“Fairy tales are slippery beasts, born thousands of years ago. Historically, they were told via word of mouth, which is why they often have repeating elements, making them easier to remember. People told them over fires, and in the royal courts, and they weren’t just for children. They were for everyone. As they were spoken, the tales changed. The evolved like a creature: one storyteller would add one element, another would change something else.”
Jen Campbell, The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers
Welcome to the new year, readers. I look forward to reading all of your reviews and hearing about your favorite books of 2022. This year, my first read was of the newest book of one of my favorite authors, Jen Campbell.
This collection of dark stories collected from around the world was a must have when pre-order became available. While I would more than likely buy anything that Campbell promoted, I was especially excited for this release. She gave her fans a fun treasure map by dropping hints, illustrations, and even readings of her book here and there. This book is all of the nicest ways is ominous, deceiving, truthful, and acts as a siren call for anyone who has the faintest interest in the realities of fairytales.
Readers, don’t be fooled by Adam de Souza’s inviting and playful illustrations, these stories do not typically end in “happily ever after.” Speaking of the illustrations, the art throughout this book is enthralling. In addition to simple line work, particularly for characters, de Souza incorporates deep, muted colors and glowing lights in each piece that make me want to paste each picture to my wall.
I wanted to tell you about a couple of my favorite tales from this collection. The first, as can be seen in the illustration above, is “The Souls Trapped Under the Ocean.” This story adapted from an Irish tale takes place at the bottom of the ocean where a merman keeps his love alive by “breathing life into his veins and feeding him food from the deep.” The man finds it difficult to remain with his love after realizing that the merman traps the souls of humans far down below. What I love the most about this concept is the imagery that Campbell used to describe the souls. Each has a color reflective of the person, and the man wonders aloud what his might look like. The merman’s question to the query is anything but soothing.
“One cherry light was the soul of a baker. One mustard light was the soul of a lighthouse keeper.”
Jen Campbell, The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers (pg22)
These beautiful descriptions led me to creating my own reading of the story which I shared with a friend along with ocean imagery. This was a lot of fun! This tale moved me more than I had anticipated it would. I found myself considering the conflicted feelings of the man who was in a moral dilemma between innocent lives and his love’s nature.
The next story that I cannot get enough of is “The Princess Who Ruled the Sea.” This adapted Inuit tale follows a princess who decides to choose her own fate. This, as you can imagine, does not go well. The girl is attacked by her own family and thrown away to the sea where she inherits her own queendom.
“But his daughter was not afraid, for she loved the sea. She breathed in deeply, tasting salt on her tongue.
‘I do not want to marry any of those men,’ she said her eyes the colour of seaweed.”
Jen Campbell, The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers (pg51)
I have found that I love any story set near/in the sea, so I was not surprised to absolutely love this tale. It is a story of resilience that I will look back to again. I always appreciate a comeback queen.
Read this book! Share it with your family and kiddos who love a spooky tale. These gruesome stories aren’t specific to any certain time of year. Grab a reading buddy, something warm to drink, and ready your nightlight.
(P.S. If you still aren’t convinced, take a look at these reviews by a few very brave readers!)
Thanks for reading!
I Literary Can't! 