Fairy tale kinda thing

[Esmereldada]

first, thanks to all of you who post suggestions on here. I have read some cracking books because of you and am most grateful x

My taste is pretty eclectic and right now i am really in the mood for a fairy tale, perhaps like Grimm but for grown ups. Quite dark.

Does anybody have a suggestion please?

Ps is it me or does the word faerie seem more spooky than fairy?

Thanks x

Have you read Beauty by Sheri S Tepper?

Little, Big by John Crowley is a great adult fairy story (although not that dark. Indith's suggestion is great as well.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey?

Try the collection of stories "The ladies of grace adieu " by Susanna Clarke.
Also The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman?

My Amazon basket is beginning to bulge - thank you.

All authors new to me which is so exciting. Except john connolly - i really enjoyed a couple of his books and had forgotton about them.

Decades ago I read a book about a girl whose brothers were all turned into swans by a witch/fairy or suchlike. I have just this minute remembered but can't recall the title. Funny thing, the mind.

That might have been Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier - though it's based on a fairy tale so there are probably other versions!

Ephiny you're right! Have just ordered a paperback copy. But it was publishednin 2001 and I thought I read it as a teenager, which was a looooooooong time before 2001 . Thank you

How about this by Angela Carter?

Oo, I love Juliet Marillier! I would reccomend ' Wildwood dancing' by her. Think it may be categorised as Teen fiction but I really

www.julietmarillier.com/books/wildwooddancing.html

...liked it.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - just read this and its really beautiful

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is by the same author as The Ladies of Grace Adieu, Susannah Clarke, and I thought it was better.

Possession by AS Byatt has rather wonderful fairy tales peppered through it.

The Angela Carter book Duchess recommends is lovely because you can read a story when you feel like it, rather than having to indulge in a whole blitz.

There are lots in Teen Fantasy, and I like Wicked Lovely best of these. Signy really likes Michelle Lovric's Venice mermaid stories - first is The Undrowned Child.

Sarah Addison Allen does grown up fairy tale type writing. There is the sugar queen, garden spells and a new one I'm yet to read.
Also Geoffrey maguire writes grown up 'other side of the.story' of traditional stories/fairy tales. The most famous being wicked - although more political (small p) than the musical, there is also son of a witch and tales of an ugly stepsister based on Cinderella and others.
Not sure if either is what you are looking for - I'd say Sarah Addison Allen is lighter reading

Was going to suggest angela Cater but Duchess of Malfi beat me to it. If you're looking at her, try the Bloody Chamber, it sounds just what you're after.

Angela Carter sounds great - will be hunting that down!

Yes to Neil Gaiman. I don't like 'Stardust' though it is his most 'faery-esque' but I loved 'Anansi Boys' and 'American Gods' which both have elements of fairy stories, I guess.

The Book Of Lost Things sounds v much like what you're after, although I was really disappointed with it.

Have you read, 'The Princess Bride?' Good book and great film!

There's a children's book called 'The Looking Glass Wars' which is quite good fun. Also, how about some of The Terry Pratchett books, especially the Tiffany whatshername ones or The Witches ones?

And there is a lovely, lovely one about a changeling which I've forgotten the name of at the moment - will have a google to see if I can jog my memory.

Agh - can't remember what it's called.

You might also like this though: flawed as a novel but amazing pictures and a lovely quirky idea.

Found it! It's called 'The Stolen Child' by Kevin Donohue - I really liked it.

If you want "dark fairy tale", then Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan is your book. Definitely an adult read, though it's sometimes (wrongly) put in the Young Adult shelves. Essentially it's a dark multiverse re-write of Snow White & Rose Red.

I would also recommend Angela Carter.

Thank you all so much for such a great response.

Have read and loved Angela Carter short stories but had forgotton her.

Liked j strange and mr norrell too.

So many suggested authors who are new to me. Now i need to rent a cottage in the woods for a week and immerse myself. Ah well......

This is a new collection of the Grimm fairy tales by Philip Pullman. I don't know any more details - just seen it mentioned on Goodreads.

I know PP and heard him read from said Grimm collection in Oxford some months ago - sounded wonderful.

"in the mood for a fairy tale, perhaps like Grimm but for grown ups. Quite dark"

You must read Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell. It is a great book, and exactly what you are looking for.