My Little Pony: Classics Reimagined―The Unicorn of Odd

by Jeremy Whitley Illustrated by Jenna Ayoub 4 stars A hilarious retelling of the Wizard of Oz featuring the Mane 6 and other Equestria favorites complete with fourth wall breaks, colorful artwork, and references to both the original movie and the novel. Follow the My Little Pony cast as they reenact the Wizard of Oz…

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The Ogre’s Wife by Ron Koertge

1 star I was drawn in by the surreal cover art and the promise of fairy tale retellings. Okay poetry. Generally not really my style. Quiet a few weird and downright creepy descriptions of women, which didn’t appeal to me. A few odd poems touching on race, class, and houselessness with messages that don’t feel…

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The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

2.5 stars An interesting dive into the world of Norse mythology. I loved the idea of a novel following Angrboda and tying together some stories of witches, giantesses, and other mysterious women. For me, the first part of the book really dragged. I liked the second half more as things picked up, but that whole…

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Ham Helsing: Vampire Hunter (Ham Helsing #1) by Rich Moyer

2 stars Ham Helsing comes from a long line of daring vampire hunters. After his older brother dies in a tragic wingsuit accident, he takes up the family mantle and sets out to defeat a vampire. Along the way, he encounters a ninja pig, a were-boy, a robot knight, and many more interesting characters. Figure…

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Disney Frankenstein, Starring Donald Duck

by Bruno Enna Illustrated by Fabio Celoni Translated by Tea Orsi 2 stars An interesting Disneyification of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This version tones down some of the darker elements of the original such as Victor von Duckenstein making his creation out of cardboard and everyone surviving relatively unscathed. Victor is certainly more redeemable in this…

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Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu by Ying Chang Compestine

Illustrated by Crystal Kung 5 stars A unique and entertaining retelling of Rapunzel. Ra Pu Zel is a princess who loves food, but isn’t so interested in meeting princes and acting like her parents think she should. So one day, she locks herself in a tower with her dog to enjoy cooking and trying different…

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My Little Pony: Classics Reimagined: Little Fillies

by Megan Brown Illustrated by Jenna Ayoub 3 stars A unique retelling of Little Women featuring the Mane 6. There is plenty of pony humor, fourth wall breaks, and shenanigans in this retelling. As a My Little Pony fan and lover of literature in general, it was fun to read this mashup and see a…

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Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott

4 stars Beautifully written. I absolutely love Nethercott’s writing style. Lyrical and stunning to visualize. Siblings Bellatine and Isaac haven’t seen each other in years, but reunite to claim a strange inheritance. They are both surprised to receive a house with chicken legs. Together they embark on a journey filled with unexpected encounters, close calls,…

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The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen

4 stars Delightfully spooky. An unexpectedly sweet story featuring an old house in the woods, a skull, and a brave girl looking for a place to stay. After running away from home, Otilla comes across a house whose sole occupant is a kindly skull. Little does she know, the skull has a secret and that…

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Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza

Illustrated by Rhaida El Touny 3 stars A fun new twist on the classic fairy tales Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleepy Beauty. Told through interconnected stories, the book follows Rumaysa who is locked away in a tower where a witch makes her spin straw into gold. I really enjoyed the endings in this book. The heroines…

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