In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.
Two and Twenty Dark Tales
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Nancy Holder’s writing is taut and evocative, allowing a suspension of disbelief that makes this a thrilling read.” —Booklist
“Michelle Zink’s methodical unfolding of events will draw readers in.” —Kirkus
“The world Lisa Mantchev creates is theatrical and spectacular.” —Fantasy Magazine
About the Author
Georgia McBride is a speculative fiction writer and founder of YALITCHAT.org. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Michelle Zink is the author of Prophecy of the Sisters and A Temptation of Angels. She lives in New York City. Francisco X. Stork is the author of Irises, The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, and Marcelo in the Real World. He lives in Boston.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection of short stories contains tales exploring the dark side of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. There were many good ones in this. Some of my favorites include Gretchen McNeil's "Tick Tock," about a babysitter who's sent to a house full of creepy children and a questionable grandfather clock, Leah Cypress' "Clockwork" which retold Hickory Dickory Dock, and Karen Mahoney's romantic and magical "One for Sorrow."
There were more that I liked, but I was so caught up with reading that I slacked off in the note-taking department. The anthology definitely does a great job retelling Mother Goose rhymes. There were some rhymes that I wasn't familiar with, but I got a chance to learn about them by reading this.
The stories had a little bit of everything. Some of them took place in the past, while others were told in the present, and one or two seemed futuristic. One tale, Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg's "A Pocketful of Posy," even had a vampire in it. If you enjoy dark and creepy stories with variety, this is the anthology to read. I received the galley from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
There were more that I liked, but I was so caught up with reading that I slacked off in the note-taking department. The anthology definitely does a great job retelling Mother Goose rhymes. There were some rhymes that I wasn't familiar with, but I got a chance to learn about them by reading this.
The stories had a little bit of everything. Some of them took place in the past, while others were told in the present, and one or two seemed futuristic. One tale, Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg's "A Pocketful of Posy," even had a vampire in it. If you enjoy dark and creepy stories with variety, this is the anthology to read. I received the galley from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Catie Taylor
Format:Paperback
We all know our Mother Goose. For centuries kids have been learning these nursery rhymes and most of them seem pretty light and harmless. But when you really look into them, some of these stories have a dark undercurrent. Two and Twenty Dark Tales is an anthology of work from some of the best YA authors out there that puts a dark twist on our classic nursery rhymes. This book is a great collection of creepy stories that is sure to keep you up. The best part about the anthology, though, is that it is the first in a series of charity anthologies that Month9Books will be putting out. The proceeds from the first 5,000 sales will be donated to YALITCHAT.ORG, an organization that strives to increase the awareness and impact of YA lit and culture. As with all anthologies, there were some stories that chilled me to the bone and others that left me cold. Since these are short stories and I don't want to give any spoilers I will just give you my overall impressions rather than going too in depth with each story. So, without further ado, the stories:
As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old: I wasn't familiar with the original rhyme, which may have colored my opinion on this one. It just sort of dragged for me. Although, the story did get interesting after awhile and I did care about the main character. I still would have liked to have a more well-known rhyme start the book off.
Sing a Song of Six-Pence: This one started off pretty creepy, but in the end it just didn't do it for me.
Clockwork: Probably one of my favorite stories. This one felt like it could have been developed into a novel all on its own. The main character was great and even though this was a bite-sized story, you really felt like you understood the world and characters. Very cool.
Blue: This was another one I just couldn't get into. The idea was different but there wasn't much development.
Pieces of Eight: I really thought this was going to be one of my favorites since it involves a quest and I love stories like that. However, the plot got so complicated so quickly that I got completely lost and couldn't enjoy the story itself.
Wee Willie Winkie: This has to be the hands-down scariest story in the book. The creep-factor for this one was off the charts. I read this right as I was falling asleep and let's just say - bad call.
Boys and Girls Come Out To Play: This is another story that I would love to see developed into a full novel. It was definitely creepy but there was also a great backstory that I really wanted to know more about.
I Come Bearing Souls: The incorporation of Egyptian mythology in this tale is really cool. I could have gone without the ending though.
The Lion and the Unicorn: I don't really feel like I can pass judgement here because the second half is only in the finished version. But so far, so good.
Life in a Shoe: Probably the most depressing story for me. This one was sort of dystopian/post-apocalyptic and dealt with fun issues like child abuse and absentee fathers.
Candlelight: Another creepy one. This story starts off pretty cool and then gets super depressing.
One for Sorrow: I just didn't like this story at all. There wasn't a lot of depth and I got bored very fast.
Those Who Whisper: Pretty cool concept and the execution was great. This is another story that I wanted to know more about after it was over. One of the best.
Little Miss Muffet: Maybe it's because I hate spiders, but I just did not like this one at all. Yes, it was creative, but it was a little aimless and the ending...oh my god. Just gross.
Sea of Dew: I literally was crying as I read the end of this story. The best part is, that there is an extended version in the final copy!
Tick Tock: This is a close second for scariest story in the anthology. My only criticism is that I want to know more about the backstory of the kids.
A Pocket Full of Posy: This story got off to a great start but the conclusion seemed rushed and I didn't care for it in the end.
The Well: Oh god! Jack and Jill ruined forever, in the best possible way. This story is supremely screwed up.
The Wish: This story was a bit predictable but the story was decent and the message was well layed-out.
A Ribbon of Blue: I think this story was supposed to be sweet and beautiful, but it came off as sort of dull to me.
Overall, I would say that this anthology is definitely worth the time. It was really interesting to see how these different authors twisted around my favorite stories. Pick this one up for a good, freaky time.
As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old: I wasn't familiar with the original rhyme, which may have colored my opinion on this one. It just sort of dragged for me. Although, the story did get interesting after awhile and I did care about the main character. I still would have liked to have a more well-known rhyme start the book off.
Sing a Song of Six-Pence: This one started off pretty creepy, but in the end it just didn't do it for me.
Clockwork: Probably one of my favorite stories. This one felt like it could have been developed into a novel all on its own. The main character was great and even though this was a bite-sized story, you really felt like you understood the world and characters. Very cool.
Blue: This was another one I just couldn't get into. The idea was different but there wasn't much development.
Pieces of Eight: I really thought this was going to be one of my favorites since it involves a quest and I love stories like that. However, the plot got so complicated so quickly that I got completely lost and couldn't enjoy the story itself.
Wee Willie Winkie: This has to be the hands-down scariest story in the book. The creep-factor for this one was off the charts. I read this right as I was falling asleep and let's just say - bad call.
Boys and Girls Come Out To Play: This is another story that I would love to see developed into a full novel. It was definitely creepy but there was also a great backstory that I really wanted to know more about.
I Come Bearing Souls: The incorporation of Egyptian mythology in this tale is really cool. I could have gone without the ending though.
The Lion and the Unicorn: I don't really feel like I can pass judgement here because the second half is only in the finished version. But so far, so good.
Life in a Shoe: Probably the most depressing story for me. This one was sort of dystopian/post-apocalyptic and dealt with fun issues like child abuse and absentee fathers.
Candlelight: Another creepy one. This story starts off pretty cool and then gets super depressing.
One for Sorrow: I just didn't like this story at all. There wasn't a lot of depth and I got bored very fast.
Those Who Whisper: Pretty cool concept and the execution was great. This is another story that I wanted to know more about after it was over. One of the best.
Little Miss Muffet: Maybe it's because I hate spiders, but I just did not like this one at all. Yes, it was creative, but it was a little aimless and the ending...oh my god. Just gross.
Sea of Dew: I literally was crying as I read the end of this story. The best part is, that there is an extended version in the final copy!
Tick Tock: This is a close second for scariest story in the anthology. My only criticism is that I want to know more about the backstory of the kids.
A Pocket Full of Posy: This story got off to a great start but the conclusion seemed rushed and I didn't care for it in the end.
The Well: Oh god! Jack and Jill ruined forever, in the best possible way. This story is supremely screwed up.
The Wish: This story was a bit predictable but the story was decent and the message was well layed-out.
A Ribbon of Blue: I think this story was supposed to be sweet and beautiful, but it came off as sort of dull to me.
Overall, I would say that this anthology is definitely worth the time. It was really interesting to see how these different authors twisted around my favorite stories. Pick this one up for a good, freaky time.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the title suggests, this book is a collection of twenty short stories; twenty dark retellings of Mother Goose rhymes. Some are darker than others, but the title is spot on, I promise you.
When I review an anthology I like to talk about my top three and my bottom three. I don't choose to review every single story, but that doesn't mean I disliked them. They just landed somewhere in the middle for me. :)
- - -
**Some spoilers ahead!**
I'll start off with my bottom three.
"Little Miss Muffet" by Georgia McBride - Okay, it's inspiration is obvious. The story... is disturbing. It's definitely one of the darker tales in this anthology. A family of shapeshifting spiders. The Muffets. Two sisters. One good, one not. One ends up turning human and eating her mother in spider form. It's gross and disturbing and just yuck! Cringe! There was, however, a little thread of romance woven in that I did enjoy.
"Blue" by Sayantani DasGupta - Inspired by Little Boy Blue. Interesting. Nice prose. Definitely had potential. It's about a mysterious spirit who writes stories into peoples' skin. It was a bit confusing and ended in a weird spot. It was too abrupt and left with with a question mark over my head. It wasn't really what I would call "dark", either.
"The Well" by K.M. Walton - Inspired by Jack and Jill. This was one I could have easily liked. It's got a dystopian twist. Set in a post-virus ridden world. The siblings hate each other for different reasons. It's definitely one that was much too dark for me. It was almost sick. The only thing I enjoyed was the eerie feel to the story because the siblings believed they were the only humans remaining alive.
Now for my top three. It was hard to choose, because I liked ALL of these stories to some degree, even my bottom three. This book was really fantastic.
"As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old" by Nina Berry - This is the first tale in the novel. Inspired by Taffy and the Welshman. I noticed that many reviewers didn't enjoy or were confused by this one. It saddens me because I think the symbolism is so so beautiful and the story presents an eerie twist. For a short story, there is a LOT of detail. I think it was a perfect opening for this book. I don't want to say too much and spoil this one, but it is so so beautiful and definitely surprising.
"One for Sorrow" by Karen Mahoney - Inspired by a nursery rhyme of the same title. A strange tale, this one. An extremely lonely girl forms a bond of sorts with a lone crow that comes into her bedroom window at night. She later learns a world-shaking secret about said crow. This story is lyrical. This story is romantic and beyond beautiful. It's a bit eerie, a bit thrilling. It's about magic, love, destiny, and companionship. I really loved this one.
"Wee Willie Winkie" by Leigh Fallon - Inspired by a nursery rhyme of the same title. Oh, I LOVED this one! It's definitely the creepiest one of the bunch. About a girl who moves to a Scottish village where teens under the age of 16 are being targeted by a villainous presence. If not in bed by 8 o'clock, it comes for you. The atmosphere of this one is dark and spooky. The writing was fantastic and the ending was perfection!
Overall? I enjoyed this book immensely! Some of the stories were a bit long-winded; some too dark, but ALL of them were enjoyable, even the ones I didn't care for. Some of them were spooky. Some of them were romantic. Some magical. Some downright icky! The authors explore a wide range of rhymes. Some very well known, others you've probably never heard of. In the beginning of each story, though, they show you the rhyme that has inspired the retelling. It's a great book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a retelling, a chilling tale, or a really great anthology.
When I review an anthology I like to talk about my top three and my bottom three. I don't choose to review every single story, but that doesn't mean I disliked them. They just landed somewhere in the middle for me. :)
- - -
**Some spoilers ahead!**
I'll start off with my bottom three.
"Little Miss Muffet" by Georgia McBride - Okay, it's inspiration is obvious. The story... is disturbing. It's definitely one of the darker tales in this anthology. A family of shapeshifting spiders. The Muffets. Two sisters. One good, one not. One ends up turning human and eating her mother in spider form. It's gross and disturbing and just yuck! Cringe! There was, however, a little thread of romance woven in that I did enjoy.
"Blue" by Sayantani DasGupta - Inspired by Little Boy Blue. Interesting. Nice prose. Definitely had potential. It's about a mysterious spirit who writes stories into peoples' skin. It was a bit confusing and ended in a weird spot. It was too abrupt and left with with a question mark over my head. It wasn't really what I would call "dark", either.
"The Well" by K.M. Walton - Inspired by Jack and Jill. This was one I could have easily liked. It's got a dystopian twist. Set in a post-virus ridden world. The siblings hate each other for different reasons. It's definitely one that was much too dark for me. It was almost sick. The only thing I enjoyed was the eerie feel to the story because the siblings believed they were the only humans remaining alive.
Now for my top three. It was hard to choose, because I liked ALL of these stories to some degree, even my bottom three. This book was really fantastic.
"As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old" by Nina Berry - This is the first tale in the novel. Inspired by Taffy and the Welshman. I noticed that many reviewers didn't enjoy or were confused by this one. It saddens me because I think the symbolism is so so beautiful and the story presents an eerie twist. For a short story, there is a LOT of detail. I think it was a perfect opening for this book. I don't want to say too much and spoil this one, but it is so so beautiful and definitely surprising.
"One for Sorrow" by Karen Mahoney - Inspired by a nursery rhyme of the same title. A strange tale, this one. An extremely lonely girl forms a bond of sorts with a lone crow that comes into her bedroom window at night. She later learns a world-shaking secret about said crow. This story is lyrical. This story is romantic and beyond beautiful. It's a bit eerie, a bit thrilling. It's about magic, love, destiny, and companionship. I really loved this one.
"Wee Willie Winkie" by Leigh Fallon - Inspired by a nursery rhyme of the same title. Oh, I LOVED this one! It's definitely the creepiest one of the bunch. About a girl who moves to a Scottish village where teens under the age of 16 are being targeted by a villainous presence. If not in bed by 8 o'clock, it comes for you. The atmosphere of this one is dark and spooky. The writing was fantastic and the ending was perfection!
Overall? I enjoyed this book immensely! Some of the stories were a bit long-winded; some too dark, but ALL of them were enjoyable, even the ones I didn't care for. Some of them were spooky. Some of them were romantic. Some magical. Some downright icky! The authors explore a wide range of rhymes. Some very well known, others you've probably never heard of. In the beginning of each story, though, they show you the rhyme that has inspired the retelling. It's a great book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a retelling, a chilling tale, or a really great anthology.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Curl up with these creepy tales!
I love re-tellings of classic works, and this diverse collection of dark Mother Goose-inspired stories is sure to delight. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Jen McConnel
4.0 out of 5 stars
The ones I liked I really liked
Dark re-tellings of Mother Goose rhymes are what this whole anthology is about. From Jack and Jill to Humpty Dumpty, these authors explore another side of these nursery... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brittany Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic dark retellings
I so love fairy tale retellings. For me, a really good retelling transforms a familiar tale into something totally new and unique, but still preserves the spirit of the original. Read more
Published 3 months ago by PidginPea
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit disappointed with this one.
Review:
I love fairy tale retellings, I never get tired reading stories I love being reworked and remastered by Authors today. Read more
I love fairy tale retellings, I never get tired reading stories I love being reworked and remastered by Authors today. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kristin@Blood,SweatandBooks
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well done collection!
Anthologies are one of my favorites, as they're a great way to discover new authors but doesn't require a huge investment in time. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alexia
3.0 out of 5 stars
Decent, but not great
It's hard to review compilations of short stories as the tales vary widely, both in content and tone. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Teen at Heart
3.0 out of 5 stars
so-so
I didn't dislike the book and I didn't love it either. Some of the stories seemed to be missing that key spark that makes me get all tingly inside. Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Flashlight Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love some stories, hated others, but overall a good book
Perhaps Mother Goose was not telling us the full story in those catchy nursery rhymes. Perhaps, like the original fairy tales, the origins of those nursery rhymes were much... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tiffany A. Harkleroad
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rhymes Retold..
This is an anthology of - as the title says - twenty-two dark tales. Each tale told here is based on nursery rhymes, some well known and others not so much. Read more
Published 4 months ago by LadyInRead
3.0 out of 5 stars
Macabre, Eerie, and Grotesque
I am one of those people who sometimes get interested in a book by seeing its cover. This was the case with "Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes", and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Adela Cacovean
