Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill
Old classic fairytales molded and reimagined to fit into the modern world
Synopsis
Why did all the princesses in the fairytales from our childhood be in dire need of a prince to come and save them? What would’ve happened if they were given a chance to choose their fate differently, if they could’ve just eliminated one thing from their tales, would they still have chosen to be a damsel in distress, accepted their inability to fight for themselves, raise their voices when required, and live under the shadow of the man?
To answer the questions; a reimagination of old, classic fairytales written in prose, verses, and stories; Fierce Fairytales is a collection of twisted tales, from the perspectives of heroines and the villains too.
What did I like?
As a reader who’d any time pick up a children’s book from a stack of unread books; I was eager to read and expectantly, love it. I’ve been a huge fan of old classic fairytales but knew I’d enjoy a ride of modern fairytales just as much.
Before diving into the story, can I appreciate how intricate and well-crafted the cover design really is? Filled with illustrations and chapters that are only a page or two long, make it easier to read.
Gill explores the stories of fearless princesses and villains alike. Providing an unwavering voice and bravery to the princesses, and the circumstances which led villains to be one, despite themselves.
Which is to say, when we feel like life is overwhelming,
we must remember that we’re just sparks of energy borrowing skin.That no matter how much this pain feels everlasting,
this is just the temporary fabric we are in.
Reimagining and sculpting the old classics into modern ones where Snow White doesn’t need a prince to kiss her awake from her slumber and her step-mother had reasons to turn out the way she did. Reasons as to how Cinderella could still survive and hope for a better future whilst living with a family that was no less than leeches. Why Belle chose to be the strong, courageous woman and agreed to stay in the castle with a beast?
A clever woman is more lethal
than a freshly crafted magic wand,
and this is why she is feared.
She is unpredictable, and unpredictable
is another word for ‘threat’
when a woman wears it well.
Stories written in verses, all adding a new point of view than what we’ve always believed in, integrating a new feminism side in the otherwise sexist narrative.
What I didn’t like?
From the time when I first learned the meaning of feminism and feminist, to today, I have furnished and refined my knowledge and definition of the same. From what I know currently, feminism doesn’t mean girls to outshine boys in every aspect; it means equality in each aspect. No distinctions when a choice is being made. A man can be a happy house-husband, a woman can be a blissful housewife too. It doesn’t necessarily mean that a woman who chose to stay at home and support her family and husband, was forced to make the decision and not out of her own will.
Feminism is the most misinterpreted and misunderstood word of our generation and to my disappointment, this book does the same. It’s okay to portray a woman as fearless, undaunting, and upfront about her desires and wishes, but men deserve their stories to be told, where the prince was forced to pick up a sword even though blood made him nauseated. Nightmares someway or the other find a way to creep into at nights. Where the prince wanted a life like any other civilian and not be royalty.
Near the end, all of the chapters mean the same thing and become repetitive thus lack innovation. I’d have liked it better if there were only a few chapters, but each focused on newer concepts and ideas, than a book of 176 pages with recurring stories and even, words.
Why should you read it and other recommendations?
Reading slumps for readers often becomes an obstruction that takes a good, unputdownable book to bring them out of. Books written in verses with small chapters are the easiest and most reliable solution to the problem, Fierce Fairytales is one such book. With a whole new perspective for the readers to see the old classics, the overall journey of reading is pleasant and enjoyable.
Adults can enjoy it as a one-time read, to help them come out of their long and boring slump. The book is easy to read and comprehend, with illustrations by the author itself. For kids, this brings out the much-needed concept of feminism and that, girls don’t require a prince to help them survive the cruelty of this world. Girls and boys are equally capable to achieve what they really aim for, a person from the opposite sex doesn’t hold the power to undermine or belittle them, they can be anything they want to be.
For people looking for similar books about classic tales, Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes proves to be an amusing and satisfying read. Dahl has dark humor which he pulls off in the most subtle ways possible, addressing some thoughts in the most unconventional way possible.
Personal Remarks
For me, it was overall a good one-time read. Unfortunately, for a book of modern fairytales, I wouldn’t be going back to it. Though there have been some good — remarkable even, verses that I ended up highlighting. The aforementioned things that didn’t work for me weren’t put into light by most of the people and that’s because, over the years, I’ve learned that reading and loving a book or character is purely a subjective act and I’m happy if you end up loving, admiring it.
Her mother told her
she could grow up to be
anything she wanted to be,
so she grew up to become
the strongest of the strong,
the strangest of the strange,
the wildest of the wild.
