Sleep like death by Kalynn Bayron

In a fantasy kingdom that resonates with many fairy tales known through the ages, lives Eve, a princess whose life has been overshadowed by a past deal, done by her mothers, with an evil and powerful oppressor. The deal  has enabled them to nurture a daughter, but now they must face the awful consequence of their deal. Can Eve overcome what seems to be inevitable, or must she suffer like so many in her mothers' kingdom with the ruthless actions of the ‘Knight’. With threads of Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin and other fairy tales woven into the fabric of the magical drama, there is also a modern day rendering of a robot-like castle that can relocate itself on its metallic legs. All these things create a very different retelling of the fantasy tales from the perspective of the feisty, almost angry, and magical Eve, who feels compelled to destroy the Knight and restore her kingdom and her family from his evil influence.

This is a fairy tale rendering for a new generation. It contains an ominous tone, a romance and some violence in opposition to the evil Knight. There are many fairy tale tropes seen in different lights and this creative reimagining is quite compelling. The unlikely romance is almost the most unbelievable aspect of the story, but suspension of belief is obligatory for fairy tale readers. There is sadness, grief and familial love, as well as magical powers and the obligatory witch-like locals who defy logic. The author, Kaylyn Bayron, has written other fantasy retellings and is keen to introduce black characters and LGBTIQ considerations to the back stories of her characters and plots. For readers aged 15+.

Themes: Fantasy, Fairy tales, overcoming evil, Lies, Romance, LGBTIQ.

Carolyn Hull