Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. There were some good ideas here, but the only story that really landed for me was Just a Little Bite.

Really solid. 15 stories inspired by 15 fairy tales. Like with the Poe edition the original story (or a version of it) is at the back of this book. So I read the original and then the retelling.
The biggest downfall here is maybe the selection of which fairy tale original was published. There’s so many versions of these tales and to go back to THE Grimm one (for example) is harder than you think as the Grimm Brothers published many variations of the original stories themselves!
Highly recommend this one for anyone who loves a good fairy tale.

A few notes about each story:
Story #1 - Sugarplum Inspired by The Nutcracker
It has just rung New Year’s 2024 as I write this. It is perhaps ironic that the first story here is about the holiday I just got through.
As our leading gal feels stifled in her Christmas Eve event, so too do I feel (in general) about Christmas.
An excellent little ditty with many nods to the SugarPlum Fairy dance.

Story #2 - In the Forests of the Night by Gita Trelease Inspired by Fitcher’s Bird
I didn’t think I knew this story; but as I got into the original I realized I’ve certainly heard the tiger story before. I just didn’t know the name Fitcher.
The retelling is well-written; but I found the authors blurb more interesting and wished I could hear more of the real tiger that inspired her…

Story #3 - Say my Name by Dahlia Adler Inspired by Rumpelstiltskin
I often forget little there is to the original Rumplestiltskin story. I love the concept, character, & power being in a name.
I can’t help but roll my eyes at the Twilight reference in this retelling. Although, every minute since reading it the idea is growing on me. If power is in a name; then a name can also steal power away…clever

Story #4 - Fire & Rhinestone by Stacey Lee Inspired by The Little Match Girl
Brilliant!!! I adore this one!
It’s smart, clever, and tells of a historical event giving a (fictional) backstory. It also shows the awful treatment of both women and people of colour from that day (and sadly today still).
This book is worth reading if this is the only amazing story; although I’m confident it won’t be.

Story # 5 - Mother’s Mirror by H. E. Edgmon Inspired by Little Snow-White
I LOVED this amazing version of Snow White that focuses on the ‘beauty’ of a trans man. The way this story shows the ‘ugliness’ that the lead character sees when their mother sees a different kind of ugliness is clever. A brilliantly written, accessible transgender story. This should be mandatory reading for everyone!

Story #6 - Sharp as any Thorn by Rory Power Inspired by Sleeping Beauty
While I liked this story, it’s a huge stretch to say it’s inspired by or based on Sleeping Beauty. The entire premise is skewed and makes no sense. The twist ending is great as a story; just not one related to Sleeping Beauty

Story # 7 - Coyote in High-Top Sneakers by Darcie Little Badger Inspired by Puss in Boots
This story is adorable! I’ll confess I don’t really know original Puss in Boots, or even many retellings (besides Shrek’s version, lol) so I can’t say much about its relationship or the original included here. However, I can say that this story was adorable! I just don’t meet enough talking coyotes!

Story # 8 - The Sister Swap by Melissa Alberta; whole new fairy tale)
Interesting to include a non-retelling in a re-telling anthology. Not sure I get why this was done. Regardless the story was fine. Nothing mind blowing; but I did love the gothic masquerade setting!

Story #9 - Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Hafsah Faizal Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood
If it’s possible to fall in love with a character in only a handful of pages then certainly I just did!
I love this leading gal. She’s a Muslim who wears a hijab. This, of course, makes her even more visible and ‘obviously different’ than just being a POC. Great heist-style story. I’d love to read more!

Story #10 - A Flame So Bright by Malinda Lo Inspired by Frau Trude
I’ve always loved a good evil wins tale. I’m sure that puts me in some scary bucket of concerning or crazy but I can’t help but often cheer for the ‘bad guy’.
The pacing and flow of this story is beautiful. It’s truly prose, if not poetry at times. I quite enjoyed this set of stories.
May the witch ever win. ;)

Story #11 - The Emperor and the Eversong by Tracy Deonn Inspired by The Nightingale
Is there anything Deonn cannot make her own and retell better than the original?
Gosh just amazing!!
I can’t say anything else because it would give away too much. Just read this story!!

Story #12 - Hea by Alex London Inspired by Cinderella
I didn’t know I desperately needed Cinderella retold from a flamboyantly gay social media boys perspective! This is adorable and very clever. Kudos to London for keeping it both light and yet still shining a light on what it takes to be a ‘star’ and stay current in social media. I was exhausting just thinking about ‘creating content’.

Story #13 - The Littlest Mermaid by Meredith Russo Inspired by The Little Mermaid
Not for the first time, I question if the version here is the ‘original’ tale from Hans Christian Andersen. It is not the same tale as from a book (the ‘original’ tale?) I had as a child.
Love the trans rep in this retelling! The rest is just okay. It’s a bit too lovey-dovey for me. Overall lacks plot.

Story #15 - Just a Little Bite by Roselle Lim Inspired by Hansel and Gretel
This story is a wild ride!! I love it! Not just because it’s set in Canada during a blizzard (can’t help but love my own setting), but because it’s brutal, doesn’t apologize, plus kids are great. They kind of reminded me of the Winchester brothers. No nonsense, don’t screw with us attitude. Very clever interpretation.

Story #15 - A Story About a Girl by Rebecca Podos Inspired by The Robber Bridegroom
Well this story is okay. But next to the Hansel and Gretel one right before it fails to compare. They should have been swapped around.
I will however give Podos credit for her title being a clever play off a song Nirvana famously covered.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Great read, perfect escapism.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This diverse anthology, featuring renowned YA authors such as Anna-Marie McLemore and Alex London, explores themes of transformation, deception, desire, and vengeance. Spanning genres from fantasy to horror, the stories delve into change and its reception, with characters including a trans protagonist, a planet's ruler evading Death, and a hijabi known as Red. The collection, opening with a nod to fairy-tale mutability, offers a broad and intriguing range of narratives that will captivate readers.

The original source tales are included at the end of the book for comparison and further entertainment, giving you double the stories to enjoy.

The writing in the new stories is less formulaic and much more literary or descriptive than their classic source material and the characters include influencers, hackers/coders and teen hunters along with monsters of all ages and types.

Each story in the collection has its own distinct flavour and style – Phoenix Ashes’ escape in Alex London’s ‘HEA’ is a glamorous queer love story, whereas the performance of the Silent Sisters in Melissa Albert’s ‘The Sister Switch’ is nightmarish horror and Rebecca Podos’ ‘A Story About a Girl’ is a mixture of classic horror movies with Sheherazade-style stalling.

All of the stories are, however, very clever and well-written and there wasn’t a single one that I didn’t find entertaining – there is genuinely something for everyone here. I heartily recommend this collection to (adult) fans of fairytales old and new.

I received a free copy from Netgalley all opinions are my own.

2 stars.
This is a collection of short stories. Overall I didn't love any of them, and I don't feel compelled to read any of the stories again.
I do like that the original stories are at the end if you don't already know them. I didn't know most of these so I think I did lose a lot of context.

Sugarplum - Anna-Marie McLemore
boring af. I'm happy it was so short otherwise I wouldn't have been able to finish it. 1 star

In the Forests of the Night - Gita Trelease
I don't know the original story. I found the mystery interesting. This story had a horror element to it. And I'm not a fan of horror😬
This story had me on my toes, I was actually a little scared haha.
2 stars, just because I didn't hate it, but I would definitely never read it again. My poor heart can't take it. The story was well written though.

Say My Name - Dahlia Adler
Run of the mill high school student psychopath. 1 star.

Fire and Rhinestone - Stacey Lee
Not a fan, because I hate reading about the cruelty that happens in this world. 1,5 stars.

Mother's Mirror - H. E. Edgmon
Trans representation, good ending. 3 stars

Sharp As Any Thorn - Rory Powers
I didn't really understand what the curse or voices meant? 2 stars?

Coyote In High-Top Sneakers - Darcie Little Badger
It was alright, just a childrens story. 2 stars.

The Sister Switch - Melissa Albert
I'm Nate, I had no freaking clue what was going on. I really didn't like this short story. 1 star.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Hafsah Faizal
It was fine. 2,5 stars.

A Flame So Bright - Malinda Lo
Wlw. It was fine 2 stars.

The Emperor and the Eversong - Tracy Deonn
A story about greed. 2 stars

HEA - Alex London
The reason family should'nt be your manager when you're famous, and why teens should be allowed to be teens and not working adults.
4 stars.
The Littlest Mermaid - Meredith Russo
It was a beautiful story. But I didn't really understand the ending. 3 stars.

Just A Little Bite - Roselle Lim
A Hansel and Gretel retelling. This story really had me in nerves. I feared for their life, it was scary to me. Very well written.
3,5 stars.

A Story About A Girl - Rebecca Podos
Kind of boring, but it did take a turn I didn't expect. 2 stars.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

This book was phenomenal. One of the best memoirs I’ve ever read, and I’ve read many! I found her experiences living as an autistic woman, in a world that is so often not built for us, relatable and insightful. It was raw, harrowing, and inspiring all at once. This is a book I’ll never forget. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

I really wanted to enjoy this one as its fairytales reimagined and normally I love them however I really struggled with this collection and only found about 3 that I actually liked.

I know that with anthologies or collections there are always going to be ones that are hit or miss but this was the majority and I'm gutted.

I love fairy tale retellings and this one hits the spot. This is a collection of 15 short story retellings so there is a story for everyone. Some of the stories were a hit and miss but overall, I really enjoyed reading this.

Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for the arc.

A huge thank you at Titan Books for giving me a chance to read At Midnight: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of fairytale retellings, having the chance to read so many of them in this anthology was like a gift to my reader heart. Every single one of the reimagined fairytales had a unique take on its original tale and althought it was easy to spot the similarities that gave it birth, the new take on the original tales was unique, amazing and it gave me a sense of the creativity behind each tale's writer.
Most of the stories took place in the modern world and it was perhaps that very trait that I loved most about this anthology, meaning that the magic of fairytales can be found in variations even in our very own reality.
The tales where short but that didn't mean they were any less complete in their moral lessons or endings. If anything, reading a reimagined tale right before falling asleep will bring you back memories of your childhood.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

TW: Parental abuse/neglect, alcohol, homophobia, cannibalism, transphobia and arson/fire.

At Midnight is a collection of 15 short fairytale retellings reimagined. I really enjoyed reading one before bed every other night and found the book entertaining and intriguing. Some of the stories I wasn't as keen on as others, and I would check the trigger warnings before reading this book. My favourites were; Fire Rhinestone which was a retelling of the Little Matchstick Girl, Mother's Mirror which was a retelling of snow white, Sharp as any thorn (sleeping beauty), Once Bitten Twice Shy (Little Red Riding Hood) and The Emperor and the Eversong (The Nightingale). If you're a fan of retellings like me, I highly recommend giving this a read!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars.

A thrilling collection of reimagined fairy tales that showcase more inclusivity within their characters as well as twisting the stories on their heads.

I really appreciate that excerpts from the original stories are included in the book so that readers can see where inspiration was taken, and where the stories have evolved.

An excellent mixture of both heart warming and dark retellings.

Ever since I did an online course about Fairytales and Young Adult Literature years ago, I’ve been a little bit obsessed with fairytales, and how they repeat in literature. And while the bookish world seems to have a variable relationship with retellings, I find that with enough suspension of disbelief, and a willingness to “plumb their depths” (Adler, foreword), retellings by good writers can be quite fantastical.

The original tales are included in the back, and I enjoyed first reading an original, and then its relevant retelling.

A rundown:

Sugarplum, Anna-Marie McLemore: I loved this sapphic ballet-inspired musing on free will.

In the Forests of the Night, Gita Trelease: a gruesome gothic-like tale of feminist victory over colonialist patriarchy, set in India. I’m used to completely realistic stories set in India, so this heavy dose of magic was a refreshing change.

Say My Name, Dahlia Adler: a series of dark twists and ulterior motives, leaving the reader fittingly conflicted about heroes and villains. I really don't think the foot-in-linoleum-floor bit was necessary though - the retelling was clear enough without it.

Fire & Rhinestone, Stacey Lee: historical fiction set in late-19th Century NYC, featuring an Asian American girl and her ancient grandmother. One of the saddest of the lot, beautifully told.

Mother’s Mirror, H. E. Edgmon: a coming-of-age story of a trans-man, leaning in to himself and all his complexities.

Sharp as any Thorn, Rory Power: a somewhat confusing story, dark and murderous, featuring domestic violence, manipulation, and a complicated sisterhood. Left me wanting more.

Coyote in High-Top Sneakers, Darcie Little Badger: you know those fairytales where the good guy plays a clever trick on the bad guy? This is it!

The Sister Switch, Melissa Albert: I can see what the author was trying to do, but I think it would definitely be better as a short play. A little Stephen King-esque!

Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Hafsah Faizal: a story of morality, cultural expectations, and scheming; featuring a Muslim family and a fearless hijabi-daughter. I love that a crisis of culture/faith is NOT central to this story.

A Flame so Bright, Malinda Lo: a sapphic story full of forbidden desire, with just a hint at The Lottery.

The Emperor and the Eversong, Tracy Deonn: to me, this wasn’t really a retelling, just a transposition to a different setting.

Hea, Alex London: my favourite of them all! Influencer fame, drag, and innocent first love.

The Littlest Mermaid, Meredith Russo: I love this flipped version from the mermaid’s point of view, deftly tackling themes of the gender binary and none-monogamy vs eternal love.

Just a Little Bite, Roselle Lim: one of the most gruesome, in an unputdownable way.

A Story About a Girl: the framing device was weird, and maybe not even necessary. Interesting twist, though.

At Midnight is a remarkable collection of short stories reimagining the fairy tales we know and love. Every single story in this book is beautifully written and worth a read. They each have a fresh spin to the tale we think we know so well. Highly recommended! Be sure to check out At Midnight today.

As someone who has grown up on fairy tales, when I heard of this anthology, it immediately went onto my TBR. So many of my favourite authors were also featured in this, which made me so excited to read it. I loved the twists on the classic fairy tales that I grew up with and I also loved seeing the new fairy tales written in this anthology. All of the stories were really well done but if I had to chose one of my favourite, it's definitely going to be Tracy Deonn's story; I haven't stopped thinking about that one.

At Midnight is an anthology I will be recommending to anyone who loves fairy tales and retellings, but wants them with unique twists.

I have loved every single one of the anthologies Dahlia Adler has edited and this is no exception. Sone well known and lesser known fairy tales get a new twist on this collection of stunning retellings

loved, loved LOVED this collection of stories! I thought they were innovative and even though knowing most of them, there was still a twist, I could enjoy thoroughly.

At Midnight was a highly anticipated book on my tbr as I LOVE retellings, but I'm disappointed to say this was very underwhelming. I did have a few favourites from the anthology but they're not really memorable and I probably wouldn't go back to reread any of it.

Reimagined with contemporary spins, these retellings may be more interesting to someone who doesn't mind a modern take. Personally, I felt this took away the magic and whimsy of the original tales as these stories were rooted in reality. I also didn't get on with many of the writing styles.

It was great to have the original tales included in the book but I would have preferred them side-by-side with the retellings for a better flow.

To end on a more positive note, here are some of my favourites in the collection:
• In the Forests of the Night (Gita Trelease)
• Fire and Rhinestone - by Stacey Lee so I knew I'd love it!
• The Emperor and the Eversong (Tracy Deonn) - I didn't know the original tale (The Nightingale) but I loved the writing style and intriguing storyline
• Just a Little Bite (Roselle Lim)

Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC of 'At Midnight: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined' edited by Dahlia Adler featuring authors such as Tracy Deonn.

It's hard to review an anthology but I'll try my best. 'At Midnight' is a collection of 15 short stories which retell classic Fairy Tales - and it was beautiful. Some of the authors I've been in love with for ages - I'm talking about you Tracy - and some were new, but none of them ever disappointed me. Some stories weren't my cup of tea, but they were still intriguing and nice to read. Overall, it was beautifully curated.