I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a surprise this little gem was! So many of these poems/verse/stories are beautiful and thought provoking. They are short but they are packed with meaning and more than half of them provide their own interesting twist on a fairytale or myth. I also really enjoyed the author's words at the beginning of the book about the origination of the universe. As you progress through the novel, the stories start to deal more with modern day issues, many of which pertain to women. The author expresses her opinion and/or experience as it relates to eating disorders, cat calling, stereotyping, gender roles, etc. In a nutshell, it was interesting.

This was a very quick read but definitely worthwhile. I'd definitely recommend it.

I enjoyed this poetry and prose collection- it offered some interesting insights to familiar fairy tales, their heroines, and their villains. For instance, was Cinderella's stepmother just a cold-hearted bitch, or was she just trying to toughen up Cinderella, prepare her for a world that only wanted her for her beauty, and would toss her aside when her beauty faded? The girl power flows through these tales, with messages of you are strong, you are enough, you are beautiful in the ways that matter. While the various themes sometimes get a little repetitive, they are important, and should resonate with young women everywhere.

This book is beautiful, both in writing and images. I will be buying a physical copy for myself and as gifts because I loved it so much. Beautiful!

Fierce Fairytales are the Fairytales you want to read your daughter these days. Spinning classical themes on their head, this collection of poetry delves deeper into the 'villains' and spins the princesses into their own Heroines. I really enjoyed the modern take in the poetry format. Topics such as female empowerment, feminism, mental illness and love are all touched on in this book, causing the reader to really re-examine the classical tellings.

Furthermore, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous!

I love, love, love this book. I wish I could meet the author and just chat with her, get her thought process and understand how she came up with these beautiful and truthful narratives. They really touched my soul. I love poems and they speak to my soul in ways books cannot. I am going to seek this one out for sure when it comes out. Nikita Gill and Hachette Books thanks so much to both of you for allowing me to read this wonderful work of art. Nikita thanks for pouring yourself into this for people like me.

Thank you to by Nikita Gill, Hachette Books, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul” for an honest review.

I am entirely gone, gone, gone on anything that has to do with fairytales and classic stories — whether it’s retellings, poetry, or new versions, I have to have them. I delight in the newest nuggets of gold pulled out from them, and these stories and poems were no different.

I loved the new point of view characters, and directions, these pieces were told from and I ended up rereading several of them (or returning later once something else had touched me, and drawn up its remembrance, connecting them in new ways).

I wasn't able to download this book as the kindle option wasn't available and the other options didn't work on my device.

I have read many of Nikita Gill's poems and works of prose, so of course I couldn't deny Fierce Fairytales when I happened upon it. The promise of poetry and prose mixed in with my favorite fairy tales drew me in right away. I loved that this book skipped around, talking of the universe and Rumpelstiltskin with just a page turn separating them. Like always, Nikita Gill tells stories of strength and empowerment, eschewing traditional definitions of femininity to give readers more battle cries than woeful ballads. Right away I fell in love with Once Upon a Time II and just a few pages later I bookmarked The Miller's Daughter so I could find it again easily. The stories are reminiscent of those we know well, just told in a new voice, from a different perspective.

Nikita Gill's voice is one that is constant, which means many of the poems will start to feel and read the same. Some are similar or even borrow from her previously published works. Like all great works of poetry, Fierce Fairytales becomes a bit mind numbing, the poems losing their brilliance as each page is turned. I've learned to not read poetry books in one sitting, rather choosing a few based off name or even just selecting a random page. This is the same, I suggest you keep it on your shelf or table to reach for when only words will soothe your thoughts or inspire you when all feels lost.

Fierce Fairytales is filled with refreshing retellings, some short and some longer, each addressing a pivotal fairytale character, experience, or misconception.

I am not sure what I was expecting when I requested this book, but what I read was definitely not it. I had never read anything by Nikita Gill, yet I understand she has quite a following. In this collection, Nikita Gil addresses some of the biggest problems in the fairytale genre: women in fairy tales are often beautiful and silent and if they are not then they are villians, men are either pawns or abusive.

Nikita Gill rewrites the stories we are familiar with in poetry or prose that makes them often unrecognizable except for the names of the characters. From classics, like Cinderella, to folklore like Baba Yaga, and even literary ladies like Wendy Darling, Gil has left nothing untouched.
I understand that the purpose behind this is to empower women and minorities, but this was not something I related to. I did not see these as fairytales so much as her personal conviction being shared using the same characters and settings. I did enjoy some of the poems, but overall, I was disappointed by this collection. I am sure others would love this collection, but it was not for me. The publisher, Hachette Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.

The title is accurate: these fairy tales are fierce! I'm brand new to Nikita Gill's work, but it seems I'm in the minority. She's got a huge following on social media. Her work is fun to read because it uses the structure of traditional fairy tales but infuses them with modern ideology that turns old archetypes upside down. Plus, I'm not gonna lie, I chose it for the cover. This is a gorgeous book. I think this would make a great gift for any modern princesses in your life.

Fierce Fairytales, by Nikita Gill, is a contemporary poetry collection that strives to empower its readers. It’s author, a British-Indian woman with a large online following, writes with a voice that often speaks directly to her readers, delivering messages of strength and resilience to women, people of color - those who’ve been subject to hate, violence and subjugation. Her prose puts a feminist spin on tales known to many, replacing their traditionally passive or damsel-in-distress roles with positions of power, and their dreams for a prince with dreams for freedom.

As a lover of both fairytales and poetry, I was immediately drawn to this collection. And I also believe it has much to offer today’s readers, particularly young adults. Gill’s intent to use poetic prose as a means to retell and understand stories, particularly women’s stories - in a diverse way that speaks to our contemporary world is clear. It will undoubtedly reach many young readers, hopefully young women - who are struggling to figure out what they may do in society, what they should look like - and who they will be. The answer Gill is giving them again and again throughout her text is that they are strong, capable, beautiful - and hold the power to design their own unique self. Also, that all of us have been broken and hurt in our lives, and that strength remains even in brokenness.

Despite these powerful messages (which I heartily agree with) - I never felt a strong connection to Gill’s prose. I wanted to dive in to this collection and get lost in it’s fierce tales, but always felt the author speaking her messages directly to me rather than showing me. Where I wanted descriptive prose, she gave prescriptive verse that seemed hell-bent on making sure I, the reader, received her illuminating message. While this style may be exactly what her online followers are looking for, I’m not sure it will resonate with readers like myself - those familiar with both contemporary fairytales and descriptive prose- poetry, who are experiencing her work for the first time. In summary, while I wanted to love this book and indeed, do love the intent behind it - I closed this collection with a disappointed feeling that so much more could have been done with it. Perhaps Gill’s young readers and online fans, though, will disagree.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.

I absolutely love Nikita Gil. Her poems are so inspiring and powerful, and this collection is no different. I loved the way she took well known fairytales and broke them down and turned them into something different. I loved her take on the sea witch, and the ugly step sisters. She is so adept at really getting to the reason why these characters were “evil” and relates it to today’s society, and all concisely within a couple of lines. Her poems really speak to the struggles women, and people in general, deal with on a daily basis. There is so much truth and power behind her words it’s hard not to feel empowered and hopeful after reading them. I highly recommend anything she writes, you will find yourself in many of them.

I really loved these poems, I have not really gone towards poetry but this one really drew me in. I liked this one with Amanda Lovelace's. So this is great, and I like how she brings in the tales. Love.

‘Fierce Fairytales’ by Nikita Gill Reinvents Classic Fairytales in the #MeToo Era

Fairytales have always been part of my life.

They were there when I was a child in the form of Disney princesses and daring heroes.

They were there in my teen years in the form of dark and twisted Grimm’s Fairytales.

And now they continue to be part of my life because of people like Nikita Gill and her new book Fierce Fairytales.

From the very first moment you open this book and begin to read it’s pages, you are blown away by the portraits Gill paints of traditional tales like The Mad Hatter and Scheherezade. Each story that Gill has modernized contains the wonder that comes from their Disney years, the brutality of the Grimm tales, and a stark understanding that we are all but human at the end of the day.

We are all full of hope at one time or another and are defined by the things that have happened to us in our lives. Our parents shape us, our plight shapes us, the friends we make along the way shape us, and the method we chose to fight back against the world, also shapes us. It’s not black and white or as simple as good vs evil. It’s a complex series of events that solidify the fact that we are flawed and complex beings, no matter if we are Jafar of the Fairy Godmother.

Gill’s approach to Cinderella, Aladdin, Peter Pan and more, tell of a story of survival. It speaks to our want to be understood, cared for, and treated with the respect we deserve. And it shows the twists and turns that villains like Hook (queer twists and turns) and the evil stepmother take in surviving, thriving, and being the bad guy of the story while still remaining faithful to the person they were once upon a time.

It’s also a story of the inner fire that we all have inside of ourselves. Princesses that were saved by the galant prince find strength, take their time, and use the power inside themselves to save their own skin. They come to realize that they sometimes aren’t the heroes and that love is the thing that drives them. And they use the power of words to defeat the giants that they have always feared and never thought possible of conquering.

In the midst of the #MeToo movement, Fierce Fairytales feels like the powerful retelling of fairytales that we deserve. In fleshing out these classic stories, in making them more human, we uncover and expose the faults in these fairytales and the ones in our very own lives and society. It shows how we have grown, what we need to work on, and what is no longer relevant to the kind of people we are.

Fierce Fairytales showcases how a woman’s anger can change the world. And I’m just talking about Cinderella and her daily struggle to survive, have courage, and be kind. I’m talking about Sleeping Beauty, who sunk into a depression at being told of her doomed future but nevertheless studied her ass off so she could rescue herself. I’m talking about Jasmine from Aladdin who took to the streets to help her people no matter what the cost. And I’m talking about Scheherazade who wove tales night after night as a promise to the women who came before her that “never again” would one of them perish because of a man’s foolishness and appetite.

Gill’s Fierce Fairytales is magic born out of a curiosity to know more about the literature that shapes us and follows us through our lives. In turn, it makes ordinary life seem magical, warts and all. It makes me realize how marvelous my life has been despite the dragons, stepsisters, and giants in my way. I’ve slain the dragon and survived the crushing weight of stepsisters and giants who have tried to snuff me out. And that strength, that drive to keep going like all the princesses & heroines I’ve watched throughout my life, well…it’s already inside me.

It’s already inside you.

I didn’t realize that this was written in poetry, when I requested it. But I ended up REALLY appreciating the format!! The recurring theme of finding your strength, fierce feminism, and female friendship will most certainly make for an awesome read for younger readers! The concept of how, through trauma, a princess can turn into an evil stepmother or a wicked witch was a creative and clever way of touching on serious topics, in a Younger-Readers-Friendly sort of way. I really appreciated the focus on diversity, touching on topics such as abuse and mental illness, while still focusing mainly on love and empowerment. An incredible read, that I would suggest to all readers, regardless of gender or age! This book is out on shelves now, and I am looking forward to getting my hands on a physical copy.

This book wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. It's poetry, with some allusions to many cultural allusions we all know. I enjoyed it, but I only picked it up here and there to read a poem or two at a time. Interesting, and worth the read if you're into fairy tales, but overall underwhelming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Fierce Fairytales & Other Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill is a collection of poetry and short stories, mainly focused on retelling them with a more feminist, modern touch. A lot of the works focused on trauma, abuse, and expectations placed on women. Some of these pieces really worked for me. I’ve read similar takes on fairytales before, and it’s usually right up my alley.

Several of the poems and short stories touched on the way a princess can turn into the evil stepmother or become the wicked witch. These takes were super interesting, especially when they focused on societal expectations and how they weigh on women.

There were several short poems in this piece, mixed in with longer poetry and short stories. Short poetry is style that I really like, and I appreciate that the book had a good mixture so that the book wasn’t just pages and pages of short poems. That can often feel a little cheap, especially if the price of the book is high.

This one had a lot of great interpretations, but some fell flat for me. The writing was always good, even though the ideas themselves seemed a little underdeveloped. I’ve seen a lot of takes where Sleeping Beauty was very happy with the dragon or was the dragon, so the pieces about that didn’t really feel fresh to me.

On the whole, I enjoyed this collection and would read more Nikita Gill.

3/5

Oh my. Some of these poems really spoke to me. I wanted to share some of the bravery and strength quotes with my friends. A few of the stories were not for me, but overall, I really enjoyed this collection. The recurring themes of feminism, strength, and saving yourself are so important for women to remember. You are the univere's fairytale come true.

Fierce Fairytales is a beautiful collection of retellings of stories that we all know so well. Nikita Gill puts such an interesting twist to it that it sometimes makes it even more interesting than the original. Although the poems and prose are about fairy tales, the writing does speak to the readers and relate to present times. I found it a really enjoyable read and absolutely loved the drawings that accompanied the stories. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy an interesting new take and interpretation of our childhood fairytales.

Fierce Fairytales is a collection of poems and short stories that are mostly good, but occaisionally fall flat.

I really enjoyed the poems in this book; they had strong messages about not only feminism, but also other issues such as abuse. The first poems were the best, in my opinion-- they definetely started this collection on a high note. Unfortunately, it was the short stories that I didn't enjoy as much. The retellings of fairytales to be "edgy" have been done too many times in many other novels. The way that the fairytales were rewritten to include struggles of some of the characters, such as Wendy from Peter Pan being put in a mental institution, was a little too farfetched for me. Otherwise, the collection as a whole was well-written and fun to read.

Fierce Fairytales was okay; I've read better poetry collections, but I still enjoyed this collection as a whole. I reccommend this book if you enjoy retellings or just poetry in general.