Fairy Tales brought to life

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The Sleeper and the Spindle
Neil Gaiman
Hardcover, 68 pages
Published October 23rd 2014 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's work and will be very biased in this review.

I really loved this re-telling, I loved the artwork and I loved everything about it. What I loved is you have a Queen who does not want the 'so-called happy ever after'of marriage, children and a kingdom to rule. So when the Dwarves come to tell her of a danger in the land she is only too happy to go on an adventure.

There is a rhythm to the text that keeps you engaged but it almost feels heavy. It is almost as if Gaiman has captured on page the sleep curse that has captured an entire city. You feel each step is difficult to take, each movement forward harder to make and I loved that.

The presentation of the book is superb, the drawings are stunning and the splash of gold here and there is delightful.

A really wonderful twist on a fairy tale.

Hansel and Gretel
Neil Gaiman
Hardcover, Standard Edition, 56 pages
This is not a retelling of Hansel and Gretel and if you expected Gaiman to put that twist in you will be disappointed. What Gaiman does is bring this classic fairy tale back to its roots and the original intent. What makes this special is the words Gaiman uses, the way he describes, characterises and brings the world to life.
The artistry is dark and vibrant, you find yourself studying the pictures looking for what all the shapes are and could be.
It is a great homage to a wonderful dark fairy tale.

For all things Neil Gaiman check out his website

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