Good day, O’ fairies and fae folk! Today’s blog post theme is…fairy tales! (Lololol when is it not?) I absolutely couldn’t pass up joining in a tag that focuses on not just fairy tales, but one of my favorites!

The beautiful and talented Kirsten Fichter, released book #4 of her Once Upon a Twist Tales novella series last month, The Bear of Rosethorn Ring, and as part of the release, she created a super fun TAG! (Am I joining in on the tag a month and a half late? Yes, yes I am. But wizards are never late.)

The Bear of Rosethorn Ring is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red, which is not only one of my favorite fairy tales, but a woefully obscure one that NEEDS more recognition and retellings. So when Kirsten said her next story would be retelling this one, there may have been a lot of squealing on my part. (And by “may” I mean 100% much squealing, much excitement.)

If you’ve never read this fairy tale, then you should absolutely do yourself a favor and do so. You can read the commentary we did of it over on Fairy Tale Central HERE if you’d like. #shamelessadvertising It involves a cursed bear prince, a picturesque life in the woods, SISTERS (who aren’t trying to murder one another, what a rarity for a fairy tale!), a hilariously grumpy dwarf, and is just a delight all the way around.

Annnd if you’ve yet to check out Kirsten’s series, then YOU SHOULD DO THAT TOO. Because these are even more delightful—full of wit and heart and humor and good ol’ clean fun. They give me all the happy feels.

ANYWAY.

As mentioned, Kirsten created an absolutely delicious tag last month as part of her story’s release, and I’m sweeping in fashionably late, cape billowing dramatically. (Or more like stumbling in woefully late and making everything awkward for myself and everyone around me but I digress.)

ONWARD TO THE QUESTIONS.

THE SNOW WHITE & ROSE RED
FAIRY TALE TAG

Rules

• Copy the tag questions and answer them for yourself in your own blog post. (*points below*)
• Link back to the original post pleaseandthankyou. (You can find that HERE.)
• Include the tag graphic somewhere in your post. (*points above*)
• Share the link to your answers in a comment on the original post so Kirsten can read your answers!

What’s your favorite fairytale? If you can’t whittle it down to one, give us a list!

Miracle of miracles, I can whittle it down to one. And I suspect many of you already know the answer…

*drum rollll*

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Ah, this fairy tale. There are dozens of reasons to love this beautiful story, from dear, kindhearted Beauty to the broken beast to the enchanted castle. But I think what strikes me the most is the theme: that love heals all. It is the very Story of the world. We are all ugly things until Jesus’ love redeems us and makes us beautiful. It is a story of redemption, of true beauty, of LOVE—the very source of everything good. It’s a fairy tale that stirs my soul, and one I never go tired of, no matter how many times it is retold.

But even aside from the themes, it’s just a good story. I love the characters and the setting and all the enchantment, and there’s even a bit of a mystery as to why the beast is cursed. It fires up my imagination more than any other.

Annnd, because I gotta be extra, here are a few of my other top faves:

• The Twelve Dancing Princesses
• Rapunzel
• The Wild Swans
• The Snow Queen
• Snow White & Rose Red (duh)
• Cinderella
• Rumpelstiltskin
• Jorinde & Joringel

Okay, I’ll stop now or we’ll be on this single question ‘til the end of time…

What’s your favorite fairytale retelling? Or retellings, since most of us have more than one?

OH GRACIOUS. Another question I could just go on and on and on about. Someone save us.

Okay, okay. Tippity top favorite fairy tale retellings? Let’s see if I can keep this down to three…

• Entwined by Heather Dixon, which is an absolutely gorgeous, creepy, and humorous retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and I love it with all my being.
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer because OF COURSE. Fairy tales IN SPACE with the most endearing characters of ever. So much to love!
• Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer (apparently if you’re a “Meyer” you’re destined to write epic fairy tale retellings)—a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, with a dash of Beauty and the Beast and Tam Lin thrown in for good measure, and one of the most delicious reads I’ve ever had the pleasure of devouring.

So yeah, those would probably be my top, top, TOP faves. But you KNOW I’ve got plenty more…

Like A Fair Account of the Traitors Snow White & Rose Red by S.E. Page which just so happens to be a retelling of Snow White & Rose Red so points to me with sticking to a theme here. ;D Also it is a STUNNING, unique read and I can’t recommend it enough.

Kyle Robert Shultz’s hilarious, twisty Afterverse books are also hiiiigh on the list. I never get tired of those!

Ella Enchanted is of course a CLASSIC and must read for all fairy tale lovers.

And then I couldn’t NOT mention Kirsten Fichter’s own Once Upon a Twist Tales books which make my heart happy every single time. <333

(Keep it down to three, she said. Har har.)

(Also all links lead to their GoodReads pages for adding to TBR purposes. You’re welcoooome.)

When were you first introduced to the fairytale Snow White and Rose Red?

SHAMEFUL CONFESSION TIME.

I feel like I’ve probably read this one at some point in my life, because I read a lot of Brothers Grimm when I was young. But I really wasn’t aware of it until 2019 when Arielle suggested we feature it on Fairy Tale Central. The second I read it, I wondered hooowwww this darling little tale had gone under my radar all this time??? Because it is seriously the most charming little read, filled to the brim with plot bunnies and a sister story which is my FAVE. I immediately fell in love, and have proudly claimed it as a favorite fairy tale ever since.

Moral of the story: It’s never too late to find a new favorite fairy tale!

If you awoke one day, cursed and lumbering around as a bear, what would be the first thing you’d do? Do you know why you’re cursed?

I mean, I basically just loaf around and eat all day anyway, so would there really be a difference??? I guess the first thing I’d do is…complain that I can’t type with big ol’ bear claws. That’d be quite an inconvenience for a writer, I must say. And I’d also be most put out that I’d be too big to sit in my comfy chair. #priorities

How did I become cursed? Oh, I probably unknowingly sassed a witch, Sophie Hatter style. Truly, it is a blessing I don’t live in a world full of indignant wizards and witches, because my snarky tongue would probably get me cursed on a monthly basis.

Snow White and Rose Red kept a pet lamb. What would your ideal fairytale pet be?

Is this even a question?

A DRAGON.

But not just any dragon. A kitten-sized dragon who perches on my shoulder and hisses at my enemies. Basically, I want a minor dragon from Donita K. Paul’s The Dragonkeeper Chronicles. Really, that’s all I’ve ever wanted in life. Is it too much to ask???

If you were to have a color-based name like Snow White or Rose Red, what would your name be — and why?

Well, my ultimate favorite color is pink, so maybe like…Pink Blossom or something ridiculously frilly like that? *grins* Although, often these fairy tale names derive from physical appearance. So…HMMM. I have hazel eyes, so I could go by Hazel, perhaps?

I DON’T KNOW. I’m not good at this! If you have suggestions, please share. I love this question, but my brain has failed meee.

Snow White and Rose Red’s mother planted two rosebushes in front of their cottage, one with white roses and one with red roses. Would you plant roses in front of your house, or perhaps another plant? Why?

You better believe I’d be planting rosebushes absolutely everywhere should I live in a fairy tale cottage. Roses just happen to be my ultimate favorite flower. I’d be like the beast in Beauty and the Beast and have roses everywhere. (Preferably lots pink ones OF COURSE.) I mean, I don’t do this in real life because outside work is so very not my thing and I kill all plants. But we’re just gonna pretend I’m a much better gardener in Fairy Tale Land, because, well, it’s a fairy tale. I adore the idea of gardening, but the actual doing it? Eheheheh…I just want to sit in my comfy chair in the air conditioning. #dontjudgeme

To cope with this, I fill my novels to the brim with tons of flowers and tend to have characters who like to garden. I embrace the plant mom obsession through fiction. Which is probably good for all those plants out there I’d undoubtedly murder should they be in my care…

A stranger knocks on your door during a blizzard, begging for shelter. Do you let him in?

I mean, if the stranger is a talking bear like in the fairy tale, I’m not sure I’d be in the position to refuse a talking bear. If it’s just some random stranger, I’d probably point them to the nearest inn for fear of letting some weirdo in my house…and thennn most likely realize it’s a sorcerer and get myself cursed for my inhospitality. You see my problem here??

Would you rather have your hair (or beard) caught in a tree, in a fishing line, or in an eagle’s talons?

Neither of these things sound particularly pleasant, but I especially wouldn’t want to be trapped by an eagle. At least a tree or fishing line wouldn’t attack back. Well…if this is a fairy tale word, one never knows if the trees are alive. So I guess we’ll go with the fishing line. It would probably be the easiest thing to cut out of the tangles.

The dwarf offers his treasures to keep himself from being eaten by a bear. What would you offer the bear to discourage him from eating you?

The entire contents of my fridge? Full access to the pantry? A gift card to Olive Garden? Like, what was the silly dwarf thinking? Real treasure is food, duh.

Okay that was a really fun tag! A huge shout-out to Kirsten for creating this! AND a super major uber congratulations for the release of her FOURTH book!!! I’m still so thrilled about this thing!

Here’s the info of the book if you missed it:

SYNOPSIS

When their father runs away, Marita and Diamond Kadlec realize how different twins can be. Marita’s ready to forget Lucas entirely, but Diamond wants to give him the second chance she’s never been able to give before. That’s before they discover that Lucas is indebted to the ill-tempered D’vard and his traveling circus, the Rosethorn Ring. The Ring’s entertainment lacks a bear, and Lucas must play the part of the savage creature to regain his freedom.

Lorcan D’vard cares only for three things: tending to his beloved beard, promoting his Rosethorn Ring, and eradicating the assassin out to kill him. With time running out, D’vard agrees to cancel Lucas’s debt and let him go free – if Marita and Diamond can apprehend the assassin before the assassin ends the show.

This is Snow White and Rose Red with a twist like you’ve never seen it before.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | AUTHOR’S BLOG

SISTERS. CIRCUS. MYSTERY. It is delicious! If you want to know more, I posted a review just a few weeks ago.

And if you want to join in on this tag, you can find the original post HERE!

Have you ever read Snow White & Rose Red? What would YOUR color-based fairy tale name be? And have you done this tag yet? Because it’s really fun! Share all your fairy tale-ish thoughts below! (’Cause you guys know I can talk about fairy tales endlessly.)