All the boys noticed she was wearing the red cloak
with its scarlet hood pulled over her shinning hair. Perhaps, because of this
her grandmother gave her the gift of a knife.
The girl loved her grandmother because she was fierce,
as fierce as her mother, but courageous enough to live outside the village, in
the deep part of the woods in the very midst of everything wild. (Lucy Cavendish)
Author Lucy Cavendish re-wrote 12 fairy tales from the
days of old, mixing in the original storyline with her own intriguing imagination.
I’m giving the book, “Magickal Faerytales, An Enchanted Collection of Retold Tales”
a four and a half star rating, simply based on having read only “Red Riding Hood.”
The artwork by Jasmine Becket-Griffith has upped my
rating to a perfect five-stars! My second five star rating, since I entered the
blogosphere in 2012.
If your still reading, you’ll see some of Griffith’s
amazing artwork. She paints by hand using acrylic paints. From this book alone,
I learned Griffith is a world-renowned fantasy artist, and it’s completely understandable.
Her official website is www.strangeling.com.
Although “Red Riding Hood” is the only story of
Cavendish’s I’ve read thus far, it’s clear to me I’ll be riveted by her poetic
prowess in the 11 other stories awaiting to capture my imagination.
She began her journey to grandmother’s house along
the dangerous path of needles or the hazardous one of pins, and she was confident.
The colors of the forest and the song of the blood red sky cascaded her view
toward her grandmother’s house…a great shadow appeared beside her, and inside
she shook, remember the knife she reminded herself…
If you’re a reading guru like myself, this book is extremely
recommended. I’m not privy to fantasy writing, but Cavendish exposed a creative
crevice that is in short supply. Great book.
Mark Izzy Schurr
