Review of "Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore" (Volume 1) by Marx Pyle et al.

Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)

Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore (Volume 1) is a mesmerizing anthology that reimagines timeless fairy tales, folklore, and fables with a modern, inventive twist. This collection brings together an array of talented authors who breathe new life into classic narratives, blending traditional storytelling with contemporary themes and unexpected plotlines. From haunting forests and mythical creatures to futuristic reinterpretations and humorous parodies, each story offers a unique perspective while challenging conventions of the genre. Rich in character development and thematic depth, the anthology captures the imagination and invites readers to explore the fantastical in fresh, compelling ways. It is a great read for those who appreciate the magic of old tales redefined for a new era.

It's clear to us that every single one of these stories has something interesting and unique to offer. Furthermore, each of these clearly has a spark of inspiration behind them—clear from both the stories themselves and the information provided in the "Bonus" section. However, several of these stories stood out to us a bit more than others. Again, that doesn't mean the others are great (they most certainly are), but some were just a bit more memorable.

The first story in this anthlogy, "Dabria’s Shadows" by Demi Michelle Schwartz, introduces us to Domina Dabria, a reaper in Alaska who guides souls to the afterlife while grappling with the consequences of her forbidden romance. Haunted by the two-thousand-year anniversary of her lover Raziel's death, she resists the oppressive rules of the Reaper Code, having once defied it by falling in love with a mortal.

The story contrasts Dabria's icy exterior and the guilt she harbors over her lover’s demise. As she interacts with supernatural entities such as Congelatio, the Shadow of Hypothermia, and others like Agonia and Aegrotatio, she reveals a darker, vengeful side when she discovers Vian—a figure hauntingly similar to Raziel—may not be mortal. Dabria’s internal conflict peaks when she learns that Vian is, in fact, Raziel, miraculously resurrected.

This is actually an incredibly romantic story—arguably the most romantic story in the book. Imagine seeing your deceased lover after many years?

Also, imagine having the responsibility to reap souls and essentially take lives, knowing how that breaks the hearts of those peoples' loved ones.

This reminded us a lot of An Interview with Death by V.K. Pasanen and the short story "Death's Question" by Emiliano Forino Procacci. It seems to be a reverberating intertexual theme, humanizing and exploring the vulnerabilities of one with the powers and responsibilities of death.

The atmospheric Alaskan setting heightens the narrative, reflecting Dabria’s loneliness and her battle between love and duty. The reunion between Dabria and Razeil brings hope and healing as Raziel’s light begins to counterbalance Dabria’s shadows. Speaking of Shadows, the author discusses in the "Bonus" section how the Shadows are actually the stars of the story, each having their own unique personalities.

"In the Heart of the Forest" by Jeannie Rivera is the second story in the anthology and another very memorable story. And, hey, it's Jeannie Rivera! Rivera is already a multi-time Outstanding Creator Awards winner for Fortune House, Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake, Tales of Monstrosity (another anthology with Marx Pyle et al.). Rivera really knows how to form intriguing plot-lines and charming characters you can't help but get behind and root for.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of "In the Heart of the Forest" is the fact that it plays with the idea of narratives, particularly false or misleading ones. In other words, is what we hear and read about people actually TRUE or just created to further agenda? Are these narratives based on TRUTH or are they based on greed, fear, or selfishness? Are they fabrigated or are the real?

Should we really be believing everything we see or hear without verifying them for ourselves?

Specifically, in this story, the society the characters live in is hell-bent on furthering the narrative of the evil, scary, dangerous witch who haunts the woods, Baba Yaga.

Baba Yaga is actually a pretty ubiquitous figure in various fantasy stories, a fixture of Slavic folklore, often portrayed in a dangerous and frightening light.

We distinctly remember her being featured in The Devil Pulls the Strings by J.W. Zarek alongside other ominous creatures like the Wendigo.

She is essentially the Slavic equivalent of the Aswang in Filipino folklore or Morgan le Fay in Arthurian legend.

But what if Baba Yaga isn't so bad or evil after all? What if she's just misunderstood?

Also note that Baba Yaga in the source materials seems to fill the archetype—dare we say stereotype--of a dangerous, powerful, unknowable female. This story seeks to challenge that view. While Baba Yaga is still relatively powerful compared to a normal human, she isn't one who needlessly wants to do harm to others, nor is she someone who pushes others away. In fact, the story really gives you the feeling that society itself has ostracized and demonized her, driving her away. Her real interests seem to lie in protecting nature, which is being used and abused by people. In addition, she is a guardian of ancient knowledge and natural balance.

The story has us follow a young woman named Tara who is discerning and curious. She grows to distrust the narrative the Baba Yaga is as big, evil, and bloodthirsty as her village wants her to believe. Because of that curiosity and discernment, she is able to uncover the truth about this mysterious figure and her actual intentions.

"The Girl Who Grew Up" by Michael Joseph Tharnish Roby is another magical and memorable story that follows the likes of Wendy Darling and Peter Pan from Neverland lore. While this book is wholly unique, exploring pretty much the same themes as the original and other Neverland stories have—like coming-of-age, growing up, and jealousy—it does provide us with a really interesting twist we've only seen once before: AN EVIL PETER PAN!

A villainous Peter Pan was also popularly featured in ABC's hit show Once Upon a Time. With that said, the Peter Pan in "The Girl Who Grew Up"—while also villainous—is notably a lot less mature and more childlike like the original tale. Peter Pan has villainous tendencies owing to the fact that he has never aged and has almost always gotten his own way. He has a possessive nature, feeling ownership over Wendy, the Lost Boys, and pretty much all of Netherland. It's his playground. Yes, that even includes the various other characters like Hook and his pirates. They are toys in a sandbox to him—usable and expendable.

Wendy, the main character of this story (and arguably of the original tale), is gradually coming to terms with the fact that Peter Pan isn't the good, noble, romantic character she'd pieced together in her mind over years of adventuring with him. She sees his darkness, his self-centerdness, his possessiveness, and his ruthlessness.

Meanwhile, this book also provides a twist on the theme of jealousy. Rather than Tinkerbell and Wendy being jealous of each other over Peter's attention, Peter becomes jealous of Wendy's new male partner, Cecil O’Leary, who contrasts with Peter as a more mature male.

It's pretty tense!

"Real Boy" by Bobby Nash is another standout story! "Real Boy" is a very dark and grim twist on the "Pinocchio" story in a sci-fi environment. In this story, Pinocchio is called "Pin" (short for code-name "PINN-D") and is a childlike android who seems to take everything too literally. He uniquely has an apathetic, robotic demeanor, seemingly lacking what some of us would call a conscience or empathy. Despite that, he seems to be at least somewhat self-aware and self-conscious, ironically, taking the quote that he'll, "never be a real boy," to heart.

What unfolds is a bloody robotic rampage full of graphic descriptions of gore and violence that are sure to pique the interests of horror fans!

It's like a mix between Halloween, Chucky, and the original Pinnocchio tale. What's particularly interesting is that, unlike Chucky, Pin is not verbally or expressively threatening or scary. While Chucky relishes in dismembering and killing people, Pin seems incredibly apathetic, disengaged, and matter-of-fact about it. It's actually extra chilling that way!

It's like he doesn't even realize that what he's doing is wrong! But he needs to be stopped nonetheless!

The story "A Baby’s Love" by Michael La Ronn centers on a changeling—a faerie knight from the Winter Court—disguised as a human toddler named Kendrick. The narrator, trapped in the body of a baby as part of an elaborate faerie exchange program, lives with a human couple referred to as Temporary Mother and Temporary Father. Though Kendrick appears to be a helpless child, he retains his memories, intelligence, and innate magical abilities from his former life.

Similar to what Rivera did with Baba Yaga in the previously mentioned story, Michael La Ronn sought to portray changelings in a different light.

The plot takes a darker turn when the Courier, a faerie with mysterious motives, visits Kendrick’s temporary home. The Courier’s plan to replace Kendrick with another changeling disrupts the family’s fragile peace. Kendrick’s magical outbursts and defiance lead to an intense confrontation, exposing the complex and dangerous ties between the faerie world and his temporary human life. The story delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the sacrifices made for family, all wrapped in a whimsical yet poignant narrative.

Now, one of the things about this story that really made it stick in our minds is how Kendrick constantly refers to his family members as "Temporary Mother," "Temporary Father," "Temporary Brother," etc. In a weird sort of way, it's both sad and funny, if that were even possible. It's sad because it made us think about actual real-life foster children who have to live lives of uncertainty like Kendrick does, but it also made us laugh because it somewhat pokes fun at and belittles the roles of otherwise important people in our lives, i.e. family members. It's the equivalent of saying, "it's no big deal, that's just my husband" or "it's not the end of the world, it's just my life." Now, that's actually quite funny when you think about it.

"Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Jaguar" by Marx Pyle was also a lot of fun! As you might expect, it's a humorous twist on the story of "The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf." By the way, we were surprised to learn that the story of the three little pigs isn't actually a Grimm Tale, but was introduced by Joseph Jacobs in an anthology called English Fairy Tales published in 1890. Wow, we learn new things every day.

Anyway, this telling of the tale is a bit more like a detective mystery.

In this version of the story, the "three little pigs" are werepigs—Scot, Blane, and Wesley—who face the deadly tradition of Hunter’s Night, a supernatural event during which predator shifters hunt prey shifters. The antagonist is the Big Bad Wolf, a werewolf shifter with the ability to control air (aeromancy). The brothers enlist the help of Dyana Diaz, a werejaguar bounty hunter, who reluctantly takes on the task after discovering their familial ties to this dangerous tradition.

This brings us to the reveal of the original Big Bad Wolf!

The narrative mixes action, humor, and darker themes as the brothers and Dyana prepare for the wolf’s attack. Faith Molina, Dyana’s fae mentor and self-appointed "fairy godmother," adds a whimsical yet grounding element to the story. The tale explores themes of loyalty, family, and survival while delivering a clever twist on the original fairy tale.

And, yes, you read that correct: there are "werepigs" and a "werejaguar" in this story. Well, that's... different.

This anthology is filled to the brim with incredibly talented and noteworthy people, not just in literature but beyond. There are professionals in all sorts of fields, educators, black belts, etc. in this! They all bring their own unique styles and experiences to the anthology, which is one of its greatest strengths.

Check it out on Amazon!