I was excited to read this novel which promised a twist of fairy tales centered around the Prince Charming character, but while the book does deliver on its promise, it is more of a light-hearted romp through the world of fairy tale than a serious contemplation of character or story. The book begins with “Once Upon a Time” and introduces readers to Jean-Marc Charming Arundel and his valet Roland as they are fighting ogres and battling briars to reach a sleeping beauty named Lady Bella. Prince Charming, however, is not what you expect, and he leaves the beautiful maiden unmarried when he steals her family’s treasures. When the abandoned Lady Bella shares her romantic heartbreak with Princess Marie Blanche de Neige (a woman persecuted by her stepmother’s poisoned apple) and Dr. Emelia Rapunzel (an orphaned girl raised in isolation by a practitioner of the arcane arts), the three women realize they have all been duped by the same “charming prince” and they set out to take their revenge. I thought this plot-based book was simple and somewhat flat, but it is filled with fairy tale settings and references that may delight readers looking for an escape from more nuanced novels. There are dragons and taverns, duels and weddings, hazel trees and fairy circles, and a cast of recognizable fairy tale characters. The book concludes that knowing true names leads to power and it subverts the traditional “happily ever after” with a humorous feminist revenge fantasy. Although I hoped for more depth in the story, it is a fun read that those new to the fairy tale retelling genre may enjoy. The writing did not exactly “charm” me or deepen my contemplation of fairy tale narratives, and I hoped the novel would offer much more when I saw the beautiful cover and evocative title, but reading the book was a fun way to spend a couple of hours. A great choice for young adult readers or those looking for humorous escapist fiction. You can order the book here. Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. Kelly Jarvis is the Special Projects Writer and Contributing Editor for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Her work has appeared in Eternal Haunted Summer, Blue Heron Review, Forget-Me-Not Press, Mermaids Monthly, The Chamber Magazine, and Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. She teaches at Central Connecticut State University. And check out our SHOP PAGE with our all new DIGITAL DOWNLOADS HERE

Story and illustration from The Blue Rose Fairy Book by Maurice Baring, 1911 Once upon a time in a certain kingdom there lived a King and a Queen. They had three sons, who were all young, unmarried, and so brave that no fairy tale could tell, no pen could write down, how brave they were. The youngest was called Ivan-the-King's-Son. The King spoke to his children thus: "My dear children, take each of you an arrow, draw your bow at a venture, and shoot in various directions. And there, where the arrow shall fall, go take a wife." The eldest brother drew his bow at a venture, and the arrow fell on a nobleman's house, right opposite the women's attic. The second arrow fell in the yard of a merchant's house, on a flight of steps; and on the steps stood a beautiful girl, the merchant's daughter. The youngest brother drew his bow at a venture, and the arrow fell into a dirty marsh, and a frog caught it. Ivan-the-King's-Son said: "How can I marry a frog? She is not my size." "Marry her," said the King. "It means that such is your fate." So the sons of the King were married. The eldest married the nobleman's daughter; the second one, the merchant's daughter; and Ivan-the-King's-Son married a frog. And the King called them to him and gave the following command:— "Each of your wives must bake me a soft white loaf of bread for breakfast to-morrow." Ivan-the-King's-Son went to his room with a heavy heart and hung his head. "Ivan-the-King's-Son, why are you so sad?" the frog asked. "Has your father spoken an angry or an unkind word to you?" "How can I not be sad? The King, my father, has ordered you to get ready a loaf of soft white bread for his breakfast to-morrow." "Do not worry, Ivan-the-King's-Son, go to bed and sleep. In the morning you will be wiser than in the evening." She sent him to bed, and no sooner had she done so than she threw off her frog's skin and turned into a most beautiful girl, for she was none other than the Wise Princess. She went out on to the steps and called out in a loud voice: "Oh you, my nurses, get ready, get ready! Provide yourselves with what is necessary, and make me a white loaf such as I used to eat in my father's house." In the morning, when Ivan-the-King's-Son got up, the frog's loaf had been ready for some time, and it was so excellent that the like of it had never been seen. The loaf of bread was ornamented with various devices: on the sides of it were kings' palaces, and stately towers with their gardens and their walls. The King thanked Ivan-the-King's-Son for the loaf, and at the same time he gave the following order to his three sons:— "Your wives shall each of them weave me a carpet by to-night." Ivan-the-King's-Son came home with a heavy heart and hung his head. "Croak, croak," said the frog, "why are you so sad? Has your father spoken a cruel or an unkind word to you?" "How can I not be sad?" answered Ivan-the-King's-Son. "The King, my father, has ordered a silken carpet to be woven for him by to-night." "Do not worry, Ivan-the-King's-Son, lie down and sleep. In the morning you will be wiser." She put him to bed, and threw off her frog's skin, and turned into a beautiful maiden. She went out on to the steps and called out in a loud voice: "Oh, you boisterous winds, bring hither that same carpet on which I used to sit in the house of my father." No sooner said than done. In the morning, when Ivan-the-King's-Son awoke, the carpet had been ready for some time, and it was so beautiful that the like of it had never been seen before. It was adorned with gold, silver, and cunning devices. The King thanked his son for the carpet, and at the same time he issued a new command, namely, that his sons were to be present, each with his wife, at the grand review. Ivan-the-King's-Son returned home with a heavy heart and hung his head. "Croak, croak, Ivan-the-King's-Son," said the frog, "why are you so sad? Have you heard from your father anything cruel or unpleasant?" "How can I not be sad? The King, my father, has ordered that I should be present at the review with you. And how can I show you to the people?" "Do not worry, Ivan-the-King's-Son! Go by yourself, and pay your respects to the King. I will follow; and as soon as you hear a noise like thunder, say, 'My little frog is coming hither in a basket." The two elder brothers appeared at the review with their wives, all in beautiful clothes; they stood there and laughed at Ivan-the-King's-Son, and said: "Why have you come here, brother, without your wife? You might have brought her in your pocket. And where did you find such a beautiful lady?" Suddenly a loud noise like thunder was heard, and the whole palace shook. The guests were frightened to death, and jumped up from their places and did not know what to do. But Ivan-the-King's-Son said: "Do not be afraid, gentlemen, this is my little frog who has come here in a basket." A golden coach drove up to the palace, drawn by six horses, and out of it came the Wise Princess, so beautiful that it is impossible to describe her. She took Ivan-the-King's-Son by the hand, and led him to the oaken chairs and the spread tables. The guests began to eat and drink, and to make merry. The Wise Princess, as she drank from a glass, let a drop fall on to her left sleeve; and as she ate a piece of roast swan, she hid one of the bones in her right sleeve. The wives of the elder sons noticed this, and did the same. Afterwards, when the Wise Princess was dancing with Ivan-the-King's-Son, she shook her left sleeve, and at once a lake appeared. She shook her right sleeve, and white swans swam about on the lake. The King and his guests were astonished, and when the elder sons' wives began to dance they shook their left sleeves, but the only result of it was to splash the guests. Then they shook their right sleeves, and in so doing a swan's bone hit the King in the face. The King was angry, and drove them away in disgrace. During that time Ivan-the-King's-Son took the opportunity of going home. He found the frog's skin, and threw it into a big fire. The Wise Princess arrived and asked where her frog's skin was. Then not finding it, she grew sad and said: "Oh, Ivan-the-King's-Son, Ivan-the-King's-Son, what have you done? If you had waited a moment I would have been yours for ever. But now good-bye. Seek me at the end of the world, in the Kingdom of Nowhere. Wear out three pairs of iron boots." So saying, she turned herself into a white swan, and flew away out of the window. Ivan-the-King's-Son wept bitterly, and prayed to God with all his might. He put on iron boots, and walked on straight in front of him. He walked and walked, and after a time he met an old man. "Good morrow, young man," said the old man; "what are you looking for and where are you going to?" Ivan-the-King's-Son told him all his misfortunes. "Ah, Ivan-the-King's-Son, why did you burn the frog's skin? You did not put it on, and it was not for you to take it off. The Wise Princess was so far more cunning and wise than her father, that he clothed her in a frog's skin and bade her be a frog for three years. Here is a ball for you. Wherever it rolls, you must boldly follow." Ivan-the-King's-Son thanked the old man, and followed where the ball rolled. Whether it rolled far or near, for a short time or a long time, the story does not say; but it stopped at a cottage. This cottage stood on chicken's legs and wobbled about. Ivan-the-King's-Son said, "Cottage, cottage, stand as you used to stand—still, as your mother placed you, back to the wood and front to me." The cottage turned round, with its back to the wood and its front to him. Ivan-the-King's-Son went into the cottage, and there lay an old woman, all bony, with a nose which grew to the ceiling. She said to him in an angry voice: "Fie, fie, fie! Why have you come here, Ivan-the-King's-Son?" "Oh, you old woman," he answered, "before asking me questions you should give me something to eat and to drink, and you should prepare me a hot steam bath; and then you can ask me questions." The old woman gave him food and drink, and a steam bath, and then the King's son told her he was looking for his wife, the Wise Princess. "My child," said the old woman, "it is a pity you did not come before. In the first years, after her flight, she remembered you, but now she has ceased thinking of you. Go at once to my second sister; she knows more than I do." Ivan-the-King's-Son set out on his journey, and followed the ball. He walked and walked, and again there stood before him a cottage with chickens' legs. "Cottage, cottage, stand still, as your mother placed you, with your back to the wood and your front to me." The cottage turned round. Ivan-the-King's-Son went into it, and there stood an old woman with bony legs. She saw the Prince and she said: "Fie, fie! Ivan-the-King's Son, have you come here of your own accord or because you were obliged to?" Ivan-the-King's-Son answered: "I have come here of my own accord, and also because I can't help it. I am looking for the Wise Princess." "I am sorry for you, Ivan-the-King's-Son. You should have come before. The Wise Princess has quite forgotten you. She wants to marry another husband. At this moment she is living with my eldest sister. Go thither quickly, but remember one thing, that as soon as you have entered the cottage, the Wise Princess will turn into a spindle and my sister will begin to spin golden threads, and to turn her wheel. Mind that you lose no time in taking away the spindle from her and breaking it in two; throw half of it behind you and the other half in front of you. Then the Wise Princess will appear." Ivan-the-King's-Son set out on his journey. He walked and walked, but whether the way was long, or whether it was short, whether it was near or far, the story doesn't say. He wore out three pairs of iron boots, and at last he reached a cottage with chickens' legs. "Cottage, cottage, stand still, as your mother placed you, with your front to me, and your back to the wood." The cottage turned round, the King's Son went into it, and there an old woman all bony was sitting and spinning gold. She took her spindle, shut it up in a cupboard, and locked the door with a key. But Ivan-the-King's-Son managed to snatch the key and to open the cupboard. He took the spindle and broke it in two pieces; he threw one piece behind him and one piece in front of him. At the same moment the Wise Princess appeared before him. "Ah, Ivan-the-King's-Son, what a long time you have been coming! I had nearly married some one else." Then she took him by the hand, and they sat down on a magic carpet, and flew back to Ivan-the-King's-Son's house. On the fourth day the carpet stopped at the royal palace. The King met his son with great joy and gave a large feast. When it was over, he appointed Ivan-the-King's-Son to be his heir. And check out our SHOP PAGE with our all new DIGITAL DOWNLOADS HERE

In House of Roots and Ruin, Erin A. Craig returns readers to the lives of the Thaumas sisters from House of Salt and Sorrow. Verity, the youngest of the twelve sisters who is turning eighteen when the new book opens, narrates the story. Six of the twelve Thaumas sisters died in House of Salt and Sorrow, a mysterious retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and Verity now resides with her oldest sister Camille, the Duchess of Highmore. Verity’s talent for painting earns her a commission to create a portrait for the 20-year-old son of another aristocratic family living on the mainland in Bloem, and when Camille, who is worried about Verity’s ability to see and talk to ghosts, forbids her leaving, Verity runs away, eager to prove herself to her family while learning more about the world. Fans of House of Salt and Sorrow will be delighted with Craig’s new book which is filled with romance, mystery, and Gothic details. Although the new book is a stand-alone novel, it revisits the Thaumas sisters who have scattered across the islands and mainland to begin their adult lives. Verity’s narrative voice pulled me back into Craig’s beautifully rendered world, and, because Verity was seeing the mainland for the first time, her descriptions filled me with a sense of wonder. Craig’s writing is full of sumptuous detail. The windswept shores of the islands which feature in Craig’s first book are replaced by the heady gardens and overflowing greenhouses of Bloem. I loved reading about the beautiful fashion, architecture, and customs of the “People of the Petals”, and I enjoyed the fairy tale references to dark secrets, hidden passageways, and forbidden chambers inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Bluebeard. As Verity begins a romantic relationship and becomes increasingly isolated from her family, she encounters life-threatening scenarios that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Craig’s books do feature shocking plot twists which appeal to her young adult audience, and while I would have preferred more restraint in the conclusion, I was so riveted by the Gothic details, mysterious characters, and haunting settings that I couldn’t put the book down. Craig’s writing transports me to new worlds, and I hope she follows House of Roots and Ruin with a new fairy tale inspired story of another surviving Thaumas sister. Fans of Gothic fiction, mystery, and romance will love this book! You can learn more about ordering it here. Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. Kelly Jarvis is the Special Projects Writer and Contributing Editor for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Her work has appeared in Eternal Haunted Summer, Blue Heron Review, Forget-Me-Not Press, Mermaids Monthly, The Chamber Magazine, and Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. She teaches at Central Connecticut State University. And check out our SHOP PAGE with our all new DIGITAL DOWNLOADS HERE

HAPPY MAY! Among the changing months, May stands confessed the sweetest, and in fairest, colors dressed! -James Thomson The beautiful month of May is here! May is the month that is a bridge between spring and summer- A time when the garden starts growing, the birds sing, the flowers bloom, and the sun warms the days in anticipation of summer. This month is thought to be named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. Maia was considered an earth goddess and nurturer which may explain the connection with this springtime month. To celebrate May, we've gathered some folklore, poetry and more for you to enjoy below! BELTANE BELTANE (which means "lucky fire") is a celebration first attested in 900AD in Gaelic culture. It is one of four Gaelic festivals that are still observed today (along with Samhain, Imbolic and Lughnasadh.) Celebrated on the evening of April 30th, (the eve of May Day) Beltane was focused on the symbolic use of fire to bless cattle and other livestock before being moved to summer pastures. The lighting of bonfires was a ritual meant to protect farmers, crops, and cattle, as it was thought that the flames, smoke, and ashes had protective powers. People would walk around the bonfires or jump over embers for luck, and cattle would be made to jump over small bonfires to protect their milk from being stolen by fairies. Fires in the home hearth would be put out and then re-lit using the Beltane bonfire to ensure extra luck and protection. In addition to bonfires, this celebration included feasts with some of the food and drink being set aside as an offering to fairies as well. In early Irish literature, Beltane is mentioned and is considered another time of the year when the veil between our world and the underworld is thin, making it the best time to contact spirits. Conversely, the beings of the otherworld, such as fairies, and other spirits, can also have an effect on humans. That's why the protection of bonfires and other Beltane rituals were important. MAY DAY Celebrated on May 1st, MAY DAY is a traditional spring festival in many cultures. It is also linked with Gaelic Beltane, as well as being the date of International Workers' Day. May Day is the celebration of the return of spring and has a connection to astronomy, as it's the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The celebration is also rooted in agriculture since springtime festivities, filled with song and dance, hailed the sown fields starting to sprout. Cattle were driven to their summer pastures and special bonfires were lit. The "bringing in the May" rituals involved the gathering of wildflowers or green branches, the weaving of floral garlands, the crowning of the May king and queen, and the maypole. These rites were originally intended to ensure fertility for crops, livestock, and humans, and the celebrations of May Day around the world today still include many of these ancient rites. A delicate fabric of bird song Floats in the air, The smell of wet wild earth Is everywhere. Oh I must pass nothing by Without loving it much, The raindrop try with my lips, The grass with my touch; For how can I be sure I shall see again The world on the first of May Shining after the rain? -Sara Teasdale, May Day MAY BIRTH FLOWERS Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn LILY OF THE VALLEY To show the one you love that your life is complete with them, give them a few lilies of the valley as this fragrant flower signifies sweetness, humility, and happiness. HAWTHORNE The hawthorn plant is the other May flower. It represents hope and supreme happiness, and when you give it to someone, it signifies that you want only the best for them. FLORA Goddess of Spring The earliest known May celebrations appeared with the Floralia, festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, which was held the 27th of April through the 3rd of May in ancient Rome. Flora was the symbol for nature and flowers, especially the May-flower. Being one of several fertility goddesses in Roman mythology, her association with the spring gave her great importance at the coming of springtime, and her festival symbolized the cycle of life, rebirth, and flowers. THE FULL MOON OF MAY The Flower Moon May 5, 2023 The full moon for May is named the Flower Moon for the simple reason that many spring flowers are in bloom at this time of year. May's Moon Phases Full Moon: May 5 Third Quarter: May 12 New Moon: May 19 First Quarter: May 27 Oh! fragrant is the breath of May In tranquil garden closes, And soft yet regal is her sway Among the springtide roses. - William Hamilton Hayne, American poet (1856–1929) THE MAYPOLE MAYPOLE CHANT Here we come piping In Springtime and in May; Green fruit a-ripening, And Winter fled away. The Queen she sits upon the strand, Fair as lily, white as wand; Seven billows on the sea, Horses riding fast and free, And bells beyond the sand. The MAYPOLE is a tall wooden pole erected as part of various European May Day folk festival celebrations, around which the maypole dance takes place. It is thought by historians that maypoles were set up as part of spring rites to ensure fertility and as a sign that the season of warmth and growth had returned. The pole shape allowed for garlands or ribbons to be hung from them, and they were first seen in the British Isles between AD 1350 and 1400. The maypole dance is the ceremonial folk dance performed around the maypole which is garlanded with greenery or flowers and festooned with colorful ribbons that are entwined into patterns as the dancers holding them dance around it. Many maypole chants have been written to accompany this dance, and some dancers wear bells to mark off the beats of the chants or music by making their steps cross between a skip and a jog, coming down in time to the music. When April steps aside for May, Like diamonds all the rain-drops glisten; Fresh violets open every day: To some new bird each hour we listen." - Lucy Larcom MAY BIRTH STONE Emerald EMERALD is the birthstone of May and is associated with love, fertility, and rebirth. It was purported to be Queen Cleopatra's favorite gem, and ancient Romans dedicated the stone to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The emerald signifies patience, growth, and wisdom. It is also thought to improve memory, soothe nerves, grant foresight, and ensure loyalty. MAY FOLKLORE A dry May and a leaking June make the farmer whistle a merry tune. A warm January, a cold May. A wet May makes a big load of hay. A cold May is kindly and fills the barn finely. Mist in May, heat in June, make the harvest come right soon. The first 3 days of May were thought to be the time when the evil influence of fairies was at their strongest. To prevent them from entering your home, scatter primroses across the doorstep as they cannot pass it. The Hawthorn tree is thought to be a tree of protection and can prevent lightning from striking the home and from storm damage when growing in the yard. A swarm of bees in May makes a lucky day. For good luck throughout the spring, bring branches into your home of forsythia, lilacs or other flowering shrubs from your region. Gathering the first dew on May mornings will guard against the evil eye. Washing the face with dew on May 1st can beautify the skin. Sweet May hath come to love us, Flowers, trees, their blossoms don; And through the blue heavens above us The very clouds move on. - Heinrich Heine, Book of Songs And finally, Some music that evokes the "feeling" of May to us... Wishing all our FTM readers an enchanted May! Share what you love about this month in the comments section below~ The Fairy Tale Magazine's contributing editor, Amanda Bergloff, writes modern fairy tales, folktales, and speculative fiction. Her work has appeared in various anthologies, including Frozen Fairy Tales, After the Happily Ever After, and Uncommon Pet Tales. Follow her on Twitter @AMANDABERGLOFF

The Spellbook of Fruit and Flowers by Christine Butterworth McDermott is the perfect summer book for a poolside read, or for a cooldown after a day of gardening in the sunshine. This book explores themes of freedom, tranquility, and fantasy while pondering the question: What is it like to be a woman in this world? McDermott uses different fruits and different types of flowers throughout each of the poems as direct odes, or as tactics for symbolism, which gives the poems a fantasy and whimsical feel that will get your own creative brain moving. The book is divided up into three sections, the first one containing primarily fruit and flower related poems, the second is a short section containing only one long poem, and then the third is broken up into many short poems again. She also includes figures from history, mythology, and legend as subjects in her work, so if you’re a fan of Hades and Persephone, Ariadne, and Adam and Eve type tales, this is definitely the book for you. The poem in particular that stood out the most to me was Certain Bones, With Wisteria. It is a critical and whimsical dive into history, discussing figures such as Caspar Wistar, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark—and the roles of women and wives in their time and time before theirs. Wisteria is used as a symbolizer for women. It makes a point that women deserve to be considered equal to everyone else and the wisteria represents that idea. I would absolutely recommend this book be added to your TBR list this summer. It’s the perfect break from all the chaos of the day, and is a way to wind your body down while also waking your mind up. You can buy the book HERE. Madeline Mertz is FTM's editorial intern and is a Truman State University student with literary journal experience.

Editor's Note: Have you ever wondered why dandelions have yellow blossoms that become fluffy white caps? Well, today The Fairy Tale Magazine is featuring a Classic Tale, originally published in 1867, by author Abbie Phillips Walker, to celebrate editor-in-chief Kate Wolford's granddaughter....whose name happens to be Phoebe Dandelion. Enjoy! The Fairies say that a long time ago the dandelion did not have a yellow blossom or the fluffy white cap it wears after the yellow has been taken off. They tell the story that one night, a long time ago, while they were holding one of their revels in a field, sounds of weeping and moaning were heard. The Fairy Queen stopped the dance and listened. "It comes from the ground," she said, "down among the grasses. Hurry, all of you; find out who is in trouble and come back and tell me." Away went the Fairies into the fields and gardens and lanes. Darting in and out among the blades of grass, they found queer-looking weeds with leaves resembling a lion's tooth. They were crying and chanting a sing-song tune: "Here we grow so bright and green, The color of grass, and can't be seen. O bitter woe, but we'll not stop Till the Fairies give us a yellow top." Back flew the Fairies to their Queen and told her what they had heard. "If only they had asked for some other color!" she said. "There are so many yellow blossoms now. The buttercup, the goldenglow, and the goldenrod will all be jealous if another yellow flower enters their bright circle. Go back and ask them if they will be quiet if we give them a white top." The Fairies danced away to the crying dandelions with the Queen's message. "The Queen will give you a white top," they said. "No, no!" they cried. "Yellow is the color we should wear with our green leaves. It is the color of the sun and we wish to be as near like him as we can," and they all began to cry: "O bitter woe, we will not stop Till the Fairies give us a yellow top." They made such a noise that the Fairies put their fingers in their ears as they flew back to the Queen. The grass-blades stood up higher and looked about. "Do quiet those noisy weeds," they said to the Queen; "give them the yellow top for which they are crying, and let us go to sleep. We have been kept awake since sunset and it will soon be sunrise." "What shall we do?" said the Queen. "I do not know where to get the yellow they want." "If we could get some sunbeams," said one Fairy, "we could have just the color they are crying for. Of course, we cannot venture into such a strong light, but the Elves might gather them for us." So they went to the Elves and asked them to gather the sunbeams for the next day, and bring them to the valley the next night. The Elves were very willing to help them, but the sun shone very little the next day, and they were able to gather only a few basketfuls of the bright golden color. When the Queen saw the quantity she was in despair. "This will never go around," she said, "and those that are left without a yellow top will cry louder than ever." "Why not divide it among them?" said one Fairy. "It will last for a little while and we can give them our fluffy white caps when that is gone. We shall take them off soon and the dandelions can wear them the rest of the season." The face of the Queen brightened. "The very thing," she said, "if only the noisy little weeds will agree. Go to them and say they can wear yellow of the very shade they most desire half the season if they are willing to accept our fluffy white caps for the other half." The Fairies hurried to the dandelions and told them what the Queen had said. The dandelions stopped crying and said they would be satisfied, and the Queen rode through the meadows, fields, gardens, and lanes, dropping gold upon each weed as she passed along. In the morning when the sun beheld his own bright color looking up at him he was so surprised that he almost stood still. The Fairies kept their promise, and when it was time to take off their fluffy white caps they went among the dandelions and hung a cap on each stem. The dandelions did not cry again, and the grass sleeps on from sunset to sunrise, undisturbed.

Psyche and Eros is the latest novel-length re-telling of a classic story from Greek mythology. Part myth and part fairy tale, the book begins by defining the different types of love (philia, agape, and eros) before launching into a sweeping romance told in turns by the title characters. Eros's story begins as the universe is unfolding “before there were stories to be told”. McNamara presents Eros as a primordial god of love who sets life into motion by shooting an arrow that brings the earth and sky together. His twin sister Eris, the goddess of discord, is the antidote to his power. As time unfolds, generations of the gods fight for power, and finally Zeus, eager to cement his place on Mt. Olympus, pulls his own goddess of love from the sea. Aphrodite adopts Eros as her son in a power move against the older god. It will be thousands of years before Eros is introduced to Psyche, the mortal girl who has been prophesied to become a hero. Psyche grows into a beautiful young woman and earns the ire of Aphrodite with her lack of interest in romance, and Eros is compelled to shoot Psyche with a cursed arrow. When Eros mistakenly cuts himself with the arrow, he falls hopelessly in love with Psyche, but, because of the curse, she is not allowed to see his true form or they will be split apart, forever craving what they cannot have. The love between Eros and Psyche is set against a backdrop of Greek history and mythology which highlights the beauty and dangers of human love and desire. McNamara plays with source material, casting Penelope as Helen’s sister and turning Clytemnestra’s daughter Iphigenia into Psyche’s beloved cousin. The romance between Psyche and Eros unfolds slowly, as Eros must present himself in various animal forms to maintain their connection. When Psyche lights a candle to gaze on her sleeping husband’s true form, they are ripped apart, and Psyche must endure Aphrodite’s tortures if she hopes to regain her true love. “Beauty and the Beast” is my favorite fairy tale, so I was thrilled to learn that there was a novel telling the story of Eros and Psyche, often cited as an early variant of the “Search for the Lost Husband” tale type. This book did not disappoint! Although it lacks the full reach of Madeline Miller’s Circe, the book presents a passionate romance while exploring ideas of free choice, heroic action, human folly, and the curious life of the gods. The narrative voice is both humorous and touching, and readers will find themselves fully invested in the beautiful love story of Eros and Psyche. This book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale, romance, and mythology! You can order the book here. Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. Kelly Jarvis is the Special Projects Writer and Contributing Editor for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Her work has appeared in Eternal Haunted Summer, Blue Heron Review, Forget-Me-Not Press, Mermaids Monthly, The Chamber Magazine, and Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. She teaches at Central Connecticut State University.

Medusa is well known as a monster with snakes for hair and a deadly stare. But, to quote Natalie Haynes's Greek myth retelling, “We’ll see about that.” Stone Blind tells the story of a teenage girl punished by a goddess for a crime committed not by her, but against them both. Medusa lives with her two gorgon sisters--tusked, winged creatures with snakes for hair. But the only gorgon quality she shares with them is the wings. She is young, beautiful, and mortal. And it is not long before she catches the eye of the sea god, Poseidon, who does not ask for what he wants; he only takes it. Haynes fleshes out Medusa’s story from the perspectives of many other women, both mortal and immortal (as well as a Greek chorus of nymphs, trees, and animals who drop in to add their perspectives). It is through the women’s eyes that we see the gods Zeus and Poseidon, not philandering husbands but serial rapists, as well as hapless Perseus, struggling toward manhood in a culture of toxic masculinity. Stone Blind delves into the deeply problematic tropes of Greek mythology that are sadly still too common in a post #MeToo world. Rich in symbolism, Medusa’s story unflinchingly asks tough questions: What are the consequences of trauma, especially when one survivor inflicts it on another? Who decides what makes a monster? And what is the difference between a hero and a murderer? Haynes’ characters, whether squabbling, self-absorbed immortals, anxious, flawed parents, or ordinary, confused teenagers, are heartbreakingly human. Her voice is sharp, original, fierce, and funny, and the result is a devastating take on an all too familiar tale. Format note: I listened to the audiobook featuring the author’s superb narration, and I cannot recommend this version enough. However, I’d happily revisit it in any format. You can buy the book HERE. Lissa Sloan is the author of Glass and Feathers, a novel that tells the story of Cinderella after the “happily ever after.” The Enchanted Press will publish it next February.

Editor’s note: The detailed recipe. The anger. The boiling. The crows. We couldn't resist this one. Enjoy! Queen's Wreath will tickle the shoulders Of your fences. Cut it on the walk you take Before everyone is awake Couple sprigs should do, The wilting limbs will be enough 2 cups of rain water on the stove In the pot you got in your parents’ divorce Boil the water and toss in the flowers Half expecting they will float away The whole kitchen will fill up With the smell of blossoms and Spring Don’t let it seduce you, it’s not yours. Cover the pot and lower the heat Let simmer for 20 minutes The simmer is important Hot as anger, sweet as panting Summer The sugar will burn, it’s the finicky part Add a cup if you’re Southern, half if you aren’t Stir slowly until dissolved, Granules washed away by boiling sea He is never coming back, the crows that speak his voice; they are of your own making Know your fucking power, Even if it means taking. Leave overnight in the fridge Let the ice crust on the pasta jar you’ve used And washed with water and soap and vinegar When you pour it in what you’re drinking You’ll hear him scream Real this time, not 5 crows on the laundry line Not in your head You drink anyway. Deep. To the dregs. Lauren Parker is a writer and visual artist based in Oakland. She’s a graduate of Hiram College’s Creative Writing program and has written for The Toast, The Bold Italic, Daily Xtra, and Autostraddle. Image: Jorge Salvador.

Check out Kate's fabulous finds that you can enjoy, too! This week's pick: Glass and Feathers I know that I’ve been pushing the subscription angle very hard, but you’re almost out of time for getting the serialized novel, Glass and Feathers, by Lissa Sloan, if you haven’t already. You’ll need to subscribe in the next couple of weeks, or you’ll have to wait to read it until next year, and then you’ll have to pay for it. So of course, it’s my pick of the week. You’ll find the info on subscribing for this year here. (You can’t get in on the serialized novel by buying only one issue. You need to be a yearly subscriber.) Also, just FYI, when you subscribe for four issues, it’s the four issues for this year. You’d get the March issue as well as the remaining issues for the year if you were to subscribe today. Glass and Feathers is a coming of age story that focuses on what might happen when Cinderella moves into the castle and gets married. Let’s just say the slipper won’t fit—in more ways than one. It’s a beautifully wrought, compelling story that takes the heroine far beyond where she starts. And there’s glorious black and white art designs by Amanda Bergloff, managing editor and art director for FTM, all through the book. Below is the latest. So I hope you’ll subscribe if you haven’t already. Glass and Feathers is a perfect springtime read—or a great read for any season. Yours in Enchantment, Kate

American Mermaid is an interesting novel about a Connecticut high school English teacher, Penelope Schleeman, who has written a best-selling feminist novel about a mermaid. Penelope takes a leave from teaching and moves to Los Angeles to help adapt her book into an action film, and much of the novel revolves around the clash of creative perspectives as studio employees try to transform Schleeman’s work into a blockbuster film. The story of Penelope’s experience in the entertainment industry is punctuated by excerpts from her novel which tells the story of a young wheelchair bound woman named Sylvia who discovers she is truly a mermaid. Found by an infertile couple who pay to have her tail split into legs so she can be raised as a human, Sylvia has endured a lifetime of pain due to her environment. Penelope’s book explains that Sylvia “has no idea there’s a whole different way of being, an easy automatic power she would possess if she only found her way to the water.” While Hans Christian Anderson’s mermaid trades her voice for the ability to walk on land, Schleeman’s American mermaid starts on land and journeys to find her power in the sea. Langbein’s book also features chapters of texts and emails between studio executives and Schleeman as they wrestle to bring the book to the big screen. The writing style of this novel is not the beautiful and evocative writing of a fantasy tale, but the author, Julia Langbein, a sketch and stand-up comedian, brings contemporary humor to the narrative which is both funny and poignant at the same time. The fictional journey of the mermaid mirrors the emotional and medical journey of the novel’s protagonist, and the book will leave readers thinking deeply about the nature of disability, the struggles of teaching teenagers, the fears we inherit from our parents, and the transformative process of endless re-creation. You can order American Mermaid here. Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. Kelly Jarvis is the Special Projects Writer and Contributing Editor for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Her work has appeared in Eternal Haunted Summer, Blue Heron Review, Forget-Me-Not Press, Mermaids Monthly, The Chamber Magazine, and Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. She teaches at Central Connecticut State University.

Check out Kate's fabulous finds that you can enjoy, too! This week's pick: Song of the Sea Issue Well, I’ve been missing in action on my picks for a couple of weeks because we’ve been working away nonstop on the June issue. And what an issue it is! Of course it’s my pick of the week. The “Song of the Sea” issue is a bit of an accident. I didn’t realize I was choosing lots of sea/mermaid related stories and poems until after I’d accepted them. When I realized what I’d done, I figured why not make it a sea issue? (Or maybe it was Amanda’s idea. The issue is half hers—at least!) The result is by far the most gorgeous thing we’ve ever done. Amanda pulled out all the stops on art and layout and the result is dreamy, romantic and dazzling. In addition to the new glorious poems and stories we have in this issue, we’ve included some “Best of EC” works, and we’ve got some great nonfiction too. I’m especially excited about Kelly Jarvis’s interview with the brilliant fairy tale scholar, Maria Tatar! This issue is also a whopping 88 pages, so you know you’re getting your money’s worth and then some. You can learn more about purchasing a single issue or becoming a subscriber here. You’ll be entertained and be supporting a great cause, as FTM is a nonprofit! Yours in Enchantment, Kate