Madame Howell’s Book of Very Bad Things by Jae El Foster Review and Giveaway by Pine Enshrined Reviews and Goddess Fish Promotions.

Journey into a land of fairy tales like none you’ve ever experienced before with this baker’s dozen of original and often horrific fanciful treats! Madame Howell, the world’s greatest witch, will lead you through some of the most unique journeys into the Enchanted Forest, through great castles and villages, and even into uncanny realms of newly imagined dangers in her ‘Book of Very Bad Things.’ Featuring many elements from classical fairy tales while paying homage to the imaginations of the Brothers Grimm, this deliciously sinister volume delivers its own unique versions of true love and the all important ‘happily ever after.’ Within, you’ll discover dark changelings, wicked queens, houses of snakes, disobedient children, the world’s tiniest people, vicious goblins and dwarfs, a baker with a taste for blood, and so much more. Settle back and fall under the wicked spell of this dastardly and mesmerizing journey into the darkest realms of fairy tales and folklore.

Excerpt

Once upon a summer afternoon, a brother and sister went frolicking in the woods, in search of berries and wildflowers. Their parents were long dead, and so it was up to them to scavenge for their food every day. They enjoyed making games of it, like chasing one another through the winding forest paths or even pelting each other with berries that were rotten on the stems.

It was raining on this particular afternoon, and the siblings became wet and muddy as they played and hunted their food and foliage.

“Sister,” the brother called in warning as she glided swiftly across the slick mud, “ye shouldn’t run so fast near there! That hill be steep!”

“Bah!” she squealed, giggled, and spun around in a circle. “It’s lovely to slip and slide! Join me!” She squealed again and spun once more. Then, she lost her footing and tumbled backward. Brother watched as she fell off the ledge, tumbling down the hill.

“Sister!” he shouted and then slipped and slid his way to her in a hurried but cautious manner. “Sister, are ye alright?”

Brother looked over the ledge, staring down as he watched his sister roll to the foot of the hill. He began after her but came to a pause as a winged creature swooped down from the sky and gathered Sister into its grip. In the blink of an eye, the creature swooped upward again with Sister in tow.

“Sister!” he cried out again and watched as the creature carried his sister to the great forbidden mountain, which was a good day’s trek away by foot.

Distraught, the brother contemplated how to save his twin sister. He knew he would have to venture to the forbidden mountain and climb its dangerous terrain. Once he found his sister, he would also find the creature that had taken her. Surely, a battle would ensue. Before going after his sister, he had to be well prepared.

Madame Howell’s Book of Very Bad Things
by Jae El Foster
The Books of Very Bad Things Series, Book 1
Publisher : DCL Publications, LLC (November 27, 2020)
Length : 250 pages
GENRE:   Fairy Tales, Horror, Fantasy, Mythological, Folk Tales
Amazon | Goodreads

When the muses speak, Jae El Foster writes, and he has been doing so for nearly twenty years, tackling some of the most intriguing genres out there. Delivering fresh, incomparable tales of horror, science fiction, and romance – sweet or spicy – he pens with seasoned skill the tales that his muses deliver to him. His bestselling works include the paranormal romance ‘Restless,’ the gothic horror tale ‘Where the Demon Is,’ and the gay holiday romance ‘Only at Christmas.’Follow him on Instagram @jaeelbooks and ‘like’ him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorjaeelfoster.

My Review

I remember growing up reading Brothers Grimm under covers with a flashlight, then when Nook & the Kindle came out i had the app downloaded on my phone to which I bought the book again to read – I even dabble into different versions of the original when people rewrote them. granted I tend to love any retelling and seeing how people rewrite it from different views and Madame Howell’s Book of Very Bad Things is just a perfect squeeze of deliciousness.

Now this collection is filled with dark and distorted tales that is going to have you wonder when real and imagination combines. It will keep you guessing but also excited to see what comes next as the pages flip from chapter to chapter. Each story completed with satisfactory ending without leaving anything else to want. Although I feel there should be more stories from the author as when I closed the book when I finished I gasped that there wasn’t more!

How the author writes and keeps you engaged in the tales just grabs you and holds you! Dark, interesting and deliciously perfect. This wonderful collection is highly recommended!

Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish Promotions for the chance to read this during the book promotion in exchange for a honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Kri
Pine Enshrined Reviews
Click Here for All Social Media Links through Linktree
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways and upkeep of the blog!