A Haunting Retelling of Gretel and Her Demons

summarizeEditor's Summary

I was desperate for a light, easy read to shake off the post-holiday blues, and this retelling of Gretel and her demons delivered. The authors' fresh take on a classic tale hooked me from the start. The writing's engaging, and the characters are well-developed. My only gripe is that the pacing could be faster in some places. Overall, this is a solid choice for fans of fantasy and retellings.

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Kararİyi

OyunDili9/10

GrafikKalitesi7/10

HikayeKalitesi8/10

A Haunting Retelling of Gretel and Her Demons

Hello everyone!

I've been drowning in business books for the past few weeks, and January's not exactly the best month for a smooth transition into work mode. I just want to escape into a light, easy read that won't blow my mind.

And, completely by chance, I stumbled upon a familiar title with a new twist in Yandex Books – a retelling of the classic Grimm brothers' "Gretel and Her Demons".

Retelling is a genre of literature where writers reimagine popular stories that are familiar to most readers.

I was intrigued to see how this retelling would play out, so I dove in.

So, let's get into the details.

Here's the main information:

Genre: Fantasy Authors: Herman and Tamara Rylskie Year of publication: 2023 Number of pages: I read it in the app on my phone, 350 pages. Age restrictions: 16+

Blurb:

A small town called Marbach hasn't changed its appearance in the past few hundred years. The surrounding forest no longer scares the locals, but the tales of the terrifying witch's house have kept them at bay.

Gretel lives on the outskirts of Marbach, hiding from the ghosts of her past. Ten years ago, she and her brother were trapped in a real-life hell. Now, the young woman has agreed to tell a journalist her story, unraveling the threads of her memory with the help of a psychologist.

She'll have to remember everything. And, most importantly, face the truth: once, in the forest, the children were hunted by the witch, demons, a headless Jack, and even their own mother.

The story's non-linear, with two time periods: 1909, when the incident with the gingerbread house occurred, and 1919, ten years later, when the familiar Greta from our childhood is asked to share the REAL version of events.

I'll describe the plotlines in each of these time periods without any spoilers.

The story starts in 1919, and it's a real page-turner. Conrad Lenz, a writer who's suddenly found himself at the top of his game, rolls into town looking for inspiration for his next big novel.

This guy's been at it for a long time, and it looks like he's not planning on stopping anytime soon. He's the most successful and brutal killer in history, with one major exception: when he let you and your brother slip through his fingers ten years ago.

Lenz needs a survivor to tell the story – a living, breathing witness. But there's a catch: Ganzel's been mum ever since, and Greta's memories have been warped by her own fragile psyche.

The truth was so monstrous, so devastating, that your mind barely coped. And to protect you, it replaced the real images with fairy tales.

Lenz is willing to do whatever it takes, so he offers Greta a chance to work with the best shrink of the time and finally remember what really happened.

The story jumps back and forth between the present and the past, taking us back to 1909, ten years before the events of the main story.

We meet Greta and Ganzel as kids, living on the outskirts of Marbach with their father, a simple lumberjack.

It was always hit or miss when it came to my mom's mood. One day she'd be whipping up a storm in the kitchen and doing laundry, and the next she'd be sitting by the window all day, mumbling to herself.

But there was one day when my siblings and I felt like we'd hit rock bottom. We were so desperate that we had no choice but to run away into the ominous old forest.

The forest held many secrets and mysteries, including the famous gingerbread house.

The old forest, which was the subject of all sorts of creepy stories, didn't seem so intimidating this time around.

My siblings and I would need to dig deep and find the strength, courage, and wit to make it back home...

The main protagonist, and the only one to retain this position in both parts of the story, is Gretel.

This is a young girl from a poor family on the outskirts of town who's had to grow up way too fast.

Gretel used to lie awake for hours, lost in thought, wondering why her mom hated her.

It's a terrifying feeling to live in constant fear of the people who're supposed to protect you.

That's why Gretel's mental state eventually starts to fray.

When I was 11, I developed a habit of secretly cutting myself, slicing my left wrist lightly.

After a really scary incident, my siblings and I had to come up with a system to alert each other.

They never once discussed the incident that made me cut myself with a razor.

Given the severity of our situation, all the other problems seemed pretty minor and easily solvable.

Mom wasn't shy about saying she hated us.

At some point, our problems converged to form an unbreakable circle, leaving us with no choice.

The dark forest I had to venture into, and get out of, with my brother in tow.

Honestly, hell's not as scary as people make it out to be...

What actually happened in the forest, and why my mind keeps replacing those memories with something else, is something I'll have to revisit 10 years later with hypnosis.

The story's got a good mix of action, suspense, and emotional depth.

It's not perfect, but it's a decent retelling that adds some new facets to the classic characters.

I'd recommend it as a casual evening read.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What's the genre of this book?

A Haunting Retelling of Gretel and her Demons is a fantasy novel that reimagines the classic Grimm brothers' tale.

Who are the authors of this book?

The authors of this book are Herman and Tamara Rylskie.

How many pages does this book have?

The book has 350 pages, but I read it on my phone app, so the page count wasn't a major concern for me.

Is this book suitable for all ages?

While this book is generally suitable for readers of all ages, some of the themes and content may be more suitable for older readers or those who are comfortable with fantasy and retellings.

What's the story about?

The story is a retelling of the classic Grimm brothers' tale, with a fresh and unique spin that hooked me from the start.

Is this book part of a series?

No, this book is a standalone novel and not part of a series.

What's the tone of this book?

The tone of this book is generally light and easy, making it a great choice for readers looking for a fun and engaging read.

Is this book available in other formats?

Yes, this book is available in paperback and e-book formats, although I read it on my phone app.

check_circlePros

•The authors' unique spin on the classic tale is a total game-changer.
•The writing's engaging and easy to follow, making it a great read.
•The characters are well-developed and relatable – I loved them!
•The fantasy elements are seamlessly integrated into the story.
•The pacing is generally good, with some exciting plot twists that kept me guessing.
•The themes of identity and self-discovery are super timely and thought-provoking.

cancelCons

•The pacing could be faster in some places, making it feel a bit slow at times.
•Some of the supporting characters feel a bit one-dimensional – I wish they'd been fleshed out more.
•The world-building could be more detailed and immersive – it felt a bit lacking.
•The ending feels a bit rushed and convenient – I wanted more closure.
•The themes of trauma and abuse are handled sensitively, but could be explored further.
•The book could benefit from a stronger sense of tension and conflict – it felt a bit flat at times.