scijessreads

Near the end of 2023, I wanted to read but I didn’t want to get sucked into anything dark or long or heavy. I don’t know how I found this gem of a novella, but I am so glad I did, as it ended up being everything I wanted and needed and is a highlight of the books I read last year.

Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi is on the surface a standard fairy tale. But instead of the characters we are used to, this one gives a story with a little less polish and a little more edge. This novella serves up a tale about the brothers and sisters who weren’t part of the original fairytales. The family members that would have normally fallen into obscurity and remain a hint of a footnote in the background, but here get a story of their own. Complete with curses and journeys and misunderstandings. And maybe a little bit of love and finding out that what they want, in addition to the freedom to choose their own destiny, is each other. They found love with each other, were cursed to lose it and their kindgom, and then end up on a quest to fix things and get the ending that they want, which also happens to be the ending they deserve.

Also, there’s a talking horse cloak that is the best at being a talkative sidekick. A bed that is very *hungry.* And a queen named Imelda who has a thing for shoes. More like a disdain for what shoes represent. The prince is less flashy and more internal with his emotions, resigned to give up what he wants to that his queen can get what she desires. The whole thing is narrated by a witch that maybe isn’t all that bad. Just vague in her negotiations and makes you realize that you should have read the fine print in your bargain for your new life.

This one is short and fun and packs a surprising amount of character development and story in so few pages.