Troll's Eye View

by Ellen Datlow (editor), Terri Windling

Everyone thinks they know the real story behind the villains in fairy tales - evil, no two ways about it. But the villains themselves beg to differ. In Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's new anthology for younger readers, you'll hear from the Giant's wife ("Jack and the Beanstalk"), Rumplestiltskin, the oldest of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and many more. A stellar lineup of authors, including Garth Nix, Holly Black, Neil Gaiman and Nancy Farmer, makes sure that these old stories do new tricks!

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Young Adult, Fairy Tales, Anthologies, Fiction, Retellings

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Ellen Datlow has been editing science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction for forty years as fiction editor of OMNI Magazine and editor of Event Horizon and SCIFICTION. She currently acquires short stories and novellas for Tor.com. In addition, she has edited about one hundred science fiction, fantasy, and horror anthologies, including the annual The Best Horror of the Year series, The Doll Collection, Mad Hatters and March Hares, The Devil and the Deep: Horror Stories of the Sea, Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, Edited By, and Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles.
She's won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Bram Stoker Awards, International Horror Guild Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards, and the 2012 Il Posto Nero Black Spot Award for Excellence as Best Foreign Editor. Datlow was named recipient of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for "outstanding contribution to the genre," was honored with the Life Achievement Award by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior achievement over an entire career, and honored with the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award at the 2014 World Fantasy Convention.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars...but a pallid, sickly, sadness-laced three stars blocked from shining its brightest by the unfulfilled promise of all that might have been.

I liked this and don't intend to sound too berating, but given the talent level assembled, and the subject matter being explored, I was really hoping to a discover a sparkling pot of gold at the end of this anthology. Unfortunately, what I found was mostly tarnished silver, with a few 24k pieces and one brilliant diamond of a tale that made the entire collection worth reading (thank you, Ms. Valente).
 
The writers contributing to this anthology were asked, by editor extraordinaire Ellen Datlow, to re-examine established fairy/folk tales (though not all were well known to this reviewer) and recast events through the eyes of the villains of said stories. To the writers' credit, they do a good job, with a few exceptions, of not merely retelling the tales through another's voice, but actually strive to spin a fresh yarn using the familiar ingredients of the original.
 
THE STORIES:
 
Wizard’s Apprentice by Delia Sherman
 
A new author (for me) and a quality beginning to this ensemble. An abused boy runs away from his “punch first, verbally insult second” uncle and ends up as an apprentice to a evil wizard, who may just not be as bad as he seems.
 
Solidly written, fun and subtly emotional. I liked it. 
 
3.5 stars.    
 
An Unwelcome Guest by Garth Nix.
 
I love Garth Nix’s Abhorsen novels, but this was a rather tepid bowl of Meh. Repunzel as bratty teenager fresh off a casting call for the latest MTV reality show uses her mega locks to get inside a witche's castle and proceeds to abuse the hospitality laws.
 
Cute concept, but nothing about its execution inspires me to recommend it. Still, being Nix, the writing it decent and so the story is not a total loss.
 
2.0 stars.
 
Faery Tales by Wendy Frond (poem)
 
Except for Neil Gaiman’s contribution, this was the best poem of the collection...but that's still not enough praise to fill a tea cup.
 
2.0 stars
 
Rags and Riches by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
 
This reimagining of “The Goose Girl” was the biggest disappointment for me because I've always been impressed with Ms. Hoffman’s work. Granted, this is geared towards a younger crowd, but I found the writing lifeless and without flair. Plus, Hoffman's version stuck a bit too closely to the original and lacked the freshness factor. Not bad, just a let down.
 
2.5 stars
 
Up the Down Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers by Peter S. Beagle

A wonderful, whimsical breeze of a tale that puts the anthology back on track. A recounting of an intemperate giant’s fateful (and fatal) encounter with a puckish hooligan named Jack, as told by the giant's clever, droll and entertaining widow. I had fun with this. Nicely done, Mr. Beagle.
 
3.5 stars.
 
The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces by Ellen Kushner
 
This one never came within striking distance of hooking me. I wasn't familar with the source material, which I'm sure didn't help, but this just felt tedious and soporific.

2.0 stars
 
Puss in Boots, the Sequel by Joseph Stanton
 
How? How? How in the name of all that is good and holy do you screw up a cat poem? Shame on you, sir. 
 
1.0 star.
 
Boy Who Cried Wolf by Holly Black
 
One of the solid gold standouts of the collection. This story has a lot to recommend it. Ms. Black takes a well known fairy tale (but not the one you are thinking of) and creates a brilliant origin story that not only enterained, but also added new depth to the source story. Well written and tons of fun. This is one you should seek out.
 
4.0 stars.
 
Troll by Jane Yolen
 
Another shiny, 24K standout. Growing up, the Three Billy Goats Gruff was a favorite story on mine, and so I was really looking forward to this. Ms. Yolen does not disappoint. She reimagines the story from the viewpoint of the troll and shows him as a sad, sympathetic and very endearing character. You just want to hug the guy and his childlike, "in the moment" interaction with the world gave the story a kind of existential quality. That may sounds silly, but it's true. Definitely one I recommend tracking down. 
 
4.0 stars.
 
Castle Othello by Nancy Farmer
 
I liked this one and thought it was one of the more daring pieces. Combining Shakespeare's Othello with the legend of Bluebeard and twisting it into a story that felt all its own. Well written and enjoyable.
 
3.0 stars.
 
’Skin by Michael Cadnum.
 
Another new author for me and another story I really enjoyed. I was impressed by how Mr. Cadnum employed all of the known story elements of the Rumplestiltskin tale and yet told a surprisingly unique story that turned old Rumpy into a altruistic prometheus with a weakness for eating children. A wonderfully crafty tale and one of the standouts in the collection.
 
3.5 to 4.0 stars
 
A Delicate Architecture by Catherynne M. Valente.
 
I give you the Hope Diamond...Head, shoulders and naughty bits above every other story in this collection. Ms. Valente, as she usually does, awed me with her talent. From the very first page, through the imaginative middle that is both whimsical and achingly sad, right up to the perfect, and I mean perfect, tie-in ending to one of the world's most classic fairy tales. Golden honey drips from this woman's pen and this is an absolute MUST READ.
 
5.0 stars.  
 
Molly by Midori Snyder. 

This is another one where my enjoyment may have been hampered by my lack of familiarity with the original story. Even so, I think Snyder does a terrific job inverting the sympathies towards the characters and I thought there was a touching emotional core to this tale. Another worthwhile enterprise. 
 
3.5 stars. 
 
Observing the formalities by Neil Gaiman.
 
Another poem, but it’s Neil so I kinda sorta have to like it. And I do, but just barely. Not his best work. 
 
2.5 stars.
 
Cinderella Game by Kelly Link
 
A nice way to end this collection. A solid, creepy tale about two step-siblings who decide to play make believe…with bizarre results. I’m not entirely sure what happened in this story, but the atmosphere alone makes it worth recommending.
 
3.5 stars.
 
In sum...3.0 stars. Despite my misgivings and my shattered hopes, still...Recommended (for the gold and the sparkly diamond of Ms. Valente). 

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Familiar tales are viewed through fresh eyes when well-known storybook villains step up and relate their versions of classic stories.

Sorry to say, most of these are pretty forgettable. Even looking back over the titles listed in the table of contents, I'm having trouble remembering what they're about . . . and I just read them a few days ago. I do remember feeling rather cheated as many of the villains I was rooting for did not come out on top.

The big standouts for me were Jane Yolen's Troll, a story told by the son of a famous bridge-guarding troll, and Peter S. Beagle's Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers. This one is particularly hilarious if you imagine it being narrated by a member of Monty Python in drag.

[Amanda Kratz · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I picked a thin book I could bang out in a few hours so I could hit my reading challenge.

This is a collection of 16 short stories or poems. I was really excited to see Neil Gaiman as an author and sadly his piece is a very simple 3 page poem. Holly Black also has a short story included and I don’t feel it measure up to her other works.

There are some fun stories in there Gabriel Nix has a bratty Rapunzel who locks herself in the tower as an unwelcome guest that the witch has to care for. There is a story of 12 dancing princes, one of an evil wizard, trolls, etc. some are really good, but short and under developed (what can you expect from a 12 page story)

Anyway that completes my 2017 challenge. Not really the book I wanted to end on, but one I knew I could get through in my limited remaining time.

[Crowinator · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a weakness for retold fairy tales and for short stories, so this collection of fairy tales told from the villains' point of view was a must-read for me. Also, Datlow and Windling consistently helm the best anthologies out there, for kids and adults, and I read every one I can get my hands on. This collection has 15 stories by well-known fantasy authors for children and adults, almost all of which I've read at least something earlier, whether it be a short story or two or a novel or two, and it makes for quite the collection. Like all anthologies, there are a few weak stories, or maybe I should say a few stories I didn't enjoy as much as the others, and a few stories that really stood out.

For me, the stand-outs are almost always the dark stories, for I am a twisted soul, and they leave more of an impact on me. My other stand-out story type is superbly done comedies. (For example, in Deborah Noye's collection Gothic: Ten Original Dark Tales, my two favorite stories are MT Anderson's marvelously disturbing "Watch and Wake" and Neil Gaiman's hilarious parody of gothic conventions, "Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire".) So, of course, my favorite stories from this collection are Holly Black's "The Boy Who Cried Wolf' and Kelly Link's "The Cinderella Game", both very dark, creepy stories with endings that play with the "happily ever after" convention. In "the Boy Who Cried Wolf", the narrator learns about a mysterious flower that turns those who sniff its scent into wolves who then devour whoever is closest, and he has to make some tough choices when he and his family land their boat on an island that appears to be covered with the flowers. In "The Cinderella Game", Peter babysits his new, somewhat disturbed, step-sister (he appears somewhat disturbed as well) and things get weird when he agrees to play a game of Cinderella, in which the lines between the good Cinderella and the evil step-sister are blurred.

There are a lot of other great stories, including Peter Beagle's funny "Up the Down Beanstalk", which retells "Jack in the Beanstalk" from the point of view of the giant's wife (I love how matter-of-fact she is about their diet), Midori Snyder's rather haunting retelling of "Molly Whuppie", called "Molly", and Delia Sherman's "Wizard's Apprentice", which follows a much-abused boy on his path to becoming the apprentice to an Evil Wizard who turns out not to be so evil after all.

Overall, this is another excellent anthology for Datlow and Windling.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slightly p.oed even since Datlow and Windling stopped editiing thier adult collections and focused on YA collections. Now, I understand YA is hot (though most of it seems slightly silly), but still. Anyway, with this collection I think I understand why they did it or perhaps I figured out a plus side to this.

This collection has stories told from the villian's point of view. Most of the stories are very good; in particular Peter S. Beagle's story stands out as does the ending of Ellen Kushner's.

The stories, here, however, in particular, those stories at the end, are far darker then the stories in the earlier YA collections. They are closer to adult. They are closer, in many ways, to some of the original tales before Cinderella got singing rodents.

I like this. I really do. Like Pratchett, Datlow and Windling seem to want to get children to think and this collection crosses the bounds between adult and YA quite well. Because of the theme, the stories also get readers to question the whys of things, like - why does the black guy always die first in Hollywood? Why is blonde better? Why princes? Why so much female nudity?

Okay, not that last one, but you get the point. Enjoyable read.

[Иван Величков · Rating 2 out of 5]

Предвид съставителите, очаквах нещо доста по-мощно, примерно като Trickster Tales, но като че ли ударих на камък.
Идеята на антологията е да се преразкажат класически приказки от гледната точка на злодеите в тях. И явно, да стават за четене от хлапета, защото си представях нещо доста по-мрачно.
Може би заради рамката, авторите не са се отпуснали повече, въпреки че 1/3 я заобикалят доста умело. Ели (Елена Павлова) все ми повтаря, че ако една трета от разказите от дадена антология ми допаднат съм късметлия. Ама моята летва е по-висока (или по-ниска към качеството, според гледната точка).
Интересно, предвид големите имена вътре, най-много ми се услади предисторията на вещицата от Хензел и Гретел от Катерина Валенте. Тук наистина почувствах свеж полъх, стъпил върху класика.
Другите добри неща, най-вече заради свежия хумор, бяха на Бийгъл Джак и бобеното стебло, от гледна точка на жената на великана и преразказа на Марулка от Гарт Никс.
Поемата за тринадесетата кръстница, дело на Нийл Геймън, историята на Рампълспилскин от Майкъл Каднъм и Моли на Мидори Снайдер, пък ме впечатлиха, защото запазват рамката на приказката, но я променят изкоренно само с гледната точка.
Останалите, не ми харесаха толкова.

[Loreley · Rating 3 out of 5]

რამდენიმე მოთხრობა ძალიან კარგი იყო (Valente <3), უმეტესობა კარგი, მაგრამ არა გადასარევი და ზოგი მეჰ.
3.2 გამოვიდა ბოლოს საშუალო

[Cecelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are times when I think the marketing and product descriptions of books do them a disservice. Troll’s-Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales, is a perfect example. The Booklist review lists the intended audience as grades 5-8. However, editors Datlow and Windling are best known for their yearly anthologies of science fiction and horror for adults. I’m not saying that the book is inappropriate for younger readers: anything but! As we know, though, children have a pretty high tolerance for the sinister (just see the popularity of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book!). This book will appeal to anyone and everyone. I argue that it should be put in both the children’s AND adult sections at the bookstore and library. There are definitely enough dark themes and balancing humorous incidents to make any child or adult shiver and scream with laughter. The credit goes to the editors for rounding up such a stellar list of contributors and to the über-talented authors included in the line-up. The author list is what drew me to the book initially: I’d heard no buzz, but any text that unites my favorites (Neil Gaiman! Garth Nix! Delia Sherman! Kelly Link! Jane Yolen! Too many others to name!) can’t be bad. And it was the complete opposite of bad. It was so awesome I’m still buzzing a little bit. So go, find it, read it to your child(ren), read it for yourself, buy it for friends. It has a gorgeous and creepy cover, and there are gorgeous and creepy stories inside to match.

My favorite bit: Ellen Kushner dedicated her story, “The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces” (based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses tale) “to all oldest children everywhere, who are responsible whether they want to be or not.” As an oldest child in a large family, I can definitely appreciate that!

Complete list of contributors: Peter S. Beagle, Holly Black, 
Michael Cadnum,
 Nancy Farmer, 
Wendy Froud,
 Neil Gaiman, 
Nina Kiriki Hoffman, 
Ellen Kushner, 
Kelly Link, 
Garth Nix, 
Delia Sherman, 
Midori Snyder,
 Joseph Stanton, Catherynne M. Valente, 
and Jane Yolen.

Datlow and Windling also have a couple of other anthologies for young readers: A Wolf at the Door and Swan Sister. I read Swan Sister last year and wasn’t nearly as enchanted by it, though that’s perhaps due to the fact that the Troll’s-Eye stories are unbeatably and wondrously dark, original and humorous. Villains have so much natural potential!

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairy tales were my first love when I was a child. My mother introduced me to the joys of stories with The Golden Book of Fairy Tales long before I learned how to read. My early reading included the first three volumes of The Junior Classics and Andrew Lang’s colorful fairy tale books. When Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling started editing anthologies of new takes on the old tales for adults with Snow White, Blood Red, I was delighted. And when Datlow and Windling started editing a series of original fiction for young adults based on fairy tales, I couldn’t resist ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Nighteye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read with some lovely stories inside the opening story Wizards apprentice by Delta Sherman was really good, as well as the fun and twisted Girl in the tower rapunzel by Gareth nix.
I'd read holly Black's great take on The boy who cried wolf but the ones that blowned me away was A delicate architecture by Catheryne m valente. I wondered so what story until the last page and I understood. The story Rags and Ritches by Nina Kiriki Hoffman was great and such a great story.

[Gala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Я дуже люблю хороші переспіви старих казок чи легенд, а тут вони здебільшого гарні. А ще більше мені подобається та сама "точка зору троля", не часто "злу" дають право голосу, не перебільшуючи при цьому його чарівності. Дуже приємний бонус - список збірок та "довгих творів" за мотивами казок - просто план "позаурочного" читання на рік чи кілька найближчих.

[Allie Marini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid collection, there wasn't a bad story in the bunch. The standout for me was "A Delicate Architecture" by Catherynne M. Valente, which was constructed as carefully, lovingly, & deliciously as the confectioner's daughter would want.

[Hannah Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel takes 16 of the fairytales and short stories we all know and love and tell it to us from a different perspective, mostly the POV of those who are usually seen as the villains in the original stories.
I thought this story was an interesting and short read. It was nice to get a different perspective on the usual tradition stories. One that stood out to me was A Delicate Architecture, the origin of the witch in Hansel and Gretel’s story. I think this novel would be interesting to give to a student who really enjoys fairytales. You can introduce them to a different perspective to a story they may be familiar with themselves.

[Shelby Coyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars overall, though some of the stories within would rate much higher individually.

This collection was kind of disappointing for such an interesting premise.
The best story was definitely “A Delicate Architecture” by Catherynne Valente. She gave life to her character, and the writing was arguably the best out of any in this collection.

[вікта обабок · Rating 2 out of 5]

збірки то не про мене

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

an anthology where i actually liked nearly every story??? incredible. unheard of.

most of them were merely solid, but there were a few notable stories:

an unwelcome guest by garth nix is funny and cute

castle othello by nancy farmer is creative and surprising

a delicate architecture by catherynne valente is beautiful and chilling

i mostly skipped the poems.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Valente’s story was the best by far. Her’s and Snyder’s were the only ones really worth reading, and Valente’s was the only worth re-reading. Detailed opinions below:

Wizard’s Apprentice - It was fine. I don’t recall the original story and this version seemed fine. Not bad, but not remarkable. 3 stars

An Unwelcome Guest - It doesn’t seem to fit with the title of the anthology; not so much a villain’s viewpoint story but a wholly different version altogether. Not what I had in mind, and not particularly interesting either. The witch was fine but now the villain, Rapunzel, is totally flat. I was hoping for some multidimensional antagonists but this is not the case. The three blind mice addition felt crowbarred in as well. 2 stars

Faery Tales - Doesn’t seem to even relate to the rest of this book. 1 star

Rags and Riches - It meets the title of the anthology, but the villain still lacks depth. This could have been an interesting dive into the idea of entitlement or the deeper motivations for the maid, but it wasn’t. Still, the ending was more satisfying than the original. 3.5 stars

Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers - Another flat villain… at least it meets the anthology’s premise. 2 stars

The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces - It wasn’t really a villain’s viewpoint as much as a retelling from a different character without much extra information or depth. 2 stars

Puss in Boots, the Sequel - Once again, irrelevant and uninteresting. 1 star

The Boy Who Cried Wolf - The twist at the end wasn’t all that surprising, and it left more questions than answers. Alex wasn’t interesting enough to lead the story, so it fell flat. 3 stars

Troll - Childish and bland, goes nowhere and does nothing. 1 star

Castle Othello - I don’t think this addresses racism or sexism tactfully, especially since is misrepresents the religion of Islam and doesn’t even address the problems with the kind of polyamorous relationships it mentions. (There are happy polyamorous relationships, but treating women as property to be collected isn’t truly consensual.) It also isn’t from the villain’s viewpoint at all. It is the same POV as the original Bluebeard but with some plot changes. 1 star

‘Skin - The stories in this anthology have a real problem. Mostly, they change the stories so the villains become main characters and the original heroes are just as ungrateful and mean as the villains were in the originals. It’s just changing the names on the script but not really showing the story more complexly. This story adds barely more than that. The ingratitude of Winnie was just unbelievable. It made the story fall completely flat, even though it did show a bit more of the villain’s story. 3 stars

A Delicate Architecture - This story is a masterpiece; it is the one gem in this book. I read it before in another anthology, and figures out where it was going before I got to the end (though I didn’t know the context). And yet, it was a wonderful reveal nonetheless. I reread it that time and found the twist was no less delightful when known ahead of time. Valente’s style might be my favorite of all writers, and this story is just perfection. The villain has depth and a full backstory; she has motivation and justification. She’s relatable, yet sugar. I’d give more than 5 stars if I could. 5+ stars

Molly - This one was actually pretty good. It did show the story from the villain’s side and addressed the fact that the original hero’s actions weren’t all that heroic to start with. There were a few plot holes, but it was overall a good read. 4.5 stars

Observing the Formalities - This is certainly the best poem of the book, though that doesn’t say much considering how bad the others were. This actually had a decent story in it and does indeed show the villain’s side of the story, as well as her motivation. 4 stars

The Cinderella Game - Not really a fairy tale at all. It’s literally just a story about kids playing pretend. 1 star

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

My boyfriend and I purchased this book from the local Borders that was going out of business. I found it very enjoyable to read and well worth my time. My favorites were 'Faery Tales' by Wendy Froud, 'A Delicate Architecture' by Catherynne M. Valente, and 'The Cinderella Game' by Kelly Link.
'Faery Tales' is a poem about "what happened to the young women who find their heart's desire at the end of the fairy tale. What do they become? Perhaps in the end they become those dark characters-the stepmothers, the witches, and the enchantresses-for the next generation of young questing women, choosing in their wisdom to be cruel or kind, benign or malevolent as they see fit." A very original concept.
I love 'A Delicate Architecture' because it retells my second favorite fairytale, Hansel and Gretel. This story is about the witch, and told by the author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland, which I had neither read nor heard of at the time. The writing is very lyrical and detailed, about how the witch in the classic tale was actually a girl named Constanze created out of candy by her father, a confectioner. It is a heart wrenching tale of how she is abandoned by her father in exchange for the love of the empress, whom Constanze was created in the image of. Constanze is then hung up in the castle kitchen as a mere object, to provide flavors for the royal's food from her own body parts, which are made of sweets. As she grows old, she finally escapes the kitchen to make a cottage in the forest and...we know the rest.
'The Cinderella Game' is about a boy named Peter and his little step-sister named Darcy. They are home alone and Darcy pays Peter her birthday money so that he will play a game with her. It's where Peter pretends to be an 'evil' Cinderella as they play hide and seek in the house. However, the game goes horribly wrong. I loved that the story is open to interpretation and has very realistic child voices in it.
Overall, this book is a great read for anyone who loves fairy tales and re-tellings, and the stories I mentioned in this review are reason enough to check this out.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are the villains of the fairy tales we all know and love really as bad as they seem? How would things appear to be from their perspective?

That's the question that this short story and poem collection seeks to answer - with varying degrees of success.

Overall I liked the stories well enough, but none of them really wowed me. It was an entertaining diversion, but I suppose I was something more than you could glean from a short story collection.

That said, some of the ones I liked the best were:

Wizard's Apprentice - Delia Sherman (ode to misanthropy)
Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers - Peter S. Beagle
The Boy Who Cried Wolf - Holly Black (interesting variant, and had a touch of the macabre)
Castle Othello - Nancy Farmer (an interesting blending of Othello and Bluebeard)
Observing the Formalities - Neil Gaiman (the only poem in the collection I liked, and it may be my bias in liking the 'bad fairy' of Sleeping Beauty)
The Cinderella Game - Kelly Link (which was the only one which managed to be sort of disturbing, which I think I was expecting more of)

Honorable mentions go to:

A Delicate Architecture - Catherine M. Valente (the story was interesting but just a touch too out there and motivations were weird)
and
Molly - Midori Snyder (The story was ok but the giants too stupid and Molly a bit too nasty)


So it didn't quite live up to expectations, but, as I said, a decent enough way to pass some time and, as evidenced by the fact that I read it in a few hours, it's a quick read.

[N_katieg52 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you tired of reading similar versions of the same story? Would you like to get a new variety, especially in point of view? Well, Troll’s Eye View is for you! This is an exciting and interesting book where fairy tales are told from the villain’s perspective. After reading several versions of Rumpelstiltskin, I think my students would be thrilled and excited to hear this version of the story and compare. In this book, the Rumpelstiltskin version is titled “Skin”. It is a bit dark, and more for older readers (I would use it for middle school- high school depending on your objectives), but I really enjoyed reading it.

This starts out with the main character telling about all the great things he’s done that we should be thankful for, and then goes into his “tiny blemish” that he kills and eats babies. They way it is written though, I burst out laughing when I got to that part. He offers to help a young woman who is weeping spin straw into gold and he says he would do it only for her thanks. Rumpelstiltskin describes himself as very generous and helpful, while the young woman Winnie seems ungrateful. She reluctantly agreed to let the elf come and visit her children in order for him to continue working. Time passes and Winne and the elf reunite. Winnie was told that I she did not guess his name, he would take her child. This story has a dark ending that might shock you as it did me, so I don’t want to give it away…but I encourage you to pick up Troll’s Eye View and enjoy a dark satire.

[Erika Powers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Miscarriage.

The title brags of Villainous Tales but the only thing villainous about it are the scoundrels and miscreants who's titalature is Machiavellian. Jesting aside, the apophthegm "you can't judge a book by its cover" is duldrum and a detestably overused version of buyer beware, and unfortunately (for me) comes to mind automatically. In response, I offer myself this antipode to relieve my mind of such injustice, "Quit being so fucking deceitful". I didn't say it would be graceful, but at least its perfectly eloquent and honest.

The cover art is wicked and lovely, I want what's inside. But all I got was cotton balls. Light. White. Fluffy. Round. Soft. Safe. Plain. Early-modern grade school. Its powerless, the endings are lazy, overall inefficacious, esp to a fairy tale habitué. Just plain gross, as when Michael Scott spouts, "Well I hated it!". A cadaver of a book, but not the good, on-the-verge-of-horror-stories cadaver kind of way.

The best and worst part of the whole damn book is the disconsonance between the cover art and the inside text. Contextually, this is the worst case of trickery I've seen, but the dust jacket's job is to sell the story, and that it did, my fellow readers, that it did.

Stick with the classics in the children/YA horror genre. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Controversial. Some want it banned. That's when you know a book is really good.

I should have known I would hate Troll's Eye View when I saw Jane Yolen's name on it somewhere. Lamentable. Now I'm done writing, but I'm still kicking and screaming on the inside.

[Jen]

I feel strange reviewing this, because adult readers like me are not the book's intended audience. But this anthology is so deliciously fun that I want to tell everyone. Do pick up this collection of fairy tales written from the villains' points of view!

I chose the book because it contains a story by Neil Gaiman. Unfortunately, Gaiman's two-page offering proved to be disappointing (perhaps my expectations of him have become too high!). As with any anthology, the stories here are hit or miss. Despite the disappointment with Gaiman's story, I kept reading because I was looking for stories that might enhance or change my understanding of the original stories. Most of the stories do this, but not all. Jane Yolen's troll story, the retelling of The Goose Girl, and the retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses aren't very interesting. But the book usually delivers exactly what I was looking for.

My favorite story, Catherynne M. Valente's "A Delicate Architecture, imagines the supernatural origin of the witch in Hansel & Gretel's story. The story goes from being whimsical, to visceral, to horrifying, and it fascinated me throughout. The book ends with "Kelly Link's "The Cinderella Game," which is so sophisticated and deliciously taut that it could be taught at the university level.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

(pre-reading comment)The cover to this book is so awesome! I just HAD to check it out when I stumbled across it at the library!

(post-reading review)
Well, I wasn't overly impressed with anything in this book. This isn't to say this book was bad, but with such an awesome cover and a sub title of "A Book of Villainous Tales" I was expecting something much more amazing.

Some of the stories were good, others were kind of blah. My favorite one was "Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers" by Peter S. Beagle. It was superbly written, and I loved how fabulous the giant's wife was portrayed. It was the most enjoyable by far.

The other stories were alright, but none of them really grabbed my attention like Peter S. Beagle's. Some had very interesting concepts, like "Molly" by Midori Snyder. And some were really lame (I'm sorry Holly Black, I love you, but your "Boy Who Cried Wolf" really missed the mark).

All together, it was an interesting read. Fairytale retellings are always fun, even if this book didn't meet my expectations.

[NayDoubleU · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I've read the original

Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers
** I think I enjoyed this version a lot better. The story came to life easily and I felt like I was listening to a recording more than I felt like I was actually reading a story.
5 Stars

Wizard's Apprentice
I've never read the original so I can't say which version I prefer. I really enjoyed this story, especially the ending. Super cute.
4 Stars

Faery Tales
I really enjoyed this poem. It helped me realize that the princesses doesn't always have to be sweet and innocent forever. they can turn into the evil villain just like anyone else.
4 Stars

Puss in Boots, The Sequel
Uhhhhhhh.....
1 Star

The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces
**
I actually thought this was cuter than the original and the ending was a nice touch.
3 Stars

An Unwelcomed Guest
I have never read the original.
It was an interesting read.
3 Stars

Rags and Riches
I believe I've read the original or a version like it.
I liked this one the most so far. I loved the attitude of eldest princess, although she was wronged she didn't let it ruin her heart.
5 Stars

The Boy Who Cried Wolf
**
I liked this spin a lot and I like how the ending could lead to another story (The Little Red Ridding Hood)

[Luann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of retold fairy tales focusing on fairy tale villains. It features stories and a few poems written by many excellent fantasy authors such as Delia Sherman, Garth Nix, Peter S. Beagle, Holly Black, Jane Yolen, Nancy Farmer, Neil Gaiman, and a few others. As I expect with short story collections, there were some stories I enjoyed much more than others.

Probably my favorite story was "Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers" by Peter S. Beagle. It is a retelling of the Jack and the Beanstalk story from the giant's wife's point of view. I was surprised that I enjoyed the story so much because I recently read Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" and didn't like it all that much.

Catherynne M. Valente's "A Delicate Architecture" is also very memorable and beautifully written. It's a bit dark and creepy, but I really like her idea of telling the back story of the witch from Hansel and Gretel. I would like to read something else by her sometime.

I found I enjoyed each story more if I read the note at the end of the story first - which gave a short blurb about each author and their work, and also why they chose their particular fairy tale.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was only a matter of time before I got around to reading this. I mean, come on, there's more than a handful of authors that I quite enjoy in it.

With that being said, it IS short stories (and two poems) and the intended audience is considerably younger than what I am. So, there are hits and misses.

I adored Catherynn M. Valente's piece - a bit of backstory on the witch in Hansel and Gretel. This one, by far, is my favorite story in here.

Jane Yolen's story about the Troll under the bridge was wonderful. I don't think there's any work of Yolen's that I've read that I didn't like. (For those just 'tuning in', you should definitely read her 'Briar Rose', an amazing take on the Sleeping Beauty tale)

And finally, Ellen Kushner's version of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses'. It's not a tale that I remember as a kid (the only one I can think of is Juliet Marillier's 'Wildwood Dancing', and that came out when I was in my 20s)

Some were meh, a few left me wondering why on earth they were in here, and that's about it. A very quick read, but entertaining nonetheless.

[mary ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars.

I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more from this book.
Don't get me wrong, it was still a good book. It was just missing something.

There were some stories that I really enjoyed, such as: A Delicate Architecture, Molly, ’Skin, Troll, and Wizard's Apprentice.
I would recommend the book just for some of these stories. (I enjoyed some of the others, but these were the ones that really stuck out to me.)

I didn't really enjoy any of the poems which was a disappointment since I was expecting more from Neil Gaiman.

Overall, this book is like almost all books that contain short stories by various authors. You have your solid, great stories, and then you have the uninteresting and sometimes disappointing stories. I would recommend the book, but I would also say that I wouldn't blame you if you skipped over certain stories and only read some.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troll's Eye View edited by Datlow & Windling will delight children. Every kid loves a villain and the dozen stories and three poems in this beautifully designed little book have a hilarious, chilling assortment.

But there's plenty here for anyone of any age. Some of the finest fantasy writers currently working contribute and reading this book I found myself thinking of Saki and Thurber and Mrs. Lovett from Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.

There's not a dud in the bunch but my favorites were Peter S. Beagle speaking as a Giant's Wife, Catherynne M. Valente finding terror and pathos in pastry and Kelly Link playing a very old game in a very modern family.

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific collection of original stories by children's and YA fantasy authors, all starring the villains of various traditional tales, from Rumpelstitskin to the troll under the bridge. There isn't a dud among them, and two (Kelly Link's The Cinderella Game and Holly Black's The Boy Who Cried Wolf) are intensely creepy. Gaiman's poem "Observing the Formalities" is good enough for the New Yorker magazine, in my opinion. Fans of fractured fairy tales and of these editors' previous collaborations should give this terrific collection a read.

[Gef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairy tales and poems retold or reimagined through the eyes of the villains? I'm game. And with a cast of contributing authors that includes no less than Neil Gaiman and Kelly Link, I was certainly interested in checking out this anthology--regardless of the target demographic. Kids and kids at heart should all enjoy some very fun stories that look at those old fairy tales through a new lense and new angle. Two favorites for me among this collection include Kelly Link's "The Cinderella Game" and Holly Black's "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."