Once Upon a Time cover art

Once Upon a Time

New Fairy Tales

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Once Upon a Time

By: Paula Guran, Theodora Goss, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Tanith Lee, Genevieve Valentine
Narrated by: Kate Baker
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About this listen

Eighteen extraordinary authors devise all-new fairy tales: imaginative reinterpretations of the familiar, evocative new myths, speculations beyond the traditional realm of "once upon a time."

Often dark, occasionally humorous, always enthralling, these stories find a certain Puss in a near-future New York, an empress bargaining with a dragon, a princess turned into a raven, a king's dancing daughters with powerful secrets, great heroism, terrible villainy, sparks of mischief, and a great deal more. Brilliant dreams and dazzling nightmares with meaning for today and tomorrow…

©2013 Paula Guran (P)2013 Prime Books Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Royalty Witty

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All stars
Most relevant

What disappointed you about Once Upon a Time?

The stories are interesting and written by different and excellent writers but they all run into each other because of the flat, slightly breathy style they are read in. I think Baker is aiming for an ethereal, otherworldly tone but she manages to take all the tension and emotion out of the tales and just makes them dull to listen to.

If you’ve listened to books by the authors before, how does this one compare?

N/A

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The authors have been poorly served by this reading. The overall effect is soporific and Baker's breathy reading is just irritating after a while.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment.

Interesting stories but read badly

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