They had me asking lots of questions, in the best possible way.įinally, I have to say that this is quite simply a beautiful book. If I had to choose, however, it would be the poems that have made stark links between the modern world and the fairytales I grew up with. It would be hard to pick some favourite poems from this collection (though I’ve texted a few to my friends recently!) as I truly got swept up in Fierce Fairytales.

It is clear that Gill has a real talent for turning threads of a story into an expertly woven tapestry. Synopsis: Step into this world of empowering reimagined fairytales where the stereotypes of obliging lovers, violent men and girls that need rescuing are transformed into brave princesses, blurred lines between heroes and villains, and a courageous Gretel who can bring down monsters on her own. By doing this, the distinctions between heroes and villains have been blurred and the characters have become delightfully complex. I particularly loved the poems in which Nikita Gill has changed the perspectives of the fairytale characters. These stories have been reimagined and the stereotypes challenged so that this poem feels fresh and exciting. In a similar vein, Fierce Fairytales is a poetry collection inspired by the fairytales we know, love and sometimes question. If you haven’t already seen my review of Gill’s mythology themed collection, you can find it here.

Traditional fairytales are rife with cliches and gender stereotypes: beautiful, silent princesses ugly, jealous, and bitter villainesses girls who need rescuing and men who take all the glory. There’s definitely something comforting about it, which is what I desperately want from my books right now. Poet, writer, and Instagram sensation Nikita Gill returns with a collection of fairytales poetically retold for a new generation of women. I’ve made no secret about my recent love for Nikita Gill and that I’m currently devouring as much of her poetry as I can.

Fierce fairy tales