Really enjoyed this collection of folktales, glad I won it.

Rich and strange, these eerie and magical folktales from across Britain and Ireland have been passed down from generation to generation, and are gathered together in a definitive new collection from the master storyteller and winner of the Carnegie Medal, Kevin Crossley-Holland. Dark and funny, lyrical and earthy, these fifty stories are part of an important and enduring historical tradition that dates back hundreds of years. ( )

This is a fantastic collection, and aptly named. Written in classic fairytale style, it’s also unique, lyrical, colorful and strange, giving it that otherworldly feel characteristic of the genre; not here or there but somewhere, in-between worlds where all manner of unexpected things can happen. With expert care, the author has brought together fresh, obscure tales with well-imagined familiar ones, breathing new life into something timeless. Beautiful and highly recommended. ( )

Folktales are magical portals to the past, passed down from generation to generation. Magical beings, morality lessons, social commentary, legends, tales of heroes, revenge, evil....there's a little bit of everything in folktales. I'm especially fond of tales from Ireland and Britain.....it's in my DNA. Plus it's the perfect time of year to enjoy some old tales of strange, eerie and legendary happenings. And, this book delivers! Great stories! Awesome illustrations!

I read this book slowly, savoring each of the 50 stories. I like to take my time with story collections, even when they are short. I read the stories one at a time and let them soak in....making the book last. I thoroughly enjoyed each story. And I've ordered a physical copy of this book for my keeper shelf. I will be re-reading this one!

The stories are separated by theme -- magic, legends, faeries/little people, passion & love, tricks and ghosts. My favorite tale in the book is King of the Cats. That's been a favorite story of mine for a very long time, and the author did a great job with his version. My favorite section is of course the ghost story portion. I love ghostly stories, and Kevin Crossley-Holland picked some good ones to include!

A very enjoyable reading experience! This is the first book by Kevin Crossley-Holland that I've read. He's written many books including one about Norse Myths. I'm definitely going to be reading more of his work! The illustrations by Frances Castle in this book are awesome and showcase the folktales perfectly! The book's front cover is perfect as well.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this story collection from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Good
Recommend: Highly recommend
Level: Middle school or high school

Tons of stories here and all have source notes on their origin in the back. I enjoyed some sections better than others but all invoke the compelling nature of storytelling. I especially enjoyed the section of magic and scary stories. All of these stories are very short, ranging from one page to no more than a dozen. These stories would be great for those who love folktales, teachers/parents wanting short stories to read aloud, or for those studying folktales. ( )