Publisher's Weekly Review
The mundane and bizarre walk hand in hand-or sometimes run around, setting fire to everything in their path-in Balaskovits's stories about girls and women thrust into strange circumstances. A mysterious unspeaking man with apparent superpowers becomes the hope of a city wracked by earthquakes in "Put Back Together Again." The alchemist of "Suburban Alchemy" learns that being a master of the changeable art doesn't mean he can cope with the changes in his tween daughter. A woman takes her ailing grandfather to Israel in search of an old family story that may be about her in "The Ibex Girl of Qumran." The evils of strict religion and abuse lead a group of desperate girls to try to escape through a sacrifice in "Bloody Mary." There isn't a single tired trope here-in fact, there are few familiar elements at all-so readers looking for something askew from any fantasy they've read before will want to get to know the unlucky but determined girls of Balaskovits's stories. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
In this reimagining and reinventing of traditional, patriarchal fairy tales, Balaskovits creates a safe and often startling space for girls and women in her book of short stories. Each story varies in length, but a high level of intensity and emotional depth is maintained throughout. Some of the stories will sound familiar to most, borrowing and twisting the tragic fables we already know so well, but many turn the Brothers Grimm formula on its head by conceiving of a fantasy world where women and girls fill the key roles. Although theme, location, and time change from story to story, the book overall makes an intentional point to represent a diverse array of women and girls in assorted stages of life. Readers' connections to Balaskovits' characters will range anywhere from empathy to agony to loathing, but they will be able to relate to at least one story. This book is for every young girl and adult woman who have ever been told a story that intentionally left them out.--Colias, Rachel Copyright 2017 Booklist
Library Journal Review
A new bride is faced with her husband's mysterious locked door. Twin infants finally wake their mother from a century of sleep. One woman finds that her prince adores her perfect hair, but abhors any other flaws. These 14 stories spins new twists on familiar fairy-tale tropes with heroines who take control of their situations. The darkness that could destroy them is vanquished through brains, beauty, and the light of their own souls. VERDICT Winner of the 2015 Santa Fe Literary Awards Program, Balaskovits's anthology breathes fresh life into classic fairy tales. Readers who enjoy short fiction with a fantastical bent should pick up this award-winning book.-KC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
