Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Retelling of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes

4 stars
In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

 I was given this ARC from Netgalley, so it doesn't have all the stories that will be in the final edition. I was really excited to read this book a dark twist on Mother Gooses nursery rhymes. I loved how it was put in the foreword "The tales now contain the other side of reality, the darker side of fear. Wishes are not always fulfilled, and the security and permanence of our parents' love is no longer a sure thing." As we grow up the rhymes seem to lose their innocence not because they are any different, but because we learn to deal with the darkness we were once protected from in our youth. Each story I read I found interesting in one way or another but I have to say the ones that I liked the best were usually the ones I knew the rhymes to before hand. I give this anthology 4 stars because over all I really enjoyed the book and I had to give it bonus points for being the only book I have ever read about retelling of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes.
 
As Blue as the Sky and as Old
Nina Berry
2 stars
A story about Taffy the Welshman This was one of the nursery rhymes I hadn't heard before, so I really didn't understand the story. I was confused why the story was first being told from a completely random person that didn't seem to pertain to the story. There were facts given in the beginning of the story that didn't seem to make sense to til the end. Basically I felt confused about the story.
 
Sing a Song of Six-Pence
Sarwat Chadda
3 stars
Based off blackbirds baked in a pie. Of course I have heard this rhyme before, but it had an edge in this story I had never contemplated that blackbird was a person though I couldn't tell if he was a demon or a fallen angel or what. He description was confusing, I don't understand what he did to get punished by the king but I liked how the story progressed and though it ended with a sad ending I thought was a fitting ending and bought closure.
 
Clockwork
Leah Cypress
4 Stars
A retelling of Hickory Dickory Dock. A story based on a mouse not really being a mouse at all but an enchantment placed upon a girl. The clock being based in magic by the chimes it rings at the top of the hour. Murder and mystery, confusion and magic all coming to together to make this one of my favorite short stories in the book.
 
Blue
Sayantani DasGupta
2 Stars
Loosely based of the rhyme little boy blue. I was confused who the girl was in the story why exactly she was spinning stories or tattooing people or something like that. Didn't really like the story though I have always like the rhyme.
 
Pieces of Eight
Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone
2 Stars
This is again another rhyme I haven't heard before I was intrigued by the lost prince stolen away by his mother to protect to save the kingdom in the end. But the whole in between and the battle scene of the tree didn't really like.
 
Wee Willie Winkie
Leigh Fallon
4 Stars
From the rhyme Wee Willie Winkie, by far one of my favorite stories in the book. It was short but it packed a punch. It took me a while to figure out were in the world I was and then when the story line was told I found I was somewhere in Ireland which makes the plot of this story so much more understandable. Gives a whole new meaning to bedtime and that a price to pay to stay alive may end up being too steep.
 
Boys and Girls come out to play
Angie Frazier
3 Stars
I haven't heard this before but I was able to figure out what was going on in the story and rather liked it. A story based on picking only one and making the children come out to play. Another story of how tricky and cruel witches can be.
 
I come bearing souls
Jessie Harrell
2.5 Stars
This story was based on Hey Diddle Diddle. I didn't see how this had anything to do with the rhyme except the cow god and the fiddle being played in the first scene. Had mythology which was a plus in my book, I think it would make a great stand alone book I would love to find out more about Heather and her family and what Egyptian gods were doing in modern day America. It was too short for my taste.
 
The Lion and the Unicorn: Part the First
Nancy Holder
3 Stars
I love history and though I haven't heard this rhyme before I enjoyed the story that accompanied it. Rumors have always surrounded the monarchs of old and they expands on the notions already out there.
 
Life in a Shoe
Heidi R. Kling
3.5 Stars
Based on Old Woman who lived in a shoe.The story gave depth into why she had so many children, that it wasn't a choice it was forced. It also brought to life her children and I liked how it was told from the daughter's point of view and she wasn't willing to follow her mother. Another favorite of mine.

Candlelight
Suzanne Lazear
3 Stars
I hadn't heard this rhyme either but it was a story that could stand alone from the rhyme. It dealt with what all children want freedom from their parents, though all wishes come at a price something the narrator didn't find out until it was too late. It had just the right amount of resistence to make it seem more real and I think it should have explored how they had to learn how to live on their own how much they missed their mother and how their parent actually did a lot for them. And maybe just a little longer.

One for Sorrow
Karen Mahoney
3 Stars
I had never heard this rhyme but I still thought it was a pretty good story. Basic transformation story with love being the key but in the end the twist where she wants to be a beast with him was what I really liked about the story. Gave her and him a happy ending.

Those who Whisper
 Lisa Mantchev
2.5 Stars
Again a rhyme I have never heard of but I did like the story. It kinda seemed like snow white just a little bit. I would have liked to know why she was able to talk to the birds, but I loved how strong she was despite her horrid beginning.


Little Miss Muffet
 Georgia McBride
1.5 Stars
I didn't like the story was confused about what was going on in the beginning even though I knew the rhyme. Couldn't understand why they were spiders and the ending was a little creepy.

Sea of Dew
C. Lee Mckenzie
3 Stars
I like the story kinda a story about how one choice really does change everything. I hadn't heard the rhyme and I was kinda confused in the beginning but then I figured out what was happening. It did drag a bit in the middle though.

Tick Tock
Gretchen McNeil
1 Star
This was a creepy story and I don't feel like it had anything to do with what the rhyme was about. Like how was murder "what was right". 

A Pocket Full of Posy
Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg
1 Star
I had always heard that this was based on the black plague and I had thought that it would be dealing with that aspect of the story. The whole vampire thing was kinda weird like what did that have to do with the rhyme except the ashes. Yes the author gave everything in the rhyme a link to the story the girl Rosie, the flowers he was going to give her, and the vampire ashes in the ended. But then it just ended didn't even give closure like did the boyfriend get convicted of murder or what?

The Well
K.M. Walton
3.5 Stars
Based off the rhyme Jack and Jill.I don't know if this makes me kinda dark but I had just lately been thinking  about this nursery rhyme and how maybe Jack falling down wasn't really an accident I started thinking that Jill had pushed him down. I didn't have the whole plague involved or that they were twins that really hated each other and where the only two people left in the world. But I did like what the author did with the story.

The Wish
 Suzanne Young
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this story based on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It is a story about to be careful what you wish for I was kinda hoping that the ending wouldn't happen that death would have taken her away to live with him, but like I've said before wishes have a price to pay so be careful what you wish for.

A Ribbon of Blue
Michelle Zink
4 Stars
I had never heard the rhyme before but this was one of my favorites. The story was well written and though it had a sad ending I didn't find anything dark in the story. Ruby was finally at peace and beautiful and happy everything she deserved.

Thank you to Month9Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to review these Titles.