Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!
As you know, one of my favourite ways to read Speculative Fiction is throughout anthological collections of stories – either shorts, novellas or a variety of both. I’ve previously enjoyed a Wintry themed anthology by World Weaver Press which was entitled “Frozen Fairytales” which reminds me quite a bit of “Fairytale Christmas” as the stories within this collection I’m spotlighting today have a Wintry edging to them where the cold of the season and the iciness of the characters’ hearts merge into a collection of Wintry tales!
I have chatted about my fascination with after canon & retellings for fairy tales through a wide variety of chats – including my own @SatBookChat, wherein, I find the writers who are re-spinning the tales are creating stories I can soak my teeth inside and still pull out a wicked good tale. When it comes to the originals of the fairytales themselves, I find myself less inclined to read them. A bit of trivia I learnt about myself in recent years of hosting #SatBookChat, as I had no idea the original tales are far more intense and at times violent compared to how their respun. This isn’t the first time I’ve featured an anthology of respun tales either – as I have the tendency to have an eye out for these kinds of anthologies year round!
The extract I selected is one where you can tell this is a tale about Snow White – which is one of my favourites to see re-imagined – both in story and/or on the big screen though in regards to films, not all the films they’ve produced these last two decades were my favourites. A few yes, the majority, no. Snow White is just a classic in of its own right and it is lovely to see how a writer might re-align us back into the story whilst giving us a wicked good nemesis in the witch, too!
If you’re into Speculative Fiction and you’ve been looking for a new anthology – perhaps this one might be one to keep on your bookish radar? Enjoy the extract and let me know in the comments if you love reading anthologies like this one as much as I do!?
Fairytale Christmas
by Vivienne Hart
Fairylights, mistletoe and cozy nights by the fire…
Delve into this spellbinding Fairytale Christmas set full of enchanting romance, festive fun and more excitement than anything you’d find in your Christmas stocking.
Come on a sleigh ride through worlds of wonder and wrap yourself up in these brand new fairytale retellings, written by Amazon best selling and award winning authors in this magical limited edition collection.
Sixteen incredible authors, fifteen brand new retellings, Prince Charming, fairytale balls and a partridge in a pear tree. All wrapped up and ready to read.
One click now for your Christmas happily ever after…
Places to find the book:
ASIN: B08KGSWVMX
Published by Enchanted Quill Press
on 1st November, 2020
The following authors and their stories are included in this anthology:
Reign of Holly by Amanda Marin
A Christmas Frog Leaping for Love by Audrey Rich
Shrinking Cin by Erin Lee writing as EL George
Fairytale Academy by Majanka Verstraete
Forest of Frost: Sugared Plums & Poisoned Apples by Vivienne Hart
Snooze or Lose by Jude Cocaigne
Lady or Maid by Emily Deady
Winter Flame by K.A. Last
King of Ice and Time by J.R. Castle
The Winter Swan by Samantha Bell
Jewel of Mine by Diana Dawn
The Road Past Winter by Kat Parrish
The Snow Queen’s Daughter by Serene Conneeley
Published by: Enchanted Quill Press (@quill_press)
This is a Digital First Release – ebook only!
Converse on Twitter via: #Fairytale #Fantasy #Anthology or #FairytaleChristmas
Enjoy reading an Extract from ‘Fairytale Christmas’:
Excerpt from “Forest of Frost: Sugared Plums & Poisoned Apples”
by Vivienne Hart (Site)
The princess would pay for this.
Queen Icilyn stormed from her room and down four stories of carved stone steps, deep into the castle’s ancient cellars. Snatching the key ring she wore around her waist, she fished out a skeleton key and let herself into a secret room. With a snap, torches on the wall flared to life, illuminating her witch’s workroom.
She threw open a wooden chest and pulled forth tools: several vials, an athame, a cauldron. At her whispered hiss, the banked fire in the hearth roared awake and Icilyn threw her cauldron over it, ready to work her craft.
It took hours to perfectly boil and distill each ingredient, to slice just enough of this and pinch just enough of that, to carefully score her palm and dribble only three drops of blood into the mix. But when she was done, glossy liquid rested in her cauldron, colorless and cold. With caution, she poured it into a vial and closed up her workshop. The last item she needed was upstairs, in her throne room.
As soon as she had her final ingredient, she prepared to set out.
Skilled in the art of the glamour, Icilyn transformed herself into a timeless beauty with hair as red as blood and eyes as green as envy. She couldn’t chance Snow spotting and recognizing her, after all.
She ordered her stableman to saddle her mount, and with her prize in a bag at her hip, Icilyn galloped into the Forest of Frost, the iron tang of revenge hot in her throat.
I look forward to seeing what happens before and after this scene – as it would be lovely to know what has riled her emotions to the brink of revenge this time round whilst she doesn’t exactly change her spots irregardless of which version of her story she’s involved in, does she? She immediately thinks of what she can brew in her cauldron and can’t wait to see if the ingredients and her sense of justice can produce the effects she’s gaming for once the potion is completed! It would be nice to see how she could learn more about the choices she’s making and the dangers she undertakes when she allows herself to be filled with vengeful thoughts!!
This book blitz is courtesy of:
Most of the blitzes I host for this touring company have giveaways attached to them, which is why I route to the main page via Xpresso Tours as an easy reference for where you can find that information.
Find others hosting via @XpressoTours!
I enjoy being a hostess for:
NOTE: Similar to blog tours wherein I feature book reviews, book spotlights (with or without extracts), book announcements (or Cover Reveals) – I may elect to feature an author, editor, narrator, publisher or other creative person connected to the book, audiobook, Indie film project or otherwise creative publishing medium being featured wherein the supplemental content on my blog is never compensated monetarily nor am I ever obligated to feature this kind of content. I provide (98.5%) of all questions and guest topics regularly featured on Jorie Loves A Story. I receive direct responses back to those enquiries by publicists, literary agents, authors, blog tour companies, etc of whom I am working with to bring these supplemental features and showcases to my blog. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them: I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers. Whenever there is a conflict of connection I do disclose those connections per post and disclose the connection as it applies.
{SOURCES: Book cover for “Fairytale Christmas”, synopsis, blitz tour banner and host badge were provided by Xpresso Book Tours and are being used with permission. Post dividers and My Thoughts badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: #blogmas badge and banner as well as the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2020.
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