Synopsis:
It’s a prick of blood, the bite of an apple, the evil eye, a wedding ring or a pair of red shoes. Curses come in all shapes and sizes, and they can happen to anyone, not just those of us with unpopular stepparents . . . Here you’ll find unique twists on curses—from fairy tale classics to brand-new hexes of the modern—by bestselling authors!

Review:
This book seems like it would be about curses… but most of it is not. There are certainly some oddball stories throughout, so I will highlight a few that I found exceptionally good.

Red as Snow, White as Blood by Christina Henry
An interesting take on the classic fairytale and stepmother troupe. I quite enjoyed this but it felt familiar.

Listen by Jen Williams
This had a unique twist on a curse and how one gets out of it.

Henry and the Snake-Wood Box by M. R. Carey
I thought this a very interesting take on human nature, the nature of a creature, and how both can change and evolve over time.

Skin by James Brogden
This left a creepy twisted feeling of itchiness; very well done.

Look Inside by Michael Marshall Smith
This was such a unique piece, and I absolutely loved this take on what can touch you; whether you’re aware of it or not.

New Wine by Angela Slatter
With such an abrupt ending, one cannot help but wonder what happens next, how the pieces are picked up, and how one moves on from such a thing.

All in all, the above stories were decent. Look Inside was by far my favourite, followed by New Wine. Given there were 20 works within, and I have very briefly reviewed 6, I will leave you to make your own assumptions. My main issue with the book was that many of the stories didn’t really have anything to do with a “curse” per say, or were merely so elusive about what was really going on that they were less enjoyable. I wouldn’t particularly recommend this book.

Star rating: ✯✯