A retelling of the book Bluebeard which I haven't read.
This is a short book only 32 pages. It is a story about controlling husbands or partners, trust, paranoia and consequences. I can't say much about this book without giving too much away. I thought the book was really good considering the length of the book.4 s Stephanie Davy115 8

Whilst I know this is a retelling, I cannot rightly compare it to the originally story because I never read the original fairy tale that this came from. However this has the same flavour as the original tales generally. It was dark and mysterious. Slightly gruesome. However all magic and misogyny has been replaced with science and feminism. This is a traditional cautionary tale with a fresh voice, exactly what you would want from a retelling.2 s Rebecca324 4

This was very well written but a bit disturbing. I’m not entirely sure this is an appropriate fairytale for children, as the moral of the story is basically ‘murder is the way to go when consent is violated’... I’ve never read the original fairytale though, so that might be to blame for my opinion now.1 Ellie (bookmadbarlow)1,172 76

A retelling of Blueblood with a twist. Having not read the original I was just going along for the ride and it was a clever story of controlling husbands and asking someone to respect their privacy and the consequences of such if they don't.1 Munch480 5

A great twist of the Bluebeard fairytale1 Eleanor429

Oh how I love Malorie Blackmanfrom-the-library malorie-blackman middle-grade-childrens ...more1 Mehsi13.1k 402

Remember the Bluebeard fairy tale? Well this is all that with a spin and even a big twist!


I was absolutely excited when I spotted this book over at Library #1. I just love retellings of fairy tales and I was excited to see something other than the same number, aka Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Little Mermaid, Rumpelstiltskin, you know the BIG ones. I quite d the original story, yes, it was gruesome, but that is what fairy tales, the real ones, are. I was curious how this author had changed the story and also what would happen in the end.

In this book we get to meet Nia, a girl who has had a lot of husbands.. who just keep disappearing. She has a new man now, Marcus. Who is pretty OK, but we soon see that he is really possessive, SUPER possessive. And also very curious. Because Nia has one rule. Just Bluebeard had in the original. You cannot enter 1 room in the entire house. You cannot go there. You have a room for yourself. Nia has one for her. For Nia that is the cellar. She does her jewellery work there.. but given I knew the original I knew what else might be hiding there. I was very curious throughout the story if Marcus would keep up with not going there.. or if he would fall for it. I have to be honest, at one point in the story I kind of wished he would just go there because the man was aggravating. I mean, I get it, you want to spend plenty of time with your girl. But your girl has a life and work beside you. You cannot control all elements.

The later part of the book in which Nia goes to travel and Marcus gets very very curious? I will have to put it behind spoiler tags because I do need to talk about it. So in a way the story follows the Bluebeard fairy tale further, a secret room. However not much blood, instead there are pieces. Pieces of the past husbands. And then we get to learn all about Nia and what happened to her husbands and why she is doing this. It reminded me a bit of Death Note, just without the notebook, haha. But she is out for revenge. Trying to help women. Because her first husband was an abusive prick. Then when I thought things couldn’t get more OMG, we find out something about Nia and I was just WOWed, that was an amazing addition by the author and it was just perfect. So not just a retelling but something more. Oh yes.
This book was thankfully located at the YA section of my library. I am happy with that as I have seen on Goodreads that it has been tagged as Children’s. This is definitely NOT a children’s book. Too many words for one. Very mature for two.

I am a bit disappointed in the illustrations. I had hoped just a bit more than silhouettes/shadow play.

All in all, I flew through this amazing book and I enjoyed it a lot. I would recommend it.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review4-5-twinkling-stars new-adult-or-adult warning-english-books ...more1 Eule Luftschloss1,859 53

trigger warning
being drugged, mutilation, domestic abuse

Nia and Marcus are going to marry, ignoring all nay-sayers, and he moves into her mansion.
Finally, everything seems perfect. Or does it?

Since this one isn't long, I don't want to reveal too much.

The illustrations are gorgeous, the backgrounds in prominent tones of red, while Marcus and Nia are only shown as silhuettes, giving you the freedom to fill them in for yourself, and imagine how they look, what their ethnicity is. I saw them as white, but that is my default if I have no information, and this being a retelling of an European fairy tale probably did it's part in that.
As to characterisation, we're also given the bare bones.

The plot is pretty straightforward, but not boring, as you're wondering how closely the author adheres to the original tale. I d it, and want to read more of this series - which is great, as I have another one here.

The arc was provided by the publisher.arcs bluebeard edelweiss ...more I'mogén1,071 41

This is my first Malorie Blackman book and it was a very enjoyable retelling of Blackbeard. This fairytale has always intrigued and unsettled me and I enjoyed the way Blackman reworked it and made it her own.
I looked forward to learning what the secrets were and enjoyed the themes the story discussed such as control and manipulation in a relationship, trust, irony in the face of punishment. They all made me think.

I would to try Blackman's other works as I didn't feel this gave enough of an example of her writing style and I'm eager to try more. I've been wanting to read Noughts and Crosses, in particular, for the longest time, so maybe that will be next.

I loved the silhouette illustration style, in combination with the bold red of the scenery. It added to the mysterious air and tension, not being able to see character facial expressions.

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén Xanthe972 45

I appreciated this updating of the Blackbeard story but I have to admit I'm not totally certain who it's for. The gender dynamics and descriptions of emotionally and physically abusive relationships just don't seem they're aimed at kids and its short length and simplicity makes it an odd stand-alone volume for adults, much more ly to be at home among other similarly-themed stories in a collection. The modern updating and empowering murders are a little bit grisly, but satisfying for the reader who just wants to see the heroine be smart enough to be both three steps ahead of her shady husband and too unsentimental to fall for his manipulations. There is a decided lack of magic or magical realism so it's hard to really call this a fairy tale, even with the allusions to the original tale. Still, if you don't mind a little (fictional) death and maiming, this story is just a little bit cathartic.adult-fiction horror poc-author ...more Kerri49

A funny, interesting twist on the folktale Bluebeard. While children will not see the charm of this tale as adults do, there are still some important life lessons/morales presented in this tale.

I shared both stories with my 7 year old daughter and she enjoyed Blackman’s version SO much more.

The original story left readers with the following life lessons:
1. Women should not be curious
2. Women should follow their husband’s instructions
3. Women should listen to their brothers
4. A woman needs to be saved by a man

This story addresses the patriarchal bulls*** of the original by putting the story in today’s time and giving the reader Bluebeard (Marcus) and Bluebeard’s wife (Nia - she didn’t even have a NAME in the original!) perspectives.

I won’t give any spoilers, but the morals in this story are very different - so have a read!

Hoping to read more reimagined fairytales/folktales by the author. &#x1f336; peppersocks &#x1f9e6;1,287 20

Reflections and lessons learned:
A quick search of the original tale set up the perfect creepy background for this read, and the moral dilemma that I’ve often thought about - how much should people live in each other’s lives as a couple? Is it healthy to have private space and things that the other doesn’t know about… maybe not from this example. Good old secrets and lies… Wonderful use of illustrations, modernisation and suspense - and the switch changed nothing about the moral stand within as its the power dynamic that rulesebk-tempmine-lib-app-bbox-traff Jazz264 41

So bad it made me angry.

Nia's ancestor was Bluebeard, so she kills abusive men to make up for his crimes against women. Marcus is very jealous and insecure, but his biggest crime is discovering his wife is a murderer. The worst word Nia calls him is a bully. He isn't physically violent or even a gaslighter. Can't even get behind the gray morality of the character because it's so obvious she's only protecting herself. I just hate the WHAT IF concept rather than an actual interrogation of how men use their privilege to abuse women and how women escape. Rachel260

Loved this book so much! I work in a library and saw it on the YA shelf. It caught my eye and was surprised to see its a picture book for adults! I adored the cleverly written 'revolutionary' fairy tale. The story was well told and I really had a big shock at the end. I had so many questions after and it really did make me think about womens rights and the grisly grimms fairy tales of my childhood, where little red hiding hood was eaten by the big bad wolf. Brilliant book, i hope Malorie Blackman does more picture book this! Mari Scott8 1 follower

You couldn't ask more from a fairy tale retelling of Bluebeard. Malorie Blackman has made this thoroughly her own, giving us a modern tale with the nostalgic feel of a cautionary fairy tale of old. What a fantastic story to spark ideas and conversation! Sometimes I fear retellings, particularly feminist retellings won't live up to the premise, but this one delivers! Ashley24

An interesting update, well written with interesting illustrations. Possibly spoiled slightly by having read and loved the Bluebeard adaptation in Dierdre Sullivan's Tangleweed and Brine, which was super weird but also (strangely) quite romantic and beautiful.

This would be a good one for sixth form discussions on feminism in literature! Andrea166 1 follower

Great YA retelling of the fairytale of Blackbeard from a feminist standpoint. Lots to say about coercive relationships and asks how far can you go to pursue justice before you cross over to the other side. Great silhouette artwork as well. Lots of depth for "just" a graphic novel. Steph Robinson265 4

Read in one night, was a good little short story and twist on the original. Trigger Warning Database12.8k 1,085 Read

Trigger & Content Warnings

Domestic abuse
Druggingadd-to-site domestic-abuse-and-violence drugging ...more Carolyn154

Was wondering where the story was going when the trophies were mentioned! Fortunately it wasn't what I feared and I can definitely put the book in the school library. Kasthuri BV309

There is some sort of satisfaction in reading this book. Honestly I think every wife would have wished they could do what Nia does at least once in their lives Chelsea204 8

Quirky and engaging sophisticated picture book Karen2,298

A clever retelling of an old tale with a modern twist. Servane82 2

Perfect twist about the claim to have "a room of our own". No other explanation. Loved it. Melissa717 2

An intriguing retelling by the ever wonderful Malorie Blackman Michaela942 41

Bluebeard has got to be one of my favourite fairytales and this retelling does it beautifully. Christine6,874 526

This is a really excellent feminist retelling of Bluebeard. The ending is good and the two viewpoints is excellent.bluebeard diverse-and-women-authors feminist-fiction ...more5 s Mia Hodder4 1 follower

Such an interesting take on blue beard, really enjoyed SuryaAuthor 1 book62 Read

An eye for an eye never sets things straight but maybe sometimes is that the only way? Fátima López Sevilla172 23

Autor del comentario:
=================================