Kate Forsyth (text) and Lorena Carrington (illustrator), Kate Forsyth’s Long-Lost Fairy Tales, New Dawn, March 2024, 352 pp., RRP $32.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780645489965
Dr Kate Forsyth discovered twenty-one long-lost fairy tales and retold them with a twenty-first century audience in mind.
Here you will find a mother who ‘braves the wicked faery folk…to win back her stolen baby’, a girl who disguises herself as a boy to save a princess, and a sister who saves her seven brothers, cursed to fly as ravens.
These stories originate from all corners of the globe: Scotland, Russia, China, Japan, France and many more. Some are ancient tales, passed down through the centuries by oral storytellers before a written record was made.
There are many strong women in these tales, who save themselves, or their loved ones, rather than waiting for a mysterious knight in shining armour to materialise! As Kate writes in her introduction, ‘in the world of once upon a time, you are the hero of the tale and there is nothing you cannot do’.
Lorena’s illustrations are exquisite. This book is a true collaboration between Kate and Lorena, where the illustrations are a vital part of the storytelling. Each story has a brief paragraph from both women explaining why it was chosen and how they responded to it.
This is a truly enchanting collection of fairy tales for YA readers and adults alike. It should be included in a school library collection and would make a wonderful gift.
There is no suggested recommended age for this book; I would suggest from the age of 13+.
It is a 2025 CBCA Notable book in the Older Reader category.
Reviewed by Gaby Meares
