Tag: Folklore

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Book Review: Dark Fairytales For The Unloved: Collective Anthology

 Fourteen Indie authors! Fifteen stories of the twisted and macabre! Enter if you dare, a dark fairytale collection that will make the Brothers Grimm either blush or smile with glee. Content and trigger warning precede each tale for an unaware sensitive reader, but the title warns you these are dark fairytales. Now let’s follow the bread crumbs and enter into the darkness.

Dark Fairytales For The Unloved: An Indie Author Collection (Volume One)

Published: March 26th, 2025

Genre: Fairytales/Folklore/Fantasy/Anthologies

Synopsis

Step into a realm where enchantment and darkness intertwine. In this anthology, fourteen master storytellers from diverse backgrounds conjure original fairytales that are as chilling as they are captivating. From eerie forests to twisted kingdoms, each tale spins a web of intrigue, mystery, and danger. Embrace the delicious dread and discover the hidden truths that lurk in the shadows. Perfect for lovers of the macabre and fantastical, these stories will leave you spellbound long after the last page is turned.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW

Dark Fairytales For The Unloved is a collection of Fairytales for adults, oozing with dark fairytale-inspired stories. Two are dark retellings of classic tales such as “Elves and the Shoemaker” and” Beauty and the Beast” in spectacular NOURSHMENT and HUNTER & THE BEAST by Gareth Ian Davies and SD Paine. The rest are dark original fairy tale-inspired tales, such as my favorite, the brilliantly written folklorish horror THE PALE MOTHER by Nova B. Quinn and BIRDS OF WINTER by Ruby Ann Stiegelmeier.

Then we have the hauntingly magical with FOXGLOVE and THE BLOOMING CURSE by Stacey LP and Hannah Gardiner. The bottom rips out from under us, and we go deeper and darker with wickedly devilish tales like BEAUTIFUL SUFFERING and SPIT AND SPITE AND ALL THINGS NIGHT by Alex Upchurch & Ellen Winter.

The opening story, REQUIEM, by Marianne Gray, is an absolute banger, setting the tone of the book nicely. While not every story tickled my witchy fancy, the next one usually did. It was a fun read, and I enjoyed getting treated to a new story by a new author. It was like getting a sneak peek into these delicious indie authors’ minds.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

GET IT TODAY!

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Anansi’s Web by Derek Mola

I love folklore. So, spotlighting this Thursday is Anansi’s Web by Derek Mola. Anansi’s Web is a fantasy folklore anthology collection inspired by African culture. Curious? Let’s learn more!

Anansi’s Web


Publication Date: January 22, 2024


Genre: Black & African American Fantasy/ Fantasy Anthologies/ Folklore


As Kweku looked above, the room became illuminated by the sudden appearance of thousands of fireflies. An orange glow lit up the room, and a giant spider web was on the ceiling. The web glistened, and each strand was flowing with energy.

“This is the source of all stories, my boy. The source of all life, some may say. For what are we, if not a collection of stories? Each strand of this web is a different story. A story of love, a story of tragedy, a story of life, or a story of death. Sit on my throne, choose a strand, and begin the tale.” explained Anansi.

Anansi is the god of stories, and he has many to tell.

A young boy named Kweku has heard no new stories in a long time. So he travels to see Anansi, the god of stories, in the hopes that he will tell him some new stories. Luckily, he caught Anansi in a good mood, and the god decided to enchant Kweku with tales of magic and wonder. In these 10 stories tangled in a web, a Cowboy befriends a Jackalope, a Kelpie falls in love with a man, and a young boy’s grandmother leaves to live with Fairies. Anansi’s Web is a concoction of fantasy, folklore, and horror. Showing us the magic of the world, while reminding us of the terror it can cause. Like a man on death’s door receiving help from beyond or a woman who regrets her one wish.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Derek Mola was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduating from Emerson College, with a degree in Visual Media Production. Tired of the film industry, he became obsessed with horror and fantasy short stories.

Follow Derek at Derek Mola

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Spooky Book Review: Bunso Meets A MuMu Written and Illustrated by Rev Valdez

Hosted by Indie Promotions

As we get deeper into the spooky season October also marks Fillipino American History Month.  Now what better book to review then than Bunso Meets A Mumu by Rev Valdez!

BUNSO MEETS A MUMU

Genre: Children

Published: May 30, 2023 (Paws Publishing)

Meet Bunso, a boy with a really scary problem. It’s the Mumu, the Filipino version of the Boogeyman, who likes to frighten kids who don’t do as they are told by their elders! The Mumu will not let Bunso draw (on the walls), eat ice cream (before dinner), or play video games (his older brother’s). But Bunso has had enough! Gearing up to fight back against this destroyer of fun, Bunso makes surprising discoveries about the Mumu (and himself) in this fun, comic-like picture book that introduces children to Filipino culture and words.

Get Your Copy now on AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

REVIEW

Bunso has a problem his older sister keeps telling scary stories and is now telling him the MUMU is going to get him if he doesn’t behave. Same with his Mom and Dad, The MUMU will get you if you don’t behave! His older brother just won’t let him play with his video games. Is this the curse of the MUMU? Wait what is a MUMU? Bunso is about to find out!

This book is the most adorable ever! While targeted at young children this book can be loved by all ages.  I read it to my book-loving ten-year-old twin boys and they really loved it. I confess I loved it!

Drawing from Filipino heritage and folklore Valdez creates a book for the whole family. Children will like the cool comic book-like drawing and Valdez writes with child-like dialogue that will reel young readers in. Parents and maybe older kids with like the worked in Fillipino culture and words therefore expanding their minds or finding a kindred spirit in Bunso’s world being Fillipino-American. Bunso Meets A MuMu looks like it’s the first in a series of Bunso Meets stories introducing other mythical monsters from Filipino culture. I for one can’t wait.

My rating 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Rev Valdez is a Filipino-American illustrator based in San Francisco, CA. He’s passionate about introducing young readers to the myths and mythical creatures of Filipino culture through fun and funny visual storytelling.

Follow Rev on Facebook and Instagram