Dark Tales of Whimsy is a new short fiction collection from Endless Ink Books. I’ve previously read and enjoyed Endless Ink titles, including a 2020 short story collection, Earth’s Final Chapter. Dark Tales of Whimsy follows the pattern of 4 short stories around a theme, this time with twists on fairy tales and myths.
Reimaginings can be a rough genre, because it’s so saturated with generations of authors revisiting classic stories and familiar characters, but these short stories managed to show a new perspective on familiar elements. The overall atmosphere is dark and whimsical, with four distinct voices coming through.
In Simone Le Roux’s short story, Tooth, readers discover the scary rules of tooth collection for fairies, and the harsh consequences that await tooth fairies who break those rules. Peg is dragged into an illegal tooth-collection scheme by her bossy cousin, Orla, risking danger, expulsion and death.
Anti-Cupid, by Carlotta Cosmai, tells readers about a modern-day Cupid, or more of his Eros aspect. He’s gone completely decadent, with his usual seductive powers and dark matchmaking app, creating a version of Rome where sexual encounters are everywhere, but any actual human connection is in the shadows, if it can be found at all. I didn’t expect to enjoy this one as much as I did — stories where everyone is hypersexual are usually more about shock and that’s not usually for me. Sure, this one has the shock value of public acts, but it’s a focus on human connection in a dark version of the eternal city.
Remy Fernandes blends familiar characters in a modern setting in Little Miss Muffet Meets Anansi The Spider. After a horrific childhood injury from a spider bite, adult Missy wants nothing to do with spiders. But one day she bumps into a certain talkative spider, starting a surprising new story.
Lastly, Alyssa Blackmon’s story Three’s Last Stand reinvents the three little pigs. The familiar third pig in the brick house, called Three here, is up against a terrifying werewolf leader and his two turned brothers. It’s suspenseful and surprising take on the fairy tale.
Another solid release from Endless Ink Press, with dark and unique reimaginings of familiar characters.