I love folktales and this is such a wonderful collection. I'd heard versions of some of these before but a lot of them were brand new to me. One actually reminded me of cassette tape I had growing up that had a version of one of these stories that I LOVED, and now I'm hoping that tape is still in a box somewhere and I can go find it and listen to it.

As with all anthology collections, some of the stories resonated more than others and a few didn't connect at all, but overall I really enjoyed this and would recommend it!

A very informative collection of folktales, one that reminds you of the Folk. Always will read and be reassured about the best ways to handle an unwanted marriage or a curse.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

I love reading books like this and this one was no different. I enjoyed the way the tales were told and the imagery that was included. I think what I liked most about this book was that these folktales are ones that I haven't heard or read before, so I didn't know what was coming next as I do with other more well-known folktales.

Rating 4

I loved reading this book! I was not familiar with majority of the stories so it was fun reading them for the first time. They were told in such a good way I do not feel as though I missed out on any critical details. I read this book in October and it was fitting! It become part of my nightly routine to read some before bed. Just like the synopsis claims, these stories are eerie but so interesting. I think this book is perfect for anyone who wants a book that is filled with intriguing stories that leave you wanting more. I would definitely recommend this book.

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *

Rich and strange, these eerie and magical folktales from across Britain and Ireland have been passed down from generation to generation, and are gathered together in a definitive new collection from the master storyteller and winner of the Carnegie Medal, Kevin Crossley-Holland. Dark and funny, lyrical and earthy, these fifty stories are part of an important and enduring historical tradition that dates back hundreds of years.

I received a digital ARC via Netgalley of this book though all thoughts are my own.

This was a fascinating collection of stories that were inspired by various tales throughout the U.K. Some of the stories were changed a bit to have a more modern feel, some were long and others were short which was a way to keep me on my toes.

I also appreciate the research that is mentioned towards the end of the book such as the name of the original tales (or close to what is considered the original), the location of the tales and other interesting information.

If you enjoy a variety of different fairy tales, I recommend checking out this book which also includes many pictures.

I love collections of fine folktales like these. I have heard some of them before, but never mind reading them again! And sometimes the tales are told even better than when I heard or read them before. Lots of great tales in this book. I'll add it to my collection! I am sure anyone interested in British and Irish tales will enjoy these stories,

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book! It is currently in-progress as it’s the sort of ‘creepy’ story I don’t like to read at night- but what I’ve read is certainly enjoyable!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

This bunch of stories and dark mystical tales really gives you an otherworldly sense of magic
the illustrations in the story really pull you into he characters and the setting.
I even had the pleasure of checking out the audio book since it's already out and I really had a lot of fun listening to it as well.

It reminded me of how I felt when I was younger reading Alice in Wonderland!

If you like random spooky folktales this is the book for you!

While this is an interesting and very comprehensive collection of tales, I think I was expecting something slightly more academic, with sources and discussions. Without this historical framing and cultural discussion, a lot of the stories just seem sexist and creepy - and not creepy in the way I think they were intended.

These eerie, fun, slightly unnerving tales are interesting and well written. I enjoyed how different they are from each other.

As Albert Einstein said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."
While fairy tales are often shoved onto the kiddie-shelves of our houses and minds, nothing reminds you of just how universal, meaningful, and beautiful fairy tales can be like a collection like this one. These are no tales for the childish and faint of heart--yet I believe they're wonderful for both children and adults. They help us grow. They remind us of what it means to be human, to strive toward good and fight evil, to win battles through bravery and kindness and compassion. They are not for the faint of heart--but perhaps they are a good panacea for the fainting of heart.
Getting specific, of course I liked some of these fairy tales more than others. My very favorite was "The Dead Moon," which was delightfully creepy--even terrifying at moments--but could probably sustain a college thesis or two with the depth of its meaning and symbolism. Crossley-Holland's writing brings that--and all the other tales--to life with vivid descriptions, beautiful language, and a fair dose of much-appreciated humor.

This collection is a nice blending of folktales I've heard before, as well as new ones. I am a teacher of British Literature, so I specifically reviewed this text from an educator's perspective. I ended up very connected with the heritage represented, since it is that of my own!

It is organized thematically, magic, legends, faeries/little people, passion & love, tricks and ghosts.

The stories are retellings of the originals, and the author does well at his own version while staying true to the stories, at least the ones I was previously familiar with.

I will utilize this as an outside resource for students as we approach various time periods within British Literary history.

The text also features simplistic artwork to collaborate with the tales. This can be expressly useful in a classroom to prompt thinking and creativity within the classroom prior (or after) readings of the tales.

Overall, I will use this as a resource in my classroom.

Between Worlds is a collection of British and Irish folktales, some of which I know well, others I’ve never heard of, and quite a few that have the feel of the known but are different enough that they aren’t quite the story I know. Some of the stories had mixed several versions together, or some had just been translated and untouched. It was an extremely enjoyable read, and was nice to dip in and out of, especially due to the sections of the book which grouped together different themes, such as ghosts, in a thoughtful way.
The prose found in ‘Between Worlds’ is straightforward, with no fluff. These tales are written as they would have been told by a fireside, shared through the generations instead of reinvented in the way many of these stories have been over the years. While this is charming in it’s way, it did mean that some of the stories felt they were lacking in a way, as there wasn’t much in the way of embellishment. This meant some of the shorter stories felt like they were missing some additional content or explanations, but the longer stories benefited from this style a lot more.
As with all short story collections, I had my favourites, some which made me not want to put the book down, and others where my interest waned a little, but not enough to lose interest. However, this isn’t the book’s fault at all - it covers many kinds of stories with different subject matters, meaning that this is a varied collection and every story was of course not going to be my cup of tea.
This is a lovely book to start an interest in folktales, as it covers many of the well known ones, and references the sources at the end of the book, which was a brilliant addition. It also had an explanation about the story sources too, alternate names and what has been changed about the stories. This means it’s perfect if you’re starting out your collection, as it has a nice mount of detail, and shows a lot of love and care went into making this collection. The inclusion of these notes at the end of the book made it more special in my opinion!

Folktales are magical portals to the past, passed down from generation to generation. Magical beings, morality lessons, social commentary, legends, tales of heroes, revenge, evil....there's a little bit of everything in folktales. I'm especially fond of tales from Ireland and Britain.....it's in my DNA. Plus it's the perfect time of year to enjoy some old tales of strange, eerie and legendary happenings. And, this book delivers! Great stories! Awesome illustrations!

I read this book slowly, savoring each of the 50 stories. I like to take my time with story collections, even when they are short. I read the stories one at a time and let them soak in....making the book last. I thoroughly enjoyed each story. And I've ordered a physical copy of this book for my keeper shelf. I will be re-reading this one!

The stories are separated by theme -- magic, legends, faeries/little people, passion & love, tricks and ghosts. My favorite tale in the book is King of the Cats. That's been a favorite story of mine for a very long time, and the author did a great job with his version. My favorite section is of course the ghost story portion. I love ghostly stories, and Kevin Crossley-Holland picked some good ones to include!

A very enjoyable reading experience! This is the first book by Kevin Crossley-Holland that I've read. He's written many books including one about Norse Myths. I'm definitely going to be reading more of his work! The illustrations by Frances Castle in this book are awesome and showcase the folktales perfectly! The book's front cover is perfect as well.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this story collection from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Kevin Crossley-Holland’s Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland is filled with fascinating tales of magic and fantasy. I enjoyed this collection of brief and interesting short stories. But, a few tales are disjointed and meandering. I like Frances Castle’s simple art but I wish it was more interesting.

These eerie and magical folktales from Britain and Ireland are populated with kings and queens, princes and princesses, as well as crafty commonfolk, giants, ghosts, and faeries. Some particularly memorable tales include The Dauntless Girl (young Mary who fears nothing—especially not ghosts—and who is greatly rewarded in the end,) and The Green Children (which tells the story of two green children who struggle to adapt to a new world).

Most of the stories are prose but there are a few interesting lyrical verses. Some tales are grim and dark, others are funny, and some are light and uplifting. Most of these stories are memorable, well-written, and nicely concise. They also feature universally applicable situations and a healthy dose of morality.

However, a few tales are too long and disjointed. Some parts can also be a bit confusing and I wish certain things were written more clearly. Crossley-Holland also includes some super short pieces that aren’t really stories and I’m not sure about the necessity of their inclusion in the collection.
I appreciate the inclusion of a pronunciation guide because I never know how to properly say some of these names! I also love that there is a notes and sources section so I can read more about my favourite folktales.

Frances Castle’s simple but effective black and white artwork nicely complements the darkness and eeriness of these folktales. However, I do wish the art was more interesting and more specific to the stories because it can be a little generic.

Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland is a fascinating folktale collection filled with magic and adventure. It is a great addition to any library. While many of the stories can appeal to middle-grade readers, I think this book is more suited to adults who are interested in research or literature.



🧚🧚🧚 ½ faeries out of 5!

While I enjoyed reading lots of tales, this book came to a point where it was just too many of them, some of them being longer than others, and I think only a few will stay in my mind in over a month. But it was nice how they were classed by themes (ghosts, magic, adventures, love, etc).

A varied and interesting collection of tales, some more familiar than others, Between Worlds by Kevin Crossley=Holland takes the reader on a journey of adventure and whimsy, Along the way we meet fairies and giants, monsters and knights and travel all over the islands of Ireland and Britain. Some of the stories are funny, some designed to frighten, but all are told in a lyrical yet concise manner. Dotted among the prose are some stories told in verse and it is clear that the author has done his research,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.