Welcome to Litsy!

Just keep in mind these fairytale retellings are not for kids, they are the stories of a survivor that sees them through the prisma of abuse. They tell stories of domestic abuse, rape, alcoholic parents, eating disorders... Let the evil that abusive men throw into the world come back to hunt them, in the form of a princess warrior that defeats them, or in the form of a villain that has been broken too many times and seeks revenge. ⬇️

#PoetryMatters Day 28: #Throne

#unpopularopinion but I didn‘t love this collection. It felt more like a tumblr feed on Disney hot takes than anything else, and while there were a few good moments I was underwhelmed with the whole. I LOVED Great Goddesses (last September, actually, looks like it‘s becoming a tradition), and I‘m glad I found it first because I don‘t know that I would read more if this were my first Gill.

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this collection. I felt every moment of it.

I loved this. Absolutely loved it and I am not typically a fan of poetry. It‘s a collection of poems that give a feminist cast to traditional fairytales. They are rhythmic and empowering, beautiful and emotional. The audiobook is perfectly narrated by the author. One of the poems is titled “Question the Fairytale” and that‘s one of the things this collection does very well - powerful new perspectives and POVs.

#PoetryMatters Day 5: #Queen

🦋Words of wisdom🦋
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#listy #books #booksquote #words #reads #reader #she

This book is like a delicious soft and creamy chocolate to indulge yourself with over a cup of coffee.
Stories in verses emanating magic spells to heal the wounds of the soul, of both heroes and villains, and fairytales which empower women and men to flourish, aim for nothing less than their full potential and stay true to themselves.

"Her mother told her
she could grow up to be
anything she wanted to be,
so she grew up to become
the strongest of the strong,
the strangest of the strange,
the wildest of the wild,
the wolf leading the wolves."

“You are already simmering secrets sweet to be savored in silence, Just you and no one else. Soft secrets like you are best kept to yourself.”

I loved this. I have a thing for fairy tales anyway but turning them into poems with a girl power slant is apparently just what I needed. I'm in awe of anyone that can tell a story with a poem.

#BookSpinBingo free space
@TheAromaofBooks

#doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

DNF this one. Unoriginal, and it feels more like a pep talk/counsellor/motivational speaker than unique retellings. Not terrible, but a very disappointing read, so I'm setting this book aside

Hey poetry lovers!! These are the books I‘m considering as my pick for #lmpbc Have you read any of these? Any jump out to you more than the others? Any you‘d like to veto off the list?

@SamAnne @WanderingBookaneer @phantomx

Nikita Gill is a collection of poems, the other two are both novels told in verse

Wow! What a great book of poetry and short stories. Everything in the book is amazing, and takes a hard look at the Fairytales that we tell our children, and that we have been told through many generations. Nikita Gill takes these stories or the messages in these Fairytales and asks us to look at them again and ask...was that the right message, was it a healthy message.. what if there is a better moral that can be gained from this story.

I‘ve spent much too long thinking about what I want my first Litsy post to be, but I found this picture in my camera roll and Nikita Gill felt right. It‘s “For the Cynic” from Fierce Fairytales.

Nothing further needs to be added

“This is why we are on this earth;
to learn how to love each other,
to learn how to love and hold ourselves.”

It reminds me of another favorite quote of mine by Vonnegut: “The purpose of a human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.”

Wow! Such a powerful collection of poems and stories about misunderstood, fierce women (and sometimes men!).

❤

I discovered Nikita Gill at last year‘s Cheltenham Literature Festival, when she read some poems and extracts from her latest book and from this.

#BlueCover
#JumpIntoJanuary
@Eggs

I always tell to myself: no more challenges. What's the point? I never complete one.
But then l see one like this, and l can't resist.
#fairytalereadingchallenge @Charityann

Every month a different fairytale, either a classic or a retelling.

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 58
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

"Out there may be monsters, my dear. But in you still lives the dragon you should always believe in." (from Once Upon a Time II) Xmas cookie from today's baking will have to suffice for lack of a book picture ??

A Fairytale/retelling/fantasy swap-

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XFX9DMJ

Must be sent by Feb 5 due to mail delays.
My response to 2020 is that I really need a Happily Ever After so I am going to host the #happilyeverafterswap to open on Feb 14,2021
This theme is around fairytales, retellings and fantasy. You must agree to follow #swapprimer and #swapguidelines

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XFX9DMJ

I Really need a Happily Ever After to 2020. Som I‘m bringing back the Happily Ever After Swap, opening Valentines Day. Important Information: This will be a direct match. You must follow Litsy Swap etiquette that I will link in comments. It is all about fairy tales, fantasy and retellings, any or all of the above. Total escapism!
International only if available - same country matches due to mail struggles.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XFX9DMJ

Day 15 - #Fierce #FallFinds
#FierceFairytales #NikitaGill

This book is a modern makeover of fairytale classics.

Because of various personal issues, I am just now posting reviews of some of the books that I read.

This was a birthday gift and it is a gorgeous book. There are poems and very short stories that are sometimes a retelling, another perspective, a background, or a contemporary adaptation of classic fairytales. Gill had posted these on her Instagram and Tumblr accounts and she has also illustrated this work.

#ReadYourSign book fourteen: Fierce Fairytales, which I read between the hours of 5AM and 10AM today. Oh man, I love Nikita Gill‘s writing so much. The way she weaves feminist themes through fairy tales and legends is just lovely. 💙

This was a cute little book of fairytale retellings. The illustrations were fantastic.
#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks
#jennyis30 #poetry @jenniferw88

Book: Fierce Fairytales
Author: Fredrik Backman
Movie or TV show: Forrest Gump
Singer or band: The Fray
Song: Fly on the Wall by Thousand Foot Krutch

#manicmonday #letterf @JoScho

In contrast with my earlier post about ‘The Book of Dragons‘ by E.Nesbit where some of the stories have heroes rescuing the princesses, here‘s a poem to empower girls. Nikita Gill urges the world to #raise girls who are strong, and when in distress, never ever needed a prince to save them.
#poetrymatters

I exist. Outside of being a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, I exist. I exist as a human first, as a being that experiences joy and suffering, beauty and learning, life and tragedy. I exist because the universe chose to put me here for a purpose higher then my relation to man. I exist because a wise old woman gave me a gift and now magic runs through my veins. So the problem is not my existence as half dragon half girl.

Many of Nikita‘s poems here were of a retelling of old fairytales we grew up on - Tinker Bell, Little Red Ridding Hood, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Pandora... While some did fall a little bit too much, yet there was so much creativity in the retelling. These little sketches are gorgeous, too. As well, this fairytale of the Moon Dragon and the Girl is my new favorite fairytale

Metamorphis

“For you who has never forgotten the magic. It wants you to know it remembers you too” - Nikita Gill, Fierce Fairytales 💖

I enjoyed this for the most part. I thought the pieces where she took well known tales and told them from every character‘s perspective were the ones that made the biggest impression. @TsundokuAleax @bookandcat

Woefully behind on this round‘s reading. Starting this today, but I‘m thinking it‘ll go quickly because it‘s poetry. Sorry for slacking @bookandcat and @TsundokuAleax

This is a wonderful little book of poetry and stories. #poems #fairytales

This book of poetry and feminist fairytale retellings was so empowering, inspiring, and impactful. 5 stars easily. Thanks for selecting it for #lmpbc @TsundokuAleax !
Unfortunately my Joshilyn Jackson book for this round (and last rotation's Washington Black) seem to have been lost by the post office. Hopefully this one will get to @Schlinkles safely!

This was a fascinating turn of fiercely feminine fairy tales. I loved the way they turned some of the stories on their heads and even more so the villainesses. I am so glad that this is going to the rest of book club and I cannot wait to see what everyone else thinks.
@bookandcat @Schlinkles #lmpbc

#poetrymatters #sentimental @TheSpineView

In the beginning of the year I thought doing a 52 week reading challenge would be a good idea.

I have made a terrible mistake. 😂

Keep a lookout tomorrow for my new video about the progress I‘ve made!

You can subscribe to my channel for notifications here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2BFuHz65YO9Ak_h_ovgkDQ

#readingchallenge #readingchallengeprompts #booktube #bookvlog

I love this woman ❤️💙 #guysiwantacastle

This #beautiful book of poetry is one of my favorites. If you haven‘t read it yet, I highly recommend it! #amonthofsongs @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks