Review of “Once Upon a Twisted Time” by Marx Pyle et al.

Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)

Once Upon a Twisted Time is yet another captivating, thought-provoking anthology spearheaded by Marx Pyle with contributions by Victoria Scott, Anne Lynch, and a tremendously talented collection of writers!

This anthology breathes new life into classic fairy tales, folklore, and fables. Some examples of these classic stories include “The Masque of the Red Death” (a short story by Edgar Allen Poe from 1842), Frankenstein (the 1818 Gothic novel by Mary Shelley) as well as the 1931 Frankenstein film, Dracula (the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker) and its many film adaptations; Grimm tales like “Hansel and Gretel,” the Japanese tale of Momotarō the “Peach Boy,” changeling myths from Irish & Scottish Faerie (fairy/fay) lore, and supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires from Eastern European (esp. Baltic and Slavic) folklore.

The short-stories in this anthology attempt to weave these classic stories into modern, thought-provoking narratives that retain their timeless appeal.

Each story offers a unique perspective, blending dark fantasy, speculative fiction, and heartfelt drama to create a tapestry of reimagined myths. The collection explores profound themes like identity, resilience, and the duality of good and evil, all while immersing readers in vividly crafted worlds. With its diverse tones and genres, the anthology delivers moments of chilling horror, whimsical adventure, and poignant introspection, ensuring there’s something for every reader.

So, if you love myths, legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore, this book might be right up your alley!

Let's discuss a few of these wonderful stories; but first we want to emphasize that just because we don't mention or discuss all of the stories in detail doesn't mean they weren't good, there were just some stories that stood out to us more than others.

With that said, perhaps the most charming of these stories was “The Otter and the Dog” by Francis Fernandez.

Besides featuring cute, funny anthropomorphic animals living in a Zootopia-ish world, the story is also charming with the familiar classic stories it references and/or provides a twist to.

The story follows Wenceslas (a terrier/dog) and Aloysius (an otter), agents assigned to investigate a break-in at the home of the three bears. They are tasked with finding the mysterious "creature with a golden mane" that ransacked the house, ate the porridge, and caused chaos. And, yes, this is a humorous reference to “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

Indeed, as the story unfolds, the creature is revealed to be a human girl with golden locks, and her actions are explained with a sympathetic twist—she was lost in the woods and seeking shelter. But “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” isn't the only classic story that plays out in this book. “Little Red Riding Hood” is also woven into this story along with the Big Bad Wolf, the story's main antagonist. There are also passing references to “Little Bunny Foo Foo,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “The Three Little Pigs,” “The Gingerbread Man” (called “the runaway baked good”), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and more!

Fernandez really understood the assignment—taking the theme and running with it!

Something a bit more subtle about this book is how is satirizes law enforcement and the justice system, particularly in how the culprit can be so obvious with loads of evidence against them, yet arresting and putting them away can be so slow and tedious.

We also getting humorously lines in this book like, “...the wolf was being hauled away for the attempted eating of a human and stealing of people’s clothing.”

This goes along with how the book satirizes law enforcement and the justice system, pointing out how major and minor charges often get conflated or listed side-by-side. Often, you'll see a major crime (like murder) be listed alongside something seemingly inconsequential by comparison (like trespassing, reckless driving, or unlawful possession) in the same trial.

Another notable aspect of this story is how it plays on the idea of all such stories needing to have a moral or a message. By the end of it, a lot of the characters come up with their own moral of the story, often conflicting or not agreeing with each other.

This story also echoes a reoccurring theme that reverberates throughout stories in this book: setting aside differences and working together.

Just like the dog and otter in this story have to set aside their differences to solve a crime, many other characters in the anthology—whether they are supernatural beings, animals, or humans—must overcome personal biases or historical conflicts to achieve a common goal.

In "Howling Falsehoods" by Mariana Saric, Tara, a werewolf detective, works with her human partner Clark to investigate a series of murders framed as werewolf attacks. Tara must navigate the prejudice humans hold against werewolves while earning Clark’s trust. Despite initial friction, their cooperation reveals the true culprit, a human exploiting werewolf stereotypes for personal gain.

In "Bats & Bolts" by Madison McKeever, Vic Frankenstein (son of Victor Frankenstein) seeks refuge in Dracula’s bar after fleeing his father’s oppressive expectations. Vic and Dracula initially see each other as outcasts with nothing in common, but their shared rejection by society bonds them. They team up to fend off human attackers who pose a threat to both of them.

In "The Power of the Wild" by Melissa Olthof & Marisa Wolf, Aoife, a free-spirited Fae, and Misty, a loyal but unconventional Pooka, band together to challenge a rigid authority, the Loremaster. Aoife is a dreamer who challenges the Loremaster's control, while Misty is a grounded and reliable companion. Their different personalities complement each other, and they succeed by combining Aoife's boldness with Misty’s strength and pragmatism. Misty’s role is not just as a physical ally (carrying Aoife and providing transportation) but as an emotional anchor, showing how trust and loyalty transcend their individual quirks. In contrast, the Loremaster represents the divide between freedom and oppression. Aoife, despite being a middle-class Fae with little influence, uses her ingenuity and persistence to rally support and resist his unjust rule.

“The Changing Tree” by Katharine Dow is a little more subtle in this regard, but it still explores the theme of setting aside differences, particularly between generations—the young and the old. When the Kingdom of Ozkonak leaves an official to oversee the village, the villagers unite to deal with this shared threat. They recognize the importance of their collective action, putting aside any personal conflicts or differing opinions to devise a clever plan using the Changing Tree’s magic. The elders of Amorium (in particular) are central to the village’s strategies, acting as leaders and decision-makers. Despite generational gaps or potential disagreements, the younger villagers trust the elders’ wisdom and follow their unconventional plans involving the Changing Tree.

“The Changing Tree” is also one of the better examples of world-building in this book. Not only is the society and culture of the people elaborated upon, but so are the foods available to them. For example, we get a lot of mention of “rainberries,” a part of the flora of Amorium.

Another story that really stood out to us in this book was "The Only Home I’m Welcome To" by Michael La Ronn. This story follows Savannah, a human raised in the magical Winter Court of the Fae after being rescued as a sickly infant. She decides to return to the human world at the age of 21 to find her biological mother. She struggles to navigate this unfamiliar world, experiencing severe anxiety and isolation amidst the bustling city. Along the way, she encounters Ernesto, a kind elderly man who offers her assistance and companionship. However, her journey is complicated by the mysterious and menacing Courier, a Fae tasked with overseeing her transition, who uses glamour magic and manipulations to ensure she remains aligned with the Faerie's interests.

Perhaps the most beautiful and lovely aspect of this book is the relationship between Savannah and Ernesto, a compassionate human man who sees how lost, confused (and homeless) Savannah is. Ernesto steps in to help, becoming our nominee for “Best Supporting Character” in this book.

Ernesto becomes a beacon of kindness for Savannah during her overwhelming journey in the human world. When Savannah is having a panic attack in the chaotic city, Ernesto approaches her, offering both practical assistance and emotional support (as well as food).

In some humorous scenes, Savannah is completely out of sorts and confused about basic things humans take for granted like food menus and traffic lights. This is really one of those fish-out-of-water stories, and we loved that.

One more story that really stood out to us was "By the Shortest Way" by Victoria L. Scott. This story is a historical fantasy set in 1584, blending despair, supernatural elements, and themes of redemption. It begins with a man’s failed suicide attempt and transitions into a journey of mysterious rituals and the pursuit of salvation.

The story follows Tom Crispe, a former aide to Dr. John Dee, a historical figure known for his experiments with alchemy and communication with angels. His work with Dee has exposed him to profound spiritual and supernatural experiences, including scrying (using mirrors to divine messages from higher beings).

After a failed relationship with a woman named Cecily and being rejected for his lack of wealth, Tom attempts suicide by drowning in the Thames. He is rescued against his will by two characters, Nazareth Tyndall and Margery Polsted.

That's all well and good, but this story really stood out to us because it became known as “The Hot/Sexy Angel Story.” The story features Aphlafben, a hot angel of light invoked through complex Enochian rituals involving sacred oils, invocations, and a scrying mirror. She is a nominee for “Hottest Character.” She's described as being a celestial being of divine beauty and otherworldly perfection. In addition, unlike some of the angels in other stories we've read recently, Alphlafben is actually useful and helpful, being a source of divine intervention for Tom.

One last thing we'll say about this book is that it's full of incredibly reputable, talented, and successful people inside and outside of the literary world.

Victoria L. Scott is a Latin and social studies teacher with an M.F.A. from Seton Hill University.

Anne C. Lynch is an English teacher and writer of historical fiction, Anne holds degrees from The University of Texas-Austin and Seton Hill University.

Marisa Wolf is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Madison McKeever has an M.F.A. from Seton Hill University (that's starting to sound familiar!).

Melissa Olthoff is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Michael La Ronn is one of the leading voices of the Alliance of Independent Authors.

What an amazing bunch!

Check out this book on Amazon!