Stiltskin by Andrew Buckley is by far one of the odds books I have read. Mix some Monty Python, snarky come-backs, mash-ups of fairy tales, and imagine the author being high while writing the book (although I am sure he wasn't but don't go by the book). It is so bizarre it works. I can't even begin to describe it, but now I know where the decorative lawn gnomes come from, how fairies have sex, and where to get therapy for it after I have seen them doing it. ( )

"To be honest, I don't find you physically attractive, you're not bred from the best stock, you're very gangly, you don't say the right thing, and taking into account all the evidence, it seems like you are going mad.

That's the kind of romance in this book. It's a take on a different world that I loved. There is Othaside (normal world) and Thiside. I love how the world's are entwined and our reality of fairy tales aren't what really happened. It's so fun reading this book.


Now that dang ending just left me wanting so much more. Andrew Buckley-please get your arse to work on the sequel to this damn book.


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Recensione su: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-ni
Review at: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-ni ( )

Robert Darkly is having a bad day. He lost his job, his girlfriend broke up with him, and his landlady is pissed off at him. Now there's a Dwarf in his bathtub who seems to know him. What is going on?

Vivid and multi-layered descriptions and mysteries fill the narrative creating an intense, enjoyable world(s). To a degree, the frequently interspersed humor is reminiscent of Douglas Adams.

Characters are unique, varied, humorous, with dark moments, histories, and/or genetics.

Overall, a fun read. ( )

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Curiosity Quills.

Rumpelstiltskin has been imprisoned in the Tower for years and years. Now, somehow he has escaped and he’s on a mission to finish the dastardly deed he started so many years ago. But first, he has to pass a message to the Mad Hatter’s son, Robert Darkly who doesn’t live in Thiside with the rest of the weird and dark fairy tale denizens. Robert lives in Othaside or as we call it, normal reality. However, Robert’s life hasn’t exactly been normal though he has no idea why. Well, his journey to discovering who he really is starts with a very rude dwarf in his bathtub.

An entertaining fairy tale retelling that is not warm and fuzzy. The entities in the so-called fairy tales are nothing like what is written in Othaside, I mean, our reality. They are very very different. I had fun trying to guess which person (we’ll say person here even though there are animals, dwarves, gnomes and other weirdos) matched which story. Robert Darkly is a bit of a dweeb. But he’s a likeable dweeb and following him around while he’s following around Lily and two gnomes was quite entertaining. Especially when he starts talking to a voice in his head. Well, apparently he’s not the Mad Hatter’s son for nothing. The ending is left a bit up in the air and I’m peeved I didn’t get to find out who Robert’s mother was. I also have an almost uncontrollable urge to go buy a garden gnome for my front yard. Maybe I’ll just watch some of the Travelocity YouTube videos until the urge passes. ( )