A Queer Little Book of Tales

 

A Queer Little Book of Tales is a collection of 6 well written fairy tales/fables with an inclusive twist (mostly gay or nonbinary characters) written by H. R. Harrison. Due out 15th March 2021 from NineStar Press, it's 419 pages and will be available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. 

These stories are classic fable retellings with a more inclusive cast of characters and range the gamut from a sweetly reimagined "The Three Brothers" to a "Cinderella/Brave Little Tailor" mash-up. They are beautifully and respectfully written and I enjoyed them all thoroughly. The author is adept and the stories are evocative and the prose reminds me very much of classic Grimm's Fairy Tales.There are no illustrations, but all 6 stories are well told. The book is also beautifully and smoothly edited; all of the stories are quite polished and feel finished. 

I would recommend this collection to adult fans of fairy tales/fables, as well as fans of writers such as Natasha Pulley, Cat Rambo, Catherynne Valente, and similar. The book's emphasis is on non-binary, non-cis characters, and there is some mildly graphic content, so it's definitely not a children's book. 

Four and a half stars. Classic stories, well told. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.