oh WHAT. This doesn't feel like a teen story at all (which I like, but, uh, I'm not exactly the target audience here)
I was actually surprised to see bigger names like Seanan McGuire and Maggie Stiefvater attached to this, since the cover looks amateurish. In general, YA short stories don't work for me - I feel like a lot of authors don't include enough depth and instead focus on hitting the typical YA beats. This, however, was a cool concept with the 'wink' at popular kids stories. Some stories are better than others, of course, but there are certain stories I'd highly recommend.
It was fun to try to guess what they were based on! I list them in my review so if you want to be surprised, maybe skip the individual reviews.
(Question: why is Jane Yolen listed in the about the author section tho??)
The Fastest Horse in the World by Kendare Blake - 3 stars
Based on Black Beauty
I generally dislike horse stories, because I don’t like reading about horses being sad. From a technical standpoint, I think this could have been longer with more try/fail cycles, and the way it ended felt too soon - it seemed to undercut the point by not resolving the new element introduced.
But, griping aside, it was a sweet story about a girl and her horse.
Precious Treasure by Wulf Moon - 2 stars
Based on The Hobbit
This feels younger, which makes sense for the source material. Very moralistic: friendship is important! I think a short story was the wrong way to get this across - there wasn’t space for anything to make this more complex or subtle.
The Scent of Cotton Candy by Leah Cypess - 4 stars
Based on Mary Poppins
Oh HO now this is what I wanted from this book!
It shows how what other people say about people can become your own impression of that person (what with Julia thinking Matt is lazy, just like the nanny and parents said), it's what happens to kids who have a magical experience and return to real life, it's creepiness hidden as something sweet as cotton candy. It also adds and twists the mythology of a magical nanny into something fae, and it's very YA in its themes of not leaning on other people's perceptions of people.
Waii-Chan and Sparklepony by Nancy Holder - 3 stars
Based on The Velveteen Rabbit
This was fine. I liked the twist of how the animals had to love, instead of be loved, to be real, but also, they left right when Rocio needed them for comfort? I liked Rocio's storyline, but it didn't actually matter to the toys' storyline/arc.
The Monster at the End of this Story by Alethea Kontis - 2.5
Inspired by The Monster At the End of this Book (with Grover)
This was fine. It was very much a Wink instead of Inspired By, which was kinda fun (I was thinking of the right story because of the similar titles, but I didn’t really see many similarities). Maybe I'm too old to just enjoy this type of story for what it is, but it didn’t stand out to me.
My Science Project by Henry Herz - 2.5 stars
Inspired by Frog and Toad
Hahaha I did NOT catch that wink! Okay I'm kinda obsessed with the idea of setting up a zoom call with aliens as first contact. This was fun, if nothing else.
Tabula by Henry Neff - 3.5 stars
Inspired by Harold and the Purple Crayon
Oo this was really cool. I liked the idea a LOT.
Special by Seanan McGuire - 4 stars
Inspired by The Rainbow Fish
HAHAHAHAHA YESS. My absolute DELIGHT when I realized halfway through what this was based on. This is about a slightly younger child, but definitely is for an older audience. I loved the thought process, the repetative arguments throughout. I guess I just like the creepy stories :)
Final Ella by James Aquilone - 4 stars
Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Damn this was cool. I liked how it leaned into the Alice theme, and put a really creepy spin on it. I do think this would be an EXCELLENT novella to give it room to breath!
Other Earth by Stacia Deutsch - 3 stars
Inspired by The Lorax
Oh my goodness when I realized the inspiration...
Chloe's Cabin by Tara Gilboy - 3.5 stars
Inspired by Little House on the Prairie
I don't really see the connection but oh well. This was cute, with a decent character arc.
Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump by Alex Shvartman - 2.5 stars
Inspired by Pinocchio - apparently it was inspired by Doctor Dolittle, which I don't know, but I def got Pinocchio vibes
This was interesting - it covers the very very basic questions of "what is humanity" that cyborgs/ai/synthesized life raises, and it's surprisingly short. It works well as baby's first intro to the topic. As a YA story, that's good enough.
Follow the Shattered-Brick Road by Jonathan Maberry - 3 stars
Inspired by The Wizard of Oz
This at least has a bit more heart than some of the other stories, but this sort of theme of grief and loss and moving on fits better in a larger story.
State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater - 4 stars
Inspired by The Cat in the Hat
Ah, the reason I read this book! It was funny in a way that really worked for me, and is SUCH a great spin on the cat in the hat. Not as meaningful as some of her other short stories, but plenty fun and perfect for this type of collection.
Interloper by Henry Herz
Hahaha this was State of Mind told in Dr. Seuss style - only like a page long and quite delightful.
Best Served Cold by David Gerrold -4 stars
Inspired by The Snow Queen
Oh WHAT. This doesn't feel like a teen story at all (which I like, but, uh, I'm not exactly the target audience here)
August 18, 2024
This is actually more like 2.5 stars, but I rounded up. There were a couple stories I enjoyed, particularly Maggie Stiefvater's, but most of the stories were juvenile or boring at best, potentially harmful at worst. Honestly, this convinced me that I'm done reading full anthologies.
"The Fastest Horse in the World" by Kendare Blake — This is one of the ones I enjoyed. It was a great imagining of where companies' obsession with AI could potentially take us.
"Precious Treasure" by Wulf Moon — This one had a good ending, but the "wink" at a classic tale (The Hobbit) felt more on-the-nose and the story took an unnecessarily long time to get where it was going.
"The Scent of Cotton Candy" by Leah Cypress — This one felt like it ended before the actual story began.
"Waii-Chan and Sparklepony" by Nancy Holder — I really enjoyed this one aside from the contradictory resolution that doesn't quite make sense if you think about it too hard.
"The Monster at the End of this Story" by Alethea Kontis — This one felt a little preachy to me. Like "what lesson did we learn today, kids?"
"My Science Project" by Henry Herz — This was one of the most juvenile, imo. The writing and the story. It honestly felt very condescending to the reader. Also, no one just casually gets "a ticket" to San Diego Comic Con in May.
"Tabula" by Henry Neff — This one had a really cool concept! One of my favorites from this anthology.
"Special" by Seanan McGuire — Here's the potentially harmful one. Basically, it promotes the harmful message that people who are neurodivergent could easily and "reasonably" follow a line of thought that leads them to be really gruesome, heartless murderers. I worry about the stereotypes and fear this story could perpetuate.
"Final Ella" by James Aquilone — This is one where I feel the sparse content warnings (in the back) failed. I read this one as part of it being an allegory for grooming, kidnapping, and maybe even attempted SA of a minor. The content warnings claim there are no warnings for this one.
"Other Earth" by Stacia Deutsch — This one was pretty good. It required some extra suspension of disbelief, but it was good overall.
"Chloe's Cabin" by Tara Gilboy — This one was actually pretty sweet. I liked it.
"Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump" by Alex Shvartsman — I know it says the "wink" is at Doctor Doolittle, but at times it felt more like Pinocchio. This one was interesting in the moral questions it brought up about AI.
"Follow the Shattered-Brick Road" by Jonathan Maberry — This one mostly dragged and read like a kid just complaining for many pages. Then, near the end, it switched to being heartwarming. It's like it didn't know what it wanted to be.
"State of Mind" by Maggie Stiefvater — My favorite, and not just because I'm biased and love the author's work. The concept was really cool, and it was extra fun reading it while knowing the real-life story that inspired it.
"Best Served Cold" by David Gerrold — This is the other one where I believe the content warnings failed. All they say is "murder." I would at least add infanticide to the content warning list.
Okay, I'm really and truly done reading full anthologies from now on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC.
"The Fastest Horse in the World" by Kendare Blake — This is one of the ones I enjoyed. It was a great imagining of where companies' obsession with AI could potentially take us.
"Precious Treasure" by Wulf Moon — This one had a good ending, but the "wink" at a classic tale (The Hobbit) felt more on-the-nose and the story took an unnecessarily long time to get where it was going.
"The Scent of Cotton Candy" by Leah Cypress — This one felt like it ended before the actual story began.
"Waii-Chan and Sparklepony" by Nancy Holder — I really enjoyed this one aside from the contradictory resolution that doesn't quite make sense if you think about it too hard.
"The Monster at the End of this Story" by Alethea Kontis — This one felt a little preachy to me. Like "what lesson did we learn today, kids?"
"My Science Project" by Henry Herz — This was one of the most juvenile, imo. The writing and the story. It honestly felt very condescending to the reader. Also, no one just casually gets "a ticket" to San Diego Comic Con in May.
"Tabula" by Henry Neff — This one had a really cool concept! One of my favorites from this anthology.
"Special" by Seanan McGuire — Here's the potentially harmful one. Basically, it promotes the harmful message that people who are neurodivergent could easily and "reasonably" follow a line of thought that leads them to be really gruesome, heartless murderers. I worry about the stereotypes and fear this story could perpetuate.
"Final Ella" by James Aquilone — This is one where I feel the sparse content warnings (in the back) failed. I read this one as part of it being an allegory for grooming, kidnapping, and maybe even attempted SA of a minor. The content warnings claim there are no warnings for this one.
"Other Earth" by Stacia Deutsch — This one was pretty good. It required some extra suspension of disbelief, but it was good overall.
"Chloe's Cabin" by Tara Gilboy — This one was actually pretty sweet. I liked it.
"Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump" by Alex Shvartsman — I know it says the "wink" is at Doctor Doolittle, but at times it felt more like Pinocchio. This one was interesting in the moral questions it brought up about AI.
"Follow the Shattered-Brick Road" by Jonathan Maberry — This one mostly dragged and read like a kid just complaining for many pages. Then, near the end, it switched to being heartwarming. It's like it didn't know what it wanted to be.
"State of Mind" by Maggie Stiefvater — My favorite, and not just because I'm biased and love the author's work. The concept was really cool, and it was extra fun reading it while knowing the real-life story that inspired it.
"Best Served Cold" by David Gerrold — This is the other one where I believe the content warnings failed. All they say is "murder." I would at least add infanticide to the content warning list.
Okay, I'm really and truly done reading full anthologies from now on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC.
July 10, 2024
Publishing date: 25.06.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
The book as a meal: A bag of nuts, and I am picking out my favorites first
The book left me: Longing for "darker" retellings
Negatives:
Some stories don't feel close enough to their inspiration
The targeted age group can differ a lot between stories
Trigger warnings are located in the back, should have been in the beginning
Positives:
Very well written
A wide array of genres
Fresh takes on well-oved stories
Features:
A small illustration to kick off each story, 15 short stories written by 15 great authors, a trigger warning list
Why did I choose this one?
This year I have discovered that I am very much a retelling and short story girlie, so this was automatically added to my request list. I was drawn in by the illustration on the cover too (absolutely judged a book by its cover). Then I noticed some very recognizable authors and knew I had chosen the right collection.
Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Right in the middle. There are some stories that are easy to read and pull you in, and others that maybe drag a little. Some of the stories I might have skimmed a little. Those that slapped, really slapped.
What was the vibe and mood?
Since the stories are widely different from each other there is no singular vibe. Some of the stories captures the vibe of their original counterparts nicely, others flip it up-side-down. It can range from uncanny to sweet to horrific.
Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, A tier. This is a very well-one collection and I greatly enjoyed it. Although the quality of the stories varied, they came together to create a good collection. There is something here for almost everyone. I think there are a few standout stories that will be more liked than others. Will recommend and might buy a trophy copy when it is out.
Favorite stories:
The Fastest Horse in the World
Special
Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump
State of Mind
Thank you to Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
The book as a meal: A bag of nuts, and I am picking out my favorites first
The book left me: Longing for "darker" retellings
Negatives:
Some stories don't feel close enough to their inspiration
The targeted age group can differ a lot between stories
Trigger warnings are located in the back, should have been in the beginning
Positives:
Very well written
A wide array of genres
Fresh takes on well-oved stories
Features:
A small illustration to kick off each story, 15 short stories written by 15 great authors, a trigger warning list
Why did I choose this one?
This year I have discovered that I am very much a retelling and short story girlie, so this was automatically added to my request list. I was drawn in by the illustration on the cover too (absolutely judged a book by its cover). Then I noticed some very recognizable authors and knew I had chosen the right collection.
Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Right in the middle. There are some stories that are easy to read and pull you in, and others that maybe drag a little. Some of the stories I might have skimmed a little. Those that slapped, really slapped.
What was the vibe and mood?
Since the stories are widely different from each other there is no singular vibe. Some of the stories captures the vibe of their original counterparts nicely, others flip it up-side-down. It can range from uncanny to sweet to horrific.
Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, A tier. This is a very well-one collection and I greatly enjoyed it. Although the quality of the stories varied, they came together to create a good collection. There is something here for almost everyone. I think there are a few standout stories that will be more liked than others. Will recommend and might buy a trophy copy when it is out.
Favorite stories:
The Fastest Horse in the World
Special
Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump
State of Mind
July 5, 2024
Wink is an anthology filled with stories inspired by modern childrens' books. These aren't retellings, but more homages to great stories we read in our youth. The stories that inspired these tales include classics like Alice in Wonderland and The Velveteen Rabbit, Black Beauty and Marry Poppins.
Tabula by Henry Neff is an interesting take on Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Sid is an intern at NYU whose professor is a leading expert on Supernatural Phenomenon. Their discussions about an alternate dimension takes a dark turn.
Chloe's Cabin by Tara Gilboy has something in common with Little House on the Prairie
A story about survival when aliens suddenly appear in spaceships hovering over Earth. Hiding in a cabin tucked away might be their only chance.
Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump by Alex Shvartsman references Doctor Doolittle
Doc does his best to heal and find homes for all abandoned mods. These are lifelike robot animals who he cares for to the best of his ability. His tiny insect AI named Cricket is his assistant in business. But when he comes across a mod unlike any others, he'll have his work cut out for him to keep it safe.
State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater is as odd as The Cat In The Hat
This story upends the classic tale of a talking cat who comes to bring chaos to the home of two good children. In this story, a strange home full of oddities is set to order by an odd and bossy House Sitter. This story was full of surprises.
Tabula by Henry Neff is an interesting take on Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Sid is an intern at NYU whose professor is a leading expert on Supernatural Phenomenon. Their discussions about an alternate dimension takes a dark turn.
Chloe's Cabin by Tara Gilboy has something in common with Little House on the Prairie
A story about survival when aliens suddenly appear in spaceships hovering over Earth. Hiding in a cabin tucked away might be their only chance.
Doc's Lucky Day at the Dump by Alex Shvartsman references Doctor Doolittle
Doc does his best to heal and find homes for all abandoned mods. These are lifelike robot animals who he cares for to the best of his ability. His tiny insect AI named Cricket is his assistant in business. But when he comes across a mod unlike any others, he'll have his work cut out for him to keep it safe.
State of Mind by Maggie Stiefvater is as odd as The Cat In The Hat
This story upends the classic tale of a talking cat who comes to bring chaos to the home of two good children. In this story, a strange home full of oddities is set to order by an odd and bossy House Sitter. This story was full of surprises.
June 13, 2024
Everything about this book was alluring to me - the idea about twisting fairytales, some of the authors I have loved for years, even the cover is by an artist who’s work I enjoy - and perhaps the high expectations I have worked up made this just another middle-of-the-road anthology for me. On one hand, there were no stories I actively disliked, but on the other, some of them felt too childish (and I don’t mean in the fairytale way) and flimsy in their structure and writing style.
I will probably join the majority and will note that “Special” by Seanan McGuire was truly something else (and coincidentally, exactly what I expected the whole anthology to be, based on the cover…), and ended up being my favorite of the bunch. Some stories had enough heart (pun intended) and a simple idea, that made it reminiscent of a fairytale while still staying just a wink, instead of a full blown retelling, like “Waii-chan and Sparklepony” by Nancy Holder and “The Monster at the End of this Story” by Alethea Kontis. There were even stories that I think could have benefited from being of a longer format, like “Tabula” by Henry Neff.
All in all, it was, as it usually is with such books, a mix of good and bad, but it is worth picking up, even if just to see which ones of these will wink at you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I will probably join the majority and will note that “Special” by Seanan McGuire was truly something else (and coincidentally, exactly what I expected the whole anthology to be, based on the cover…), and ended up being my favorite of the bunch. Some stories had enough heart (pun intended) and a simple idea, that made it reminiscent of a fairytale while still staying just a wink, instead of a full blown retelling, like “Waii-chan and Sparklepony” by Nancy Holder and “The Monster at the End of this Story” by Alethea Kontis. There were even stories that I think could have benefited from being of a longer format, like “Tabula” by Henry Neff.
All in all, it was, as it usually is with such books, a mix of good and bad, but it is worth picking up, even if just to see which ones of these will wink at you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 14, 2024
I enjoy anthologies, a reading sampler of authors I know and want to read more of, authors I've heard of and have been meaning to try, and those that are completely unfamiliar to me who may become a favorite. An anthology is a way to try these authors without committing to a longer format. A good anthology has an interesting theme to tie the stories together and the premise of Wink is a take on one of my favorite...I adore a good retelling. Wink reinterprets stories that many of us grew up with, the childhood tales that sparked my imagination and I guess also sparked the imaginations of these authors. These "winks" honor the originals but update them to a current or future time, shift the setting, or reset the point of view. I found it fun guessing the story being adapted but also seeing which stories seeded now familiar authors in their formative years. This was a great collection for nostalgic adults but also appropriate for pre-teens and young adults who may enjoy the update or even discover an original they hadn't read yet. (3.5/5)
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Brigids Gate Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Brigids Gate Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
July 3, 2024
Wink is an interesting take on various children's books. I did enjoy some of them, but others were less enjoyable as their main characters are either arrogant, or so concerned with current day philosophy that you wouldn't recognize the tale they supposedly "wink" at. A few of the tales feel like the author named a story because it was the only children's story that came to mind, and then they told the story they wanted to tell with nothing more than perhaps a throwaway line as a nod to their original inspiration.
That said, there are a few tales there worth enjoying. Kendare Blake's "The Fastest Horse In The World" (Black Beauty), Seanan McGuire's "Special" (The Rainbow Fish), Wulf Moon's "Precious Treasure" (an interesting take on "The Hobbit") and Maggie Stiefvater's "State of Mind" (a clever take on "The Cat in The Hat", followed by the delightful, Seuss-esque poem "Inerloper" by Henry Herz) are all well worth the read. The rest can be read or not. In my opinion, you won't be missing much if you don't. 2.5 out of 5 stars, but since that isn't an available option, 3 stars will have to do.
Thank you to Netgalley and Brigid's Gate Press for the advance reader's copy. This review is voluntary and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
That said, there are a few tales there worth enjoying. Kendare Blake's "The Fastest Horse In The World" (Black Beauty), Seanan McGuire's "Special" (The Rainbow Fish), Wulf Moon's "Precious Treasure" (an interesting take on "The Hobbit") and Maggie Stiefvater's "State of Mind" (a clever take on "The Cat in The Hat", followed by the delightful, Seuss-esque poem "Inerloper" by Henry Herz) are all well worth the read. The rest can be read or not. In my opinion, you won't be missing much if you don't. 2.5 out of 5 stars, but since that isn't an available option, 3 stars will have to do.
Thank you to Netgalley and Brigid's Gate Press for the advance reader's copy. This review is voluntary and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
July 1, 2024
Here is my review for Wink Anthology by Henry Herz
This was a brilliant read with the twists on the original classic works of children’s literature amazing. The writers did a great job rewriting the stories into a new story and I loved them. They really used their imaginations to the fullest and didn’t hold back. The stories were a mix of fantasy and science fiction tales that were brilliantly thought out and written about. The writing was good in all the stories and the descriptions were brilliant. The stories are short and don’t take too long to read at all. Hopefully they may do another anthology as I really enjoyed this one.
Blurb :
Fifteen young adult contemporary fantasy and science fiction tales that wink at classic works of children's literature.
Featuring stories by:
James Aquilone
Kendare Blake
Leah Cypess
Stacia Deutsch
David Gerrold
Tara Gilboy
Henry Herz
Nancy Holder
Alethea Kontis
Jonathan Maberry
Seanan McGuire
Wulf Moon
Henry Neff
Alex Shvartsman
Maggie Stiefvater
This was a brilliant read with the twists on the original classic works of children’s literature amazing. The writers did a great job rewriting the stories into a new story and I loved them. They really used their imaginations to the fullest and didn’t hold back. The stories were a mix of fantasy and science fiction tales that were brilliantly thought out and written about. The writing was good in all the stories and the descriptions were brilliant. The stories are short and don’t take too long to read at all. Hopefully they may do another anthology as I really enjoyed this one.
Blurb :
Fifteen young adult contemporary fantasy and science fiction tales that wink at classic works of children's literature.
Featuring stories by:
James Aquilone
Kendare Blake
Leah Cypess
Stacia Deutsch
David Gerrold
Tara Gilboy
Henry Herz
Nancy Holder
Alethea Kontis
Jonathan Maberry
Seanan McGuire
Wulf Moon
Henry Neff
Alex Shvartsman
Maggie Stiefvater
July 30, 2024
Thank you @zooloosBT for letting me be part of this tour and reviewing this books. Wink anthology has 15 fantasy and Science fictions short stories that are for young adults. There are different stories for you to enjoy and come back to time and time again. I enjoyed reading Wink, that has a spin on classic children's stories. I liked all the stories, but they were a couple that were my favourite, and it was good that all the authors have different written styles that entertain me a lot and made me kept reading. The front cover is unusual and different, which made me drawn to the book even more. If you enjoy classic children stories with a twist, this book is definitely for you. They are all written exceedingly well with great plots. Awesome read 4 stars. The stories i enjoyed where: The Monster at the end of this story by Alethra Kontis snd Chlors Cabin by Tsra Gilboy. I also liked the illustrations that where on each chapter.
August 6, 2024
What a surprising collection of stories here! As someone who loves children’s books and classic children’s book, I had to jump on the chance to read and review, especially as I love when authors play around with themes, characters, and motifs from classical literature. I studied a masters degree in Children’s Literature so I’ve read everything from fairytales, to picture books, and to modern day YA, and I love how freeing and adventurous children’s books can be.
I always find anthologies difficult to review because there are so many different stories in one book - but you have to believe me that there is something for everyone inside this collection. It is fun to guess which book “winks” at which classic, and trust me you’ll be fighting over two or three until you’ve finished the collection.
This is great for any age reader, and one to keep in your collection to pass down for generations!
Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to read and review!
I always find anthologies difficult to review because there are so many different stories in one book - but you have to believe me that there is something for everyone inside this collection. It is fun to guess which book “winks” at which classic, and trust me you’ll be fighting over two or three until you’ve finished the collection.
This is great for any age reader, and one to keep in your collection to pass down for generations!
Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to read and review!
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