Monday, August 14, 2017

THE EMERALD CIRCUS by Jane Yolen

3.5 Stars


I wasn't sure what to expect, but I like fairytales and the cover screamed, "Take me. You love me." Many of them are tangential storylines based on children lit masterpieces or the authors: Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland (a few inspirations), Wizard of Oz. Fun, clever, and the tone employed for each is reflective of the original work, but with a critical twist in perspective or takeaway.

Then the stories move to series of Arthurian legends, a fae as well as some folklore inspired stories, and famous personalities like Queen Victoria and Disraeli and Edgar Allan Poe. These are darker in tone. Some are definitely stronger than others, and some are longer than others, but overall I think it is a diverting collection of short stories. Perfect for reading right before bed as you settle in for the night. Never fear, there are end notes about the inspirations for each of the stories to appease reader curiosity.


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