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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Beyond Grimm by Alan S. Kessler is a collection of 25 short stories inspired by the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales. After coming across a scary wolf in the woods, a young girl tried to offer her grandmother as bait. A Berkshire pig betrays others of his own kind to the grey wolf, but is in for a surprise. Tempted by the opportunity to pull his family out of poverty, a young priest commits a mortal sin. A young woman gets revenge on her stepsisters and is finally able to charm the prince of her dreams. A duckling at odds with his family eventually discovers his true identity, but still struggles to find somewhere he belongs. A young boy raised by wolves helps his pack devour the inhabitants of an entire village.
With a blend of shock, horror, suspense, and intrigue, Beyond Grimm is a scrumptious treat for dark fantasy lovers. I absolutely loved this collection. It's delightfully wicked. Alan S. Kessler has an amazing ability to pull you into the narrative from the very first page, and the twists and turns are so unpredictable and clever that you're completely glued to the pages until you've finished the story. These narratives are absurd and surreal, and packed with mystery and tension. The one thing I can guarantee is that you will find yourself constantly surprised by the unexpected reveals and other machinations of these plots. It can change over time. Right now, "Odd Duck" is my favorite story in this collection. If you enjoy dark fantasy and short stories, this will be right up your alley.
