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The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen ARC

By Pamelascott

Enter the Emerald Circus and be astonished by the transformations of your favourite tales. Ringmaster and internationally bestselling author Jane Yolen (Briar Rose, Sister Emily's Lightship) spins modern fantasy classics in tales that go well beyond Wonderland and Oz, down the rabbit hole and back again.

Where is Wendy? Leading a labor strike against the Lost Boys, of course!

It's time to go back to-and beyond-the treasured tales you thought you knew: The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and many more. Ringmaster and internationally bestselling author Jane Yolen (Briar Rose, Sister Emily's Lightship) spins modern fantasy classics for delighted readers. A girl blown away from Kansas returns as a sophisticate with unusual gymnastic abilities. A talented apprentice, forging her first sword, is suddenly left to the mercies of Merlin. Alice's infamous nemesis has jaws and claws, but also lacks the essential: a sense of humour.

Witty and bold, and unexpected, these tales go well beyond the rabbit hole and back again.

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[The boy lay in his too-small settle bed, his feet dangling over the end (ANDERSEN'S WITCH)]

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(Tachyon Publications, ebook, 14 November 2017, ARC provided by the publisher and voluntarily reviewed)

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Stories included:

  • Anderson's Witch
  • Lost Girls
  • Tough Alice
  • Blown Away
  • A Knot of Toads
  • The Quiet Monk
  • The Bird
  • Belle Bloody Merciless Dame
  • The Jewel in the Toad Queen's Crown
  • The Gift of the Magicians
  • Rabbit Hole
  • Our Lady of the Greenwood
  • The Confession of Brother Blaise
  • Wonder Land
  • Evian Steel
  • Sister Emily's Lightship

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I've read the author's work before, in various anthologies but this was my first time reading something complete.

I loved the stories in The Emerald Circus.

I love fairy tales and one of the most enjoyable aspects of this collection is how the author takes well-known stories including Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz and writes a completely new story. I've read a lot of re-telling's of popular stories. Yolen takes this one step further by using a well-known tale to create something completely new and different.

My favourite stories were Anderson's Witch, Lost Girls, Tough Alice and Blown Away. The other stories are great but these shone a little brighter.

I'd highly recommend this collection of stories.

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen ARC

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