Grimm Tales from the Cave ~ a Review

by MK French

Mad Cave Studios ran a talent search in 2020, and those winners along with horror writers created a collection of modern terror tales based on Grimm stories. Artist Andrea Mutti also provided illustrations for this anthology. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2021; Mad Cave Studios; 978-1952303241
ebook, print (152 pages); horror anthology

Stories are updated to modern times, and the illustrations are adult in nature or graphic depictions that match the nature of each story. Men wishing for riches are given a deal from a demon while on a military tour. Rats swarm and bite men, attempting to devour them, and it's a cheap tenement landlord that calls in a modern pied piper. Rumplestiltskin isn't in a kingdom but a modern-day office with the threat of getting fired as fate hangs in the balance. The fae reward those that aid them, but will kill those with ugly souls that prey on others. Modern-day sorcerers use money instead of magic to get what they want, and only get their comeuppance when the girls band together for strength and support.

I love fairy tales of different kinds, and the way they can be changed, mixed, and remixed in different ways. This graphic novel of stories has different art styles, which matches the tenor of those stories. It's a fast and engrossing read, making you wrack your memory for the original fairy tales. The translations to the modern world work very well and make you think about modern monsters. It isn't always magic, after all. Sometimes it's money dangling over someone's head to force them to do what you want. Sometimes it's carefully crafted lies to build a following. Definitely an interesting collection, with horror ranging from gory to the psychological.

Buy Grimm Tales from the Cave at Amazon

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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