Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore is a short-story anthology edited by Marx Pyle and J.C Mastro composed of 16 short works of fiction by a wide range of talented authors.

The stories in the anthology predominantly focus on the reinterpretation, celebration, and, in some instances, subversion of a culturally diverse range of traditional fairy tales, folklore and fables.

Blending fantasy, science-fiction and crime genre components in a uniquely satisfying and entirely contemporary manner, the varying narratives recalibrate a range of traditional yarns, presenting familiar characters and fairy-tale archetypes, in a series of unfamiliar localities, time-periods and genre settings.

Standout stories in the collection include “Fairly Dead” by Sophia DeSensi, in which a corpse-bride-to-be in an enchanted kingdom resorts to increasingly extreme measures to ensure her future marriage to a charming prince; “What’s Good For The Goose…” by Sean Gibson, a comedic time-travel yarn in which Robin Hood and Little John travel to Dickensian London for a small-scale adventure with Ebenezer Scrooge and a goose that lays golden eggs; and “The Girl Who Grew Up” by Michael Joseph Tharnish Roby, where Peter Pan is portrayed as an abusive and manipulative man-child bent on revenge against one-time mother surrogate Wendy.

There are no weak links in the anthology, which is an accessible, excellently curated and impeccably well-crafted selection of stories packed with creative brio, incidence and, on occasion, laugh-out-loud humour.

Overall, Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore is a spellbinding showcase of quality writing and a thoroughly enjoyable alternative story selection. It will attract a range of genre fans on the lookout for fresh and exciting takes on traditional storytelling standards.

Also available as an ebook.