The vast majority of story collections by their nature vary in relative strength from piece to piece. I’m always happy when I fully enjoy more than half of the stories and thrilled if that hits three-quarters. Well, there are seven stories total in White Cat, Black Dog, Kelly Link’s newest collection in which she brings her trademark style to a series of retold fairy tales, and of the seven I only disliked one, while the others ranged from really good to great. If I carry the one, multiply by pi, and solve for X, I’m pretty sure that’s better than three-quarters. So yeah, thrilled.

Though these are retellings, one certainly needn’t be familiar with the source material to enjoy them. I recognized most but not all and didn’t feel any sense of loss for those that were new to me beyond the enjoyment of seeing an author’s originality in bringing a classic tale brought into a new environment. Pretty near the full panoply of fairy tales makes it appearance: talking animals, quests, family relationships (fathers and sons, stepmothers), barriers to true love that need to be overcome, curses, talismans, and more, though rather than the usual woods and cottages we get suburbs and mountain towns and non-straight love and airplanes and sci-fi settings. And as noted, they nearly all work.

My favorite, though it’s tough to pick amongst two or three, is probably “The White Road”, set in a post-apocalyptic world through which the titular road travels, walked by mysterious and ravenous creatures who can only be deterred by the presence of a corpse. It’s a wonderful set-up that Link perfectly exploits to its fullest potential for tension, suspense, and emotionality. “The Game of Smash and Recovery” was another highlight, this one set in a science-fictional universe albeit one that is highly localized. It’s an odd situation (based on Hansel and Gretel), and it takes the reader a bit to get their bearings, especially as it makes use of familiar words (Handmaids, Vampires, and such) for things that aren’t all that familiar. While one might assume the oddness and far-future setting could create a distancing effect, the story packs a surprisingly powerful emotional punch. Finally, there’s “Skinder’s Veil”, about a grad student who takes over a house-sitting job for a friend called away for an emergency. The owner of the house has but two rules: let in anyone who comes to the back door and never letter Skinder himself in. The queue of characters tromping up to that back door makes for a wonderfully playful tale, one full of whimsy but never overly so.

The only story I didn’t care for was “The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear” which has a horror tinge to it that was fine but which felt meandering and surprisingly flat; otherwise the rest, while not quite as strong as the three above, were all quite good and enjoyable in their own fashion with their own strengths. What remains consistent through all of them is Link’s craft: a wry voice, smooth prose, smart dialogue, an eye for the just-off detail, a startling turn of phrase or use of word choice, and a sense that she sees the world slightly differently than the rest of us. All of which makes a new Link collection something to jump into and revel in.

4.5 stars. An extraordinary collection of fairy-tale-"inspired" stories -- I use quotes there because for the most part, while each story is subtitled with the name of a fairy- or folk-tale, their relationship to the story in question is tenuous to the point of nonexistence. The one real exception is the first story ("The White Cat's Divorce"), and after reading it and looking up the plot of the source story I was afraid I'd miss out on something by not knowing the inspirations for most of the ensuing stories in the collection -- I tend to find part of the point of modern "re-imaginings" of classic tales is knowing what the author is changing. But that's not really an issue here. The one story I actually knew the source for (Hansel and Gretel) is wholly unidentifiable in Link's version, a really crackling science fiction story called "The Game of Smash and Recovery." That one and the final story in the collection, "Skinder's Veil" (in theory based on Snow-White and Rose-Red) were the standouts, but most of the stories are quite good. I was impressed by the general atmosphere of each: they tend to be quite dreamy and preternatural, giving you the same sort of impression of "I'm losing something in translation here, otherwise why is this story so weird" that many old fairy tales do.

White Cat, Black Dog from Random House Publishing Group - Random House

Easily one of the best short story collections I have read in ages. Each story is consistently both good and strange, filling haunting little liminal spaces and following me throughout the day. I’m a fairy-retelling addict and these hit the spot.

Favorites marked with an *

The White Cat’s Divorce -
I laughed aloud at the title (it’s funny on its own, but I’ve been reading Erha, by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou and somehow the wording hit me in the hilarity.) anyways. This is a fascinating story that mixes classic fairy tale trope (man sets his three sons on an unlikely task, which the youngest excels at in unlikely ways) with commentary on the grotesque over-wealth of billionaires and as it gets going you think you know what kind of story you’re reading—when suddenly talking scientist cats are growing fancy pot and maybe you don’t really know at all.

*Prince Hat Underground - “Gary’s not even a word. Well, ‘garish,’ I suppose.” And then, for a while, Prince Hat refers to everything Gary habitually does as “garish.” It’s irritating and so after a day or two Gary goes and looks up the meaning of his name.” Also I love everything about this bizarre love story

*The White Road - an unsettling post-apocalyptic nightmare, with a fae atmosphere. Creeped me right the heck out.

*The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear - that empty hotel swimming pool is a whole mood.

The Game of Smash and Recovery - What parts of yourself can you lose and still be yourself?

***The Lady and the Fox - I experienced *emotions* about the embroidery.

Skinder’s Veil - Much to think about.

Until recently I had never heard of adult modern fairytales and having read a few I can honestly say this anthology by Kelly Link is by far my favorite. From a lovers search for his print hat, the white cats divorce and many others I was thoroughly entertained by each one and although some or way better than others they are all worth reading you can tell the author has a love for fairytales because only one who’s Dory invested in the topic could do such a great job with a debit imagination and lots of varied topics you’ll definitely find something to love in the white cat black dog by Kelly link. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The thing about Kelly Link is she never misses. White Cat, Black Dog is Kelly Link doing Kelly Link and being just incredible. As is true with most collections, some of the stories work better than others, but the combination of them makes for a really strong outing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want a vocabulary workout while you read modernized obscure fairy tales?

Pre-reading:
I loved her first collection of short stories. The cover for this is so cute.

Thick of it:
acrimonious

Old white man satire is a fave of mine.

Oh, I’ve read a fairytale like this. Was it about horses? (I cannot find it for the life of me.)

I mean satirical, but what was the point? 2/5
————————————

Indolent

amanuensis

omakase

louche

quartier

makový koláček

Spoor

doggerel

exhortations

Why like urine?

coruscating

priapic

capering

ballast

ersatz

comestibles

hoi polloi

This one is so crass.

pique

seneschal

Did nothing for me. 2/5
—————————————-

librettos

charnel

2/5 I’m not liking any of these.
——————————————-

Mass Mass Mass

hyperosmia

This one is interesting, but very confusing 3/5 is she miscarrying?
—————————

propitiatory

Are they in a Home Depot?

I guess they’re in space?

That story made no sense. I don’t know what happened. I’m too stupid for it. I guess. 1/5 I don’t understand. How is this Hansel and Gretel at all?
———————————-

justaucorps

inviolate

This one’s romantic. I like this one. Please don’t make me hate it.

gabardine

Oh, I really like this one.

puissance-I only know the horse sport lol

Aww, that was super romantic. It almost reminded me of the nutcracker 4/5
——————————————

putative

I like that one. That was strange and interesting 4/5

Post-reading:
I thought I would really like this because I love Kelly Link’s writing but I didn’t like or understand most of the stories in this collection. I liked the last two. Those were fun. I would’ve taken a whole fleshed-out book about Frenny and Skinder. I feel like I read a different book from everyone else leaving glowing reviews. The divorce story just existed for me. It didn’t feel like it had any resolution. I hated the Prince Hat story. The White Road didn’t feel threatening enough. The fear story I enjoyed, but it was hard to understand everything that happened in it. I didn’t get the Hansel and Gretel story at all. I don’t see how it’s even marginally like the fairy tale. Enjoyed the fox and Skinder stories, but I wouldn’t say I loved them. I wouldn’t read this book just for the last two stories. Link can write, and write well. I just didn’t like the content of most of these.

Who should read this:
Grimm fairytale fans
Fairytale retelling fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* Amor and Psycho: Stories by Carolyn Cooke-short story collection that feels offbeat and sleazy and a smidge pointless
* Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link-more of her short stories
* A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow-fairytale retellings

Kelly Link is one of my favorite authors, so I jumped at the chance to get an advanced look at this book through NetGalley. Link's writing hits that perfect weird "dark fairytale" vibe so well, and this collection of short stories is exactly that. I wasn't crazy about the first story, "The White Cat's Divorce," but I absolutely devoured the rest. The standouts in this collection for me are definitely "Prince Hat Underground," "The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear," and "Skinder's Veil." Link's best work is done when there is a small morsel of tenderness amongst the weirdness to pull you in, as she does particularly well in "Prince Hat Underground" and "The Lady and the Fox." This is probably my favorite of Link's work since Get In Trouble.

Kelly Link has a way with words, and this collection is no different. Not every story worked perfectly for me, and that's ok. I still absolutely loved some of these stories and consider this a 5 star collection. There's something in here for everyone. Link's writing style is just so easy to latch onto and enjoy, and her characters felt relatable (cats or not). Great collection, and I'll continue to read everything she writes!

White Cat, Black Dog's stories feel like they came fully formed out of the same strange forest that released the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wilde's weird fairy tales. Funny, strange and gorgeous beyond belief, this collection is a modern wonder I can't wait to share!

My first time to read from this author and actually I enjoyed the collection of the story. Never expected in terms of the theme because I thought its about animals. The combination of fantasy-literature in this book will capture your imagination and some little lessons about life.

Overall I enjoyed this book and will try to read her other books.


3.7/5 stars

Another great collection from Kelly Link. Her stories are always unique, interesting, and great to read. My favorites this time were The White Cat's Divorce and Skinder's Veil. Can't wait for more collection from Kelly Link. #WhiteCatBlackDog #NetGalley

Not to be too flippant, but this has big wtf did I just read energy. The stories are incredibly well written, but at no point did I have any clue what was going on. Also the description does not accurately explain how eerie and at times absolutely terrifying almost all of these stories are. None were outright horror, but I felt unsettled all the same. I think I’d like it more if I had more interest in non-traditional fantasy or horror, since it’s incredibly written, but because not I’m sticking with a three.

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!!

Kelly Link is now right up there with my favorite authors. This was a masterpiece in storytelling. A retelling of seven grimdark fairytales that kept me completely spellbound.

I love the cats. I love the connection I felt throughout all these stories. I loved the imagery, the dark and beautiful pictures this author painted. I loved everything! I literally have zero complaints. This was brilliant, and I know I'm going to be thinking back on these tales.

I cannot recommend this enough!

Out March 28, 2023!

A decent collection. As usual with short story collections there were a few I loved, and some that I found to be just so-so. All easily readable though. A strange retelling of some well known fairytales. Pretty much exactly what I expected from Kelly Link.

3.8 Stars
One Liner: An interesting collection of weird fairytale retellings (may not work for everyone)

The title of the original fairytale is mentioned with the story’s title. However, I don’t remember most of these and decided not to look them up. This allowed me to read each story as a standalone piece rather than a retelling. I feel this enhanced my reading experience for most stories.
The plots of most stories reveal gradually and ease the reader into the settings. While all of them are not atmospheric, some sure make an impact. Even the characters are diverse, and a few of them are quite unlikeable. Yet, the package delivers satisfactory results.
I rate the stories individually, so here it goes:

The White Cat's Divorce: An aging billionaire sends his three sons on a wild goose chase, promising them to name an heir. This one starts with a light, sarcastic touch and grows into a heartwarming tale (with some action and drama thrown into the mix). It is creative, cute in certain places, and ends up as a satisfying read. 4.5 stars

Prince Hat Underground: What does Gary do when his long-time partner and husband, the enigmatic Prince Hat, walks away? It’s the journey of a man into the otherworld, intent on getting his love back. Will he succeed? This story is long and detailed. I love the changing settings and Gary’s varying emotions. 4.5 stars

The White Road: Umm… this is the story of a man from a traveling company and his recollections of how the white road has taken over regions. The narration starts with a little rambling but establishes the narrator’s voice and character arc. The plot is a little too vague to understand the setting. It seems like a mix of dystopian and historical. I’d have liked it more if there was some additional information about the inhabitants of the white road. The atmosphere was spot-on, though. 3 stars

The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear: A professor returning home from an official trip is stranded at an airport hotel for days. She needs to go home to her wife and little kid and be there in time for an appointment. Her mental health issues make the trip much hard, and the return journey has something in store for her. I have mixed feeling about this one. It kind of deals with some issues, but the ending doesn’t offer much. I’m left wondering what the purpose of the story is. 2.5 stars

The Game of Smash and Recovery: A brother cares for his little sister and brings her up in the absence of their parents. They live with the Handmaids and vampires. Soon it’s time for the sister to complete the game and find out the truth. I knew the original but had a hard time relating it with the retellings. However, this one is imaginative and creative, even when I felt detached and bored most of the time. This is probably the weakest story in the collection (for me). 2 stars

The Lady and the Fox: Miranda is eleven when she sees a stranger outside the Honeywell home on a Christmas night. She is intrigued by his jacket and the embroidery of a trapped fox. Years fly by, and Christmas becomes synonymous with the stranger for Miranda. Where does this lead her? This is a heartwarming story in the typical fairytale style. While it doesn’t provide answers to certain questions, it ends on a positive note. I like Miranda’s arc the best. 4 stars

Skinder's Veil: Andy needs to complete his dissertation but is finding it hard to focus when his friend offers him a chance to be a home-sitter in the middle of a remote place. This comes with rules, which Andy discovers only after he goes there. However, learns a lot more that helps in the most unexpected ways. This one takes time to settle but is an intriguing and complex story. It reads as if someone half-bored with life has written it. However, the reason for this style reveals itself towards the end. Another favorite story in the collection. I know the original tale, though I think, I’m more likely to remember this weird retelling. 4.5 stars

To summarize, White Cat, Black Dog is an entertaining collection of stories, which, IMHO, should be read as standalone and not retellings. Pick it up if you like strange stories.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WhiteCatBlackDog

"Seven ingeniously reinvented fairy tales that play out with astonishing consequences in the modern world, from one of today's finest short story writers - MacArthur "Genius Grant" fellow Kelly Link, bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Get in Trouble.

Featuring illustrations by award-winning artist Shaun Tan.

Finding seeds of inspiration in the Brothers Grimm, seventeenth-century French lore, and Scottish ballads, Kelly Link spins classic fairy tales into utterly original stories of seekers - characters on the hunt for love, connection, revenge, or their own sense of purpose.

In "The White Cat's Divorce," an aging billionaire sends his three sons on a series of absurd goose chases to decide which child will become his heir. In "The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear," a professor with a delicate health condition becomes stranded for days in an airport hotel after a conference, desperate to get home to her wife and young daughter, and in acute danger of being late for an appointment that cannot be missed. In "Skinder's Veil," a young man agrees to take over a remote house-sitting gig for a friend. But what should be a chance to focus on his long-avoided dissertation instead becomes a wildly unexpected journey, as the house seems to be a portal for otherworldly travelers - or perhaps a door into his own mysterious psyche.

Twisting and turning in astonishing ways, expertly blending realism and the speculative, witty, empathetic, and never predictable - these stories remind us once again of why Kelly Link is incomparable in the realm of short fiction."

I'm not the biggest fan of short fiction, but Kelly Link is always an exception to any rule.

These stories were everything I hoped and more! Amazing.. This will be a book club pick for my book club to discuss in April because we have been waiting a unique story collection.

Like any collection, there are hits and misses. I won't enumerate the misses, but will instead focus on some of the hits. Fantasy not being one of my go-to's, I admit to a certain reluctance to the genre, but these witty, and in some cases, haunting modernized fairy tales held me. Kelly Link's ability to weave atmospheric spells overrode my basic pragmatic attitude, and made me curious to read others she has written.

It's been quite sometime since I read a collection of Kelly Link's stories and picking up White Cat, Black Dog was like settling in with a weird and wonderful old friend. My favorites were Skinder's Veil, The Lady and the Fox, and The White Road.

White Cat Black Dog is an enjoyable puzzle box of stories where Kelly Link turns her dizzying imagination to the world of familiar fairy tales. As I've always found with Link, the strength of these stories lies in how they manage to combine truly bizarre elements with every day, relatable problems. Naturally, fairy tales which are famous for bringing magic and curses to themes as universal as growing up and dealing with families are a good fit for this writer. I enjoyed the way the ghosts of these tales stuck with me, and I kept finding myself thinking and wondering about these stories and the images inside for days after I finished them.

These stories are wildly imaginative, yet they remain plotted stories and never veer off to the realm of prose poem. Link's pieces do tend to unfold slowly and make the reader work to figure them out. In some of her tales I'm left wondering if I indeed caught everything or if there is something left hidden on the page that I managed to miss.

Even the stories that have near hallucinatory qualities retain a grounded core that helps keep them relatable. "Skinder's Veil" may deal with doppelgangers, animal guests, and Death personified, but it also has a main character who desperately needs to meet a deadline for work but who also struggles with procrastination and the paralysis that can envelope us all when faced with an important task. "The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear" which follows a lady trapped by flight cancellations is suddenly even more timely in light of the recent travel nightmares faced by air travelers. That sense of loss of control in a travel situation is something I think will resonate with most people and I found it grounded the more fantastical elements of the story very well and added to its success. I will admit that while I was suspecting the ultimate twist fairly early in the story, I was a bit slow to catch on to the fact that this world seemed to be <spoiler> populated entirely by women. </spoiler>

"The Lady and the Fox" was a piece that worked very well for me, though it did not have as many obscure layers and unanswerable questions as the other stories. I thought the characters seemed much more sharply drawn and the relationship between Miranda and Michael was very believable and pointedly real which allowed the fantastic elements to shine more in what I found to be the most grounded story in the collection. I also enjoyed that the rich and powerful Elspeth was actually allowed to have a personality beyond "wealthy woman." She really did get some great lines there at the end!

I did find myself wishing that some of the stories reflected the fairy tales they were working with a bit more. One of the things that most excited me about this collection was the idea of old stories told by way of Kelly Link and I would have appreciated seeing a few more of those elements developed more explicitly. While "Skinder's Veil" and "The White Road" are two of my favorites from the collection, I had really hoped to find a few more familiar elements from traditional tales reflected in them.

I think this is a collection that rewards readers who enjoy working at stories to uncover their layers and twists and who can appreciate the off the wall and bizarre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.